Mule Deer Fanatic

As of: April 27, 2007

Combination Hunting & Fishing ……………………………..$199.75
Hunting ………………………………………………………………….. $141.50
Archery Permit …………………………………………………………..$18.25
Muzzleloader Permit ………………………………………………….$18.25
Deer (Regular or White-tailed) ……………………………… $258.50
Southeast Deer Tag …………………………………………………$258.50
Controlled Hunt Application …………………………………………$6.25
Controlled Hunt Permit ………………………………………………..$7.75

Deer Tag (controlled hunt)………………………………………..$266.25

Click these links for maps:

Southwest

Magic Valley

Southeast

Upper Snake

Salmon

Dates:
• Deer, elk, pronghorn, and fall black bear: May 1—June 5.

Nonresident Permit Limitations:
In controlled hunts with ten or fewer permits, not more than one nonresident
permit may be issued. In controlled hunts with more than 10
permits, EXCEPT unlimited controlled hunts, not more than
10 percent (not a guaranteed 10 percent) of the permits may
be issued to nonresidents. NOTE: If a resident applies for a
controlled hunt on a group application with a nonresident, and
the 10 percent nonresident limitation is met, rejection of the
nonresident on the application will also result in rejection of any
residents on that application.

You may apply for a Regular Controlled Hunt and send
in a second Controlled Hunt application for an X hunt.
Hunters also may buy a general deer and elk tag, and
apply for an X hunt. If you draw a permit for an X hunt,
you could harvest a deer or elk during the general
season and then harvest a second deer or elk in the
extra Controlled Hunt.

Drawing Results:
It is your responsibility to find out
if you were successful in drawing a controlled hunt permit.
Results will be available July 10 on the IDFG Internet site,
http://fishandgame.idaho.gov.

Drawing Results:
All successful applicants, except
those applying for spring black bear hunts and turkey, will be
notified by mail at their mailing address listed on their hunting
license by July 10. Results will also be available at that time
on the IDFG Internet site, http://fishandgame.idaho.gov.
Unsuccessful applicants will not be notified.

UNCLAIMED PERMITS
Successful applicants for deer, elk, fall black bear, or
pronghorn controlled hunts must pick up their controlled hunt
permit and tag not later than August 1, 2007. All deer, elk, or
pronghorn controlled hunt permits and tags not picked up by
August 1, 2007 will be entered into a second controlled hunt
drawing (see page 21).

Why do we need the Mule Deer Initiative?
Mule deer are an important wildlife resource to
Idaho’s hunters and citizens. Southern and eastern Idaho
have traditionally been well known for abundant mule
deer populations providing plenty of hunting opportunity
and big bucks. Since 1992, mule deer populations in
portions of eastern, southeastern, and south-central
Idaho are lower than desired by both Department
biologists and hunters. The Department plans to
intensively manage deer to increase the number of mule
deer and increase the proportion of mature bucks.
is no single solution. The Mule Deer Initiative includes
habitat improvement projects, population management,
stepped up enforcement efforts, predator control, access
management, and public involvement – all in an effort to
increase mule deer recruitment and survival, increase
hunter satisfaction, and protect and improve habitat.

What is being done?
Habitat loss, predators, drought, changes in
hunting technique, and access are just some of the
factors influencing mule deer populations and the
hunting experience. Deer managers have no control
over weather, climate, and human population growth.
However, there is opportunity for deer managers to
improve existing habitat, reduce the impact of predators,
reduce elk occupation of important deer habitats, and
implement hunting season and rule changes to improve
mule deer hunter experience. Just as there is no single
reason for the decline in mule deer across the west, there
deer in Idaho.

Where can I find out more?
Visit the Idaho Fish and Game website at
http://fishandgame.idaho.gov/mdi for more information

NONRESIDENT DEER TAG – USE FOR
BLACK BEAR OR MOUNTAIN LION

Nonresident deer tags, EXCLUDING Nonresident
Junior Mentored deer tags, are valid to take a black bear
or mountain lion instead of a deer where and when the
deer tag is valid, and there is an open deer season in
that unit; and there is also an open bear season if taking
a bear or open mountain lion season if taking a lion in
that same unit. Hunters may buy other bear or lion tags,
but after the deer tag is used to harvest a deer, black
bear, or mountain lion, a second deer tag may not be
purchased, except to hunt in an area where the harvest
of two deer is allowed, or by purchasing a leftover
nonresident deer tag when available.

Wolfpack kills hunting dogs near Avery!

AVERY, IDAHO — Two hunting dogs are dead and another is seriously
injured after being attacked by a pack of wolves near of Avery, Idaho east
of St. Maries that has one North Idaho man saying the state is to
blame.

With 30 staples across her small head, and 12 feet of sutures weaved throughout her fragile body, Lilly – a 2 1/2 year old Plott hound dog is slowly recovering.

That’s a tooth hole of a wolf right there. Those holes back there are teeth marks, dog owner Jamie Parker said.

Lilly along with Parker’s two other dogs George and Ginger was attacked by a pack of wolves on Sunday. George and Ginger didn’t make it to the Silver Valley Vet Clinic like Lilly did; they both died shortly after the attack.

I don’t know how to describe it, Parker said. It tore my heart
out. Wouldn’t compare it to losing a child, but it’s got to be closet
thing to it.

Parker and some friends were hunting a mountain lion just a mile or so
from Avery when the dogs stopped barking and they knew something was
wrong. The hunters climbed up a mountain and when they got there they
found blood everywhere and a pack of wolves running toward them.

The men fired several shots and the wolves ran away.

Idaho re-introduced 35 gray wolves to the state in 1995 after near
extinction and now there are 651 wolves and 71 wolf packs statewide.

I’m frustrated by the people that have shoved these wolves down our
throat, Parker said.

The Idaho Fish and Game Department says it understands parker’s frustrations, however there isn’t much it can do until the gray wolf is taken off the endangered species list.

The federal government tried once in 2002 and another effort is now underway.

If and when the wolf is off the list, Parker and others would be able
to hunt gray wolves and shoot one if its attacking a family pet.

Parker says the push to de-list should’ve happened a long time ago.
Even so, he remains hopeful as he prepares to take Lilly home on Thursday.

I feel good and I’m pretty sure she’s going to pull out of this and
she’ll hunt again someday, he said.

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An excerpt from the Yahoo group: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/muledeerfanatic/join/

“I understand that, not long ago in Idaho, there was a rancher that shot a lion because it was too close to his livestock. The Idaho Game and Fish then prosecuted him for a game violation. The rancher and his associates then called for a dismissal of the charges. The end result was that the Governor released the G and F Director. What a marvelous display of priorities. The Governor (i.e., the people of Idaho) have made a bold statement that people and even livestock are more important than lions. My hat is off to the people of Idaho. We need more of the same all acrossed the West.”

Buck Chaser