Deer, elk outlook for 2012 seasons

Deer and elk numbers are meeting management objectives in most parts of the state, but some hunter numbers are down slightly, Idaho Department of Fish and Game officials told the IDFG Commission on Jan. 26.

Female elk numbers meet or exceed objectives in 21 of 29 elk management zones; they are below objectives in eight zones. Bull elk meet or exceed objectives in 20 zones and are below objectives in nine.

IDFG plans to conduct aerial surveys in the Panhandle, Elk City, Brownlee, Weiser and Pioneer zones this winter to update elk herd information.

Mule deer exceed management objectives for buck to doe ratio. All population management units exceed 15 bucks per 100 does. From mid-December to mid-January, IDFG biologists captured and radio-collared 277 mule deer, including 195 fawns, in 20 game management units. They are now monitoring 796 radio-marked mule deer in 39 units in 12 population management units as part of annual mule deer survival monitoring effort.

Dry conditions and the unusually open winter statewide so far this year, have led IDFG to change its aerial survey plans because deer are spread widely rather than confined to typical winter range.

Aerial surveys are planned or under way to estimate populations in Smoky-Bennett, western part of Central Mountains and Island Park Population Management Unit. Mountain Valley has been postponed until next year.

Harsh winter conditions last year resulted in the lowest over-winter fawn survival, at 32 percent, and since IDFG began monitoring in 1998-99. Adult doe mortality was as high as 26-36 percent in four eastern Idaho population management units.

In response to mule deer monitoring results last year, antlerless hunt tags and some buck hunt tags were reduced. Because of low survival of fawns, a lower buck harvest was predicted for 2011 - few yearling two-points were available.

It's too early to tell how the mulies will fare this winter, but IDFG hopes to get a better idea from the fawns biologists recently captured and radio-collared.

White-tailed deer also are meeting management objectives for buck harvest throughout the state.

All whitetail data analysis units are meeting management plan objectives for buck harvest and percent of five-points in the harvest. Unit 4 was slightly below objectives for hunter number and hunter days, but whitetails are not the major focus for hunters in these units.

Whitetail numbers have been improving since the losses during 2007-2008 and 2008-2009 winters in the northern part of state. So far the outlook is positive for good numbers next fall.

No formal population surveys conducted for whitetails.

IDFG managers will bring proposed 2012 deer and elk seasons to the IDFG Commission in late March.

Forecast good for chinook salmon

If the chinook salmon returns for 2012 holds up to the early forecast, this year could be the third best in more than 30 years.

The forecast suggests a return that's a little more robust than last year, Idaho Department of Fish and Game fisheries bureau chief Ed Schriever told the Idaho Fish and Game Commission on Jan. 26.

The fish are still out in the Pacific Ocean, but the forecast for numbers of returning fish are similar to 2002 and 2010, he said. If the run materializes as forecast, the numbers heading for Idaho look even better - exceeded only by 2001 and 2010.

Northwest fish managers estimate that more than 314,000 Chinook bound for waters upstream of Bonneville Dam will enter the Columbia River this year - last year the number was about 221,000.

Of those, 129,000 hatchery fish and 39,000 wild fish are predicted to head up the Snake River to Washington, Oregon and Idaho. Last year's actual return was 96,300 hatchery fish and 31,600 wild fish.

Idaho fish managers estimate that 83,600 of the hatchery fish that cross Lower Granite Dam are bound for Idaho waters.

Last year, more than 33,000 returned to Salmon River hatcheries and about 13,000 returned to Clearwater hatcheries.

It's too soon to tell just how many fish will actually show up, and what any fishing seasons might look like. Idaho fisheries managers expect to present proposed Chinook fishing seasons in the Clearwater, Snake, lower Salmon and Little Salmon rivers to the Fish and Game Commission in March.

In years past, Chinook seasons have opened in late April.

Clearwater Region sets up meetings

The Clearwater Region has set four open house meetings to discuss proposed changes to the 2012 big game season. All meetings will be from 5-7 p.m.

• Monday, Feb. 27, Senior Citizens Center, County Road, Grangeville.

• Wednesday, Feb. 29, Latah County Fairground Exhibit Bldg, 1021 Harold, Moscow.

• Thursday, March 1, Fish and Game Clearwater Hatchery, 18 Hatchery Roe Drive (downstream of the North Fork Clearwater River), Orofino.

• Thursday, March 8, Fish and Game regional office, 3316 16th St., Lewiston.