Big Game Winter Feeding in Idaho

When winter brings wildlife out of the hills and into contact with people, we may ask when is it appropriate to feed big game animals. The desire to feed animals is natural, yet from past experience, Fish and Game knows it is a complicated decision.

Fish and Game looks to natural forage to sustain big game populations. But when emergency conditions exist, winter feeding becomes an option. Four main conditions that can trigger Fish and Game winter feeding are:

Private property damage

To prevent damage to private property such as damage to stored agricultural crops like haystacks
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Public safety concern

To prevent significant human safety issues such as elk congregating near a busy highway

Excessively harsh winter conditions

To prevent excessive mortality that would affect recovery of the herd such as those conditions where a high percentage of the adult females would be expected to die

Significant loss of winter forage

To prevent excessive mortality of a herd when winter forage is unavailable due to fire or unusual weather.

The agency’s policy and actions have evolved through decades of experience with winter feeding and is done with the best interest of Idaho’s big game populations.

After the devastating winters in the late 1990s, the Idaho Fish and Game Commission developed a policy and process to guide the agency’s decisions to feed or not to feed big game animals. Recently, the policy was updated to include the potential for disease, such as chronic wasting disease, as a consideration to feed or not feed.

News

Deer and elk netting and aerial surveys are brief disturbances for wintering animals

Tuesday, December 28, 2021 - 10:14 AM MST

Every winter, helicopters take to the sky to help Fish and Game biologists count and radio collar deer and elk. And each year, biologists get a valid question from the public: Doesn't that hurt the animals? The short answer is no. Here's why.

Big Game Winter Feeding in Idaho
Fish and Game begins to feed elk at the Bullwacker feed site west of Ketchum

Monday, December 27, 2021 - 2:07 PM MST

Staff from Fish and Game, Magic Valley Region began feeding elk at the Bullwacker feed site on December 23, 2021 as deep winter snows began to accumulate throughout the Wood River Valley. The site typically feeds over 125 elk each year.

Magic Valley Region Big Game Winter Feeding in Idaho Wildlife Conservation and Management Elk
Do your part to protect wintering wildlife by leaving animals undisturbed

Tuesday, December 21, 2021 - 9:07 AM MST

Winter is a challenging season for Idaho’s wildlife, especially for big game animals that migrate to lower elevations and spend winter closer to people than during other seasons. People can help animals by leaving them undisturbed so they have a better chance to survive winter.

Wildlife Conservation and Management Panhandle Region Clearwater Region Southwest Region Southeast Region Upper Snake Region Salmon Region Big Game Winter Feeding in Idaho
Salmon Region Winter Feeding Advisory Committee will meet Dec. 9

Thursday, December 2, 2021 - 3:36 PM MST

Date: Thursday, December 9, 2021. 10:00 a.m. MST Address: Salmon Region IDFG Office, 99 Highway 93 North, Salmon Idaho 83467

Salmon Region Winter Feeding Advisory Committees Big Game Winter Feeding in Idaho