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| Outdoor News - in brief |
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Fish and Game Commission Expands Wolf Trapping
BOISE -- At its meeting last Thursday, Jan. 26, the Idaho Fish and Game Commission decided to allow wolf trapping in Unit 10A in the Dworshak-Elk City wolf management zone. The season in Unit 10A opens Feb. 1 and runs through March 31.
Commissioner Fred Trevey, of the Clearwater Region, said the expanded trapping would reduce wolf numbers and help local rural residents, such as in the Elk City area, who have penned livestock or other domestic livestock.
The rest of the Dworshak-Elk City zone -- units 14, 15 and 16 -- was already open for wolf trapping through the end of March.
Trappers must have a valid trapping license and complete a mandatory wolf trapping course. For details on wolf trapping seasons visit http://fishandgame.idaho.gov/public/hunt/?getPage=266.
Rural residents don't need a license or wolf tag to shoot at wolves attacking their livestock. But they must report any wolves they kill to Idaho Fish and Game within 72 hours, and the wolf would remain the property of the state.
Forecast Looks Good for Chinook Salmon Season
If the Chinook salmon returns for 2012 holds up to the early forecast, this year could be the third best in more than 30 years.
The forecast suggests a return that's a little more robust than last year, Idaho Fish and Game fisheries bureau chief Ed Schriever told the Idaho Fish and Game Commission Thursday, Jan. 26.
The fish are still out in the Pacific Ocean, but the forecast for numbers of returning fish are similar to 2002 and 2010, he said. If the run materializes as forecast, the numbers heading for Idaho look even better -- exceeded only by 2001 and 2010.
Northwest fish managers estimate that more than 314,000 Chinook bound for waters upstream of Bonneville Dam will enter the Columbia River this year. Last year the number was about 221,000.
Of those, 129,000 hatchery fish and 39,000 wild fish are predicted to head up the Snake River to Washington, Oregon and Idaho. Last year's actual return was 96,300 hatchery fish and 31,600 wild fish.
Idaho fish managers estimate that 83,600 of the hatchery fish that cross Lower Granite Dam are bound for Idaho waters.
Last year, more than 33,000 returned to Salmon River hatcheries and about 13,000 returned to Clearwater hatcheries.
It's too soon to tell just how many fish will actually show up, and what any fishing seasons might look like. Idaho fisheries managers expect to present proposed Chinook fishing seasons in the Clearwater, Snake, lower Salmon and Little Salmon rivers to the Fish and Game Commission in March.
In years past, Chinook seasons have opened in late April.
Deer and Elk Outlook for 2012 Hunting Seasons
Deer and elk numbers are meeting management objectives in most parts of the state, but some hunter numbers are down slightly, Fish and Game officials told the Idaho Fish and Game Commission Thursday, Jan. 26.
Female elk numbers meet or exceed objectives in 21 of 29 elk management zones; they are below objectives in eight zones. Bull elk meet or exceed objectives in 20 zones and are below objectives in nine.
Fish and Game plans to conducting aerial surveys in the Panhandle, Elk City, Brownlee, Weiser and Pioneer zones this winter to update elk herd information.
Mule deer exceed management objectives for buck to doe ratio. All population management units exceed 15 bucks per 100 does. From mid-December to mid-January, Fish and Game biologists captured and radio-collared 277 mule deer, including 195 fawns, in 20 game management units. They are now monitoring 796 radio-marked mule deer in 39 units in 12 population management units as part of annual mule deer survival monitoring effort.
Dry conditions and the unusually open winter statewide so far this year, have led Fish and Game to change its aerial survey plans because deer are spread widely rather than confined to typical winter range.
Aerial surveys are planned or underway to estimate populations in Smoky-Bennett, western part of Central Mountains, and Island Park Population Management Unit. Mountain Valley has been postponed until next year.
Harsh winter conditions last year resulted in the lowest over-winter fawn survival, at 32 percent, and since Fish and Game began monitoring in 1998-99. Adult doe mortality was as high as 26-36 percent in four eastern Idaho population management units.
In response to mule deer monitoring results last year, antlerless hunt tags and some buck hunt tags were reduced. Because of low survival of fawns, a lower buck harvest was predicted for 2011 - few yearling two-points were available.
It's too early to tell how the mulies will fare this winter, but Fish and Game hopes to get a better idea from the fawns biologists recently captured and radio-collared.
White-tailed deer also are meeting management objectives for buck harvest throughout the state.
All whitetail data analysis units are meeting management plan objectives for buck harvest and percent of five-points in the harvest. Unit 4 was slightly below objectives for hunter number and hunter days, but whitetails are not the major focus for hunters in these units.
Whitetail numbers have been improving since the losses during 2007-2008 and 2008-2009 winters in the northern part of state. So far the outlook is positive for good numbers next fall.
No formal population surveys conducted for whitetails.
Fish and Game managers will bring proposed 2012 deer and elk seasons to the Idaho Fish and Game Commission in late March.
The Clearwater Region has set four open house meetings to discuss proposed changes to the 2012 big game season. All meetings will be from 5 to 7 p.m.
Monday, February 27, Senior Citizens Center, County Road, Grangeville.
Wednesday, February 29, Latah County Fairground Exhibit Bldg, 1021 Harold, Moscow.
Thursday, March 1, Fish and Game Clearwater Hatchery, 18 Hatchery Roe Drive (downstream of the North Fork Clearwater River), Orofino.
Thursday, March 8, Fish and Game regional office, 3316 16th St., Lewiston.
Idaho Wolf Hunting and Trapping Seasons Continue
Idaho's second wolf harvest season opened statewide on Aug. 30.
Wolves were removed from the endangered species list in Idaho and Montana on May 5, 2011, when President Barack Obama signed legislation that reinstated the 2009 federal rule, which turned over wolf management responsibility to Idaho and Montana.
The Idaho Fish and Game Commission adopted wolf hunting and trapping seasons and regulations on July 28.
Harvest limits were established for five of the 13 wolf management zones. Seasons closed December 31, 2011, in the Island Park and Beaverhead wolf management zones, and are scheduled to close in nine zones on March 31, unless harvest limits are met first. Seasons in the Lolo and Selway zones will close June 30, 2012.
Idaho's first wolf trapping season opened November 15. All individuals interested in trapping wolves are required to complete a wolf trapper education class held by Fish and Game before trapping for wolves. Capitalizing on experienced wolf trappers and biologists, Fish and Game developed a course similar to what has been provided to trappers in Alaska. The course focuses on trapping rules and regulations, ethics, wolf management and effective wolf trapping.
From September 30 through January 20, Fish and Game conducted 27 classes around the state and certified 577 individuals to trap wolves. Interest has been high, and 10 additional classes have been scheduled for the end of January through mid-February.
Fish and Game sold 32,273 wolf hunting tags for the 2011 hunting season, and 7,057 tags for the 2012 hunting season, as of January 30.
Fish and Game has sold 416 wolf trapping tags for the 2011-2012 trapping season.
As of January 30, 264 wolves had been legally harvested - 204 by hunters and 60 by trappers.
For information about wolf hunting and trapping seasons and rules go to: http://fishandgame.idaho.gov/.
Apply for Spring Turkey Hunts Starting Wednesday
The application period for spring turkey controlled hunts opens Feb. 1 and runs to March 1.
The application period for spring black bear ends Feb. 15.
Spring turkey and spring black bear seasons start April 15 - some controlled hunts open later. Leftover tags for spring turkey and bear controlled hunts go on sale April 1.
Hunters may apply for controlled hunts at any hunting and fishing license vendor, Fish and Game office; with a credit card by calling 1-800-55HUNT5; or online at http://fishandgame.idaho.gov. The application fee is $6.25 per person for residents and $14.75 for nonresidents. An additional fee is charged for telephone and Internet applications.
Spring 2012 bear controlled hunt information is in the 2011 Big Game Seasons and Rules book. Spring turkey controlled hunt information will be available following the Idaho Fish and Game Commission meeting in late January.
Hunters must have a 2012 Idaho hunting license to apply. Turkey hunters must also purchase a controlled hunt permit for $7.75 if they are drawn.
Director's Report to the Commission Online
Fish and Game's 2011 Director's Report to the Commission is now available online.
The annual report details the sources of the agency's funding, and what it did with the money. The report leads with a statement from Director Virgil Moore.
It includes overviews of each bureau, highlights of its operations and the number of staff members in each. Also included are balance sheets of expenditures, the numbers of licenses and tags sold and expenditures by bureau.
The report is in PDF format at http://fishandgame.idaho.gov/public/about/ |
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