Kelly Heard from Southern Oregon passed along some pictures and a story from her husband and son who are packed into some good Idaho Elk country.  Kelly was out hunting the local archery season and taking care of chores at home.  Kelly is an accomplished hunter herself and she has graced these pages with a pronghorn and a moose

I got a call from my son this morning. He was whispering, as they were glassing a big herd about a mile away across a canyon. He said that they heard more bulls and had seen more action today than any day they had been in there.

I got a quick version of his bull story though and here it is:

He and his Dad start each morning hunting together but within an hour or so out they have been sort of just splitting off without saying anything. Something will draw one to another area and they’ve just split up, which has worked well for them.

Tuesday, they climbing up almost getting to the top of a ridge.   About then he heard a bull sound off not far away. He moved towards it and began cow calling. nothing. He changed up his calls between 3 different ones and then BAM…he was coming.

Spencer said he pulled out his range finder, marked 2 trees and within seconds, there stood the bull. A really cool bull, according to him. The bull was standing broadside between the two trees, with his vitals being hid by a straggly little bush.

Spencer was at full draw so he scuffed his foot to make some noise to make the bull move. He did move, just stepping forward one step. He released his arrow, knowing he hit him good but could not see his arrow OR blood as the bull bolted away.

He sat down right there where he shot from and was going to just sit and wait it out, when who shows up behind him? His dad. He asked Spencer “what are you doing”? Spencer just said “oh…just sittin’ here. I just shot a bull and figured I would wait a while.” (you’d have to know him. he has a great sense of humor and can keep a very straight face). He said his dad about came unglued with joy! They both snuck over to where he shot him and did not see the arrow or any blood. So they sat. A few minutes later they heard a crash up above them. They still waited it out. Finally they began their search. They would find a small bit of blood here and there that was in fact leading to the direction of the crash they had heard.

They got up to where they thought they heard the crash and…no bull was easily seen. But dad went a little higher than Spencer thought the sound came from and low and behold…there was his bull, curled up in a ball at the base of a tree.

He said he is barely a 6 x 6 but are super cool one with lots of character. He said he is more proud of this one than his one from last year.  Great seconds and thirds and has a brow tine that hooks down.

The two of them got him back to camp in 4 trips. And on the fourth trip, the two guys that went with them were back at camp napping. They heard Spencer and without opening their eyes said “Oh, we thought you and your Dad were in your tent sleeping”. Spencer said “nah, just been out”. Ken (one of the guys) said, were you down by the creek sleeping? Spencer said “Well, not exactly sleeping by the creek but we were down there. We figured the meat would cool better down by the water”. They both jumped up and said “WHAT”? As you can imagine, everyone was happy!

Congratulations Spencer!  Both on getting your elk, but also on being able to spend the time in the backcountry hunting, as a college student.  It’s hard to balance school with hunting season.  Although I’m sure your roommates appreciate elk steaks!

September 1st was the opening of Wolf season in some areas of Idaho. The following story from the Idaho Statesman tells about the first two successful hunters in Idaho’s inagural wolf season.

The Story at Idaho Statesman
By Rocky Barker – rbarker@idahostatesman.com
Two Idaho hunters shot wolves in opposite sides of the state opening the state’s first wolf season.
Robert Millage of Kamiah said he was surrounded by a pack of wolves before dawn and waited until light to call them with a hand call that sounded like a wounded coyote. The 80-pound female wolf came fast to him 25 yards before Millage shot her with his .243 rifle in the Lolo Zone.

“The whole area is lousy with them,” Millage said. “But I guess it was the luck of the draw.”

Meanwhile, shortly after sunrise archery hunter Jay Mize of Emmett walked out of his tent to see a wolf harassing his horse at Bull Trout Lake near Stanley. He walked back into his tent, put his rifle together and shot the wolf, said Jon Rachael, Idaho Department of Fish and Game wolf manager.

“He said he had bought a wolf tag but never planned to use it,” Rachael said. “He was going to have it framed.”

Millage went to Lewiston to show the animal to Fish and Game and to take it to a taxidermist.

“I figured I had complained so much in the last few years we didn’t have a season I thought I’d better go,” he said.

Idaho Department of Fish and Game officials reported few hunters and no action early Tuesday in the Idaho City and Lowman areas.

Other observers said there were few hunters in the Sawtooth Valley participating in a hunt that remains under a cloud of uncertainty as a federal judge in Montana decides whether to close it.

“We thought we’d cruise around and (see) if we could see any wolves,” said Boise hunter John Huddleston. “We really weren’t expecting to see anything.”

Huddleston, his son and another hunter drove to the Thorn Creek Butte Summit above the Middle Fork of the Boise River near Idaho City looking for wolves. Warden Matt O’Connell, who checked their tags, found fresh wolf tracks and scat on roads in the area.

“You guys are in the right ballpark,” O’Connell told them.

U.S. District Judge Donald Molloy took under advisement a request by 13 environmental groups to stop the hunt while their lawsuit seeking to return wolves to the federal endangered species list is considered. Molloy said he would decide quickly.

Nearly 10,000 wolf tags were sold in Idaho so far. But hunting only began Tuesday in the Sawtooth Zone and from Boise up to the Sawtooth Valley and in the Lolo Zone in northcentral Idaho.

Idaho will allow 220 wolves out of a population of an estimated 1,000 wolves to be killed this year. Montana also has a wolf season with a 75-wolf limit.

A black bear that had become accustomed to being around people and eating human related foods, such as bird seed and garbage, was euthanized by biologists on August 23.

The 10- to 12-year-old female bear had been trapped the previous day after it had shown a total loss of fear of people and had made numerous appearances at cabins in the Mack’s Inn area of Island Park.

The bear began its downward spiral when it was trapped by Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks in a campground in the Big Hole area of Montana. It was released in the Northern Centennial Mountains in Montana and worked its way over to Island Park. Numerous reports of the bear amongst human dwellings came in throughout July and August.

On August 13, the bear was positively placed in the Mack’s Inn neighborhood and paid subsequent visits to unprotect trash in the North Fork Subdivision area. On August 22, the bear appeared to become even less afraid of humans and was reported going through bird feeders and getting onto cabin decks in the area.

When bear biologists encountered the animal, it climbed a pine tree. The biologists placed three snares at the base of the tree. When they moved away, the bear climbed down and was caught in one of the snares.

The biologists then tranquilized the bear and placed it in a culvert trailer trap for security and transport. Because the bear was sporting numbered ear tags, biologists were able to establish its history in Montana.

The bear’s current behavior, coupled with its past relocation, meant that few options existed for the bear in the wild. Because it had shown no fear of humans, biologists could not guarantee human safety if the bear were released.

It is clear that repeated exposure to human related food was the reason this bear had to be put to death. Bear management agencies have an ongoing education program in the Island Park area, but it is ultimately the responsibility of individuals in the area to help prevent problems.

To learn more about living with bears visit www.igbconline.org.

In an attempt to salvage some benefit from this situation, the hide from this bear will be used as part of a bear education trailer that is being developed to educate the public about living and recreating safely in bear country.

Winners in the second of two Idaho Super Hunt drawings were picked Monday, August 17.

One Super Hunt Combo ticket was drawn that entitles the winner to hunt for one each elk, deer, antelope and moose. Seven other winners were picked for single species with tags for two elk, two deer and two antelope hunts as well as one moose hunt.

Winners may participate in any open hunt this fall, following the rules for the hunts they choose, for example, archery-only or muzzleloader-hunts.

The official winners in the August 17 drawing are:

Super Hunt Combo:
- Larry Lansdowne, Boise.

Deer:
- Richard Ruth, Boise.
- Carl Rey, Meridian.

Elk:
- Ramon Lizaso, Boise.
- John Silva, Anderson, Calif.

Pronghorn:
- Donald Colter, Boise.
- Doug Howard, Castleford.

Moose:
- Robert Downing, Hayden Lake.

Money from the sale of tickets for the Super Hunt-described as “the hunt of a lifetime”-supports the Access Yes! Program, which compensates landowners to provide hunter and angler access to or across private land.

For information about this program contact local Fish and Game officials or visit the Website at:
http://fishandgame.idaho.gov/ifwis/huntplanner/accessyesguide.aspx.

Hunters already were waiting when Idaho Fish and Game started selling wolf tags at 10 a.m. Monday, August 24.

The first ticket at the Fish and Game headquarters was sold to John Dennis of Kuna. But the very first ticket, Monday morning, was sold to Adrienne Peterson at Jim’s Pawn Shop in Middleton.

A hunter may buy only one tag at a cost of $11.50 for residents and $186 for nonresidents. A tag is good for one wolf, which may be taken in any one of the 12 wolf hunt zones in Idaho.

Fish and Game had sold 1,825 wolf tags in the first hour. By mid-afternoon Monday, about 4,000 tags had been sold.

The Idaho Fish and Game Commission earlier in August set a statewide wolf hunt limit of 220 wolves. When that number, spread over 12 wolf zones, is reached the hunt will end. There is no limit on the total number of tags sold.

Hunters can buy those tags at any Fish and Game office, license vendor, by telephone at 800-554-8685, or online at https://id.outdoorcentral.us/. The process is the same as buying a license or big game tag for other species, including deer, elk, black bear or mountain lion.

The hunter must have a valid 2009 Idaho hunting license to buy a tag. A printed brochure containing the 2009 wolf hunting rules and seasons is available from license vendors. The rules also are available on the Fish and Game Web site at: http://fishandgame.idaho.gov/cms/hunt/wolf/.

Because of potential legal action, however, some hunters may be unable to hunt wolves for which they bought tags in Idaho. A request for an injunction has been filed with a U.S. District Court in Montana. If granted, the injunction would block the wolf hunt in Idaho.

The timing is still unknown.

If the wolf season is blocked before September 1, hunters who have bought a wolf tag would be eligible for a refund. If the season is blocked on or before October 9, hunters who can show in good faith they did not hunt may be eligible for a refund.

The hunter must submit a request for refund by December 31 on a Fish and Game form along with the original wolf tag. Requests received after December 31 would not be eligible for a refund.

This refund process applies to the 2009 wolf hunt season only.

All refunds will be for the amount paid for the tag. Refunds can be in the form of a check or an Idaho Fish and Game gift certificate. Requests must be submitted to: Idaho Department of Fish and Game, Wolf Tag Refund Request; P. O. Box 25; Boise, Idaho 83707.

The refund policy and refund request forms are available from Fish and Game and on the Fish and Game Web site at: http://fishandgame.idaho.gov/cms/hunt/wolf/.

The Idaho Fish and Game Commission, Monday, August 17, set harvest limits for Idaho’s first public wolf hunting season this fall.

Fish and Game models indicate Idaho now has at least 1,000 wolves. The population increases at a rate of about 20 percent a year, without hunting.

The commissioners adopted a strategy that would help meet the state’s wolf population objective, as outlined in the 2008 Idaho Wolf Population Management Plan.

Hunters will be allowed to take up to 220 wolves this fall and winter. Wolf tags go on sale at 10 a.m. August 24, at all license vendors. A resident tag costs $11.75, and a nonresident tag costs $186.

One of the commission’s top considerations is retaining state management of Idaho’s growing wolf population. Idaho has an approved wolf management plan, developed with public involvement. The plan was approved by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and found acceptable by a federal judge.

The commissioners’ decision is consistent with the population goals set out in the plan.

In 1995 and 1996, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service introduced 35 wolves to central Idaho. Since then they have increased in numbers and expanded their distribution.

Fish and Game has a responsibility to manage those wolves in balance with their prey and their habitat – just as the agency manages other fish and wildlife species. As with other species, hunting seasons on wolves would be part of managing the population.

A wolf hunting season gives Idaho Fish and Game an opportunity to learn how public hunting fits into managing wolves. As Fish and Game learns how effective regulated hunting is, seasons can be adjusted in areas where wolves are causing unacceptable problems for big game herds or domestic livestock.

Wolf managers will use the harvest limits the same way already used effectively with other species that Fish and Game manages. When limits are reached, the season ends.

The commissioners set harvest limits for each of the state’s 12 wolf management zones. When the limit is reached in a zone, the season would close in that zone.

Commissioners want to manage the wolf population toward the 2005 level of 520 wolves through regulated hunting (five-times higher than the federal recovery goal). The 2005 wolf population figure was used as a target number because wolf conflicts both with wildlife and livestock increased significantly that year.

Wolves in Idaho and Montana were removed from the endangered species list in May and have been managed under state law since then. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s rule delisting wolves, however, faces challenges in federal court. The outcome of those challenges could affect Idaho wolf hunting season.

For 2009 wolf seasons and rules go to the Fish and Game Web site: http://fishandgame.idaho.gov/cms/hunt/wolf/wolfrules.pdf. A printed brochure will be available at license vendors when tags go on sale August 24

Ffron an Idaho F&G press Release
It’s not too late to apply for a second chance at the hunt of a lifetime.
Entries in the second Super Hunt and Super Hunt Combo drawing must be received at the Fish and Game headquarters by August 10 with the drawing set for 10 a.m. August 17.

A “Super Hunt Combo” ticket and tickets for two elk, two deer, and two pronghorn hunts along with one moose hunt will be drawn. The entry period for the second drawing is June 2 through August 10.

So what’s a Super Hunt?

It is a fund-raising drawing for 40 big game tags. The tags are handed out to winners in two drawings. Tickets are drawn for elk, deer, pronghorn and moose tags. Winners can participate in any open hunt in the state for deer, elk, pronghorn or moose. That includes general hunts and controlled hunts.

Hunters can take an animal or animals on their Super Hunt or Super Hunt Combo tags in addition to any general season or controlled hunt tags they also hold.

All other rules of individual hunts apply.

The special drawings began in 2004 as a way to raise money for the Access Yes! program, which helps assure hunter and angler access to and across private lands by compensating willing landowners.

The first ticket costs $6; additional tickets for the same species cost $4 each when purchased at the same time. Super Hunt Combo tickets cost $20 for one; additional tickets are $16 when purchased at the same time.

Tickets are available at license vendors, all Fish and Game offices, or they can be ordered on the Internet at http://fishandgame.idaho.gov/cms/hunt/superhunt/, and on the phone at 800-824-3729 or 800-554-8685.

Fill out the ticket orders and mail them to: Fish and Game License Section, P.O. Box 25, Boise, ID 83707.

From an Idaho F&G Press release

Jim Ancho of Battle Mountain, Nevada, won the bighorn sheep tag in a drawing by the Idaho Chapter of the Wild Sheep Foundation.

“I’m rather shocked,” Ancho said. “I’ve never had luck like this in my life so I’m just gonna’ go for it.”

Ancho will be able to hunt in any unit open to sheep hunting for Rocky Mountain or California bighorn in 2009, pursuant to Fish and Game rules – except Unit 11, Hells Canyon of the Snake River. Unit 11 is available to the lottery winner on alternating years.

“I’m going for the Rocky Mountain bighorn, because I’ve got the other three needed for the Grand Slam and right now I’ve got a lot of research to do,” he said.

This year the foundation sold 7,605 tickets for the annual drawing, raising $57,982 for the state wildlife health lab.

The lottery is run by the Idaho chapter of the Wild Sheep Foundation. Lottery tickets start at $10 and decrease in price for multiples bought, a system that allows hunters of moderate means to participate.

Money raised by the drawing supports Idaho’s Wildlife Health Laboratory in Caldwell. The lab investigates wildlife diseases, such as brucellosis, chronic wasting disease, West Nile virus, bighorn sheep disease and other pathogens of concern to hunters and the livestock industry.

The lottery has raised more than $750,000 to support the Wildlife Health Laboratory since the program was begun in 1992. The foundation may keep a portion to operate and promote the lottery.

“This is a shining example of how sportsmen raise funds to give something back to all citizens of Idaho, hunters or not,” said Dale Toweill, trophy species coordinator for Idaho Fish and Game. “These funds allow wildlife veterinarians to work with the Department of Agriculture on topics of concern to both the wildlife community and livestock interests, providing direct and indirect benefits to all Idahoans.”

A hunting license and permit will be provided to the winner, who must be 18 years old and eligible to apply for a hunting license in Idaho. The once-in-a-lifetime rule is waived for this lottery tag.

The Wild Sheep Foundation is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization working to protect and restore bighorn sheep to historic habitats throughout Idaho.

From the Idaho Fish and game News release:

DNA is a powerful tool.

Preliminary results of saliva from one of the bite marks where a female grizzly bear bit a hunter on June 28 returned a match to a radio-collared grizzly with three cubs.

The hunter was one of three eastern Idaho black bear hunters who got an unpleasant surprise on the morning of June 28 when their hounds surrounded a female grizzly with cubs.

The bear took after the hunters, knocked down Keith Klingler, 38 of Idaho Falls, bit him on the right arm and tossed him around. His brother, Eric Klingler dug his .44-caliber Magnum handgun out of his pack and took a shot at the bear, deliberately firing high to avoid hitting his brother.

He may have missed or only inflicted a flesh wound. A scheduled Idaho Fish and Game grizzly bear monitoring flight in early July in the same area located the collared bear and her three young cubs. All four appeared fine, said Daryl Meints, regional wildlife manager for the Upper Snake Region of Idaho Fish and Game.

Keith Klingler was treated at Madison Memorial Hospital in Rexburg for lacerations to his right arm. He had no other apparent injuries.

The Klingler brothers and Corey Raichart, all three from the Idaho Falls area, were hunting black bears with hounds on Bishop Mountain near Harriman State Park. They released their hounds on a scent, and the dogs soon surrounded what the men thought was a black bear. When they arrived, they quickly realized they had a grizzly.

The hunters reported seeing two cubs with the female grizzly. None of them noticed whether the bear was wearing a radio-collar.

Fish and Game officials will continue weekly monitoring from the air, but they do not plan to track the bear on the ground unless they get a mortality signal. Officials also recommend that anyone heading into the backcountry carry bear spray.

There’s still time to be eligible for Idaho Fish and Game’s annual early application contest for 2009 controlled hunts.

The application period for this fall’s deer, elk, pronghorn and black bear and turkey controlled hunts continues through June 5.

Hunters must have a 2009 Idaho hunting license to apply for controlled hunts at any hunting and fishing license vendor, Fish and Game office; with a credit card by calling 1-800-55HUNT5 or 1-800-824-3729; or online at http://fishandgame.idaho.gov. An additional fee is charged for telephone and Internet applications.

But hunters who apply early avoid the last-minute rush, and they also have a chance to win cash. Idaho Fish and Game’s annual early application contest for 2009 for those controlled hunts will be handing out one $550 prize and one $450 prize to two lucky winners.

It’s too late for the May 15 deadline, but hunters who get their applications in by Tuesday, May 19, will still be eligible to win $450 in the May 22 drawing.

Others not applying for a controlled hunt may submit their name, age, address, and telephone number on a 3- by 5-inch piece of plain paper to: IDFG Early Application Contest, P.O. Box 25, Boise, ID 83707.

The drawing is funded by Outdoor Central, a part of Active Network, and sponsored by the Idaho Fish and Wildlife Foundation. The drawing encourages hunters to apply early and helps avoid last-minute congestion on license vendor computer terminals.