Fish and Game Open Houses Set For 2002 Big Game Rules

How many elk do you want in the South Hills? Yes, Virginia, there are ELK (!) in the South Hills. Or, do you want any elk there at all? What about mountain lions in Idaho? Are there too many, too few, or are the ones we have just in the wrong place at the wrong time? These issues and other big game management questions for deer, elk, antelope, black bear and mountain lion will be presented next month to interested people at three meetings in the region. These topics will affect management of those species in this region and the rest of the state for next year and on into 2003. Reliable reports indicate there are anywhere from 150 to 250 head of elk in the South Hills of game management unit 54. These elk are routinely using habitats in both Idaho and Nevada, and to some extent, Utah. There is suitable and unoccupied year-round elk habitat in the South Hills, and parts of other units along our southern border, but the Department's management priority for big game in unit 54 has always been mule deer. There are also potential conflicts with elk causing depredation problems on private property, damage to fences, use of riparian areas, and competition with mule deer for winter forage. Still, elk in the South Hills could provide hunting and more wildlife viewing opportunities. Fish and Game is considering three options for elk management in these southern units; regardless of which option is selected, there will probably be a unit 54 controlled hunt for elk starting in 2002. The Department also wants public input on the future management of mountain lions in Idaho. Currently, mountain lions are managed on a unit-by-unit basis across the state. In some areas, quotas have been established on the number of female cats that can be taken. This strategy is in the interest of the big cat, viewing it as an essential part of the ecosystems where it exists. The harvest of mountain lions peaked in 1998, when hunters took 798 of the animals. Many questions about lions are asked today. Are there too many, and should we have lions throughout the state? Should we continue to offer lion hunting opportunities as we do now? Why does Fish and Game have quotas on females only in some areas? Many sportsmen argue that lion predation is one reason why southern Idaho deer herds have not rebounded since the winter of 1992-93. Are lions keeping these populations down, or is it more habitat related? The Department is seeking input on three management options for lions statewide. One is to maintain current lion distribution, and maintain or increase densities. This is the Department's current lion management strategy. Another option would be to have different management goals for population levels in various parts of the state. And thirdly, to maintain a core area of healthy lion populations, but markedly decrease them in other parts of the state where they create human and livestock problems and concerns. This last big game hunting season saw the appearance of traditional hunts, which restricted hunters to the use of traditional weapons in a few deer, elk or antelope hunts. There were also special restrictions on the use of motorized vehicles in these hunts. However, in some instances these traditional hunts coincided with rifle hunts for other species. This put the traditional hunters at a disadvantage, and also created enforcement problems with some individuals hunting deer and antelope from an ATV, but having both a rifle and a muzzleloader in their possession. Of course, when checked by a conservation officer astride their motorized mount, they were not hunting in the traditional sense at that particular time! These public meetings, or open houses, will also look at the possibility of further restrictions on ATV's or motorcycles for some rifle deer hunts in selected units next fall. The meetings will be held in Twin Falls, Burley and Hailey. The exact date for each location has not been set as of this writing, but they will be held sometime during the week of January 21 - 25, 2002. This is at least two weeks earlier than in past years. At any time before those January dates, interested people can call the Magic Valley Regional office, 324-4359, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. for input or information; or visit the office at 868 East Main, Jerome, during those same hours. Please refer all comments for the 2002 big game seasons to regional wildlife personnel.