Sportsmen should leave no trace

JEROME - As temperatures warm and anglers and target shooters head out into the field, sportsmen need to remember to respect the land and leave the area cleaner than they find it. Trash left behind by sportsmen is one of the most common complaints heard from landowners, according to the Idaho Department of Fish and Game. Access to thousands of acres of public and private land has been lost because some sportsmen don't respect the land. On both public and private waterways, trash and fishing line can become a major problem. Discarded trash, besides leaving the area unsightly, can plug irrigation systems costing the landowner time and money to clean. Discarded fishing line is also a major concern for wildlife health. Every year birds and other wetland animals are killed or injured after becoming entangled in abandoned line. Fortunately, many Idaho sportsmen believe in leaving an area cleaner than they found it and pick up others' discarded trash before heading home. The Idaho Department of Fish and Game encourages sportsmen to practice good ethics, and clean up after themselves as well as others to help protect the wildlife and environment they enjoy. A few things for outdoorsmen to remember include: - Pack out everything that is packed in - Leave gates the way they are found - Drive only on existing roads - Clean up targets and empty casings after shooting - Don't shoot on private lands unless permission has been granted - Clean up other people's trash - Leave the land better than it was found - When roads are wet - walk to prevent ruts from motorized vehicles For more information on what sportsmen can do, call 324-4359.