F&G Commission Hears Salmon Forecast, Big Game Summary

The Idaho Fish and Game Commission heard some encouraging news about the coming salmon seasons. The pre-season spring and summer Chinook salmon run forecast predicts about 160,000 adult hatchery fish and almost 30,000 wild fish to cross Lower Granite Dam, Idaho Fish and Game fisheries head Ed Schriever told commissioners. The forecast predicts the bulk of the fish will head up the Snake and Salmon rivers, enough are expected to run up the Clearwater River to support fisheries there as well. Fish and Game expects to propose Chinook salmon seasons on the same waters in Idaho and in the boundary water fished in recent years, Schriever said. Last year's pre-season forecast predicted about 128,600 hatchery origin and almost 23,000 wild Chinook would return to Idaho. Only about 60,000 adults returned, but an unusually high number of almost 55,000 returning jacks suggest good ocean survival of the fish that will be returning to Idaho this year. In a review of preliminary big game hunter harvest reports, data show fewer tags sold but improved hunter success for deer, elk and pronghorn, big game manager Jon Rachael told commissioners during their annual meeting Thursday, January 28. The results so far show a:

• 5 percent decline in deer tags sold but hunter success increased to 34 percent over 33 percent in 2008.
• 6 percent decline in elk tags sold, but hunter success increased to 20 percent from 19 percent in 2008.
• 5.6 percent decline in pronghorn tags, but hunter success increased to 47 percent from 44 percent in 2008.

Elk numbers across the state's 29 elk management zones are holding their own, with some exceptions. Twelve zones are meeting objectives for female elk numbers, nine are above objectives and eight are below. Five zones are meeting bull elk objectives, 15 are above the objectives and nine are below. Monitoring results show mule deer in good condition in most of the state, which portends better than average winter survival. Preliminary figures for the total deer harvest is about 42,000 animals - about 24,000 mule deer and about 18,000 white-tailed deer. For more information go to the Fish and Game Web site at: http://fishandgame.idaho.gov.