Fish and Game uses volunteer groups to find fiscal solutions

On Wednesday, Idaho Fish and Game held it’s first in a series of public meetings that will help determine how the group addresses statewide wildlife challenges.

In August Fish and Game held it’s Wildlife Summit and gathered a lot of information. Now the organization is asking locals to take part in determining how that information is used.

All these big meetings about fish and game and how it protects wildlife have some avid hunters worried, concerned that fish and game could give hunting and fishing less of a priority.

“That isn’t the case at all. This is Idaho, we live here and Idaho values are very well understood by Fish and Game and state government,” IF&G Regional Supervisor Mark Gamblin said.

He said it’s become apparent the organization needs to hear from all kinds of Idahoans interested in the outdoors.

The workgroup is discussed the wildlife diversity program.

It’s essentially in charge of protecting all those Idaho animals who aren’t hunted, trapped or fished.

Gamblin said it’s in a precarious position.

“If we don’t find better funding then we have right now then we’re going to have some difficult decisions to make within 2 years roughly.”