Idaho Fish and Game Seeking Information on Poached Deer and Wing Barrel Theft

The Idaho Department of Fish and Game needs your help to find those responsible for committing wildlife crimes here in southeast Idaho. Three mule deer were shot and left to waste in Game Management Unit 71 off Bonneville Road in Inkom. An adult doe, a yearling doe, and a 2-point buck were shot with a small caliber rifle sometime around September 27 or 28. It is likely that the deer were killed while being spotlighted. Not only were there no open rifle seasons for deer in Unit 71 in September, it is illegal to hunt big game with the use of a spotlight and it is also unlawful to leave mule deer to waste. Idaho Fish and Game is also investigating the theft of wing barrels in the Mink Creek and Inman Canyon areas. Sometime around October 5, a Fish and Game wing barrel was stolen from Cherry Springs area in Mink Creek Canyon. This is the second time a wing barrel has been taken from the Cherry Springs area since fall 2013. Then sometime between October 6 and October 14, another wing barrel was taken in the Inman Canyon area. Wing barrels are large blue drums set out by Idaho Fish and Game in areas frequented by upland bird hunters. Hunters are asked to deposit into the barrels a wing from those upland game birds they harvest-- namely sage grouse, sharp-tailed grouse, and ruffed grouse. Wing barrel contents provide a wealth of information to wildlife biologists every year. Wings indicate the species of birds being harvested and give Fish and Game a sense of numbers of birds harvested. Biologists can even tell the gender of a bird from the wing that is deposited, and whether or not the bird successfully nested that year based on the feather molt pattern. All of that information is so important to those biologists who monitor upland bird populations and set hunting seasons. When hunters fail to drop off a wing into a barrel or when those barrels are stolen, important data is missing and that can result in unnecessary changes in hunting seasons for the following year. It may seem like a harmless, funny prank to take a wing barrel. However, the loss of data and the cost to replace barrels and purchase additional materials to better secure them only punishes Idaho's sportsmen. Likewise, when someone poaches deer, they are negatively impacting the wildlife resource and stealing from sportsmen and wildlife enthusiasts. Citizens Against Poaching (CAP) is offering a reward for information leading to the arrest of the person or persons responsible in these crimes. If you have any information concerning these or any wildlife crimes, please call CAP at 1-800-632-5999 or the Southeast Regional Fish and Game Office at 232-4703. You can also contact Fish and Game Conservation Officer, Merritt Horsmon, at 251-4509. Callers may remain completely anonymous.