| Elk Hunting |
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Increasing your knowledge of how to hunt
in pinion, juniper, and cedar and learning why big bulls are attracted to these areas will
help your success rate. |
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Some tips to help you better judge and
harvest that record bull elk. |
| Deer Hunting |
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What to look for when hunting for a
Boone & Crocket or Pope & Young Record Book Mule Deer |
| State News & Updates |
| Colorado |
| June 2003
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The Colorado Wildlife Commission
approved action to allow members of the U.S. Armed Forces who were unable to comply with
the 2003 big game application deadline due to the conflict in Iraq to receive a preference
point and the opportunity to purchase leftover licenses prior to the public sale. |
| May 2003 |
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Colorado Division of Wildlife (DOW) has
added the “Accessibility Information for Individuals with Disabilities” Web page
to the DOW Web site. |
| May
2003 |
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The Colorado Wildlife Commission has
unanimously approved issuing 146,000 limited antlerless and either sex elk licenses for
the fall season. |
| March
2003 |
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Hunters who participated in
Colorado’s 2002 big game season recorded a new record elk harvest of 61,174 edging
the old record of 60,120 set in 2000. |
| Jan. 2003 |
FOUR MORE ELK, THREE DEER OUTSIDE
ESTABLISHED AREA TEST POSITIVE FOR CWD |
Here are the most recent chronic wasting
disease-positive animals found outside of the established area for chronic wasting
disease. |
| Jan. 2000 |
Rocky Mountain Sheep Society Provides Funds for
Project West of Canon City |
Wildlife living on the
rugged cliffs of Bighorn Sheep Canyon west of Cañon City will have more places to get a
drink of water next summer thanks to a generous donation from the Rocky Mountain Sheep
Society – and a cooperative venture between the Colorado Division of Wildlife and the
Bureau of Land Management. |
| Dec. 1999 |
Fawn Survival Study Yields New Clues to Mule
Deer Decline |
The Division of Wildlife’s research
projects focusing on the decline of the state’s mule deer herds are beginning to
provide clues that may help scientists better understand and perhaps even reverse the
long-term trend. |
| Oct. 1999 |
Beware:
Moose
in Elk Habitat |
Wildlife managers are working to
dramatically reduce the number of illegal moose kills. |
| Idaho |
| July 1
2003 |
Leftover Controlled Hunts Go
On Sale July 15
Controlled hunt permits not issued during the regular drawing for deer and elk will go on
sale statewide July 15. Permits will go on sale at 10 a.m. Mountain Time and 9 a.m.
Pacific Time. There are no leftovers available for antelope, bear or turkey.
Leftover permits will be available at Fish and Game offices and license vendors statewide.
A list of these leftovers is posted on the Fish and Game Web site:
www2.state.id.us/fishgame.
Hunters who have already been drawn for a controlled hunt are not eligible for one of
these leftover controlled hunts for the same species unless they refuse the controlled
hunt they have drawn. To refuse a controlled hunt, let Fish and Game know by contacting
the Licensing Bureau * in writing, dated and signed*informing them that the controlled
hunt for which the hunter has been drawn is being refused. Once a hunter is taken out of a
controlled hunt, that hunter will then be eligible for one of the leftovers sold on July
15. The refusal must be in by July 10.
Controlled hunt tags must be purhased by Aug. 20. Any of these tags which have been
drawn but not purchased by that date will be "unclaimed" and offered for sale
first come-first served beginning 10 a.m. Mountain Time Aug. 30. A hunter who has
purchased a tag for a controlled hunt in either of the methods described above can't buy
of the unclaimed tags for the same species, unless one of the tags would be an
"x" tag.
|
| Aug 7 2003 |
Fire Closure Could Affect
Early Deer Hunt A Forest Service closure on lands affected by the 26,560-acre
Hot Creek fire west of Atlanta in Unit 39 could still be in effect when hunters take to
the hills in a controlled deer hunt that begins August 15.
Roads and lands are off-limits to the public until Boise National Forest officials declare
them open again. A map of the fire area and other information including fire updates can
be seen at http://www.fs.fed.us/r4/boise/ on
the Internet.
Closure boundaries are the following: Area boundary approximately 16 miles to a point
where the Middle Fork Boise River crosses the Sawtooth Wilderness Area boundary within
Township 6 North, Range 12 East, on the common boundary of Sections 29 and 30, then
westerly along the northern bank of the Middle Fork Boise River approximately 17 miles to
the point of origin, Boise Meridian, Elmore County, within the Idaho City Ranger District,
Boise National Forest.
The deer hunt affected by the closure is hunt number 1019 with 200 permittees. The season
runs from August 15-September 24. A muzzleloader hunt for antlerless elk begins September
8 and could also be affected.
The rest of this large unit remains open to hunters.
IDFG
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| Aug 7 2003 |
Deer Hit by Disease Near
Kamiah
Whitetail deer have been hit by a disease in the Kamiah area of the Clearwater Region,
according to Idaho Fish and Game Wildlife Veterinarian Mark Drew.
"I want to reassure everyone that these deer do not have Chronic Wasting Disease. The
symptoms and lesions seen in these deer are not the same as those of CWD," Drew said.
About 10 days ago, IDFG biologists and conservation officers in the Kamiah area began
noting and receiving reports of dead white-tailed deer in a small 1-2 square mile area
just north of Kamiah. The estimated number of dead deer is 150-200. Samples
from two deer were sent to the Washington Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory in Pullman
last week. Results received yesterday indicated no obvious cause of death in the two
animals.
Dr. Drew, IDFG wildlife biologist George Pauley, and IDFG Conservation Officer Roger
Westfall examined about 15 deer from the area today. The lesions observed in these
animals include massive edema (fluid) in the lungs and minor hemorrhages in the stomach
and intestines. The cause of death appears to be pulmonary edema (fluid) which
results in difficulty in breathing, foaming at the mouth and unwillingness to move.
Samples were taken from six deer and will be submitted for testing at several diagnostic
laboratories. Results from the current tests are not expected for a week or more.
There are several diseases caused by viruses that can cause clinical signs similar to
those seen in these deer including Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease (EHD), bluetongue (BT)
and adenovirus. All of these viruses are spread from deer to deer by gnats.
"If this disease is confirmed as EHD, the primary means of transmission between deer
is by biting gnats," Drew said. "This is probably why the disease shows up in
Idaho sporadically in dry years when deer are concentrated near water. It is not
transmissible to humans or domestic livestock." Cattle and sheep in the
affected area have shown no signs of illness.
"We have evidence of BT and EHD virus antibodies in deer and elk from many parts of
Idaho based on blood samples collected from live animals over the past 10 years. We
also know that EHD has been confirmed in several small outbreaks involving deer in Idaho.
Three years ago some deer in the Peck area died of EHD. Two years ago,
several deer in the Weiser area died of EHD. Hopefully, this outbreak will be
confined to the Kamiah area. There are minimal actions that IDFG can take to control
the disease. All disease transmission should cease with the advent of killing frosts
that kill the gnats." Drew said.
IDFG
|
Aug 8 2003
Update |
Samples from Kamiah Deer
Positive for EHD
A disease that hit whitetail deer in the Kamiah area of the Clearwater Region has been
identified in at least some of the samples, according to Idaho Fish and Game. Initial test
results from tissue samples sent to the University of California at Davis showed the
presence of Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease (EHD).
About 10 days ago, IDFG biologists and conservation officers in the Kamiah area began
noting and receiving reports of dead white-tailed deer in a small 1-2 square mile area
just north of Kamiah. The estimated number of dead deer is 150-200.
Wildlife veterinarian Mark Drew, IDFG wildlife biologist George Pauley, and Conservation
Officer Roger Westfall examined about 15 deer from the area this week. The lesions
observed in these animals included massive edema (fluid) in the lungs and minor
hemorrhages in the stomach and intestines. The cause of death appeared to be
pulmonary edema (fluid) which results in difficulty in breathing, foaming at the mouth and
unwillingness to move.
"The primary means of transmission of EHD between deer is by biting gnats," Drew
said. "This is probably why the disease shows up in Idaho sporadically in dry years
when deer are concentrated near water. It is not transmissible to humans or domestic
livestock." Cattle and sheep in the affected area have shown no signs of
illness.
Results from samples sent to other testing facilities are expected next week.
IDFG
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| Utah |
| May 2003 |
$2,200 reward offered in elk
poaching case |
Cedar City — The Rocky Mountain Elk
Foundation, Sportsmen for Fish and Wildlife, the Dixie Wildlife Federation and the
Division of Wildlife Resources are offering a reward of up to $2,200 for information
leading to the arrest and successful prosecution of the persons responsible for poaching a
bull elk in the Hamblin Valley area in mid-April. Hamblin Valley is northwest of Cedar
City. Anyone with information about this case is encouraged to call the Division of
Wildlife Resources at (435) 865-6100, the Iron County Sheriff's office at (435) 586-9445
or the DWR's Help Stop Poaching Hotline at 1-800-662-DEER. |
| July 11
2003 |
Three ways to buy
a buck deer permit starting July 17 SALT LAKE CITY — Three ways to buy Utah
buck deer permits not taken in this year's big game draws await hunters starting at 7:30
a.m. on July 17.
Hunters can buy a permit from at least 45 hunting license
agents in the state, from this Web site and from DWR offices.
"Hunters have never had this many options available to them before, and we're
excited to provide these options to them," said Judi Tutorow, wildlife licensing
coordinator for the Division of Wildlife Resources.
Tutorow says when permits have gone on sale in the past, long lines have formed at some
of the DWR offices. To save time, she encourages hunters to visit the Web site or a
hunting license agent.
"You need a major credit card to buy a permit from the Web site but if you have
one, the Web site is a great option," she said. "Hunting license agents are also
a good choice. Most of them are open on weekends and evenings and they may be closer to
your home than a DWR office."
A list of agents who'll sell permits starting July 17 is available on this Web site.
More than 7,900 statewide general archery, 3,300 Northeastern Region rifle and
muzzleloader and 15,800 Northern Region rifle and muzzleloader permits will be available
for purchase.
For more information, call the nearest Division of Wildlife Resources office or the
DWR's Salt Lake City office at (801) 538-4700.
|
| July 11
2003 |
Bear attacks
camper in Desolation Canyon PRICE — The first case in 11 years of a bear
attacking a camper in Utah happened July 7, at 6:15 a.m., when a black bear wandered into
a campsite along the Green River in Desolation Canyon in east-central Utah.
The camp was occupied by students and instructors of the Outdoor Leadership School in
Jensen, Utah. All of the campers were sleeping in the open, in a circular pattern with
their feet at the center of the circle, when the bear attacked.
The bear grabbed 18-year-old Nick Greez of Oregon by the head and neck and tried to
drag him from his sleeping bag. Nick's screams awakened the others, who came to his rescue
and chased the bear away.
After administering first aid, the group floated Greez from the Desolation Canyon area
to the town of Green River. Greez was then taken to the Castle View Hospital in Price,
where he was treated for puncture wounds and lacerations before being released.
The Ute Tribe and the Division of Wildlife Resources are working cooperatively to
locate and destroy the bear, which will be tested for rabies and any other disease or
condition that may have contributed to the bear's behavior.
"Bear attacks like this are extremely rare, but they do occur," said Craig
McLaughlin, mammals coordinator for the Division of Wildlife Resources. "Often, a
bear becomes aggressive towards people after it establishes a pattern of obtaining food
from camp sites and picnic areas. Fortunately, there are several things people can do to
lessen the chance of a bear attacking them while they're camping."
McLaughlin says food and food odors are what usually attract bears to people and that
by following a few simple rules, people can virtually eliminate problems with bears. He
encourages people to do the following:
 | Keep your campsite clean. Don't leave garbage, food scraps and fat drippings in your
fire pit, or scattered around your campsite. Instead, place them in an air tight container
and take them home with you.
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| Keep the cooking grills and utensils in your camping area clean.
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| Don't leave food out. Instead, store food and coolers in the trunk of your car, in your
camping trailer, in a bear proof container or suspended at least 12 feet high between two
trees, so bears can't reach them. Plastic garbage cans and plastic food storage containers
are not bear proof.
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| Never intentionally feed bears by leaving food out for them.
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| Bears have an incredible sense of smell, so make sure you cook away from your tent or
sleeping area. Also, don't sleep in the clothes you cooked in or wore while cleaning fish.
Leave those clothes, along with utensils, rags and anything else used in food preparation,
cooking, eating and clean up, at the cooking area or sealed inside a vehicle. |
In addition to these tips, the Division of Wildlife Resources also offers several bear
safety items to the public. People can receive an "If You Encounter a Black
Bear" handout card and a "Life Cycle of Utah Black Bears" magazine article
by contacting most DWR offices or Bob Walters at (801) 538-4771.
By late July, campground placards, picnic table bear safety cards and a "Camping
With Bears" video will be available to those who run campgrounds in areas where bears
live in Utah. These items will be delivered to campgrounds across the state. Campground
hosts can also receive them in late July by contacting most DWR offices or Walters. |
