Hunters asked to report hunting results

Most of the major big game hunting seasons are now over. Successful or not, hunters are already starting to think about next season. So are we at Fish and Game. Idaho Fish and Game encourages hunters who purchased a deer, elk, or pronghorn tag to report the results of their 2015 big game hunts as soon as possible. Reporting is required either 10 days after a deer, elk or pronghorn is harvested, or ten days following the end of the season for which a tag is valid. Hunters are required to file a report for each tag they purchased whether they went hunting or not. Hunters can file their reports online at http://fishandgame.idaho.gov/public/hunt/?getPage=106 or call 1-877-268-9365 and speak to a live operator 24 hours a day, seven days a week. To file reports, hunters need to know their tag numbers or hunting license numbers, the number of days they hunted, the game management units they hunted in, the date they harvested, and the number of antler points on the animal they harvested, or the length of the horns for pronghorns in inches. Promptly received hunting and harvest data provides Fish and Game a more complete picture of game populations to base decisions for next year's season. Without this timely information, managers are forced to be more conservative when making future hunting opportunities available. In addition, hunters like having harvest estimates well before the application period for fall controlled hunts. If Fish and Game receives hunter reports early, wildlife managers are able to complete the harvest estimates sooner so hunters can plan their hunting trips next fall.