Hunters heading into the field need to beware of fire situations and possible area closures in their favorite hunting spots. They can get fire information and links to other websites at a designated fire page on Idaho Fish and Game's website at https://fishandgame.idaho.gov/content/fire. Typically, fire season is waning when fall hunts begin, which could happen in parts of the state, but weather patterns in the Panhandle and Clearwater Basin are showing no relief from fires. Access to some areas, including federal, state and private timberlands, is closed, and hunters can expect some access restrictions in those regions. "I think the message to folks is this is not a typical fire year," said Jason Kirchner, public affairs officer for the Panhandle National…
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Colorado P&W to Present Long Term Plans in Alamosa Sept. 3 MONTE VISTA, Colo. – Colorado Parks and Wildlife has released a draft of its long-term strategic plan and the public is invited to learn more about the project and discuss aspects of the plan at an open-house, 6-8 p.m., Sept. 3, at the Rodeway Inn, 333 Sante Fe Ave. (U.S. Highway 160) in Alamosa. CPW operates 42 states parks that receive more than 12 million visitors annually. The agency also keeps tabs on the state's wildlife species and sells about 850,000 hunting and fishing licenses every year. The draft plan was developed using input provided by stakeholders, public, staff, and the Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission. The goals, objectives,…
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BOZEMAN – As part of ongoing efforts required under the Endangered Species Act to monitor the population of grizzly bears in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, the USGS and Yellowstone National Park would like to inform the public that biologists with the Interagency Grizzly Bear Study Team (IGBST) and Yellowstone National Park will be conducting scientific grizzly bear research operations in Yellowstone National Park from August 25th through October 30th. Team members will bait and trap bears at several remote sites within Yellowstone National Park. Once trapped, the bears are anesthetized to allow wildlife biologists to radio-collar and collect scientific samples for study. All trapping and handling are done in accordance with strict protocols developed by the IGBST. None of the…
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FLAGSTAFF — Ever wonder what it be like to see hundreds of elk in one place at one time? That opportunity is possible during the annul elk viewing workshop hosted by the Arizona Game and Fish Department and Mormon Lake Lodge. Workshop presentations are scheduled for the morning on Saturday, Aug. 15. The workshop includes a presentation and a field trip to watch elk in their natural habitat near Mormon Lake, which is one of only two natural lakes found in Arizona. During the early fall, hundreds of elk can be observed at the site and along Lake Mary Road. "The department provides several wildlife watching events throughout the state year round," said Arizona Game and Fish Department Public Information…
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Recent aerial surveys conducted in Oklahoma and four other states indicate the number of lesser prairie-chickens has increased an average of 25 percent from last year. (WAFWA photo) An abundance of spring rainfall, along with ongoing efforts associated with the Lesser Prairie-chicken Range-wide Conservation Plan, has helped increase the lesser prairie-chicken's population approximately 25 percent from 2014 to 2015, according to results from a recent range-wide aerial survey. Increases were observed in three of four of the bird's ecoregions across five states: Colorado, Kansas, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas. The Sand Sage Prairie Region of southeast Colorado showed the biggest gain: approximately 75 percent from a year ago. The Mixed Grass Prairie Region of the northeast Panhandle of Texas, northwest…
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During its regular meeting Monday, June 1, the Oklahoma Wildlife Conservation Commission accepted a $250,000 contribution from the oil and gas industry for efforts to conserve the lesser prairie-chicken. The Oklahoma Independent Petroleum Association, which represents about 2,700 oil and gas producers, presented the check to help fund surveys of the bird in northwestern Oklahoma, in accordance with the range-wide conservation plan developed by the Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies. Kim Hatfield, OIPA board member and Regulatory Committee chairman, said the surveys to locate areas where lesser prairie-chickens are found not only benefit the efforts of the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation, but make it easier for the oil and gas industry to remain in compliance with the…
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Game Commission urges outdoors enthusiasts to take precautions to prevent Lyme disease. A gorgeous spring day simply shouldn't be wasted indoors. But enjoying the state's scenic beauty and plethora of outdoor recreational opportunities comes with its risks. Pennsylvania leads the nation in confirmed cases of Lyme disease, a tick-borne illness that poses a serious human health risk that is heightened for those who spend more time outdoors. So when heading outside to enjoy those perfect days, outdoors enthusiasts should remember that taking a few simple precautions can greatly reduce the risk of picking up ticks that might carry Lyme disease. About Lyme disease Lyme disease is a chronic illness transmitted through the bite of an infected blacklegged tick, also known…
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Every spring Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks issues a message to Montanans to leave new born fawns, birds, and other infant wildlife where people find them. "If you care, leave them there," said Ron Aasheim, spokesman for Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks in Helena. Aasheim said that most birds, for instance, learn to fly from the ground up, and not from the nest. "Whether you find a fawn or fledgling bird under a tree in a neighbor's yard or bunny under a bush it's important to know that wild animals commonly cache their young for periods of time to protect them from predators while the adults are feeding." Montana law prohibits the capture, feeding, possession and harassment of wildlife—both game…
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Wildlife Board approves permits for fall hunts Salt Lake City - Nearly 2,000 additional hunters will have a chance to hunt buck deer in Utah this fall. After learning how well deer are doing in Utah, members of the Utah Wildlife Board approved the additional permits at their April 30 meeting. Most of the additional permits are for the state's general-season hunt. A total of 86,550 permits will be available for the general hunt this fall. In 2014, a total of 84,800 general-season permits were offered. Hunters applied for the permits earlier this year. Results of Utah's big game permit draw will be available by May 29. Permits for 2015 In addition to buck deer hunting permits, board members approved…
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PHOENIX -- The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) and the Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) released a pair of Mexican wolves into the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests yesterday. The Mexican Wolf Interagency Field Team (IFT) conducted a "soft release" of wolves M1130 and F1305 (F indicates female and M indicates male), meaning the wolves will be held in an enclosure until the animals chew through the fencing and self-release. The female is the Rim Pack breeding female that was taken into captivity in January to be paired with M1130, a more genetically-diverse male. M1130 was whelped at the California Wolf Center in 2008 and eventually moved to the Service's Sevilleta Wolf Management Facility in New Mexico. The wolf pair…
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