Round 1: Selway Elk Zone vs. Salmon Elk Zone

This is the fourth installment on a series of posts comparing Idaho's any-weapon, antlered, general season elk hunts. For an intro to this series, go here. For the first post in this series, read Dworshak Elk Zone vs. Bear River Elk Zone. For the second post in this series, read Snake River Elk Zone vs. Palisades Elk Zone.For the third post in this series, read Palouse Elk...

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IF&G Taking Comments On Upland Hunting Change Proposals

 Here are the proposed changes that IF&G has for all us upland game hunters: 1. Increasing chukar and gray partridge daily limits from 6 to 8 I have no idea why the limit was changed to 6 for 2011.  8 would be a nice reward for being in good enough shape to climb Everest, and for taking the time to train dogs. 2. Eliminating the Fall General Turkey Season in SW Idaho This action will supposedly help out the Spring season harvest numbers. 3. Increase the possession limit for upland birds to three days limits instead of two days. Sounds...

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Our 3 Caribou: Counties Starting To Get Fired Up

About a month ago I reported that the Federal Guvmint is proposing that nearly 375,000 acres of North Idaho be designated as critical caribou habitat.  Now N. Idaho counties are forming a coalition to fight that proposal, realizing that the designation could hurt the economy and hamper public land access. The Feds are taking your comments (how nice), but realize that...

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Interview With Idaho Waterfowl Association - Part 1

One of the hot topics facing the Idaho outdoorsman is the issue of guided bird hunts.  Currently, Idaho does not license and allow guided waterfowl hunts (actually, there are 4 licensed guides - more on that later), but it is considering changing that.  Believe it or not, change from that current structure will have all sorts of impacts on the way we hunt waterfowl. ...

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IF&G To Host Summit For Public Input

Well, Merry Christmas folks.  Hope you survived the big day.  I'm busy waterfowling in Oregon, where there's actually some weather to push the birds around. On tap for this week is an interview with the Idaho Waterfowl Association, the first part of which will be posted here on Wednesday.  Don't miss it.  Lots of information to come. In the meantime, check out what the IF&G has on tap for the coming year.  They would like the public's comments on a host of issues, and you will be invited to a 3 day summit to do so. ...

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Important News Flash

Posts may be a little sparse over the next week, as I'll be busy duck hunting in Oregon, stuffing myself with Prime Rib and red wine, and lounging on the EZ chair watching bowl games. Still, stay tuned here as there are some exciting things ahead.  So keep checking back.  Hopefully this week we will have the first installment of an interview with the Idaho Waterfowl Association on the topic of waterfowl guiding in Idaho.  You won't want to miss that. Merry Christmas! ~ J. Bunch...

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Huge Idaho Elk Migration

This video was apparently taken north of Mountain Home on Nov. 20, 2011. ~ J. Bu...

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Whitetails Taking Over Muleys

Whitetail deer seem to breed like rabbits.  And that's one reason why they're increasing in numbers in the West.  Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and Montana have all seen whitetail numbers increase, while mule deer numbers decrease. A couple of other reasons why whitetails are on the rise over muleys: 1. Whitetails are more likely to have twins2. Increasing rural expansion...

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The Idiocracy: Soda Springs Firearm Safety Gets A Little Crazy

From Eastern Idaho's LocalNews8.com: No one was hurt when a 9 mm handgun discharged during a hunter education class in Soda Springs Monday night. Region 5 Idaho Fish and Game Supervisor Mark Gamblin has asked the Soda Springs Police Department to investigate. The instructor has been dismissed. Gamblin says Fish and Game prohibits a hunter education instructor from bringing live ammunition into a classroom. According to police, the volunteer instructor brought the handgun and ammunition to class for a demonstration. Unaware the gun was...

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Yellowstone Cutthroat Populations Stable?

The population is stable now, according to some data, but that doesn't mean there aren't challenges ahead.  And the key is to keep the species out from under the Endangered Species Act.  The IF&G has made that one of its priorities in its management of the Yellowstone Cutthroats.  We've seen how sticky it gets when wolves and grizzlies get all tangled up...

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Once Alleged Poacher Now Sues IF&G

Can the IF&G screw up?  Go ask Rex Rammell, right?  Nevermind, don't.  But seriously, we should expect that because people are not perfect, and government agencies are run by people, that government agencies don't always act perfectly.  Wait, government agencies aren't perfect?  Whoa - now that's an eye popper. One North Idaho man is suing the IF&G in federal court for "civil rights violations, negligence, intentional infliction of emotional distress, malicious prosecution and slander."  This comes after he...

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