Hunters' Mandatory Reports Crash Computer

The response from hunters to a postcard reminder to file mandatory reports on deer, elk and pronghorn hunt results overloaded the Idaho Fish and Game Web site and telephone lines on the evening of November 10. Some hunters were unable to file their reports, and Fish and Game regrets the inconvenience. The problem has been resolved. It's important that Fish and Game receives the hunter reports. Hunters may file them online at www.idaho-hunt.com or by telephone at 1 877-268-9365, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. These are the only ways to receive confirmation that the report has been received. Hunters are required to file a report, even if they didn't harvest an animal, within 10 days of the kill or the end of the hunting season. To reduce paper, mailing and postage costs, Fish and Game will send out only one reminder postcard per household. Fish and Game also has eliminated the 80,000 reminder letters that would have gone out in December and January. Instead Fish and Game will conduct a random telephone survey of some hunters whose reports have not been received after their hunts have ended. Fish and Game needs the hunter reports in a timely manner to help make decisions for the coming 2009 hunting season. Biologists rely on the reports to estimate the number of animals harvested and the hunter's success rate. All reports need to be analyzed by the end of January in time for Fish and Game to make recommendations on season changes by March 2009.