Guide Gets Ok To Lead Cougar Hunts

The Idaho Outfitters and Guides Licensing Board has given Ridge Taylor of Jackson, Wyo., permission to be the first professional guide to lead cougar hunts in southeast Idaho.

Taylor can guide two clients per season into remote portions of two hunting units on Bureau of Land Management and state lands. The area covers central and southeast Power, southwest Bannock and northern and central Oneida counties

The Idaho Fish and Game Commission has increased from four to seven the number of female cougars that can be taken during the 1997-98 season in southeastern Idaho.

The harvest in the area will likely total 21 cats.

The commission increased the harvest in response to claims from ranchers and deer hunters that an overpopulation of cougars is a big reason the deer herd has not rebounded from the harsh winter die-off of 1992-1993.

Winter takes its toll

Winter’s effects on big-game animals in central Idaho are starting to show, state and federal biologists say.

The U.S. Forest Service closed part of a snowmobiling route near the Clearwater River’s North Fork because of concerns about elk.

The trail closure along roads northeast of Pierce followed a survey by Forest Service biologist Dennis Talbert.

The mountain snows that have grown deeper and softer in recent weeks have trapped animals in isolated areas.

Recent helicopter surveys showed the long winter is beginning to take a toll, said Idaho Fish and Game Department regional wildlife manager Jay Crenshaw.

The February survey in Unit 12 along the Lochsa River showed that farther upstream the snow gets more consistent and the elk in the area cannot move as easily, he said.

The elk that are in trouble would be so difficult to get to that Fish and Game officials rule out any emergency feeding efforts.

Ads in rules pamphlet

Advertising will appear for the first time in the Idaho trophy species hunting pamphlet, which was published last week.

Washington and several other states have been publishing advertising in regulations pamphlets for several years to offset printing costs that are paid with money from hunting and fishing licenses.

Fighting illegal fish plants

In a move that might seem odd at first glance, Walleyes Unlimited of Montana donated $1,000 to help prevent the spread of walleye.

The illegal spread, that is.

Every year, fishermen in Montana who move fish from one body of water to another potentially threaten fisheries with irreparable damage.

“We hope the money is used to help prevent illegal introductions of fish into Montana’s rivers and lakes,” said Roger Larsen, of Walleye’s Unlimited. “We also believe the best way to curb illegal introduction is through education.”

The money will benefit not only the state’s Aquatic Education program, designed to educate youngsters about fishing, but also the “Turn in Poachers-Montana” hotline. Folks can call 1-800-TIP-MONT to report abuses of any fishing and hunting regulations.

, DataTimes