Hunters may face expanded ATV rules

BOISE – Officials with the Idaho Department of Fish and Game might put new restrictions on ATVs and motorcycles in more hunting areas in southwest Idaho during big game seasons.

Only two of the 18 hunting units in the Southwest Region now carry such restrictions, where hunters on ATVs or motorcycles are limited to roads “capable of travel by a full-sized vehicle.”

“We’ve put all the other units on the table,” said Jon Rachael, Fish and Game’s southwest regional wildlife manager. “We’re asking folks to weigh in on it.”

Public comments are being accepted until Friday. After that, Fish and Game commissioners will decide whether to put ATV restrictions on more hunting units when they set seasons and hunting rules at their regular meeting March 1-3 in Boise.

Commissioners first imposed restrictions on ATVs in 2002, near the Nevada border. The department has since put restrictions on 28 of 99 hunting units.

As ATVs have become more popular with hunters, officials have had to consider how to deal with them. In 2005, Idaho had about 100,000 registered ATVs and off-road motorcycles, according to the Idaho Department of Recreation. That’s almost double the number in 2000. About half of all hunters use ATVs or motorcycles, Rachael said.

Jake Powell, a wildlife biologist with Fish and Game, said hunters commenting last year on a mule deer management plan wanted ATV restrictions.

“The No. 1 comment we received from hunters was the need for additional ATV restrictions,” he said.

People can comment at Fish and Game’s Web site at www.fishandgame.idaho.gov. A survey is also available there.