History
The Southwest Region has a long history of big game winter feeding efforts. The Winter Feeding Advisory Committee, made up of several citizen volunteers, continues to meet and review current winter conditions and evaluate needs to declare more winter feeding emergencies based on factors outlined in Fish and Game rule and policy as per IC36-123. Before this year, the last emergency winter feeding operation was conducted in the winter of 2007/2008. Elk and deer were fed because of severe winter weather conditions in Garden Valley and the Lowman area.
Feb. 13, 2017 status report
• Garden Valley/Lowman: A total of 20 active feed sites have been established along the Banks/Lowman highway between Garden Valley and Lowman. Fish and Game is working in cooperation with local landowners to feed around 400 deer and 300 elk. A Garden Valley resident has been hired to distribute feed. This past weekend, 30 sportsmen and women helped move 40 tons of deer and elk pellets to Garden Valley from Caldwell. They also assisted in distributing feed at ten Garden Valley sites.
• Weiser Flats: On the west side of Weiser, approximately 300 elk are being fed on private land. Local landowners are working to maintain this operation with direction from Fish and Game Conservation Officer Mark Sands.
• Weiser Cove: In Weiser Cove, approximately 1,200 deer are being fed at eight sites in cooperation with local landowners. This past weekend, sportsmen moved four tons of deer pellets to an established feed storage site in the area.
• Cambridge: Approximately 60 elk are being fed at an established feed site in cooperation with a local landowner. Two Cambridge residents have been hired to distribute feed. It is possible that another 100 may be hazed to this site to feed in the days ahead.
• Council: A private landowner continues to feed elk at a feeding site he established earlier this winter.
• Emmett: Fish and Game continues to feed approximately 600 deer and 100 elk on private and state land in an effort to address depredation issues. Staff continues to work to keep deer and elk separated at feed sites. An Emmett resident has been hired to distribute feed.
There are 31 winter feed sites in the Southwest Region.
Approximately 2,500 deer and 1,150 elk are being fed at these sites.