Latest news with #IDFG
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Yahoo
Idaho Hunter Self-Reports Bear Identification Error After Mistaking a Black Bear for a Grizzly
A hunter in Bonner County, Idaho, mistakenly shot and killed a grizzly bear, which they mistook for a black bear while legally hunting on Friday, according to a statement by the Idaho Department of Fish and Game. The incident occurred in the Idaho Panhandle's Priest Lake drainage. Upon correctly identifying the bear as a grizzly at the scene, the hunter reported the error via IDFG's Citizens Against Poaching hotline. IDFG said the hunter is fully cooperating with the ongoing investigation, which is standard procedure in this situation. Black bears are common across Idaho, with as many as 30,000 roaming the state. Grizzlies are much less common, with up to 100 living in northern Idaho, according to the U.S. Forest Service. The hunter's mistake is also example of the importance of accurate bear identification in the field, particularly in areas where black bear and grizzly habitats overlap, such as Idaho's Panhandle, the Upper Snake Region, and areas surrounding Yellowstone National Park. Grizzly bears are protected as threatened under federal and state laws, and hunters are responsible for correctly identifying their targets before they pull the trigger. A new law that took effect on Jan. 1 requires hunters pursuing Idaho black bears to pass a bear identification test. Beyond the mandatory test, hunters are also encouraged to regularly review basic bear ID to avoid cases of mistaken identity. Read Next: Shed Hunter Kills Charging Grizzly with a Handgun in Montana Because North American bears in various life stages vary widely in size and color, neither is a dependable method for accurately identifying species. For instance, black bears can sometimes take on a color phase that makes them appear blonder — a coat similar to many grizzlies. Instead, hunters should use a combination of physical traits, including ear shape, facial profile, and body structure. Shoulder Hump: Grizzlies have well-developed shoulder muscles they use for digging and foraging. These strong muscles create a prominent shoulder hump that black bears lack. Facial Features: When turned to the side, grizzlies appear to have a dished area between the eyes and the snout. In contrast, black bears have long, straight profiles. When viewed from the front, a grizzly's face is broad while a black bear's is narrower. Ears: Grizzly bears have short, rounded ears. Black bear ears are taller and more pointed. Claws: Grizzly bears have much longer claws than their black bear cousins. Grizzly claws are at least 2 inches long, but can grow to as long as 4 inches. Black bears have shorter claws (generally less than 2 inches) that are more curved and better suited for climbing trees.
Yahoo
05-02-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Idaho Now Requiring Nonresident Shed Hunters to Buy a License. Montana, Other Western States Eyeing Similar Changes
Big game animals are dropping their antlers across the West. Moose and whitetails have been shedding since January, followed by mule deer in February and elk through March. Shed hunters in the region are already eager to start collecting this spring, but with the growing popularity of shed hunting, wildlife managers in many western states are implementing new rules around it. Starting this year in Idaho, for example, out-of-staters must have a nonresident big-game hunting license to legally collect antlers, even on private land. The new Idaho requirement became law in July, and its intent is to reduce overcrowding on public lands and protect wintering wildlife. It was spurred, in part, by the huge influx of shed hunters to the Gem State in Spring 2023, when many surrounding states had enacted shed-hunting closures due to severe winterkill. 'We are trying to cover the cost of impacts to wildlife,' Idaho Department of Fish and Game regional supervisor Dan Garren tells Outdoor Life. 'Producing antlers is not our goal. Healthy wild herds are our goal, but that's where antlers come from. Requiring a nonresident hunting license for shed collection helps us fund management of wild herds and that benefits everybody.' The license required for nonresidents under the new IDFG rule is a base hunting license that costs $185. The only exception to this requirement is nonresidents under 12 who are accompanied by either a resident or a licensed nonresident. There isn't currently a shed license program in Montana, but legislation introduced Monday seeks to establish such a program. HB533 would require $10 shed hunting licenses for residents, and $50 licenses for nonresidents. Landowners collecting on their own property would not have to buy a license. Read Next: Shed Hunter Finds $10,000 Mule Deer Antler, One of Five Hidden Across the West Idaho isn't alone in trying to regulate the growing demand for shed antlers, which can add to the stresses facing big-game herds during a vulnerable time of year. Here's a brief overview of five states in the West that are considering (or have already enacted) new or unique rules for shed hunters. Shed hunting is allowed on private land and on federal public lands, but it is prohibited on state lands managed by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. Otherwise, there are no special rules or seasons for shed hunting. Colorado does not currently have a fee-based program for shed hunting. It does, however, maintain a seasonal closure in the western half of the state. All shed and horn collecting on public lands west of 1-25 is prohibited from Jan. 1 through April 30 each year. Nevada established a shed-hunting program in 2021. All shed hunters (both residents and nonresidents) are required to carry a collection certificate for specific counties in eastern Nevada between May 1 and June 30. The certificates can be obtained through a free, 30-minute online course. Utah updated its regulations around shed hunting in 2024. Under the new law passed in May, the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources now has the authority to set shed-hunting seasons and establish additional rules around the activity. Shed hunters going out between Jan. 1 and May 31 must complete the mandatory Antler Gathering Ethics Course online. Those going out after May 31 do not have to complete the course. Under new laws passed in 2023, the Cowboy State requires nonresident shed hunters over the age of 15 to purchase a conservation stamp costing $21.50. Residents don't need a stamp. They also have a week to collect sheds without competition from nonresidents. Read Next: Conservation Groups, Hunters Fight Off Bill That Would Have Let Wyoming Landowners Sell Their Big-Game Tags for a Profit The Wyoming Department of Fish and Game also has a special antler regulation area in the western part of the state, which includes all land west of the Continental Divide, excluding the Great Divide Basin, and some land west of Laramie. All shed hunting is prohibited in this area from Jan. 1 through May 1.
