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Mild winter keeps Idaho deer and elk herds
strong |
January 27, 2015 |
After a banner year for Idaho hunters, deer and
elk populations continue to benefit from mild
winter conditions. Preliminary harvest surveys
suggest high harvest and high success rates in
2014.
In the 2014 hunting season, Fish and Game sold
more than 157,000 deer tags and more than 93,000
elk tags, exceeding numbers sold in any of the
six previous years. Deer hunters went into
Idaho’s backcountry in high numbers, in part
because of some of the highest winter survival
rates this century. Biologists documented the
highest rate of fawn survival since monitoring
began 15 years ago. Adult doe survival was
extremely high during the last two winters at 95
percent and 97 percent respectively.
Cow elk populations are meeting cow population
objectives in 16 of 21 zones with numerical
population survey goals, and bull elk
populations are meeting objectives in 14 of 21
zones with numerical population survey goals
(estimate for Smoky-Bennett zone pending).
While high country snow is above normal in many
parts of Idaho, a lack of snow cover at lower
elevations is making this winter another mild
one for deer and elk and managers expect good
over-winter survival and recruitment among both
species in Idaho.
Hunters who have not yet completed harvest
reports for 2014 are encouraged to do so as soon
as possible. They provide critical information
used to set future seasons. To file online, go
to:
http://fishandgame.idaho.gov/public/hunt/?getPage=106 |
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