On the Sage Creek Forums, a number of hunters from Idaho are members.  It stands to reason since the Forums are run by Scott Whitehurst of Athol, a small town in the Panhandle of Idaho.  A llittle more than a week ago, there was a post that caught my attention:

Mon Jun 23, 2008

First post here all. I’m in the position of having found a GPS out on a hillside, and I’d hate to lose one of those, so I’m trying to locate the owner. The GPS was found somewhere on the South Fork of the Clearwater River, somewhere above Harpster.

While I don’t know much about GPS’s, and neither did those that were with me, I’m told that most have an “Owner” screen that comes up when the unit is turned on, with address, phone number, etc. This one didn’t, at least it didn’t when we figured out how to turn it on and somewhat navigate through it. I guess one of us could have messed up and deleted something we shouldn’t have.

I have found a “Home” waypoint, which (with the help of others) plugged the coordinates into Google Earth. This took me to a screen shot of a place somewhat outside of Harpster. I’m a 7-hr drive away from this location….otherwise, I’d drive to the place myself and inquire. If any of you know of anyone that has lost a GPS, and can provide the model number and likely location that it was lost, and other waypoints that are entered, I’d gladly mail the GPS back.

Failing that, next time I’m up that way, I’ll make the drive to the place myself. Thx for the help.

Now I don’t know about you but there are probably a number of people out there who might consider finding a GPS lost on a hillside, in a remote river canyon to be their good fortune.  The temptation to keep it would cross the mind of nearly anyone…  But this guy was determined to find the owner.

The suggestions rolled in , see if the local sporting goods store knew anyone who lost a GPS, Local LEO’s, A lost and found ad, etc.

 Tue Jun 24, 2008

A member on another forum who visits this forum suggested I try here. I even emailed (and got a reply!) from the GPS manufacturer when I provided the GPS serial number, hoping the owner had registered it for warranty. It hadn’t been, so I’ll run out my search options as best as I can.

Sat Jun 28, 2008

I called Rae Bros and they had no reports of lost GPS’s. I left a Lost & Found ad with the Free Press, and, sent an email to Grangeville law enforcement to see if they had any Lost reports of GPS’s. We’ll see what happens, if anything!

Then I checked in this morning, and I saw that all his hard work had paid off.

Wed Jul 02, 2008

A successful day for me! I found the GPS owner (a Mr. *******). I placed a ‘Lost & Found’ ad in the Idaho County Free Press in Grangeville and got a call today on it. I returned the call and the Owner was able to name off the ‘Home’ N & W coordinates, and several other waypoint names that were entered in the unit. He gave me his mailing address, so it will be off to him shortly.

Turns out someone borrowed the GPS from him to go find a specific tree, then lost the unit on his way out.

Thx everyone for your helpful suggestions

Folks, this is a great example of modern technology meets the “Code of the West” .  Good things still happen to good people.  Even when people aren’t looking. So the next time you have a chance to help out your fellow outdoorsman, even if you don’t HAVE to, remember this example.  We all could be on either end of this situation, and I think we can all agree that in this case it was definately a WIN-WIN outcome.

Here’s to more Happy Endings…

from Idaho Fish and Game press release

On Monday, June 16, entries for Super Hunt tags will be drawn for eight elk, eight deer and eight antelope hunts as well as one moose hunt.
The winners will be drawn at 9 a.m. in the Trophy Room at Idaho Fish and Game headquarters at 600 S. Walnut in Boise. The public is welcome to attend.

One Super Hunt Combo ticket also will be drawn that will entitle the winner to hunts for one each elk, deer, antelope and moose. The winners can hunt in any open hunt.

A second drawing will be August 15. Entries for two elk, two deer, two antelope and one moose along with another Super Hunt Combo will be drawn.
It’s not too late to enter. Entries for the second drawing must be received at Fish and Game no later than August 10.

Ticket order forms are available online at:
http://fishandgame.idaho.gov/superhunt/, and tickets are available at license vendors and Fish and Game offices, by phone at 800-554-8685 or 800-824-3729, or by mail at: IDFG License Section, P.O. Box 25, Boise, ID 83707.

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.

2008 Nonresident Deer and Elk Tag Quotas

As of: March 14, 2008

The Regulations have recently been updated for 2008.  You can find them online at: http://fishandgame.idaho.gov/cms/hunt/rules/bg/

The Citizens Against Poaching hotline got a call December 30, 2007, about two individuals who had poached a deer north of Interstate 84 and east of U.S. Highway 93 in the Magic Valley.

The reporting party noted that the suspects were on blue all-terrain-vehicles and wearing camouflage. The season had been closed for nearly two weeks.

An Idaho Fish and Game conservation officer found a dead deer but little evidence of who may have shot the animal out-of-season. After talking to the witnesses and collecting the deer as evidence, investigators began looking elsewhere for clues.

As the officer was leaving the area, he spoke to several people and mentioned that “he was looking for two matching blue ATVs.” He asked them to “please write down a license plate and call the CAP hotline if they saw any similar vehicles in the area.”

The field contacts paid off. Later that night, a tip from another witness provided a license plate number. The information lead to a residence where officers found two blue ATVs parked on a trailer attached to a vehicle.

The investigation shifted into high gear and charges were filed against the two individuals for taking a deer during a closed season. When faced with the evidence, the poachers soon confessed to the crime.

From the observations of everyday hunters and outdoor enthusiasts, a closed season deer case with minimal evidence progressed. Many cases that Fish and Game officers investigate have witnesses, but the trick is letting the public know a crime has been committed and where to report their observations.

License plate numbers and vehicle description are important details that help identify suspects in poaching investigations. It is the simple things that outdoor recreationists see that are vital to solving wildlife crimes.

Anyone with information about a wildlife crime is encouraged to “Make the Call” to the Citizens Against Poaching hotline at 1-800-632-5999 or their local Fish and Game regional office.

Beginning archery hunters wanting to pursue game in Idaho this year are encouraged to register for an upcoming bow hunter education course offered in Lewiston.

“Don’t wait until summer,” said James Reed, Idaho Fish and Game hunter education coordinator. “Reserve your seat now, because these may be the last courses offered before bow season begins.”

One course will be offered from 6:30 to 10 p.m. March 28, and from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. March 29. A second course will be offered from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. April 12, and from 8 a.m. to noon April 13. Both will be at the Lewiston Fish and Game Office, 3316 16th Street.

Students can register online at http://fishandgame.idaho.gov/cms/education/hunter_ed, or by visiting the Department’s Lewiston office.

The course is a mix of classroom instruction and hands-on experiences that last about 12 to 16 hours. Subjects include equipment, hunting techniques, shot placement, recovery techniques, ethics, tree stand safety, outdoor preparedness and a written final exam.

All courses are taught by volunteer instructors, with most courses offered between January and April.

Idaho Fish and Game is preparing for emergency winter feeding of deer in the Boise County area.

Winter conditions have become extreme in the South Fork of the Payette River drainage from Banks to Lowman, and portions of the Boise River drainage.

In concurrence from the Regional Winter Feeding Advisory Committee, Southwest Region Supervisor Scott Reinecker has declared a winter feeding emergency for deer in the Boise County area. Fish and Game will commence with winter feeding activities.

A review of historic weather data shows that snow depths in Lowman, which typically average 21 inches, are 48 inches or more this winter. In Garden Valley, an area that averages 14 inches of snow for this time of year, levels exceed 36 inches.

Decisions for emergency winter feeding in this area are primarily driven by snow depth. The “need to feed deer” criteria in the Garden Valley area are 18 inches of snow on south facing slopes for five or more consecutive days. Some measuring sites in the Garden Valley and Lowman areas on south facing slopes have had 18 inches of snow or more since January 7.

Lower than normal temperatures and recurring snow storms have prevented snow depths from diminishing as they typically would.

The winter weather severity index also is considered during deliberations on winter feeding. This year compares to the index levels of past years when deer have been fed in the Garden Valley area. But the level was reached a month later than the average for the previous years when deer were fed.

Fish and Game in the Southeast Region also has authorized emergency winter feeding of mule deer in the Preston area, including Oxford Mountain and Cub River, and in the Bear Lake and Georgetown Canyon areas.

Fish and Game’s Southeast Region and the Winter Feeding Advisory Committee based the decision on criteria that include snow depths greater than 18 inches, 10 days of consecutive subzero daytime temperatures, poor physical conditions of the animals, and winter range conditions to determine whether a winter feeding emergency exists.

It often takes a combination of factors to constitute an emergency. It may also be necessary to “bait” animals away from highways or railroads for the safety of people and the animals.

The emergency winter feeding program is paid for with money from the purchase of deer, elk, and antelope tags. From each purchase, 75 cents goes to the winter feeding account. A $400,000 balance is maintained in this account for use on winter feeding efforts only, but any surplus not needed for winter feeding can be used for winter habitat enhancement.

For information about the winter feeding program, contact Fish and Game in Pocatello at 208-232-4703.

Throughout the West farmers and ranchers have been hoping for a good snowpack to recharge reservoirs for irrigation as well as stock ponds that benefit both wildlife and livestock. 

Well we got the snow.  according to reports, the snowpack in the Sierras is 3 times what it was this time last year.  That’s good news for water supplies.  However deep snow presents a problem for deer and elk finding enough winter forage, and increases fawn mortality through increased predation pressure and decreased feed resources.  The Idaho Fish and Game released this press release to explain how they are dealing with the heavy snows, and the role of winter feeding to help big game herds in Idaho.

IDAHO FISH AND GAME
UPPER SNAKE REGION NEWS RELEASE
Idaho Falls, ID

Date: February 4, 2008
Contact: Gregg Losinski
(208) 525-7290

weather becoming critical for big game

When it comes to precipitation, it’s often feast or famine.

Winter storms have brought much needed snow to recharge reservoirs and provide hope for next years irrigation needs. But things are starting to look tough for certain herds of deer and elk. As part of its annual monitoring program, the Winter Feeding Advisory Committee met Friday, February 1, via a telephone conference call to review animal and environmental conditions in Idaho Fish and Game’s Upper Snake Region.

After much consideration, the committee unanimously recommended that Fish and Game begin preparation of feeding operations to address the needs of wildlife and the safety of humans in the region.

The recommendation by committee chairman Kent Marlor was not for wholesale winter feeding. The committee, along with Idaho Fish and Game biologists reviewed specific locations and the animal, human, and environmental factors associated with each. Fish and Game will set up a priority schedule to undertake a feeding operation, the likes of which have not been seen in this area for fifteen years.

“We are sensitive to all places in the region where animals are struggling with winter conditions, but due to logistics we can’t address them all,” said Steve Schmidt, Upper Snake regional supervisor. “That is why we have worked with the Winter Feeding Advisory Committee to come up with priorities.”

Herd survival, human safety and disease transmission are the driving factors in selecting wildlife populations to be fed.

“While some fawns die every winter, more will certainly die this winter,” regional wildlife manager Daryl Meints said. “That is unfortunate, but our number one priority is trying to insure the best survival possible for the mature females. They’re the ones that will be able to bring back the herds after we get through the winter.”

Part of the program will be to lure big game animals away from areas where they could be a traffic hazard and from sites where landowners are feeding livestock, Schmidt said. In some cases, feed sites will be established where a special alfalfa-mix pellet will be distributed.

Because of the large territory involved, volunteers will be crucial to reaching all the animals affected.

“Once we start feeding, we can’t stop until spring green-up,” Meints said. “That means people who sign on to be volunteers need to be serious about helping for the long haul.”

Winter feeding operations are expensive, and difficult to implement. To learn more about winter feeding, visit the Fish and Game website at: http://fishandgame.idaho.gov/cms/hunt/biggame/feed.cfm

For information about volunteering to help with wintering wildlife or to report problem locations, call 208-525-7290.

For years the states surrounding Idaho have been wrestling with the possibility of Idaho’s wolves, from re-introduction in the 90’s, would spread to their neighboring states.  Oregon has now officially acknowledged that it does have wolves within its borders. 

Here is the LINK to the official Press release from the Idaho Fish and Game.

A LINK to the Oregon Fish and Wildlife Wolf Page 

Hot off the presses from the Idaho department of Fish and Game…

During its quarterly meeting November 15, the Idaho Fish and Game Commission set new limits on nonresident Selway Zone elk tags, and changed nonresident deer quotas.

Statewide, the overall number of nonresident elk tags did not change, but the number of deer tags was increased by 1,500.

The commissioners approved a Fish and Game staff proposal to reduce the number of Selway B tags by 15 percent to 284, from 336 last year; they also capped Selway A tags at 374 - the existing level of use. The A tags had not been capped.

The recommendations included shortening the Selway Zone B tag late season to November 1 through November 11, instead of November 18. The commission will act on the season recommendation in March.

Bull elk harvest has stayed fairly steady in the Selway zone, but biologists are concerned that not enough young bulls are coming into the herds to replace big, older bulls.

The commission made no changes to quotas for other elk zones.

The overall number of nonresident elk tags in Idaho did not change. The total of A and B tags remains at 10,415 tags, with an additional 2,400 tags set aside for outfitters. That makes a total of 12,815 nonresident elk tags.

The commissioners also dropped the southeast Idaho deer quota. A separate quota on nonresident deer tags was set for several units in the southeast region following the decline in herds there after severe winter weather in the early 1990s. Recovering numbers in the region and a slowdown in demand for nonresident tags there made the separate quota unnecessary.

The commission increased the regular deer quota to 14,000, and added 1,500 white-tailed deer tags. The changes restore the number of nonresident deer tags to the 1996 level of 15,500. The nonresident deer quota was trimmed after winter losses in the 1990s hit deer numbers in several areas of Idaho. Herds in many areas of the state have come back.

Nonresident tags go on sale Saturday, December 1.

Idaho has three general-season deer tags in 2008. You can hunt
only in the units specified for that tag. A nonresident deer tag may
be used to take black bear or mountain lion where a deer season and
bear/lion season are both open. The tag cannot be used for deer after
it is used to tag a bear or mountain lion. All tags are available on
a first-come, first-served basis on December 1 at midnight, except
nonresident Selway B elk tags which are available December 1 at 10
a.m. mountain time.
SOUTHEAST DEER TAG: Southeast deer tags are only valid in
units 75, 76, 77 and 78. Sale begins on December 1 at noon mountain
time.
WHITE-TAILED DEER TAG: The white-tailed deer tag is valid
in any unit in Idaho except the Southeast units (75, 76, 77, and 78).
The white-tailed deer tag can be used to harvest a white-tailed deer
only and allows hunting opportunities in September, October, and
November hunts. If you plan on hunting during the later November
white-tailed deer rut hunts, the white-tailed deer tag is the right tag.
REGULAR Deer Tag: The regular deer tag is valid in any unit
in Idaho except the Southeast units 75, 76, 77, and 78). The regular
deer tag can be used to harvest either white-tailed or mule deer and
is valid for any general hunt PRIOR to November 3. If you plan on
hunting during September or October, and prefer to hunt both whitetailed
and mule deer, a regular deer tag is the tag you will want to
purchase. Deer tags will likely be sold out before September.
Elk hunting
For general season elk hunting the state is divided into 29 zones. See
Big Game Rules for tag types. Nonresident Selway B elk tags go on
sale at 10 a.m. mountain time on December 1. All other nonresident
tags go on sale December 1 at midnight.
You may exchange your elk tag for one in another zone until the
opening of the first season for which your tag is valid. Cost is $3.75.
If you have purchased a tag, you may apply for a controlled hunt in
any zone and if you are drawn your tag will be exchanged for the
proper controlled hunt permit and tag. Elk tags will likely be sold out
before September.

Important Dates in 2008
Jan. 15–Feb. 15—Application period for wild turkey and spring black bear controlled hunts.
April 1-30—Application period for mountain goat, bighorn sheep, and moose controlled hunts.
May 1-June 5 — Application period for deer, elk, antelope and fall black bear controlled hunts.
June 15–July 15—Application period for sandhill crane and early Sept. Canada goose hunts.
December 1—Nonresident 2009 licenses and general season tags available.

To get the Hunting Rules and Regulations for 2008, you can go to the Idaho Fish and Game Website.