Doe Permits To Be Cut

JEROME - A reduction in doe permits in Management Units 43, 44, 45, 48 and 52 is being proposed to the Idaho Fish and Game Commission from the Magic Valley Regional. Results from this year's spring mule deer trend count in the Bennett Hills suggest a substantial decline in deer numbers for the area. In the 2002 survey biologists counted 7,033 deer. This year the count was 23 percent lower, with biologists only spotting 5,419 deer. If the recommendation is followed, controlled hunt permits will be cut from 2,750 to only 1,450 in these units. "The decline this year is the result of abysmal recruitment of fawns in 2002," said Randy Smith, Fish and Game Regional Wildlife Manager. "We had higher than average mortality during the 2001-02 winter and only had 21 percent recruitment that year. "In years with deer population growth, recruitment has been in the 35-42 percent range. Recruitment this year was only fair at 30 percent, despite the fact that the yearlings comprised a low proportion of the observed antlerless segment. "The poor recruitment of 2002 was also reflected in a drop in opening weekend hunter success," he said. "Last year in the units 43 and 48 general buck hunts we only had a 16 percent hunter's success, compared to 23 percent in 2001 and 25 percent in 2000." This year's permit levels are similar to 1995-99 when the Bennett Hills area also suffered from low fawn recruitment. The changes are being implemented to help prevent deer numbers from declining further, while still providing liberal antlerless hunting opportunities for the sportsman. Antlerless hunt changes include:

Unit 43, Oct. 5 - 31, was 800 tags and is now 400

Unit 44-1, Oct 15 - Nov. 9, was 800 tags and is now 450

Unit 45-2, Oct 25 - Nov. 9, was 800 tags and is now 450

Unit 48, Oct 5 - 31, was 150 tags and is now 50

Unit 52, Oct 25 - Nov. 9, was 200 and is now 100