For many years, there have been big game hunting seasons opening on Aug. 30 in Idaho. In the last decade or so, some hunts have been moved up to as early as Aug. 1.

The Salmon Region started this trend in Idaho in a move to haze elk (and deer) away from agricultural fields. Elk tend to forage on standing crops just before harvest, causing financial losses for farmers and ranchers. These hunts were designed to address this problem. The thought was that a few hunters around these fields would cause the elk to look for food elsewhere.

Some of the hunts restricted hunters to within one mile of agricultural fields, so they came to be known as "green field" hunts. Some hunts just required that hunters hunt within one mile of private land so that their activities would alter the feeding patterns of the elk.

Having hunters in or around agricultural fields has been somewhat effective in moving elk away from standing crops. This success has led to these opportunities being expanded to many parts of the state. Most of the hunts are for cow elk, as harvesting cows goes further toward reducing crop depredations in subsequent years.

In the Panhandle Region, there are now controlled cow elk hunts in units 1, 3 and 5 that opened on Aug. 1. Hunters who drew and purchased one of these tags recently received a letter from IDFG Landowner Sportsman Relations Coordinator Lester McDonald. The letter offers to help tag-holders locate landowners in these units who want crop damage reduced on their property.

Hunters who draw one of these tags have an excellent chance of putting delicious and nutritious meat in their freezers. However, early hunts require special preparation to make certain the meat can be taken care of in a timely manner. Heat spoils meat!

Meat spoilage is a serious concern during hot weather. Hunters have an ethical and legal obligation to properly care for the game they harvest.

The key to preserving meat in hot weather is to begin the cooling process quickly. Animals should be immediately skinned, reduced to quarters in most cases, and quickly transported to cold storage.

One of my three sons was fortunate to draw one of these tags, and he went out on Aug. 1 to look for a cow elk. The evening before his hunt opened, I called a friend who has a meat processing facility and made arrangements to take meat there if my son connected on a cow. The cooler was already running, cold and ready to take in game.

In addition to making prior arrangements for a cool destination for meat, we also agreed that he wouldn't shoot anything after 9 a.m., he would only take a broadside shot at a still elk (that would not likely need to be blood-trailed), and he wouldn't shoot anything where there wasn't a logging road that would allow us to get a cable to it, pull it down to our truck and load it out quickly.

Following elk tracks for miles on the Panhandle National Forest, hunting over a remote wallow, glassing a hillside and sneaking into range...all of the things that make an elk hunt fun, were all off the table due to the warm temperatures; and because the hunt is limited to within one mile of private land. He still went out for a walk with his rifle, but not with as much enthusiasm or determination as he takes into an October elk hunt.

Fortunately, the tag is valid all of the way through Dec. 31. Hopefully the weather will cool some in the next few weeks. Removing a cow elk in the vicinity of an agricultural field later in the season may not help the local farmer with this year's crops, but will still help to reduce future crop depredations.

For more information and for help with planning hunts, go to fishandgame.idaho.gov and use the "Hunt Planner."

At the July Fish and Game Commission meeting, the commissioners adjusted the dates when dogs are prohibited for pursuing mountain lions in units 4, 4A, 6, 7 and 9. The rules had prohibited pursuing lions with dogs from Oct. 10 through Dec. 1.

The new prohibited dates in those units were reduced to Oct. 10 through Oct. 31. The change is effective immediately and will be in effect at least for 2015 and 2016.

The change aligns the period when hounds can be used for pursuing mountain lions to match the pursuit season for black bears in these units during the next two fall seasons.

Phil Cooper is a wildlife conservation educator for the Idaho Department of Fish and Game in the Panhandle Region.