Hunters: Give Us Your Jaws

If you're a big game hunter, Fish and Game would like your jaw; the jaw of your cow elk or doe mule deer that is. The jaws are needed as part of an effort to better estimate the age structure of certain 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," Fish and Game wildlife research biologist Craig White said. "That information is critical to better determine 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 will be placed at strategic points for jaw collection, and information cards will be available at all collection points to record simple information such as the unit where the animal was harvested. Please contact the Fish and Game Nampa office (465-8465), McCall office (634-8137), Jerome office (324-4359), or Salmon office (756-2271) with questions regarding the big game age structure study.