Outdoors – East Idaho News https://www.eastidahonews.com Idaho Falls news, Rexburg news, Pocatello news, East Idaho news, Idaho news, education news, crime news, good news, business news, entertainment news, Feel Good Friday and more. Tue, 16 Jan 2024 01:41:55 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets.eastidahonews.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/07174832/cropped-site-logo-favicon-32x32.png Outdoors – East Idaho News https://www.eastidahonews.com 32 32 Applications for spring black bear controlled hunts are open through Feb. 15 https://www.eastidahonews.com/2024/01/applications-for-spring-black-bear-controlled-hunts-are-open-through-feb-15/ Tue, 16 Jan 2024 01:40:33 +0000 https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=644605 The following is a news release and photo from the Idaho Department of Fish and Game. IDAHO FALLS – Hunters looking to apply for 2024 spring’s controlled hunts for black bear can apply from Jan. 15 to Feb. 15. Information on the spring 2024 controlled black bear hunt can be found in the 2023 Idaho […]

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The following is a news release and photo from the Idaho Department of Fish and Game.

IDAHO FALLS – Hunters looking to apply for 2024 spring’s controlled hunts for black bear can apply from Jan. 15 to Feb. 15. Information on the spring 2024 controlled black bear hunt can be found in the 2023 Idaho Big Game Seasons and Rules booklet.

Hunters must have a 2024 hunting license in order to apply for controlled hunts, and there are several ways to apply:

  • Online: Hunters can apply here, or on the Fish and Game mobile app. There is a service charge of 3% of the transaction in addition to the nonrefundable controlled hunt application fee.
  • Licensed Vendors: At any Fish and Game regional office or license vendor.
  • Telephone: Applications can be placed over the phone by calling 1 (800) 554-8685.
    Mail in applications are no longer accepted.

Controlled hunts are hunts with a limited number of tags allocated by a random drawing, unlike a general season hunt, which allows hunters to purchase tags over the counter. Controlled hunts are often desirable because of location and timing, and success rates are usually higher than general season hunts.

Junior hunters must be between the ages of 10 and 17 to participate in any bear controlled hunt, but a 9-year-old may buy a junior license to apply, provided the hunter is 10 years old at the time of the hunt for which they are applying.

Controlled hunt applications for spring 2024 black bear close on Feb. 15. Successful spring black bear applicants will be notified no later than March 10. Any leftover tags for spring bear controlled hunts go on sale April 1.

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Become an Idaho Master Naturalist; introductory meeting scheduled in Pocatello. https://www.eastidahonews.com/2024/01/become-an-idaho-master-naturalist-introductory-meeting-scheduled-in-pocatello/ Sun, 14 Jan 2024 23:00:02 +0000 https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=644052 The following is a news release from the Idaho Department of Fish and Game. POCATELLO — The High Desert Chapter of the Idaho Master Naturalists is now recruiting new members to be a part of a unique volunteering experience in southeast Idaho. Those who love the outdoors and learning more about southeast Idaho’s wildlife, habitats […]

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Make a difference through this unique volunteer program. | Courtesy Idaho Department of Fish and Game

The following is a news release from the Idaho Department of Fish and Game.

POCATELLO — The High Desert Chapter of the Idaho Master Naturalists is now recruiting new members to be a part of a unique volunteering experience in southeast Idaho. Those who love the outdoors and learning more about southeast Idaho’s wildlife, habitats and other natural resources will discover a wide variety of fun and enriching volunteer experiences through the Idaho Master Naturalists program.

The High Desert Chapter will hold an introductory meeting for prospective new members on Thursday, Jan. 18, at the Idaho Department of Fish and Game office located at 1345 Barton Road in Pocatello. The meeting starts at 7 p.m.

The High Desert Chapter of the Idaho Master Naturalist Program is sponsored by the Idaho Department of Fish and Game. Program volunteers have opportunities to support projects managed by Idaho Department of Fish and Game, U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, Sagebrush-Steppe Land Trust, City of Pocatello, Zoo Idaho, Idaho Museum of Natural History and others.

For certification in the program, new members must attend 40 hours of education and donate 40 hours of volunteer service toward authorized conservation projects by Dec. 31, 2024. To help meet these requirements, a diversity of interesting classes and volunteer opportunities are provided through the High Desert Chapter. The first class is free of charge, and the total cost for the certification process is a one-time fee of $80.00 per person to cover supplies and materials. $20 is refunded upon successful completion of the program.

High Desert Chapter members develop lifelong friendships with people whose collective efforts benefit the community and the natural world around them.

To learn more about the Idaho Master Naturalist program, visit the High Desert Chapter webpage through the following link https://idfg.idaho.gov/master-naturalist/chapter/high-desert, or please contact chapter president Paul Allen at (208) 241-5265.

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Do you really have to travel? How you can stay safe on the road during the blizzard https://www.eastidahonews.com/2024/01/do-you-really-have-to-travel-how-you-can-stay-safe-during-the-blizzard/ Fri, 12 Jan 2024 00:22:27 +0000 https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=643660 IDAHO FALLS – Idaho State Police is making sure you know what to do to stay safe during the potential for an extreme blizzard on Thursday and Friday. ISP is partnering with local law enforcement agencies and the Idaho Department of Transportation to ensure they are out in “full force” during the storm that could […]

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IDAHO FALLS – Idaho State Police is making sure you know what to do to stay safe during the potential for an extreme blizzard on Thursday and Friday.

ISP is partnering with local law enforcement agencies and the Idaho Department of Transportation to ensure they are out in “full force” during the storm that could create extremely dangerous road conditions.

“This one has a big word in it, and it’s called blizzard,” says Capt. Chris Weadick with the Idaho State Police. “We usually don’t usually get blizzard warnings, so this one is on our radar.”

Weadick says the most important thing to do is decide if you really need to be driving during the storm or not.

RELATED | Blizzard coming to eastern Idaho Thursday night; drivers asked to not travel

“During this storm, one of the biggest things is travel. Ask yourself if you really need to be traveling out in the weather during this period of time,” says Weadick. “If you don’t, limit your travel, reduce your travel, or just simply stay home. Stay off the roadways.”

If you decide you need to travel, remember the roads are slick, the wind is fast, and there are more people on the road than just you.

“A lot of people have been comfortable for the last month or two having nice dry roads, and they have forgotten winter driving habits,” says Weadick. “Slow down, don’t follow so close, and wear seatbelts. We still see a lot of crashes with drivers that aren’t wearing their seatbelts. A lot of that type of stuff is very preventable.”

According to Weadick, the biggest threat with the blizzard will be the wind as the National Weather Service is estimating that Idaho Falls could see winds gusting as high as 55 mph.

“We’re expecting extremely high winds. If we get a couple of inches of snow with 50 mph winds, you’ve got significant drifting issues,” says Weadick. “We could still have significant snow accumulations, but really, the wind is going to be a very big concern.”

All of local law enforcement and the Idaho Transportation Department will be deploying everyone available to make sure the roads are clear and people are as safe as possible during the storm.

“The Idaho Transportation Department is going to be out in full force, trying to keep the roadways clear,” says Weadick. “It is going to be all hands on deck for the Idaho State Police, here in the Idaho Falls area. We are pretty much going to have every trooper available in our ranks working.”

Weadick says local law enforcement will also be patrolling more remote areas and long stretches of road to ensure drivers are using caution.

“The other law enforcement agencies are out doing the same thing. We’ve got a lot of remote highways, a lot of long stretches of road, everybody is going to be out trying to provide the best travel safe roadways out here,” says Weadick. “We’re committed to being out in full force, and trying to help the motoring public.”

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Blizzard coming to eastern Idaho Thursday night; drivers asked to not travel https://www.eastidahonews.com/2024/01/blizzard-coming-to-eastern-idaho-thursday-night-drivers-asked-to-not-travel/ Thu, 11 Jan 2024 17:19:08 +0000 https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=643525 snow stormPOCATELLO — A blizzard is coming to eastern Idaho, bringing significant snowfall and high winds throughout the region starting Thursday evening. The National Weather Service in Pocatello has issued a blizzard warning starting 5 p.m. Thursday and will last until Friday evening or Saturday morning in certain areas. NWS Meteorologist Audra Moore said the last […]

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Adobe Stock image

POCATELLO — A blizzard is coming to eastern Idaho, bringing significant snowfall and high winds throughout the region starting Thursday evening.

The National Weather Service in Pocatello has issued a blizzard warning starting 5 p.m. Thursday and will last until Friday evening or Saturday morning in certain areas.

NWS Meteorologist Audra Moore said the last blizzard warning that was issued was eight years ago in eastern Idaho during December 2016. She said there have been about seven blizzard warnings issued since 2006.

“We are trying to get people to understand how serious this is,” Moore said. “A blizzard is sustained winds or frequent gusts of 35 mph or greater causing blowing snow to reduce visibility to a quarter of a mile or less for 3+ hours. So a blizzard warning is less about the snow falling than it is about the blowing snow impacting travel.”

Blizzard conditions are expected all across eastern Idaho, with total snow accumulations of one to five inches in the Upper Snake River Plain. The snowfall and wind is expected from 5 p.m. Thursday to 5 p.m. Friday. Areas affected include the Mud Lake, Teton Valley, Idaho Falls, Rexburg, St. Anthony, Victor, Ashton, Tetonia and Driggs.

Places like Pocatello, Fort Hall, Shelley and Blackfoot could expect snow accumulations of four to eight inches and winds gusting as high as 60 mph. In these areas, the blizzard warning is in effect from 5 p.m. Thursday to 5 a.m. Saturday.

Places like Inkom, Lava Hot Springs, Preston, Montpelier, Soda Springs and Swan Valley could have five to nine inches of snow. The blizzard warning in these areas is also in effect from 5 p.m. Thursday to 5 a.m. Saturday.

Additionally, there is a wind chill watch in effect from Friday through Saturday. Winds gusting as high as 55 mph are possible. Dangerously cold wind chills are possible, with chills as low as 25 below zero.

“Tomorrow (Friday) morning would be a nightmare travel scenario with gusts in that 50 to 60 mph range,” Moore added.

The blizzard warning from NWS says that travel could be very difficult to “impossible.” Blowing and drifting snow will significantly reduce visibility. In a graphic posted by NWS, the blizzard warning advises, “do not travel.”

“It’s way too dangerous. Don’t be out unless it is an emergency. Not only are you putting yourself at risk, but you also put at risk the lives of the emergency responders,” Moore said.

If you have to travel, Moore suggests doing it on Thursday before the blizzard warning is in effect.

“Make sure you’ve got your snow gear in the car with you and make sure you’ve got extra food, extra water, flashlights, and power banks to charge your phone,” she added.

Click here to check out the road conditions. Click here to view the weather in your area.

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Avalanche warning issued for areas in Idaho and Montana https://www.eastidahonews.com/2024/01/avalanche-warning-issued-for-areas-in-idaho-and-montana/ Wed, 10 Jan 2024 19:40:11 +0000 https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=643334 avalanche graphicBOZEMAN, Mont. — The Gallatin National Forest Avalanche Center in Bozeman has issued a backcountry avalanche warning for several popular winter recreating areas, according to a news release from the center. As of Wednesday morning, the following areas have a high avalanche rating: Southern Gallatin and southern Madison Ranges The mountains around Cooke City The […]

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EastIdahoNews.com file image

BOZEMAN, Mont. — The Gallatin National Forest Avalanche Center in Bozeman has issued a backcountry avalanche warning for several popular winter recreating areas, according to a news release from the center.

As of Wednesday morning, the following areas have a high avalanche rating:

  • Southern Gallatin and southern Madison Ranges
  • The mountains around Cooke City
  • The Lionhead area near West Yellowstone
  • The Centennial Mountains outside Island Park

The snowpack is weak and unstable, officials said in the news release. The recent snowfall and strong wind are creating dangerous conditions. Human-triggered and natural avalanches are likely.

“Backcountry travelers should stay away from all steep slopes,” according to the news release. “Avalanches can be triggered from flat terrain. Steep slopes can avalanche far above and run into lower-angled terrain.”

The avalanche warning is in effect until 6 a.m. Thursday.

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Arrest warrant issued for Montana man accused of killing thousands of birds, including eagles https://www.eastidahonews.com/2024/01/arrest-warrant-issued-for-montana-man-accused-of-killing-thousands-of-birds-including-eagles/ Tue, 09 Jan 2024 17:51:40 +0000 https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=642964 bald eagleBILLINGS, Mont. (AP) — A federal judge issued an arrest warrant Monday for a Montana man who failed to show up for an initial court appearance on charges of killing thousands of birds, including bald and golden eagles. A second defendant pleaded not guilty. The two men, working with others, killed about 3,600 birds on […]

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A bald eagle flies at Loess Bluffs National Wildlife Refuge Friday, Dec. 24, 2021, in Mound City, Mo. A federal grand jury in Montana early Dec. 2023, has indicted two men accused of killing about 3,600 birds, including bald eagles and golden eagles, and selling them on the black market. | Charlie Riedel, AP File Photo

BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) — A federal judge issued an arrest warrant Monday for a Montana man who failed to show up for an initial court appearance on charges of killing thousands of birds, including bald and golden eagles. A second defendant pleaded not guilty.

The two men, working with others, killed about 3,600 birds on Montana’s Flathead Indian Reservation and elsewhere over a six-year period beginning in 2015, according to a grand jury indictment unsealed last month. The defendants also were accused of selling eagle parts on a black market that has been a long-running problem for U.S. wildlife officials.

Magistrate Judge Kathleen L. DeSoto issued a warrant for Simon Paul, 42, of St. Ignatius, Montana, after he failed to appear at his scheduled arraignment Monday in U.S. District Court in Missoula.

Travis John Branson, 48, of Cusick, Washington, pleaded not guilty and was released pending further proceedings in the case.

The two defendants are charged with a combined 13 counts of unlawful trafficking of bald and golden eagles and one count each of conspiracy and violating wildlife trafficking laws.

Paul and Branson worked with others who were not named in the indictment to hunt and kill the birds, and in at least one instance used a dead deer to lure an eagle that was then shot, according to prosecutors. The men then conspired to sell eagle feathers, tails, wings and other parts for “significant sums of cash,” the indictment said.

They face up to five years in federal prison on each of the conspiracy and wildlife trafficking violations. Trafficking eagles carries a penalty of up to one year in prison for a first offense and two years in prison for each subsequent offense.

Branson could not be reached for comment and his court-appointed attorney, federal defender Michael Donahoe, did not immediately respond to a message left at his office. Paul could not be reached for comment.

Bald eagles are the national symbol of the United States, and both bald and golden eagles are widely considered sacred by American Indians. U.S. law prohibits anyone without a permit from killing, wounding or disturbing eagles or taking any parts such as nests or eggs.

Bald eagles were killed off across most of the U.S. over the last century, due in large part to the pesticide DDT, but later flourished under federal protections and came off the federal endangered species list in 2007.

Golden eagle populations are less secure, and researchers say illegal shootings, energy development, lead poisoning and other problems have pushed the species to the brink of decline.

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Fish and Game seeking information on bull elk killed and left to waste near Salmon https://www.eastidahonews.com/2024/01/fish-and-game-seeking-information-on-bull-elk-killed-and-left-to-waste-near-salmon/ Wed, 03 Jan 2024 19:24:01 +0000 https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=641868 bull elkThe following is a news release from the Idaho Department of Fish and Game. MAY – Idaho Fish and Game is seeking information about a bull elk shot and left to waste near May, Idaho in the Pahsimeroi Valley. Conservation officers found the 5-point bull elk on private land east of Hooper Lane about 250 […]

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EastIdahoNews.com file photo from Oct. 2022

The following is a news release from the Idaho Department of Fish and Game.

MAY – Idaho Fish and Game is seeking information about a bull elk shot and left to waste near May, Idaho in the Pahsimeroi Valley.

Conservation officers found the 5-point bull elk on private land east of Hooper Lane about 250 yards east of the Pahsimeroi River. The elk was thought to have been shot between Sunday, Dec. 24 and Wednesday, Dec. 27, and the entire carcass was left to waste.

“There are no bull hunts open, but we hope with the nearly 150 cow elk tag holders, someone saw or heard something in the area that will help us track down the violator,” said Conservation Officer Matt Cahoon. “If anyone has any information, we would appreciate a call.”

Anyone with information that may be helpful in this case is encouraged to call the Salmon Regional Office at (208) 756-2271, the Citizens Against Poaching hotline at 1-800-632-5999, or report online. Callers can remain anonymous, and a reward is being offered for information that leads to a citation.

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Body of missing 16-year-old recovered from the Snake River https://www.eastidahonews.com/2024/01/body-of-missing-16-year-old-recovered-from-the-snake-river/ Tue, 02 Jan 2024 00:49:36 +0000 https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=641634 Jayden Jensen of PocatelloPOCATELLO — The body of a missing 16-year-old boy has been recovered from the Snake River near the American Falls Reservoir. Jayden Jensen of Pocatello disappeared into the river about 300 yards north of the American Falls Reservoir on Dec. 6, while he was duck hunting with a group of friends. Despite several weeks of […]

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Jayden Jensen of Pocatello

POCATELLO — The body of a missing 16-year-old boy has been recovered from the Snake River near the American Falls Reservoir.

Jayden Jensen of Pocatello disappeared into the river about 300 yards north of the American Falls Reservoir on Dec. 6, while he was duck hunting with a group of friends.

Despite several weeks of intense searching by the Bingham County Sheriff’s Office, the Jensen family, and many local volunteers, authorities called off the official search due to increasing harsh winter weather conditions. However, some volunteer efforts continued alongside the family.

RELATED | Community, searchers still determined in effort to find and recover Jayden Jensen

On Monday, the sheriff’s office posted on Facebook that the body has been recovered by a group of local volunteers:

“Earlier today we received a call from local volunteers (who wish to remain anonymous) that have been working with Jayden’s family near where the incident occurred. They have been battling the ice and the poor road conditions.

Recently, they were able to procure the donated use of an underwater drone that was nimble and maneuverable enough to navigate some of the more difficult areas. Thankfully, this was a recipe for success. Jayden was located on the bottom of the river channel and brought to the surface. He was near perfectly preserved.

The coroner’s office then responded with us and we were able to be near the family when the longed after moment of closure was finally here.

On behalf of the family, we would like to thank every single person that had a role and put effort into bringing Jayden home. That’s from the initial day until today, the day his Grandmother’s Birthday wish came true. There were countless man hours, thoughts, and prayers from far and wide. This incident brought us all together, but it was time.

May Jayden rest in peace, and may his legacy live on through us all.”

RELATED | Authorities call off search for Pocatello teen who fell in water 12 days ago

Bingham County Chief Deputy Jordyn Nebeker tells EastIdahoNews.com it was great to see the community support the Jensen family.

“The silver lining to this incident was seeing the overwhelming support of the community and having the opportunity to brush shoulders with Jayden’s friends and family,” Nebeker said. “They are strong, remarkable people that have no quit in them. May this bring them the peace and closure they all deserve.”

EastIdahoNews.com has reached out to the Jensen family for comment on the recovery. This article will be updated if we receive responses.

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Fill every crevice of your freezer by hunting these small game species this winter https://www.eastidahonews.com/2024/01/fill-every-crevice-of-your-freezer-by-hunting-these-small-game-species-this-winter/ Mon, 01 Jan 2024 22:56:56 +0000 https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=641623 IDAHO FALLS — Have you ever heard of the Forestland Trifecta? Small game hunting through winter is a great way for hunters young and old to develop their skills and confidence without breaking the bank. You don’t need specialized or expensive gear to hunt them, just a .22 long rifle and/or any shotgun, warm clothes […]

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Courtesy Idaho Department of Fish and Game

IDAHO FALLS — Have you ever heard of the Forestland Trifecta?

Small game hunting through winter is a great way for hunters young and old to develop their skills and confidence without breaking the bank. You don’t need specialized or expensive gear to hunt them, just a .22 long rifle and/or any shotgun, warm clothes and boots suitable for hiking. The skills learned while small game hunting – including tracking, handling a firearm, field dressing and cooking the animals you harvest – harken back to the early days of the sport and later translate directly to big game hunting.

In particular, learning to process and clean small game helps new hunters understand the basics of field dressing before they move to larger game. Seeing the woodlands blanketed in snow and pocked with fresh game tracks is like following a treasure map, and instilling in these young minds the habits and patterns of various small game species is a great way to connect youth hunters to the land, animals and hunting.

Here are three of the most commonly found (and exciting) small game species to hunt this winter.

Squirrel | Courtesy Idaho Fish and Game

Courtesy Idaho Department of Fish and Game

Red Squirrels

  • Season dates: Aug. 30 – March 31
  • Bag limit: 8 per day
  • Equipment essentials: Small-caliber hunting rifle, air rifle or shotgun; hiking clothes and boots
  • License requirements: Small game or annual hunting license

They were barking at you all fall. You’re tip-toeing into bull elk country when all of a sudden a Douglas fir starts chirping excitedly at your unwelcomed arrival. The resident red squirrel living on the fifth floor of that lodgepole provides both veteran and rookie hunters an excellent opportunity to extend their hunting season.

Red or pine squirrels – not to be confused with their larger cousins, fox squirrels, which are also reddish in color – are native to Idaho and have a wide distribution. As most big game hunters will attest, they are active during the day, stockpiling seeds, conifer cones, nuts and fruits before winter snow buries the forest floor. Because of their diet (we are what we eat), red squirrels have an earthy, almost nutty flavor. Pun intended.

If you’re lucky enough to bag a couple of red squirrels this season, try any number of crockpot recipes. Squirrels can be lean and tough, and are best broken down slow-cooker style as a hearty addition for soups, stews or tacos, or sautéed in butter and herbs.

Sage Grouse | Courtesy Idaho Fish and Game

Courtesy Idaho Department of Fish and Game

Forest Grouse

  • Season Dates: Aug. 30 – Dec. 31
  • Bag limit: 4 in the aggregate per day
  • Equipment essentials: Small-caliber hunting rifle or shotgun; hiking clothes and boots; upland hunting vest
  • Licensing requirements: Small game or annual hunting license

Forest grouse are crafty, clever mid-sized birds that inhabit much of the state’s forests. Commonly found on public lands, they provide a hunting opportunity for nearly anyone. There are three species of forest grouse in Idaho, all of which are native to the state: the dusky (blue), ruffed and spruce grouse.

Grouse have an uncanny knack for bursting out of a tree roost when a hunter comes too close, often times giving the hunter a near heart attack; however, these birds will sometimes ignore humans altogether as you creep in for a close shot. Depending on your preference, you can either attempt to shoot flushing grouse on the wing with a shotgun, or stationary grouse in the trees with a small-caliber rifle.

An important reminder that grouse hunters need to leave one wing attached to the carcass during transport. Once plucked, de-winged and ready to process, hunters can serve up the breast and thighs a number of ways, including sautéed in butter and thyme in a skillet or dusted in flour and deep-fried.

Squirrel | Courtesy Idaho Fish and Game

Courtesy Idaho Department of Fish and Game

Cottontail/Snowshoe Hares

  • eason dates: Aug. 30 – March 31
  • Bag limit: 8 per day
  • Equipment essentials: Small-caliber hunting rifle or shotgun; (warm) hiking clothes and boots
  • Licensing requirements: Small game or annual hunting license

Few hunting experiences rival winter rabbit and snowshoe hare hunting. The trees are stripped bare and the air is crisp and silent. Hunting for these species is an incredible way to introduce youth hunters to the sport. Sure, it’s 25 degrees and the thermos of hot chocolate back at the truck sounds pretty darn nice, but following the tracks and habits of wintering small game species is a fun way to get family and friends outdoors.

Seeking out rabbits and hares can also be an inexpensive way to introduce youth to hunting and field dressing. This time of year, you’ll need to have a sharp eye as rabbits and hares are notoriously nimble, often found in thick brush, thorn bushes and fallen pine boughs. One option is for hunters to find a high point overlooking a relatively clear area and hunt with a scoped, small-caliber rifle, keeping an eye on openings near cover. Another is for hunters to attempt to flush out rabbits by walking through areas of dense cover and to harvest them on the run using a shotgun. If using the latter approach, it’s not a bad idea to hunt with a friend or two, which will help you cover more territory and potentially flush more rabbits. A dog may also count as a friend.

If you or your budding hunter are quick enough to bag one this season, you’ll find that rabbits and hares are among the easiest to skin in the field. After removing the feet at the ankle knuckle, make a small incision up the back of each hind leg. Pull the skin of each leg towards its pelvis, then continue pulling the hide towards the head down the midsection, as if you were taking its sweater off. Once cleaned and quartered, rabbits can make an excellent addition to stews and roasts or deep-fried.

Whether you’re new to hunting or a long-time veteran, hunting for small game can be an exciting way to keep your marksmanship sharp and your freezer full during the colder months. Remember: Hunters will need a 2024 hunting license beginning on Jan. 1.

For more information on upland and small game seasons and regulations, check out the Fish and Game Upland Game, Turkey & Furbearer Seasons and Rules brochure available online or at authorized licensed vendors.

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Feeding backyard deer and elk does more harm than good https://www.eastidahonews.com/2024/01/feeding-backyard-deer-and-elk-does-more-harm-than-good-3/ Mon, 01 Jan 2024 17:49:18 +0000 https://www.eastidahonews.com/?p=641602 IDAHO FALLS — It may seem like you’re helping, but handouts for wintering deer and elk ultimately harm the animals and people. Seeing a herd of deer outside your door or a herd of elk may seem idyllic, and during winter they can almost seem tame. But truth is they’re wild animals that need to […]

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Courtesy Idaho Department of Fish and Game

IDAHO FALLS — It may seem like you’re helping, but handouts for wintering deer and elk ultimately harm the animals and people.

Seeing a herd of deer outside your door or a herd of elk may seem idyllic, and during winter they can almost seem tame. But truth is they’re wild animals that need to remain wild animals, and feeding them can quickly create a variety of problems.

Here’s how a simple well-meaning act can lead to a neighborhood-wide conflict.

The same, sad story

A neighbor has been leaving feed on their property all winter. The wintering deer catch wind of this 24-hour eatery and tell their out-of-town friends. The numbers grow, and pretty soon other wildlife, including coyotes and cougars, hear about this backyard buffet as well.

The deer and elk eat what’s available and start patrolling the neighborhoods for more readily-available grub, while predators start sourcing their own food – including household pets – as residential conflicts with humans increase.

Regardless of how cute, fuzzy or “hungry” those deer and elk look this time of year, please remember: They’re built for this environment. They do not need a tray of feed laid out in the backyard in order to survive the winter. They’ve done it for thousands of winters before, and they’ll do it again this winter.

Come one, come all

Folks usually have good intentions and are only trying to help. But feeding wildlife can actually do more harm than good.

Deer and elk can face health issues when well-intended, but ill-informed people choose to feed residential wildlife. Feed left out for one deer or elk can quickly lead to more. Large quantities of wildlife in small areas can increase the chances of diseases spreading among the population. Deer and elk digestive systems have adapted to different types of forage for different types of year. During winter, they’re adapted to digest dried, low-nutrient forage. Adding unnatural, rich food to their diet can create serious digestive problems, bloat and even death.

Feeding deer and elk in neighborhoods can also attract them to deadly plants commonly used in landscaping, as was the case in January 2022 in the Wood River Valley. Despite Blaine County’s ordinance restricting the planting of these poisonous plants, five elk were found dead in residential areas after they consumed toxic yew plants. Two of those elk were calves. In 2015-16, the same noxious yew plant killed at least 20 elk in the same area.

As more deer and elk congregate in towns, the chances of vehicle collisions also increase. Deer and elk aren’t the best at reading crosswalk signs while they roam town searching for food sources. Hitting a large deer or even larger elk could ruin a person’s day, not to mention the animal’s day. Motorists should drive cautiously when they’re traveling through areas where wildlife may be present.

Feeding a few deer can very quickly lead to many more looking for handouts, concentrating unnaturally high numbers in small areas, which increases the chances of diseases and parasites spreading among the population. Malnourished animals and crowding-stress create conditions ideal for disease outbreaks, which is also reason for concern.

Courtesy Idaho Department of Fish and Game

The impacts of social media

It’s a sad reality, but staging wildlife photos and videos is becoming more and more of an online trend, and is a selfish and surefire way to jeopardize wildlife health. There is a subgenre of social media where careless people intentionally lure in wildlife with food, such as apples or carrots, and take a selfie with the critter while it munches. Photos and videos can go viral, inflating a person’s ego enough to do it again for even more social media engagement.

Pretty soon the animal becomes used to being fed and repeatedly returns expecting another handout. Maybe it even earns a cute nickname among social media fans. But encouraging this kind of behavior ultimately spells trouble for the wildlife. An animal that’s lost its sense of fear towards humans can create a whole web of problems for people, their pets and sadly the animal itself.

Relocation can sometimes be the best-case scenario, but in certain cases, euthanizing the animal can sadly be the only solution if the animal ends up harming a person or pet.

Courtesy Idaho Department of Fish and Game

Issues all across the state

After passing a no-feeding ordinance in September 2023, the city of McCall is working to make sure residents and visitors are aware that it’s now illegal to feed deer. As the name implies, town deer are deer that spend most of their time living in town to take advantage of a town’s ample food supply, snow-free roads and sidewalks and its lack of hunters.

For some, the spectacle of wild deer appearing “tame” as they stroll down the sidewalk and graze in a neighbor’s front yard is the perfect photo-op, causing some townsfolk or tourists to promote this unnatural behavior by leaving out food. But time and time again, this proves to be detrimental for not just deer but predators, too, as Fish and Game’s Southwest Regional Wildlife Manager Regan Berkley explains.

“The more deer that concentrate in an area, the higher likelihood of predators moving into that area,” Berkley said. “Last winter we saw increased mountain lion sightings witnessed by numerous people or their doorbell cams.”

Once a mountain lion, coyote or any other large predator discovers a buffet of town deer, it doesn’t take long for them to move within city limits, sometimes right up to one’s backdoor.

“Any time we have mountain lions in close proximity to people, our primary concern is for public safety,” said Berkley. “Our level of concern rises when lions start to exhibit nontypical behavior, such as being active in the middle of the day and losing their fear of humans, or preying on domestic pets, which is why continuing to receive reports from the public is so important.”

This is one of the many reasons that Fish and Game continually recommends against private feeding of deer and elk. Artificially altering wildlife’s behavior almost always produces unintended and often negative consequences.

The story isn’t much different further north in the Panhandle. In the Coeur d’Alene area, the sight of white-tailed deer, turkey and moose meandering through town is commonplace.

Knock on just about any door and you’ll hear stories of wildlife decimating freshly planted ornamental landscaping or devouring the entire crop from a garden. This not only attracts unwelcome wildlife, it often creates conflicts between neighbors who don’t want their expensive landscaping or hard-earned fruits and vegetables turned into deer food.

Although wildlife are naturally plentiful in the Panhandle, there is no shortage of residents feeding them, particularly during the winter months. In response, nearly all towns in the Coeur d’Alene area have passed feeding ordinances to prohibit the feeding of wildlife in city limits.

A few towns have resorted to other alternatives to deal with the destructive influx of hooved, feathery and hairy residents. In recent years, the City of Hayden Lake has pursued trapping and euthanizing resident white-tailed deer in town.

Emergency situations

In very rare cases, Fish and Game managers will supplement a deer or elk’s diet with winter feed in emergency situations. Extreme winters can sometimes cause winter forage to become limited or unavailable, sometimes for prolonged periods of time.

Fish and Game will also feed wintering deer and elk on an emergency basis in order to prevent conflicts between big game and agricultural operations, as well as a means of luring big game herds away from congested freeways or onramps.

However instances such as these are uncommon. Most winters, snow depths and temperatures do not pose a threat to big game herds.

Moral of the story

If you wish to help wintering wildlife this year, rather than feeding, take out your binoculars and observe them from a distance. Appreciate the fact that you live in a place that provides deer and elk a suitable habitat during certain parts of the year. You will do more good for the deer and elk by not feeding them.

Courtesy Idaho Department of Fish and Game

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