Fish and Game to collect teeth, jaws

JEROME - The Idaho Department of Fish and Game is collecting jaws from cow elk or doe mule deer this hunting season. The jaws are needed as part of an effort to better estimate the age structure of elk and deer populations across Idaho. "If we can collect enough lower jaws from female elk and deer, we can estimate the age structure of the female segment of several elk and deer populations," said Craig White, Fish and Game wildlife research biologist. "That information is critical to better determining the status of these big game populations." Hunters harvesting cow elk or doe mule deer from hunt units 23, 28, 32, 32A, 33, 34, 35, 36, 36A, 36B, 39, 43, 44, 45 (deer only), 48 (elk only) and 50 are asked to leave the lower jaw from their harvested animal at one of three locations: a Fish and Game check station, Fish and Game regional office or a jaw barrel. Barrels are located at the SNRA office on Hwy 75 north of Ketchum, the Ketchum Ranger District Office on Trail Creek Road, and on Croy Creek Road north of the animal shelter. For more information, contact the Fish and Game at 324-4359.