Mallard, Canada Goose Numbers Up

Mallard and Canada goose numbers were up substantially from last year in Idaho’s annual mid-winter waterfowl trend survey.

The statewide count showed 159,160 mallards this year, compared with 149,479 in 1995. The largest concentration of mallards was in the Lake Lowell-Deer Flat Refuge area of southwestern Idaho where 92,238 were counted this year. Canada geese numbered 70,257 in the statewide count this year, up from 43,855 last year. More than half of this year’s goose count came from the American Falls area at 38,968. Only 6,517 geese were seen in that area last year.

The next largest concentrations of geese were seen in the big lake country of the Panhandle. The statewide survey found 33,758 in 1994 and 27,682 in 1993.

Overall, ducks showed a slight decline from last year. The difference was primarily in the number of redheads, 11,431 this year compared to 32,829 in 1995. Total waterfowl numbers were higher than last year, from 284,590 to 299,100, because of the dramatic increase in geese counted. Total waterfowl number statewide were 261,620 in 1994 and 221,407 in 1993.

Application deadlines change

The application period for Idaho’s deer, elk and antelope controlled hunts has been moved up a month this year to May 1-31. Last year the deadline was June 30.

Applications for Idaho moose, mountain goat and bighorn sheep must be submitted April 1-April 30.

Meanwhile, Washington’s deadline for permit applications has been changed for the second consecutive year. Last year, the deadline was changed to March 31 to give sportsmen more time to plan hunting vacations should they draw a permit. But some sportsmen complained that the permit quotas weren’t available when they made their applications.

The Washington Fish and Wildlife Department changed the date at a January meeting with no notification to the rest of the agency or the public.

This year, the application deadline is May 3. Hunters who draw tags should be notified by June 30.

“The first I knew of the change was when I saw it on the back of the new hunting regulations,” one department employee said.

Training for hunters

Hunter education courses are gearing up throughout the region.

Idaho Fish and Game officials said hunter education classed can be guaranteed for those who sign up before April 1. Certification is a prerequisite for buying an Idaho hunting license for anyone born after Jan. 1, 1975.

Washington hunter education courses taught by the Inland Northwest Wildlife Council begin in April and run every month through the summer. Registration begins March 14-17 at the Big Horn Sports and Recreation Show at Spokane Interstate Fairgrounds.

Telephone registration will be taken after April 1 by calling 487-8552.

A Pullman-area hunter education course runs Tuesdays and Thursdays beginning March 26 at Washington State University Johnson Hall. Info: Joe Ford, 334-7665.

Klemgard Park closed

Klemgard County Park near Colfax is closed until further notice due to flood damage. The floods that ravaged the area raised safety and sanitation issues and forced the closure, said Whitman County Parks Department officials. Info: (509)-397-6238.

Montana adds restrictions Montana’s Fish, Wildlife and Parks Commission recently tightened the leash on many hunting and fishing opportunities.

For example: The daily limit for trout in lakes and reservoirs generally has been reduced form 10 fish to five with a 10-fish possession limit. Some exceptions will be listed in regulations pamphlets.

Over-the-counter, multi-regional permits for antlerless mule deer and doe-fawn antelope hunting have been eliminated. Other permits for mule deer also have been reduced.

Reduced the ring-necked pheasant possession limit from 12 to nine. The daily limit remains at three.

Shortened the sage grouse season by six weeks, running Sept. 1-Nov. 1. The daily limit was reduced from three to two.

Idaho logs safe season

For the second year on record, no human fatalities were recorded from the discharge of firearms or bows during and Idaho’s hunting season.

The first fatality-free year was 1993.

Idaho recorded 10 non-fatal hunting accidents involving firearms. Four of those injuries were self-inflicted. Six involved two-parties, said Dan Papp, Idaho Fish and Game Department hunter education director.

Three fatalities occurred while hunting, including two waterfowlers who drowned and one big game hunter who fell from a cliff.

Hunter education in Idaho continues to grow, Papp said. In 1995, 7,800 students were certified statewide.

, DataTimes