Commission Sets Fall Big Game Seasons and Limits

In response to changes in elk populations, the Idaho Fish and Game Commission Tuesday, March 29, approved big game hunting seasons that reduce or eliminate antlerless elk tags in some areas. Meanwhile, big game hunting seasons for 2011 also include increased tag numbers and new hunts in areas with chronic depredation problems. Among the changes, the 2011 season for white-tailed deer in the Panhandle will return to normal, extending 22 days over what it's been in the past couple of years. The number of antlerless deer tags also has been reduced in poorly performing units and where winter mortality is expected to be high. But 200 new extra antlerless white-tailed deer controlled hunt tags were established to address chronic nuisance and depredation problems. New elk seasons reduce or eliminate antlerless elk harvest in zones in decline or below objective, especially where wolf densities are moderate to high. Antlerless elk harvest in units 7 and 9 has been eliminated. And all remaining antlerless hunting in Middle Fork has been eliminated. Antlerless controlled hunt tags have been reduced by 465 in response to aerial surveys and zone objectives. In addition, 2011 is the third and final year of the phased in reduction of Sawtooth zone A and B tags. The total Sawtooth A tags this year is 566 tags - 387 fewer than last year. Sawtooth B tags have been reduced to 1,526 tags - 428 fewer than last year. But 785 tags have been added for antlerless hunts and Extra tag hunts to address chronic depredation conflicts. The outlook for mule deer survival may affect the fall hunts. Of 193 radio-collared fawns and does, 47 percent of the fawns, and 93 percent of the does, survived through the end of March. That may be lowest winter survival since Fish and Game started its monitoring program in 1998. Changes in hunting seasons in response to surveys and predicted low fawn and adult survival include a decrease of 1,075 any-weapon controlled hunt antlerless tags. Mule deer buck controlled hunt tags were reduced by 150. Still, all mule deer population management units are above the 15 bucks per 100 does objective. And 200 tags were added for antlerless hunts and extra tag hunts to address chronic depredation conflicts. Fish and Game biologists will continue to monitor survival, and managers may recommend further reductions in controlled hunt tags at the May commission meeting. Only minor adjustments were made to pronghorn tag numbers. Changes include 25 fewer pronghorn controlled hunt tags in Area 40; 15 more tags in either-sex, any-weapon hunts; an increase of 10 doe-fawn, any-weapon tags in area 44; and 5 tags in a new hunt in area 76. Fall controlled hunt tags for black bears were increased and the season length in eastern Idaho was increased by a week in six units. The only change to mountain lion seasons is an increase in the "dogs prohibited" seasons in the Clearwater region to account for changes to deer and elk seasons in past years.