This last summer, a wildfire quickly ate up 38,000 acres of mule deer winter habitat north of King's Hill. The main worry that I heard at the time was that the deer would keep traveling south to find winter food. Which might mean a mass attempt to cross Interstate 84. Among the wild, imaginative, crazy solutions was that wildlife bridges over the Interstate might possibly be quickly constructed. Instead, IF&G will have a couple of controlled extra anterless deer hunts available for hunters.
I took this picture just after the burn. Looking north and east from Glenns Ferry, you can see the scorched black hills.
From the IF&G:
JEROME - The Idaho Department of Fish and Game will be offering two extra antlerless deer controlled hunt opportunities during December in a portion of Unit 45 near the area of the Blair Fire. The hunts were approved 11-10-11 by the Fish and Game Commission.
The hunts have been established to reduce herd numbers prior to winter to help ease pressure on remaining habitat, minimize deer collisions on nearby roadways, and alleviate some depredations on private croplands.
The first controlled hunt will occur December 1 - 14, while the second will occur December 20-31. Each hunt will have 250 tags for antlerless deer only. These tags represent an extra deer hunting opportunity; hunters who already hunted or harvested this fall are eligible to apply for these hunts.
Interested hunters will need to apply by November 18 at any Fish and Game license vendor, by calling 1-800-55HUNT5, or on the Internet at https://id.outdoorcentral.us/
For more information, please contact Idaho Fish and Game's Magic Valley Regional Office at 324-4359.
~ J. Bunch
News: Unit 45 Controlled Deer Hunt Added After Wildfire
