Upland Game Seasons Open

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Fall upland hunting starts Monday, September 1, with seasons for mourning doves, forest grouse and sandhill cranes as well as cottontail rabbits and snowshoe hares.

Hunters will find upland hunting rules and shooting times in the current Upland Game, Furbearer and Turkey Seasons and Rules brochure at license vendors and Fish and Game offices as well as on the department Website at http://fishandgame.idaho.gov.

Shooting hours for doves and sandhill cranes are one half-hour before sunrise to sunset, with legal times for each day of the 30 day season listed on the mourning dove flier. Times also are available on the Fish and Game Website listed above.

Dove limits are 10 daily with 20 in possession after the first day. A $1.75 federal migratory bird harvest information program validation is required for dove and crane hunting. Nontoxic shot is not required.

The application period for controlled sandhill crane hunts has passed.

The season for forest grouse, which includes ruffed, spruce and blue grouse, runs from September 1 through December 31. The daily limit is four, whether all of one or mixed species, and eight in possession after the first day. Only a valid hunting license is required for hunting forest grouse.

Seasons for cottontail rabbit and snowshoe hares runs from September 1 through February 28, 2009, for cottontails and through March 31, 2009, for hares. The daily bag limit for both is eight, with 16 in possession after the first day.

There is no season on pygmy rabbits. To distinguish, note that cottontail tails are dark above and white underneath and the pygmy's tail is buffy gray with no white. The cottontail is more than a foot long, and the pygmy is less than one foot.

Contact your local regional office to determine whether pygmy rabbits are found in your hunting area.

The seasons for sage grouse, quail, chukar and partridge begin September 20. The early fall general turkey hunts begin September 15. A separate permit is required for hunting sage and sharp-tailed grouse. Turkey hunters will need tags.

All hunters need a valid 2008 Idaho hunting license. Please check the 2008-2009 & 2009-2010 Upland Game, Furbearer and Turkey Seasons and Rules for details and limits.

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