Commission Expands Southern Idaho Elk Hunt

In response to complaints of elk damage on private lands, the Idaho Fish and Game Commission Thursday, November 14, approved changes to elk Hunt 2120 in south-central Idaho. Commissioners also approved a cutthroat trout management plan and appointed a WAFWA representative. Hunt area 56-3 was expanded and the season extended in an effort to reduce agricultural damages. The change expands the antlerless hunt east and south of the current boundary into several areas with chronic depredation complaints; extending the season through December 31 is expected to increase the overall harvest of antlerless elk. The hunt began October 1 and would have ended November 30. The Magic Valley Region worked with landowners in the area Unit 56 to address significant depredation concerns caused by elk on private land. In other action, commissioners adopted a new Management Plan for the Conservation of Westslope Cutthroat Trout in Idaho. The goal of fishery managers is to ensure long-term survival of the subspecies within its current range in Idaho, to manage populations at levels that would allow angling opportunities, and to restore the cutthroat to its historic range where feasible. This native trout still occupies about 80 percent of its historic habitat. Declines in native trout populations result from effects of habitat degradation, blocked migration corridors, degraded water quality, angler harvest, interaction with non-native species and other factors. Research in the 1960s and 1970s showed that special angling rules, including catch-and-release or restrictive bag and size limits, benefitted native cutthroat trout populations. Special fishing rules applied across the range of westslope cutthroat trout have been effective in protecting and conserving populations. Fish and Game will continue to assess habitat quality, population status, habitat connectivity and genetic status. The commission also reappointed Will Naillon, commissioner for the Salmon Region, as the Idaho representative to the Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies.