Weather Causing Problems For Cross Country Ski Race

Equipment failures are causing heartburn at Mount Spokane State Park, where wind has been piling new snow on the course for this weekend’s Langlauf, the largest cross country ski race in the Northwest.

The Piston Bully groomer broke down over the weekend and repairs had not been completed as of Tuesday, said Pete Wood, park manager.

One of the park’s large plowing trucks slid off the park road in nasty conditions Tuesday, causing even more problems for the small park staff.

Repairs to the grooming equipment were expected to be completed today, with grooming to resume late tonight, Wood said.

That should allow time for the groomer to prepare the 6.2-mile course for the Langlauf. But strong winds on Tuesday could have blown down trees on the trail system, requiring even more work to get the trails in shape.

Deer hunters’ success rate up

The percentage of successful Idaho deer hunters is up, from less than 25 percent in 1997 to 27 percent for the 1998 seasons.

The Idaho Department of Fish and Game was able to tally information on the fall hunting season thanks to a mandatory hunter report system used for the first time. The system is being tested for reliability against the telephone survey method that has been in place for several years.

The increased hunter success rate could be an indicator of stronger growth in Idaho’s deer population, a department press release stated.

Elk hunting success, with populations about the same as the year before, dropped from 19.1 percent to 16.6 percent, according to the department.

Spring turkey hunts

The 1999 Idaho wild turkey regulations are out and available at license vendors and Idaho Department of Fish & Game offices.

Expanding flocks and new populations will allow for longer spring seasons, an increased season bag limit, and new fall turkey controlled hunt opportunities.

The general season in most of the state is April 15-May 25. One exception is the Panhandle, where the general hunt is preceded by two controlled hunts. The Panhandle general season runs May 1-May 25.

Hunters may purchase two spring tags for the first time this year. One tag may be used for a controlled hunt if the hunter is drawn for one of these limited-entry hunts, or for any general season. Hunters may also purchase another spring tag, which is valid only May 10-May 25.

The fall hunt will be limited to 500 permits, with 400 in the Panhandle. The application period for a fall controlled hunt will be the month of May.

4 teens will pay for killing spree Four teenage boys pleaded guilty Jan. 25 in the Sixth Judicial District Court of Caribou County (Soda Springs, Idaho) to illegally shooting 11 deer and a moose and wasting the meat. Fines, civil penalties, and court costs against the four total $14,544, with 12 years of probation, 28 days of jail time and 27 years of hunting, fishing and trapping license revocations. All 11 of the deer killed were bucks and the moose was a bull. The antlers were sawed off each animal and kept by the teenagers. No meat was taken.