Summer is typically the primary season for big game depredations on agricultural crops in the Clearwater Region. But with this winter’s snow depths exceeding anything seen in recent years, complaints of deer and elk getting into haystacks have been rolling in. Regional Landowner-Sportsman Coordinator Jana Ashling has responded to approximately 25 such complaints to-date. On February 7 the region’s wildlife staff helped protect a haystack belonging to Potlatch area farmer Cody Anderson. The stack was wrapped with Tensar (a plastic mesh material) to keep elk from feeding on his stored hay.
LSC Jana Ashling crosses Crane Creek to evaluate elk damage to haystack.
Wildlife staff wraps haystack with Tensar to protect from elk.
An appreciative landowner.
Successfully protected haystack.