Fish and Game Nabs Backcountry Violators

By Phil Cooper, Idaho Department of Fish and Game Three hunters from West Virginia and two from Avery have been cited for unlawful hunting and the unlawful taking of elk as a result of a recent undercover operation. Dubbed "Operation Snowball," the undercover operation involved nine northern Idaho Department of Fish and Game conservation officers and was conducted at the beginning of the elk season in the Snow Peak Wildlife Management Area southeast of Avery and near the Mallard-Larkins Pioneer Area. "We had received several reports of illegal elk hunting activities in the Snow Peak area for the last few years. Lacking any specifics, we decided to commit the necessary manpower and go have a look for ourselves," said Jerry Hugo, the Idaho Fish and Game senior conservation officer who organized the effort. A single Fish and Game officer may be responsible for patrolling as many as 2,000 square miles, Hugo said. "When the two northern Idaho regions commit nine officers to work this area during the height of the elk season, it is a big commitment of manpower," he said. Officers hit the woods in this area just before the either-sex elk season opened, posing as hunters. The officers collected evidence on all illegal hunting activities they found during the operation. Officers from Fish and Game, the Shoshone County Sheriff's Department and the U.S. Forest Service served a search warrant on a home in Avery on October 16 and contacted several resident and non-resident elk hunters near Mammoth Springs Campground that same day. Fish and Game encourages anyone with knowledge of any illegal wildlife activity taking place to call local law enforcement or conservation officers. "With patrol areas covering thousands of miles, we rely heavily upon law abiding sportsmen to provide information that can help us put an end to this type of illegal activity," said Hugo. Concerned individuals may call the Citizen's Against Poaching Hotline at 1-800-632-5999. Callers may remain anonymous and may be eligible for a reward. Phil Cooper is the regional conservation educator in the Panhandle Region.