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| General deer season opens on Oct. 10 statewide |
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| 30 big game units are affected by the IDFG Motorized Hunting Rule |
Hi all,
We want to give Idaho resident and non-resident hunters a
head's up about a new "Motorized Hunting
Rule" that the Idaho Department
of Fish and Game has put into place for the 2013 hunting season. The
Motorized Hunting Rule is similar to previous IDFG rules regarding the use of motorized
vehicles on public lands, but a few changes have occurred.
Many OHV riders know that the U.S.
Forest Service and Bureau of
Land Management either have travel management plans in place or are in the
process of finalizing them. These plans guide the use of singletrack trails,
ATV trails, two-track roads and primary access roads on public lands during the
year. Many of these routes are restricted during hunting season or restricted
to benefit wildlife; these restrictions affect all motorized recreationists.
The basis of trail- and road-restrictions benefit wildlife is
primarily to reduce the disturbance effect of OHV's on wildlife, said Jon
Heggen, chief of enforcement for IDFG. The disturbance from motorized vehicles may spook wildlife from cover habitat, but also disrupt the hunting experience
of people hunting on foot or horseback.
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| It's getting to be time to gear up for rifle hunting season in Idaho ... |
A number of years ago, the Idaho Fish and Game Commission
implemented specific restrictions for OHV use by hunters in various hunting
units. These restrictions came on top of the OHV restrictions in USFS and BLM
travel management plans to address harvest vulnerability during the hunting
season.
"Vulnerability is an important management issue because OHV's can cover more ground than people hunting on foot or horseback, and this can lead to a higher mortality rate on deer and elk, Fish and Game officials say. Additionally, research in Idaho and elsewhere has shown that managing motorized access can increase the number and quality of mature bucks and bulls.
"Vulnerability is an important management issue because OHV's can cover more ground than people hunting on foot or horseback, and this can lead to a higher mortality rate on deer and elk, Fish and Game officials say. Additionally, research in Idaho and elsewhere has shown that managing motorized access can increase the number and quality of mature bucks and bulls.
The Fish and Game Motorized Hunting Rule restricts OHV use by
hunters on certain roads and trails in 30 big
game units statewide; all of them are south of the Salmon River in southern Idaho. See map. Hunters should check the IDFG web site for details. Some of these units have high road densities
from logging projects conducted years ago.
Among the changes in the Motorized Hunting Rule this year:
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OHV restrictions for the Boise River Mountains Unit
#39 and Big Wood Unit #48 have been discontinued.
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It applies to hunters pursuing all big game species,
including those pursuing moose, mountain goats and bighorn sheep.
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It is valid and enforced between the dates of
Aug. 30 and Dec. 31. Therefore, it doesn't apply to spring bear, cougar and
turkey hunts.
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It does NOT apply to bird hunters -- people
pursuing blue grouse or chukars on public lands.
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It does NOT apply to recreational OHV riders who
are just out for a ride, and are not hunting.
Hunters can still use OHVs to pack in hunting camp and to
retrieve game as long as these activities are done on designated trails. It's
illegal to ride OHV's cross-country to retrieve game unless specifically
allowed by the land manager.
Some folks in the OHV community question whether the IDFG
has the legal authority to enact OHV restrictions over and above those already
adopted by the Forest Service and BLM. The Idaho
Legislature has been evaluating the issue for the last two sessions.
The new changes "doesn't change our opinion" about
the rule, said David Claiborne, president of the Idaho State ATV Association.
"I'd prefer to have one travel management plan guiding the use of OHV's on
public lands, rather than having multiple layers of regulation. It'd be better
to keep it simple for everybody. Fish and Game is adding another level of
complexity."
The Motorized Hunting
Rule also is difficult to enforce, Claiborne says, because any hunter riding an
OHV with a firearm during hunting season in a restricted hunting unit is
subject to being stopped by a Fish and Game conservation officer.
Fish and Game officials say they need the additional
restrictions on OHV use to maintain healthy populations of bucks and bulls and
meet management objectives.
We expect the conversations between the Idaho State ATV
Association and IDFG will continue about the Motorized Hunting Rule.
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| Forest Service Motor Vehicle Use Maps also are important to consult for information about trail and road closures to hunters on OHVs |
But in the meantime, hunters will need to do their homework
and check on trail and road restrictions in their favorite hunting units before
deer season opens on Oct. 10 statewide. This means checking the BLM travel plans, Forest Service Motor Vehicle Use Maps, and IDFG information
if you're going to hunt in one of the 30 big game units affected by the IDFG
Motorized Hunting Rule.
We joke inside the office that OHV riders almost have to
have a Ph.D. in natural resource management to figure out where to ride legally
in Idaho during hunting season. But seriously, take some time to pore over the maps and online
resources before you go big game hunting to make sure you can ride where
you want to hunt, or at least know what restrictions exist in your hunting
area.
Hope you have a great hunt!
