Hunters Heading Out Should Leave the Weeds Behind

As Idaho's hunting seasons open, thousands of individuals will be traveling Idaho's back country and potentially spreading noxious weed seeds. The Idaho Weed Awareness Campaign encourages hunters to be aware of the potential to spread noxious weeds as they travel through the backcountry. Noxious weeds can become lodged in ATVs, pack animals and hunting gear, and carried from one area to another. Even a few seeds can start a new noxious weed outbreak. Hunters and anyone traveling in the outdoors should drive only on designated roads and trails away from weed infested areas. Vehicles, trailers, pack animals, and hunting and camping gear should be cleaned before moving them to a new area. Precautions should also include using only feed that is certified as noxious weed free for horses and pack animals. A list of outlets selling certified weed free hay and forage is available on the Idaho Weed Awareness Campaign's website at www.idahoweedawareness.com. Hunters and outdoor recreationists can get a free copy of Idaho's Noxious Weed Book from the Campaign's website to help pinpoint and identify noxious weeds in their favorite hunting or recreating areas. State weed officials have identified 66 kinds of noxious weeds in Idaho, including infestations in wilderness and backcountry areas. These weeds choke out native vegetation, depriving deer, elk, big horn sheep and other wildlife of their natural food sources and can result in starvation or migration to other areas. The Lemhi County Weed Management Area operates a weed wash station by the Lemhi County Airport, just north of the Forest Service Helitack Base. The station is designed to rinse the lower sides and undercarriage of vehicles. It is free and open to the public from 6 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday thru Thursday and from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday. For more information contact Roger Batt of the Idaho Weed Awareness Campaign at 208-412-5760.