Fish and Game To Begin Big Game Aerial Surveys

LEWISTON - Beginning next week, the Idaho Department of Fish and Game will conduct big game aerial surveys in portions of management units 13, 14, and 18 along the Salmon and Snake rivers. Starting in mid-January, surveys will be conducted in portions of units 10, 12, 15, 16, and 17. The survey results will provide information from which management decisions will be based for determining future hunting seasons. The flights are scheduled to cover the same units at the same time every year to make the information gathered comparable from year to year. The goal is to compare population trends, and age and sex ratios. A helicopter flying low and slow over some of the most remote areas of the state is the most efficient tool for gathering big game herd information. Aerial surveys are conducted mostly during winter months when the animals are congregated on lower elevation winter ranges. The winter months also bring two requirements needed to conduct accurate surveys, clear weather for good visibility and snow covering that aid in locating and identification of species.