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Fires limiting access to some areas,
but hunting seasons will go on |
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August 27, 2015 |
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
Forest. “There are going to be some areas closed
all the way into winter. When the fires are out,
those closures will shrink, but not disappear.”
Forest Service officials reported North Idaho
has about 70 fires burning as of August 25 -
the most since 1926 - and people concerned about
their hunting spots should check the fire page
on Fish and Game’s website for updates and
conditions. If they still have questions about
access in the Panhandle, they can call a hotline
at (208) 765-7383 from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
for more information.
Fish and Game’s Clearwater region has issued
fire restrictions on all wildlife management
areas, lakes, reservoirs and fishing access
areas owned or managed by Fish and Game across
Latah, Clearwater, Nez Perce, Lewis, and Idaho
counties. Restrictions ban campfires, driving
off road and operating chainsaws and other power
tools. For details, see Fish and Game’s fire
page.
Other parts of the state are seeing normal to
below-average fire seasons, and while fires are
burning in Central Idaho, access closures are
fairly localized. As we move into fall, fire
activity typically decreases as nights get
longer and cooler. The likelihood of fires
flaring lessens, but it’s still a possibility,
said David Olson, public affairs officer for the
Boise National Forest.
“We know hunters want to get out,” Olson said.
“We have to balance hunter interest with public
safety.”
Firefighters are waiting for a “season ending”
weather event, which according to the Forest
Service is about 2 inches of rain or snow.
There’s typically a 50/50 chance of that
happening by mid-September, and a better chance
of it happening by early-to-mid-October when
most general-season, any-weapon hunting seasons
start.
However, there are early controlled hunts
underway and most archery hunts start August 30,
so hunters should be prepared to postpone their
hunts or move to different areas if their
hunting spots are affected by fires.
There are lots of places available for people to
hunt in the Panhandle, and “there’s still going
to be a lot of opportunity for big game after we
have that big weather event,” Fish and Game’s
Panhandle Regional Supervisor Chip Corsi said.
Idaho Fish and Game rarely alters hunts or
offers rain checks for controlled hunt tags
because of fires.
Fires typically affect only a portion of a
hunting unit and are usually put out, or
controlled, before the hunting season ends.
Hunters affected by a fire closure can choose
between adjusting their schedules to hunt later
in the season, or exchange general tags to hunt
in a different area. Exchanges must be made
before the season begins.
Hunters with controlled hunt tags may also
exchange them for general season tags before the
controlled hunt begins, but controlled-hunt fees
would not be refunded.
In limited cases, Fish and Game will offer rain
checks or refunds when access to a hunting unit
is blocked by fire. A person requesting a rain
check must submit his or her tag to Fish and
Game with a letter describing how fires blocked
their ability to hunt. If the rain check is
granted, a 2016 tag is offered for the same
species and hunt area as the hunter held in
2015.
For more information about rain checks, call
(208) 334-2592. Send written requests to Fish
and Game Licensing, P.O. Box 25, Boise ID 83707. |
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