The Idaho Department of Fish and Game (IDFG) with input from the Southeast Idaho Winter Feeding Advisory Committee (WFAC) has selected an additional 27 sites for baiting/feeding efforts in multiple counties in southeast Idaho. The total number of feed sites is now 89 (71 for deer, 16 for elk, and 2 for pronghorn). Over 100 volunteers are lending assistance to date.
Since mid-January, over 200,000 pounds of deer pellets and more than 400,000 pounds of hay have been distributed to authorized feed sites by IDFG. IDFG has also delivered approximately 20,000 feet of panels to landowners to protect haystacks from elk and deer and assisted with the installation of the barriers.
Number of elk and deer at each Emergency Winter Feeding site in the Southeast Region
16 active elk feeding sites feeding approximately 2780 animals
Bear Lake County
- Banks Valley - 500 elk
- Joe’s Gap (aka Ranch Hand) – 300 elk
- Geneva - 50 elk
- Bennington – 50 elk
- Georgetown – Pine Canyon – 40 elk
- Georgetown Summit – 40 elk
- Nounan – 45 elk
Caribou County
- Swan Lakes – 65 elk
- Burton Canyon – 300 elk
- Bench – 200 elk
Franklin County
- Twin Lakes – 300 elk
- Riverdale #3 – 15 elk
- Treasureton – 5 elk (These elk are coming in to a feed site established for deer.)
Bannock County
- Downey – Aspen Hollow – 40 elk
- Downey – Flags – 30 elk
Bingham County
- Wolverine – 800
71 deer feeding sites feeding approximately 8,731 deer
Bear Lake County
- Georgetown Canyon #1 – 150 deer
- Georgetown Canyon #2 – 50 deer
- Montpelier WMA – 50 deer
- Skinner Canyon – 100 deer
- Paris Canyon – 100 deer
- Bloomington Canyon – 100 deer
- Bloomington Dry Canyon – 100 deer
- Worm Creek – 100 deer
- Bagley Hollow – 50 deer
- Montpelier - M Hill – 100 deer
- Georgetown -3-Mile Ranch - 200 deer
- Montpelier Golf Course – 100 deer
- Montpelier Canyon – Costello – 400 deer
- Georgetown Narrows – 50 deer
- Indian Creek #1– 400
- Indian Creek #2 - 400
- Chokecherry – 200 deer
- Ranger Dip – 100 deer
- Fish Haven – 100 deer
- St. Charles Dry – 100 deer
- Georgetown – Pine Canyon – 100 deer
- Georgetown – Summit – 100 deer
- West Bear Lake – Jacobs Canyon – 100 deer
- Rocky Point – East – 150 deer
- Rocky Point – West – 150 deer
Caribou County
- 90% Canyon – 250 deer
- Burton Canyon – 50 deer
- Swenson Canyon – 80 deer
- McPherson Canyon –200 deer
- Ivins Roas – 50 deer
- Crow Creek – 30-50 deer
- Ten Mile Pass – 100 deer
Franklin County
- Twin Lakes– 200 deer
- Clifton - Rattlesnake Hill – 150 deer
- Michael Creek – 100 deer
- Giraffe Road – 100 deer
- Clifton-East- – 40 deer
- Clifton – Gravel Pit-200 deer
- Whitney – 100 deer
- Dayton – 150 deer
- Mouth of the Cub River – 65 deer
- Little Mountain – 150 deer
- Riverdale North – 75 deer
- Riverdale South – 75 deer
- Riverdale #3 – 25 deer
- Weston – 30 deer
- Weston Canyon #1 – 100 deer
- Weston Canyon #2 – 100 deer
- Treasureton – 100 deer
Bannock County
- Downata – 500 deer
- Old Oregon Trail – 200 deer
- Cherry Creek – 150 deer
- Inkom - Mouth of Rapid Creek – 125 deer
- Inkom - West Portneuf – 100 deer
- Inkom-Reef – 60 deer
- Inkom - Sorelle Canyon – 100-125 deer
- Swan Lake – 200 deer
- Downey – Woodland – 65 deer
- Downey – Hot Pools – 50 deer
- Downey – West of Town – 50 deer
- McCammon – Walker Creek – 50 deer
- McCammon – Bell Marsh North – 25 deer
- McCammon – Bell Marsh South – 150 deer
Bingham County
- Springfield #1 – 75 deer
- Springfield #2 – 75 deer
- Springfield #3 – 50 deer
- Sterling – 50 deer
- Atomic City – 16 deer
Oneida County
- Elkhorns #1 – 100 deer
- Elkhorns #2 – 100 deer
- Stone – 300 deer
Two pronghorn feeding sites feeding 215 pronghorn.
Bingham County
- Tilden – 105 pronghorn
- Pingree – 110 pronghorn
Shoshone-Bannock Tribal Fish and Game Department is feeding elk at two sites and pronghorn at one site, and is in continual communication with IDFG.
PLEASE DO NOT VISIT FEEDING SITES. Wintering wildlife need to be disturbed as little as possible so that they can maintain as much of their fat/energy reserves as possible. Outdoor activities such as snowmobiling, antler hunting, cross country skiing, snow showing, sightseeing, and target practice with firearms will move wildlife, even driving them from feed sites. Furthermore, most feed sites are located on private property.
Additional areas being evaluated: Numerous additional sites are being monitored closely, and additional feeding will be initiated if needed.
Overall Weather Conditions: The region has received record snowfall amounts this winter, and most areas exceed snowpack criteria to justify winter feeding. Many areas of the region have experienced a recent warm-up, causing snow depths to settle or even melt. Some slopes have begun to bare off in certain areas of the region. However, much of the region (especially Bear Lake, Caribou, and Franklin Counties) is still experiencing winter conditions that merit emergency feeding, and because several weeks of winter still remain, emergency winter feeding at the authorized feed sites will continue.
WMA Emergency Closures: The Portneuf, Georgetown Summit, and Montpelier Wildlife Management Areas are CLOSED to all recreational entry to protect wintering wildlife until further notice.
The Southeast Region has significant history of winter feeding and has an active Winter Feeding Advisory Committee. Members of the WFAC include:
- Eric Hancock, Pocatello, 208-242-9365
- David Priestley, Preston, 339-0227
- Dennis Caywood, Montpelier, 847-1386 or 847-2119
- Sid Cellan, Soda Springs, 390-7057
Who Do You Call About Feeding Deer and Elk? Unauthorized winter feeding is not advised due to the problems it can create for animals, people, and habitat (see https://idfg.idaho.gov/region/southeast for articles and information about the emergency winter feeding program in Idaho’s southeast region). In fact, unauthorized feeding of elk in counties that border Wyoming is unlawful per Idaho Department of Agriculture rules due to concerns with transmission of Brucellosis to livestock. If you have concern for wintering wildlife in your area, please contact your local representative of the Winter Feeding Advisory Committee or the Idaho Department of Fish and Game.
Please refer to Idaho Fish and Game’s webpage for the southeast region for current winter feeding information, including pictures and video at https://idfg.idaho.gov/region/southeast.