Late Reports Bring Reminder

Deer and elk hunters who have not yet filed their mandatory harvest reports will see a reminder from Idaho Fish and Game in their mail this month. Big game hunters are required to file reports whether or not they harvest a deer or elk. Licenses for 2004 will not be issued to those who have not filed until reports are submitted. Information derived from the mandatory reports is crucial to sound management of Idaho's big game herds and is used in setting hunting seasons. Reminders are being sent now because data from reports must be compiled and analyzed before the Idaho Fish and Game Commission sets seasons in March. Hunters who have not filed reports yet can mail in the form they received with their big game tags or they can find a convenient form on the department's Internet web site at www2.state.id.us/fishgame. Reports are currently coming in at a better rate than last year's when more than 100,000 reminders were sent. This month's mailing may be under 100,000. A few who are still hunting in late seasons will receive reminders even though they have not exceeded the time limit for filing but sorting them out from the merely tardy is not feasible.