Hunters, Anglers Must Stop at F&G Check Stations

With the opening of the general deer season, Idaho Fish and Game enforcement officers will be setting up check stations across the state at major access points to hunting units with open seasons. All hunters and anglers are required to stop at check stations, whether they have any game animals or fish in the vehicle or not. They must stop at any check station in their lane of travel whether going to or returning from hunting or fishing. All hunters and anglers must stop even if they were unsuccessful. Some check stations are biological, some are enforcement, and some are both. Biological check stations gather weight, length, species, sex, and the number of antler points if game animals. Some biological check stations are designated specifically for either hunters or anglers. Hunters don't need to stop at angler-only check stations, and vice versa. Enforcement check station look for compliance with fishing and game rules, including proper licenses and tags, validation of tags, evidence of sex, waste of game, size and bag limits. Fish and Game law enforcement officials also ask that hunters report any poaching or suspicious activities they encounter or hear about while hunting. Most serious poaching cases are cracked and won only with the help of ordinary Idaho residents, hunters or others who report crimes. Hunters with information about a wildlife crime may call the local sheriff's office, the nearest Fish and Game office or the Citizens Against Poaching hotline at 1-800-632-5999, 24 hours a day. Callers may remain anonymous, and they may be eligible for a reward.