Area group forming to protect hunting. fishing heritage

A new group is forming in Bonners Ferry to protect Idaho’s hunting and fishing heritage.

An event to learn more about the local Idaho For Wildlife Chapter will be held 5 p.m. Saturday, June 13, at Boundary County Airport. Jim Hagedorn’s barbecue trailer will on site.

IFW is a relatively new statewide non-profit sportsman’s organization aimed at preserving Idaho’s wildlife.

“The main issue at the time is the wolf issue,” said local organizer Kevin Kimp.

The Obama Administration recently removed gray wolves in Idaho from the Endangered Species list. The organizations who filed the previous lawsuit to stop the wolves’ removal have notified the government they plan to once again take their case to court.

Meanwhile, an Idaho Department of Fish and Game official claims the state’s 824 wolves are impacting the Idaho's deer and elk population, according to a published report. Fish and game director Cal Groen says big game populations are decreasing by as much as 15 percent a year. Without the wolves, Idaho's deer and elk herds would be increasing 7 percent a year.

Kimp doesn’t put a lot of stake in Fish and Game’s wolf population numbers.

“The true number is probably closer to 1,500 to 1,600,” Kimp said.

Steve Alder, state president for IFW, the group’s goal goes beyond heritage and conservation.

“But the legal aspects,” Alder said. “We’ve go to fight special interests and all the anti-hunting and anti-gun groups to keep our state and federal agencies on the straight and narrow, and not get bought into other agendas.”

“The environmental groups have all kinds of backing and money to after these causes and we have to present another point of view,” Kimp added.

INF will have membership drives, fundraisers and is accepting donations.

“We want to work with fish and game, help with habitat projects and help with planting and seeding.”

For information, call Kimp at 267-1305 or go to www.idahoforwildlife.com