Mild Winter Allows Agencies To Accelerate Opening Of Egin Hamer Closure Area

IDAHO FALLS- Everyone knows that April 1 is "April Fools Day," but this year local resource management agencies want everyone to know that the entire Egin-Hamer Area Closure will really be opening early this year! What might seem even more unbelievable is that since the Idaho Fish & Game Commission recently lifted the ban on antler gathering, the early lifting of the closure means people can head out onto the desert April 1 to pickup antlers too! Six years ago, the Fremont and Jefferson County Commissioners approached the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the Idaho Department of Fish & Game (IDFG) about revisiting the Egin-Hamer Road winter road closure issue. An agreement was arranged that allowed for opening the road to winter travel in return for closing off important winter range adjacent to the road. In order to be responsive to both wildlife and human needs portions of the management area created had different opening dates. According to Regional Habitat Biologist Dennis Aslett, "Because of the extremely light winter and early spring, most of the animals have stopped utilizing the area." Because the animals that were the reason for the closure have moved out early this year, local government agencies decided to open the area early this year. It is important to note that early opening is an exception for this year only, next year dates revert to the original May 1 opening unless conditions result in another exception being granted. The Egin-Hamer Road divides the closures area into two uneven segments. The smaller southern segment normally opens to human traffic on April 1. The larger northern segment normally remains closed to human traffic until May 1. The agreement does include access allowances for private landowners with business concerns requiring entry into the closure area. Specific information regarding the agreement may be obtained by contacting the local BLM Office in Idaho Falls at 208-524-7445 or the IDFG Office at 208-525-7290.