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.
February 22, 2017 status report
• Garden Valley/Lowman: 22 active winter feeding sites have been established between Garden Valley and Lowman. Most feeding sites along the Banks to Lowman highway are on public lands with a smaller number on private land. Approximately 500 elk and 400 deer are being fed at the sites.
• Weiser Flats: Currently feeding approximately 300 elk on private lands west of Weiser. Private landowners are working together to maintain this direction from Fish and Game officers.
• Weiser Cove: Working with private landowners, Fish and Game is feeding approximately 1,200 deer at eight feed sites in the Weiser Cove area.
• Cambridge: Fish and Game transported elk pellets to a private landowner in the area who is now feeding approximately 60 elk.
• Emmett: Approximately 300 deer and 100 elk are being feed in areas where depredation has occurred on private lands. Deer appear to be starting to disperse due to snow melt and open hillsides that provide forage.
The total number of active winter feeding sites in the Southwest Region is 31.
- 2500 deer
- 1,150 elk
The purposes of the feeding sites are as follows:
- Critical winter conditions - 30 sites
- Public safety - 17 sites
- Private property damage - 12 sites
- Reduce elk/cattle interaction - 5 sites
- Range fire - 0