Egin-Hamer Area Closure Goes Into Effect Once Again On January 1st For 9th Year

IDAHO FALLS - What started out as an idea by local county commissioners to reopen a popular farm to market road nine years ago has continued to be a success not just for humans, but also for wintering wildlife. The lack of human disturbance created by the closure has allowed herds of deer, elk, and moose to spend more time down on the desert between St. Anthony and Dubois during crucial portions of the late winter and early spring. Last winter BLM law enforcement officials stated they contacted about 30 individuals who had violated the closure, with 10 citations finally being issued. Depending on the law enforcement agency making the contact, penalties can range into the hundreds of dollars and result in a Class B misdemeanor on the violators record. For the ninth year, the Egin-Hamer Area Closure places nearly 500 square miles of land off-limits to human entry for the protection of wintering deer, elk, and moose herds. The closure begins on January first and lasts through the end of March on lands south of the Egin-Hamer Road and until April 30, north of it. To help keep things straight, the signs marking the area north of the Egin-Hamer road are fluorescent orange, while the signs for the earlier opening southern portion are lime green colored. This arrangement was agreed upon when county commissioners approached the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) with the idea of the area closure in return for the re-opening of the Egin-Hamer Road for winter travel. State agencies such as the Department of Fish & Game and the Department of Lands also have land involved in the closure and play an active role in management. Individual landowners accessing their own private lands are exempt from the closure. The active St. Anthony Sand Dunes are also exempt from the closure. In the last few years, powered parachutes have been sighted flying over the closure area during the winter. While the air space is not restricted, pilots of all types are cautioned to not harass the wintering, deer, elk, & moose. If the machines are flying low enough to cause the wildlife to move away, then they are flying too low. Students from BYU-I are also being reminded that the Civil Defense lava caves are also included within the closure area boundaries. Boundaries of the closure are posted and detailed maps are available from the BLM or IDFG in Idaho Falls. The Fremont and Jefferson County Sheriffs' Offices also have copies of the map available. According to IDFG observations, the increased number of animals staying down on the desert later into the spring is a sign of the success of the project. When weather conditions allow and animals leave the area early, some years the access restrictions have been lifted early. This year to insure a fair opening for those interested in collecting antlers, the opening time has been moved to sunrise on the first of April for the southern portion and sunrise on the first of May for the northern portion. In the past the opening officially kicked in at 12:01 A.M. for each area. For more information, including free maps of the closure, contact either the IDFG Office in Idaho Falls at 208-525-7290 or the BLM Office at 208-524-7500. #1 OF 1 # (PDF map of area available on request)