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There's no shortage of carcasses next door in the Bitterroot, this winter. Been an average winter though.
Meaning, we've had winter kill, or predation? Please fill me in.
Idaho mulls shorter elk hunting season
by The Associated Press Wednesday March 11, 2009, 1:51 PM
COEUR D'ALENE -- State wildlife managers are considering shortening the elk hunting season in northern Idaho to allow herds to recover from last year's harsh winter.
By shrinking the general rifle season by up to 10 days, the Department of Fish and Game hopes to reduce the cow elk harvest by 50 percent and the bull elk harvest by 15 percent for herds in the Panhandle Region.
Higher elk death rates are common in the winter, but state wildlife biologists say they are alarmed that they counted only 12 calves per 100 cows during recent aerial surveys. Biologists prefer a ratio of at least 30 calves per 100 cows to provide an adequate pool of younger animals to replace older ones that are killed by hunters or die of other causes.
Jim Hayden, the department's regional manager, told about 40 hunters during a meeting this week in Coeur d'Alene that there aren't enough calves to replace those taken by hunters unless the state acts.
Fish and Game officials are holding meetings around the region to discuss the proposed shorter elk season and other possible changes to big game hunts. The department is also suggesting a shorter doe season during fall deer hunts.
The Fish and Game Commission will make decisions on hunting seasons when it meets in Boise later this month.
A draft of the proposal suggests running the general rifle season from Oct. 10 through Oct. 24. In recent years, the season has started Oct. 10 and extended to Nov. 3 for the Panhandle Region, which spans most of the northern counties of Boundary, Bonner, Kootenai, Benewah and Shoshone.
The commission will also consider changing seasons for other hunting regions across the state.
The agency has been studying declining elk numbers in northern Idaho for several years.
Hunters have blamed growing numbers of wolves. Hayden acknowledged that wolves are a factor, but he said the winter of 2007-08, which was colder and longer than normal, was the primary reason for the low calf numbers.
"We're seeing lower calf ratios in every unit," Hayden told the crowd. "Where we don't have wolves, we're in trouble. Where we have wolves, we're in more trouble."
At least 135 wolves live in the Panhandle, according to Fish and Game estimates. Thirteen wolf packs have been identified in the region, along with one suspected pack and other wolves that aren't part of a pack.
Wolf numbers are highest south of Interstate 90, where their presence is influencing elk behavior.
During the aerial surveys in the St. Joe River drainage, Hayden spotted elk in herds of 100 or more -- apparently a defensive tactic. A wolf was watching one of the herds from about 75 yards away. Another herd of nearly 200 elk was bunched together across a ridge from five wolves.
Hayden said a shorter elk season is likely to frustrate many of the 20,000 hunters who buy elk tags to hunt in northern Idaho each fall.
Still, some hunters said they are willing to compromise now if it means improving the health of the elk.
"I'd rather take my hit now for better hunting opportunities in the future," Darren Vanhorn, of Coeur d'Alene, told the Spokesman-Review.
Jackie wrote on Mar 16, 2009 9:37 PM:
" Look whose afraid of the big bad wolf. Never realized hunters were such a bunch of whiners and sissies. Dont want to lose your dogs to predators? Stop sending them out to chase big wild animals! Hunt with your own two eyes and your own two legs. "
Looks like someone needs a couple new hounds...
Look's like Obama needs a new Interior Secretary.... http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dy.../03/13/AR2009031303211.html?wpisrc=newsletter
What do you think, SS.
I went to check out my Turkey spot last weekend. It used be full of whitetail and wolves through the winter. It also looked like a battlefield, with carcasses everywhere. 5 mile loop yielded no wolf sign and only a handfull of whitetails. They've cleaned up and moved on. Only one turkey spotted as well.....but it's early still.
Seeing a lot of dead mule deer on the east side this year......hard to say what % is from cats and what % is from wolves.
A fresh dead bull I came across a couple weeks ago had wolf tracks all around it. Someone already took the antlers, though. I've heard that "shed hunting" has been good in the West Fork this winter.......have you heard the same SS?
Look's like Obama needs a new Interior Secretary....
You don't agree with Salazar's decision?
I agree with Salazar's decision (which has yet to be implemented), but Obama's base has a lot of problems with it, Oak.