Doe Seasons Closed in Some Units

With the archery season set to open August 30, the Idaho Department of Fish and Game reminds hunters that some units are closed to antlerless hunts. In May, the Idaho Fish and Game commissioners closed antlerless hunts, including youth and archery hunts, in Units 33, 34 and 35. They also closed the youth controlled hunt in unit 78 in southeast Idaho. The hunting season changes could not be noted in the hunting brochure, which already had been 1, but they are detailed on the department's web site: http://fishandgame.idaho.gov/. The move was in response to lower than average fawn survival over the winter. An ongoing mule deer fawn mortality study, a part of the Idaho Department of Fish and Game's Mule Deer Initiative, included 238 fawns in 10 southern Idaho game management units. Two thirds of them had died by May 15. The worst hit was Unit 33 with 96 percent mortality. Fawns fared the best in Unit 76 with 38 percent mortality. The mortality rate for all 10 units was 68 percent. A total of 163 fawns died, most of them from malnutrition. The second highest cause of death was coyote predation. The fawns entered the winter generally in good shape. But the late spring gave little relief, and the lack of available forage took its toll. These fawns are the yearling bucks that make up a substantial part of annual fall hunts. Increased monitoring allows the department to follow populations more closely and provides information the Commission can use to take quick action when conditions warrant. Antlerless harvest of mule deer is regulated in Idaho and occurs only when population levels will allow for it. Though deer populations generally recover quickly, partly because does commonly produce twin fawns, biologists recommended eliminating some hunting. The Commission cut or eliminated antlerless deer hunting in these units: - Units 33, 34, and 35, including youth hunts and archery hunt seasons. - Unit 78 was closed to antlerless harvest in Controlled Hunt # 1067, which includes Units 56, 70, 73, 73A and 78. This will cut a youth hunt. No leftover permits will be sold following the first drawing in this hunt. - Controlled Hunt # 1058, Unit 67, will be cut from 200 permits to 50. This is an antlerless hunt. - Controlled hunt permits will go from 200 to 100 in Hunt # 1061, Units 64 and 67. This is an either-sex hunt. Antlered mule deer permits were reduced, from 149 permits to 74 permits, in Hunt # 1068 which includes Units 33, 34 and 35.