Southern Part Of Egin-Hamer Closure To Open On April 1, But Northern Part Closed Until May 1

IDAHO FALLS - For the ninth year in a row, the southern portion of the Egin-Hamer Closure will open on schedule for April 1st, but unlike some years. Lingering winter conditions have made early opening out of the question for this year. The closure concept was originally created when Fremont and Jefferson County Commissioners approached the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the Idaho Department of Fish & Game (IDFG) about revisiting the original 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. Depending on winter conditions and animal locations the opening dates on some years has been moved forward, but this won't be one of those years. Because habitat needs change for wildlife as the winter progresses, the closure was divided in two segments, each with a different opening day. The first opening date for the southern portion is nearly upon us. Most of the deer and elk have moved to the northern segment and conflicts with humans should be minimal. Even in the area scheduled to open soon, people are cautioned to give wildlife plenty of room and not cause undo disturbance. The Egin-Hamer Road divides the closures area into two uneven segments. The smaller southern segment will open to human traffic on April 1, 2006. The larger northern segment will remain closed to human traffic until May 1, 2006. The agreement also included access allowances for private landowners with business concerns requiring entry into the closure area. The segment that opens on April 1 is bordered on by the Egin-Hamer Road on the north and Highway 33 on the south. The western boundary is Interstate 15 and the eastern boundary runs from where the Henrys Fork crosses Highway 33 and heads north through Plano and then toward Egin. Exact descriptions are available at the Idaho Falls BLM & IDFG Offices. Biologists have been keeping a close eye on the survival of radio collared fawns in the area and so far not a single one has died. This number is in stark contrast to the study area along the South Fork of the Snake River where fawn mortality has hit nearly 60%. Human disturbance both intentionally in the form of poaching and unintentionally by hikers and horn hunters led the BLM to close a portion of the area along the South Fork to humans until April 15, 2006. Specific information regarding the closure may be obtained by contacting the local BLM Office in Idaho Falls at 208-524-7445 or the IDFG Office at 208-525-7290.