Idaho Fish and Game takes steps to improve moose population

[Ridgeratt]

Idaho Fish and Game takes steps to improve moose population
Notably, the agency earlier this year decided to reduce the amount of moose tags available to hunters.

Author: Taylor Viydo
Published: 7:44 PM PDT April 2, 2019
Updated: 7:44 PM PDT April 2, 2019
COEUR D'ALENE, Idaho — Faced with declining moose populations in the Gem State, leaders with the Idaho Department of Fish and Game say they’re taking various steps to ensure that the animals start to rebound.
Notably, the agency earlier this year decided to reduce the amount of moose tags available to hunters.
The issue, which isn’t unique to Idaho, has become especially noticeable since 2010, according to IDFG spokeswoman Kiira Siitari in Coeur d’Alene.

"Across the state, we've been seeing [moose] numbers go down," she said. The findings are based primarily on reports from hunters who left their tags unfulfilled after failing to locate moose during the hunting season.
Siitari noted that due to the nature of the animals, IDFG biologists weren’t able to determine rough estimates of how many moose actually reside in North Idaho.
"Moose are really hard to study,” Siitari said. “They don't herd up in big groups like we deer or elk, so they're more solitary. They're harder to track."
Given that, biologists aren’t entirely sure what’s to blame behind the animal’s decline in Idaho. Siitari said that one of the primary theories among biologists included climate change. Shorter winters and longer summers tend to be more difficult for moose that rely on deep snow to evade predators, Siitari said.
As a result, the state’s Fish and Game commission voted in January to offer 171 fewer moose tags for the upcoming 2019 hunting season. Across Idaho, available tags for antlered moose dropped from 669 in the 2017-2018 season to 560 later this year. For antlerless moose, the tag amounts dropped from 136 to 74.
“We don’t take lightly that there’s a 16 percent reduction in antlered tags, and a 46 percent reduction in antlerless moose tags across the state,” said Fish and Game Director Ed Schriever in a statement. “Certainly, we would like to be talking about increases in tags, but it is simply not biologically supported.”
Hunting moose represents a “once in a lifetime” opportunity for most hunters, said Siitari, noting that individual hunters may only harvest a moose once. "People wait 20 years to get their moose tags,” Siitari said.

The reduction in available tags notes a change from the early 2000’s when IDFG increased the amount of available moose tags after increasing reports of moose sightings and collisions in populated areas, according to Siitari.
Siitari added that other studies and surveys were planned by the agency to better understand the animal’s numbers in the Idaho Panhandle. "These are just iconic species,” she said. “People love to photograph them. People love to hunt them."

[MtnMuley]

That's a good move on their part. Sucks for us hunters, but it's what's needed at this time.

[fishngamereaper]

  I like it. Noticed a huge decline in Moose this last year in the areas we hunt.

[grundy53]

Wow. Their game department actually takes what hunters are actually seeing seriously. Wish our state would too.

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[Naches Sportsman]

Needs to be cut even more, but it's a step in the right direction. I've heard some stories from old timers in the country I work in about the good ole days when elk and moose used to be abundant. People I work with have seen the change as well in the 20 or 30 years they've been working in these woods.

[Humptulips]

Given that, biologists aren’t entirely sure what’s to blame behind the animal’s decline in Idaho. Siitari said that one of the primary theories among biologists included climate change.

[Machias]

Hmm increase in moose and moose tags in the early 2000.....now a sudden decline....must be the boogie man, Climate Change, the catch all scapegoat.

[JimmyHoffa]

Climate change has a bushy tail and big teeth.

[buglebrush]

Given that, biologists aren’t entirely sure what’s to blame behind the animal’s decline in Idaho. Siitari said that one of the primary theories among biologists included climate change.

Seriously.  The Moose population is plummeting, and they simply cannot bring themselves to be honest about it.  It's the Wolves that have pushed us into this predator pit, and that's the truth.  Some of my friends who've been really successful calling Wolves swear by Moose Calf sounds.  I have four different friends who have called in and killed wolves while calling for elk, and it's happened to me too, but never got a shot. 

Listen, just fifteen years ago when I got married the wife and I would jump in my little Toyota and go chase moose down the mountain roads.  When her family would come visit we'd go up so they could see moose, and it was really easy to find some.  The last couple years we see more moose in town than up in the mountains.  I used to curse about all the moose on my trail cameras, but not anymore. I'm so sick of Biologists lying to everyone to protect their agenda with predators.   

[KFhunter]

Habitat loss!

Ticks!

No snow!

Too much snow!



WE DONT KNOW!

[BULLBLASTER]

I’ve seen a pretty drastic decline in moose in the area I hunted in 2014. Mule deer numbers are much much lower than they were then also. The moose tag would still be a great tag with good potential and not difficult to fill but I haven’t seen the clearcut with 20+ moose like I had before and the year I had my tag.

On the other side it seems like elk numbers are increasing in that area. Seeing them more and more around there.

I really do wish that Idaho and wa both would put more effort and resources into managing moose but am glad Idaho is being active and trying to make a difference.

[B4noon]

Meanwhile in Washington here's our biologists response to the same issue a declining moose population they will present this to the commission tomorrow. We know their declining but its acceptable amazing. They chopped the crap out of elk permits for a supposive population decline but moose its acceptable the left doesn't know what the rights doing great consistency in management good thing is caribou declined to the point we can hunt them with OTC tags

[buglebrush]

Meanwhile in Washington here's our biologists response to the same issue a declining moose population they will present this to the commission tomorrow. We know their declining but its acceptable amazing. They chopped the crap out of elk permits for a supposive population decline but moose its acceptable the left doesn't know what the rights doing great consistency in management good thing is caribou declined to the point we can hunt them with OTC tags

They're right that hunters have very little to do with the decline, and they will continue to decline in Washington because wdfw doesn't believe in managing predators.

[benhuntin]

WDFW doesn’t care about Moose or hunters. As long as they can keep selling tags.


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[buglebrush]

WDFW doesn’t care about Moose or hunters. As long as they can keep selling tags.


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If we go for reduced tags rather than increased predator control we're missing the forest for the trees.  WDFW needs to hear one unified and unrelenting voice from Sportsmen and that's the desperate need for aggressive predator management.  Everything else is just smoke and mirrors without it.