Idaho Fish and Game Counting wildlife

[Rotnguns]

I found a very interesting and informative article from Idaho Fish and Game regarding their methods for counting wildlife and for acquiring other information as well. It's from 2022, and the part about using trail cams to count wolves is no longer valid - they quit doing it in August of this year due to questions about validity for small populations. My takeaway is that estimates of deer and elk populations are not nearly as accurate or current as I thought, but more precision would cost a boatload of money.

State of Deer and Elk: Counting herds, and how hunters help through mandatory hunter reports

When we think of counting deer and elk, the first thing that comes to mind is biologists flying in helicopters and getting a bird’s-eye view of deer and elk herds when animals are concentrated on winter range. Many hunters assume surveys happen every year in each of Fish and Game’s 99 game...

idfg.idaho.gov

 

[Customweld]

It will be interesting to see what they come up with this year. Since 2025 will be a new season setting cycle, they will more than likely fly the critical winter range in unit 32. With the majority of that winter range burnt in the Paddock Fire, it will be hard to get an accurate survey. After the hard winter in '16/'17 IFB and the grazing lease holders wanted the elk herd dropped by 50 percent. They achieved that by '22 but that herd is making another rebound. Between the Lava, Nellie, Wapiti and Paddock fires a huge portion of not only critical winter range but summer fattening range has been lost. If the elk and deer wear out their welcome on private ground this winter, we could see another epic herd reduction.
On a side note, I went to the IFG meeting in Emmett on Tuesday for the impact of the Paddock Fire, needless to say, that 200k acres lost is going to hurt.

 

[Rotnguns]

It will be interesting to see what they come up with this year. Since 2025 will be a new season setting cycle, they will more than likely fly the critical winter range in unit 32. With the majority of that winter range burnt in the Paddock Fire, it will be hard to get an accurate survey. After the hard winter in '16/'17 IFB and the grazing lease holders wanted the elk herd dropped by 50 percent. They achieved that by '22 but that herd is making another rebound. Between the Lava, Nellie, Wapiti and Paddock fires a huge portion of not only critical winter range but summer fattening range has been lost. If the elk and deer wear out their welcome on private ground this winter, we could see another epic herd reduction.
On a side note, I went to the IFG meeting in Emmett on Tuesday for the impact of the Paddock Fire, needless to say, that 200k acres lost is going to hurt.

Thanks for the excellent insight and information. Those terrible fires will have consequences for years. It's great that you attended an IFG meeting - I never got around to it but I will try to make the next one in this area.

 

[BackcountryIdaho]

Well, there won't be much to count on the Boise front this winter. What a brutal loss of a lot of mature sage and bitterbrush today.

Hoping everyone on Robie Creek is safe.

 

[Customweld]

Well, there won't be much to count on the Boise front this winter. What a brutal loss of a lot of mature sage and bitterbrush today.

Hoping everyone on Robie Creek is safe.

Unprecedent loss of critical winter range this summer in SW Idaho. This fire isn't done yet. Hope they can get in front of it before that cold front blows through this PM. If it makes into the timber, it'll be impossible to fight.

 

[Rotnguns]

Well, there won't be much to count on the Boise front this winter. What a brutal loss of a lot of mature sage and bitterbrush today.

Hoping everyone on Robie Creek is safe.

Awful news from this morning - the fire has jumped the fireline. Bogus basin is under urgent evacuation orders, and Robie Creek and other nearby areas are in Set 1 status for possible evacuation. And worse - a strong cold front is moving in that could bring up to 50 mph wind gusts.

 

[Rotnguns]

Unprecedent loss of critical winter range this summer in SW Idaho. This fire isn't done yet. Hope they can get in front of it before that cold front blows through this PM. If it makes into the timber, it'll be impossible to fight.

It's not looking good. Some parts of Warm Springs road and also Highland road are under a code red pre evacuation notice Here's a story from a local news station, updated 1:46 pm Friday:

Valley Fire near Boise grows to over 2,000 acres, evacuation notices issued

BLM is responding to an active wildfire on Highway 21 near Hilltop Station. There are no updates on the size of the fire

idahonews.com

 

[ODB]

Crazy stuff man, just drove back from Ontario and could see the line of fire when I got closer to Ten Mile. What a mess. We have some friends in Salmon and they sent us a video from there and it's bad as well.

 

[Rotnguns]

Crazy stuff man, just drove back from Ontario and could see the line of fire when I got closer to Ten Mile. What a mess. We have some friends in Salmon and they sent us a video from there and it's bad as well.

Yes, and I heard on the news Friday night that the Goat fire is blowing up again - Warm Lake is under Ready One evacuation conditions.

 

[SouthernCharm]

Hoping all stay safe and sound, fires and floods is not good.

 

[Rotnguns]

Thanks for sharing this, i and my hunting partner were planning to go for hunting there next week. I'm glad we got this information quickly before heading there. I hope everyone within that environment has evacuated there for their safety.

There still may be access, or perhaps you can get in to a nearby area. Please make sure to check with the forest service regarding current fire and access information. Conditions can change quickly - a good rain or snow and colder temps can put a damper on the fires. Hope you can still enjoy a hunt in Idaho!

 

[Mark“big buck Killa”Meier]

I found a very interesting and informative article from Idaho Fish and Game regarding their methods for counting wildlife and for acquiring other information as well. It's from 2022, and the part about using trail cams to count wolves is no longer valid - they quit doing it in August of this year due to questions about validity for small populations. My takeaway is that estimates of deer and elk populations are not nearly as accurate or current as I thought, but more precision would cost a boatload of money.

State of Deer and Elk: Counting herds, and how hunters help through mandatory hunter reports

When we think of counting deer and elk, the first thing that comes to mind is biologists flying in helicopters and getting a bird’s-eye view of deer and elk herds when animals are concentrated on winter range. Many hunters assume surveys happen every year in each of Fish and Game’s 99 game...

idfg.idaho.gov

 

[Mark“big buck Killa”Meier]

Well pal here’s why you’re wrong. When I was hunting bucks back in the 80s we didn’t have this fancy new shit. It took guts and hard labor to kill big Muley bucks. In today’s age if you want to kill a cagey old buck you shoot it from 2000 yards away with your laser range finder. My Winchester model 70 has killed more bucks with a Burris scope than any nightforce carbon fiber BS