Idaho Department of Fish and Game News

Motorist captures video of elk herd

Josh Hoisington was heading home from a fishing trip this fall and captured video of a large herd of elk on the run.

"To see this sight was pretty incredible," Hoisington said. "Seeing this elk heard has made my first year in Idaho amazing."

Hoisington posted the video on YouTube and described what he saw:

"There was a youth hunt going on. A hunter on the west ridge pushed them down into the valley and across the road. There was also a coyote flanking the herd as well. He was running full tilt, but you can't see him in the video."

Hoisington moved to Idaho from Colorado just one year ago. His first year in Idaho has also included a successful elk hunt and lots of fishing.

The video is available on the Idaho Department of Fish and Game's YouTube Channel link at: http://www.youtube.com/user/idahofishgame. Click on wildlife and then on elk herd.

Date for 'Wildlife Summit' changed

In response to hunter concerns, the Idaho Department of Fish and Game has changed the date for its planned Wildlife Summit this fall.

IDFG plans to convene the "Idaho Wildlife Summit" on Aug. 24, 25 and 26 at the Riverside Hotel in Boise, to discuss how IDFG manages wildlife and whether the agency should engage a broader base of support.

"We've heard from several archery hunters who are expressing concern about the September dates originally set for the Wildlife Summit," IDFG Director Virgil Moore said. "The Wildlife Summit is all about listening to our hunters, anglers, trappers and other wildlife conservationists, and we need input from our archery hunters too."

Many archery seasons open Aug. 30 and would conflict with the early September dates. As a result of numerous concerns, Fish and Game decided to move the dates forward a couple of weeks.

Additional information will be posted on the IDFG website as it becomes available: http://fishandgame.idaho.gov.

Early last year, Moore laid out for his staff the agency's dilemma: Legal mandates and public expectations have outgrown funding sources. Now Moore wants to lay it out for the rest of Idaho. He wants to discuss how to meet those mandates and expectations without infringing on the agency's core mission of stewardship of wildlife to provide opportunities for hunting, fishing and trapping.

Other details are still being worked out, including an agenda for the discussion. The physical size of the facility will limit the number of people who can attend - but IDFG is working on ways to reach those who are interested, such as online connections and video conferencing.