Fish and Game Takes to the Sky

IDAHO FALLS - To get a birdÕs eye view for monitoring big game populations, Idaho Fish and Game relies on rented aircraft, mainly helicopters. ÒMany people do not realize that Fish and Game doesnÕt own a single helicopter or plane,Ó department spokesman Gregg Losinski said. ÒAll our flying is done using aircraft contracted through OAS, the Office of Aeronautical Services in Boise.Ó Fish and Game uses various types of aircraft to conduct tasks, such as big game aerial surveys and animal trapping for research. While Fish and Game flies year-round, most projects take place in winter when animals move out into the open on winter range. Because wildlife management activities require low-level flights Ð altitudes under 500 feet Ð that often draw public attention, the department informs the public when such flights are scheduled. But weather conditions and availability of aircraft can change plans on short notice. Many operations, such as the mule deer trapping that is part of the Mule Deer Initiative, require extensive ground preparation and volunteer support, and the fickle nature of flight logistics can become a challenge for wildlife managers. Hiring qualified pilots and aircraft is not cheap, but it is necessary for the monitoring and trapping Fish and Game does to benefit wildlife and hunters. ÒThanks to higher fuel cost and rigid maintenance requirements, the average cost right now to rent a helicopter is $675 per hour,Ó Losinski said. Because wildlife related flights involve working at low altitudes and in less than perfect weather conditions, the work is not without risks. Six years ago, a crash in the Clearwater Region claimed the life of Fish and Game wildlife research biologist Michael Gratson and his hired pilot. Since that time, Fish and Game has worked to restructure policies and procedures to hopefully lessen the chance of incidents and insure a more positive outcome should they occur.