Big game seasons get underway this autumn

IDAHO — It’s hard to believe, but the fall big game season is right around the corner. It’s time to go through your equipment, tune up that bow and sight in that rifle.

I have high hopes for the 2016 big game season.

The mild winter resulted in high over-winter survival of big game. We are currently monitoring about 130 collared elk in Units 4, 6, and 7. Adult cow survival is around 96% and survival of 6-month old calves that we collared in January is about 76%. Both survival rates are very encouraging. (look for more specifics on this topic to come later).

The mild winter made it tougher for predators, specifically cougars and wolves, to make kills. Elk are spread wider across their winter range and are much more mobile during mild winters.

The winter helicopter surveys indicated high calf survival. Calf: cow ratios averaged over 30 calves per 100 cows in Units 4, 6, and the lower portion of 7. In the Calder area of Unit 6 we found over 40 calves:100 cows. These results, combined with the 6-month calf survival from the radio-collared elk, should result in a good number of spikes this fall.

Conditions in the field this year are a lot better than last year. Remember all that smoke from the fires? Southern Idaho has some active fires (unfortunately in an area in which I drew a muzzle-loader permit) but unlike last year, there are currently no large active fires in the Panhandle. But remember, conditions are still hot and dry, so be careful out there.

Make sure to pick up your tags if you haven’t already, get out in the woods and do some scouting, and get ready for an enjoyable fall hunting season. There is one other thing to keep in mind. We are in the second year of the new two-year season setting cycle. That means we will be looking at the current seasons, evaluating the harvest, and making recommendations to our commission for the 2017 and 2018 big game seasons. Keep that in mind when you are in the woods this fall because we will be asking for your input later this winter. It will help us if you turn in your harvest reports as soon as you can. We use that information for the next season setting cycle.

Remember, keep safe, be respectful of others, and good luck!