Posts tagged: hunting
WILDLIFE — Elk numbers in Montana's Bitterroot Valley are up this year mostly because of better calf survival, according to reseachers.
This year’s aerial spring count found 7,373 elk in the five hunting districts that encircle the Bitterroot Valley. That's the fourth highest number of elk spotted by biologists in the 48-year history of the annual spring survey.
Range conditions and more emphasis on controlling wolves, cougars and bears played a roll in the increase, biologists say.
HUNTING – The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation says it’s waiving fees for auctioning state-sponsored big-game hunting tags and is challenging other groups to do the same to increase funding for wildlife conservation.
The Missoula-based foundation announced last week that it will return 100 percent of the revenue it generates from the auction of state special big game permits through its national events and programs to the individual states.
Large groups that organize tag auctions or raffles generally take a percentage of the profits for their efforts and return the rest to state wildlife agencies for managing big-game species such as elk, deer and bighorn sheep.
“These tags were intended to benefit wildlife conservation and hunting access, not the organizations selling them,” said David Allen, RMEF president.
RMEF recently auctioned a special elk permit offered by Arizona for $385,000 at its national convention.
The RMEF convention generates $700,000 to $1 million each year in the auction sale of special tags/permits from state game and fish agencies.
Similar high-bid auctions are organized by groups such as the Wild Sheep Foundation and Safari Club International.
Allen also called for groups and sportsmen to follow the auction funds to make sure they’re used for the intended purpose of managing target species.
He said wildlife conservation groups should allow complete transparency of all their financial information including the publishing of their audited financials from each fiscal year.
WILDLIFE — Idaho Fish and Game Department regional habitat biologists will discuss southern Panhandle wildlife management areas at the monthly informal Coeur d'Alene Sportsmen's Breakfast, 6:30 a.m., Tuesday (May 21) at Lake City Senior Center, 1916 N. Lakewood Dr.
WILDLIFE — Which predator gets the blame for poor survival of elk calves in Yellowstone National Park?
A. Gray wolf.
B. Grizzly bear.
C. Lake trout.
Answer: All of the above.
Check out the Billings Gazette story on the latest suprising research — which shouldn't be all that surprising to wildlife enthusiasts who understand the complex ways nature is connected.
WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT — Spring chinook salmon seasons are on the agenda for the Idaho Fish and Game Commission meeting Wednesday and Thursday (May 15 and 16) in Coeur d’Alene.
A public hearing, open to comments on any Fish and Game business topic, will begin at 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Best Western Plus, 506 West Appleway Ave.
Agenda items include setting a summer season for Chinook salmon, consideration of the fiscal 2015 budget direction and a management plan for westslope cutthroat trout, election of commission chairman and vice-chairman, and a briefing on nonbiological rules for game animals.
Commissioners also will hear a presentation on controlled hunt drawing odds and will consider a position statement on grizzly bears.
RIVERS — In Fiscal Year 2012, the Bonneville Power Administration reported $644.1 million in total costs for its federally mandated actions to mitigate the impacts Columbia River Basin hydroelectric development has had on fish and wildlife.
The costs are listed an annual report released last week by the Northwest Power and Conservation Council to the governors of Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Washington.
The Northwest Power passed by Congress in 1980 requires BPA, which markets power generated at federal dams in the region, to fund the NPCC programs undertaken by state and federal agencies and some tribes.
Bonneville estimates the grand total expended since 1978, when the costs began, through 2012, is about $13 billion, not including $2.27 billion in capital investments for fish hatcheries and fish passage facilities at dams.
Read on for a summary of the 2012 costs, compiled by the Columbia Basin Bulletin:
HUNTING — Before last weekend, I had no trouble sitting still waiting for a gobbler to work its way in to a call.
But Wednesday it was taken by surprise with the hatch of mosquitoes triggered by the recent warm spell.
I didn't have repellent.
Sitting still required more effort, looking down my shotgun barrel with the blurred silhouette of a skeeter rump on my nose.
HUNTING — Spring and summer are the best times to get youths enrolled in hunter education courses that are pre-requisites for obtaining a hunting license.
Idaho reports openings are available in upcoming classes, unlike fall, when procrastinators vie for limited space in crowded classes.
Check on available classes in your areas online:
WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT — In a somewhat rare sentiment, the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission has issued a letter thanking a departing commissioner for his service.
Gary Douvia of Kettle Falls served on the nine-member citizen panel since 2006. His term expired on Jan. 1 and Gov. Jay Inslee chose not to reappoint him. Three other commisisoners whose terms have expired also are likely to be replaced, possibly this month.
Over the years, quite a few of the commissioners, who serve without pay beyond travel expenses, have come and gone without much recognition.
Read on for the complete letter of thanks dated today. It's not signed, however the commission office staff says the letter is a collective effort by the commisison members.
See a longer list and many outdoor links and features on the S-R's Outdoors topics web page.
WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT — An Idaho Fish and Game employee was injured Thursday in an ATV accident along the lower Salmon River below Eagle Creek.
Mark Parks, 57, of Lewiston, was working by himself spraying weeds with an ATV-mounted tank sprayer when the ATV rolled over on him, reports Mike Demick at the agency's regional office in Lewiston.
Parks used his emergency satellite transmitter to call for help.
A Lewiston-area medical evacuation helicopter, based at St. Joseph’s Regional Medical center, was dispatched in response. Parks was transported to Lewiston and eventually flown to Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center Hospital in Spokane for treatment of multiple broken bones.
He remains hospitalized in stable condition, Demick said.
FISHING – Setting a summer chinook salmon fishing season is on agenda for the Idaho Fish and Game Commission meeting May 15 and 16 in Coeur d’Alene.
A public hearing will begin at 7 p.m. Wednesday May 15. This session is open for comment on any Fish and Game Department related topic.
Although the full agenda has not been set, routine agenda items for the May 16 session include consideration of the fiscal 2015 budget direction, election of commission chairman and vice-chairman, and a briefing on nonbiological rules for game animals.
HUNTING — Idaho Fish and Game is beginning it's process to revise elk management plans with an open house at the Panhandle Region headquarters office from 3 p.m.-7 p.m. Thursday (May 2) in Coeur d'Alene.
Not to be confused with annual hunting regulations, species management plans provide direction for management of a particular species for the next 10 years or more.
Read on for more details from IFG officials.
WILDLIFE — Washington Fish and Wildlife police officers are accustomed to dealing with testosterone-charged males strutting their stuff.
But officer Curt Wood stood up to a bird-brained attacker to get these photos. Here are the details from an edited version of the agency's Enforcement Division's weekly report:
While patrolling Lincoln County for turkey hunters, Officer Wood encountered a male dusky grouse that was strutting head on a primitive road. Officer Wood pulled his patrol vehicle up to the grouse and stopped.
Within seconds, the grouse jumped up onto the front of the officer's pickup and started strutting on the hood. Officer Wood was able to get one picture with his cell phone camera before the grouse jumped back onto the ground in front of the truck.
Wood got out of his vehicle and eased to within a foot or so of the grouse. While the officer was snapping more photos, the grouse suddenly attacked Wood’s hand, sending his camera flying several feet.
Wood was able to get a few more pictures (and a few more pecks to the hand) before he returned to his vehicle and tried to get out of there with his ego intact. While driving away, he observed the grouse chasing his vehicle for quite a distance down the road.
At last report, no charges have been filed.
WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT — Gov. Jay Inslee is taking advantage of his authority to appoint members of the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission.
As rumored last week, commissioner Gary Douvia of Kettle Falls has been removed from his position and his slot is vacant. His term expired Dec. 31. See current list of commissioners.
Often Fish and Wildlife commissioners continue their roles even when governors change.
Even commissioners whose terms have expired usually are allowed to continue on the panel until a replacement is named, if that ever happens.
But in Douvia's case, the ax has fallen with no explanation and the governor's staff is activey interviewing candidates for the postition.
One candidate is retired Spokane firefighter George Orr, a Democrat, former state legislator and former Fish and Wildlife Commissioner. His interview is this morning.
I've also learned that commissioner Chuck Perry of Moses Lake has been given his walking papers, but is being allowed to continue on the commission until he's replaced.
It's rumored that commission chair Miranda Wecker's expired position is in question.
More details on the shifting of commission positions are offered here in a post by Andy Walgamott of Northwest Sportsman.
HUNTING — The deadline for Idaho moose, bighorn sheep and mountain goat controlled hunt applications is April 30, according to the state Fish and Game Department.
Moose population changes, primarily in the Clearwater and Panhandle regions, have prompted the state to offer 46 fewer bull tags but 11 more antlerless tags.
Bighorn sheep changes are in the Salmon Region, where Hunt Area 27-4 was split into two separate hunt areas; the portion of hunt area 27-4 within unit 27 will be Hunt Area 27-5 with two tags, and the portion of 27-4 that falls in the Yankee Fork Drainage in unit 36 will be Hunt Area 36 with one tag.
Mountain goat hunting involves only on change in the Upper Snake Region where hunt area 51 is closed, eliminating three tags.
For moose, goat and sheep hunt applications only, the entire application fee must be paid with the application. All but the $6.25 application fee ($14.75 for nonresidents), will be refunded to those who do not draw. The resident application, including permit fee, costs $173; nonresidents pay $2,116.50. Unsuccessful resident applicants will receive a refund of $166.75; unsuccessful nonresident applicants will receive a refund of $2,101.75.
Read on for other details.
WILDLIFE — Could genetic manipulation allow species to adapt to climate change or control an invasive species?
Could we bring back the passenger pigeon and other extinct speces? Would we want to?
This is just a sense of the future of wildlife management through the door opened by genetic engineering. Scientists took a step through that door recently at Cambridge University to examine the question: “How will Synthetic Biology and Conservation Shape the Future of Nature?”
Revkin concludes with three thought-stimulating articles:
HUNTING — Elizabeth Odell is a model of hunting consistency.
The young Spokane hunter bagged her first turkey (see photo at left) and deer in the spring and fall seasons when she was 9 years old.
Liz, now 15, was out last weekend to keep the string going with a nice gobbler (top photo).
Odell is from Spokane and hunts with her father, Jim, and proud grandpa, Dick, who submitted the photos.
Following are some of the top recent outdoors stories from The Spokesman-Review:
WILDLIFE — A reader submitted this photo snapped Wednesday off I-90 between Wallace and Mullan. She said the eyes appeared blue like those of a husky, but the animal ran away as though it were wild.
What's your guess? Wolf, wolf hybrid or husky?
News, field reports and insights on the Great Outdoors.
Rich Landers – hunter, animal lover, hiker, paddler, angler, naturalist and conservationist – has been covering the outdoors beat for more than three decades. His versatility and field research as a trails and waterways guidebook author help him connect issues to a wide range of interests.
Rich Landers Rich Landers writes and photographs stories for a wide range of outdoors coverage, including a Sunday feature section and a Thursday column. He also writes the Outdoors Blog.
Recent work by Rich
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