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All hunters and anglers
required to stop at check stations |
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September 17, 2014 |
As hard as it is to believe, summer is already
coming to a close. Even harder to believe is
that several Idaho hunting seasons have already
opened.
Throughout the deer and elk seasons, Idaho Fish
and Game (IDFG) will be running check stations
to collect data on hunter and angler success.
Idaho Code requires that "all sportsmen, with or
without game, must stop at Fish & Game check
stations." All those who are hunting or fishing
that day, as well as those returning from an
overnight hunting or fishing outing, are
required to stop.
At a check station, hunters and anglers are
asked a series of questions about how many
occupants of the vehicle were hunting or
fishing, which hunt unit they were in, and how
many animals of which species have been
harvested. At a check station, you are required
by law to produce all fish or game in possession
for inspection. All of the questions take just a
few minutes, and sometimes the coffee pot is on!
Each year, a few sportsmen do not stop at check
stations because they were not successful on
that particular trip. They see the signs, but
think the instructions don't apply to them
because they don't have any fish or game with
them. However, information about a trip during
which nothing was harvested is also recorded and
compared with data from prior seasons. Citations
can be issued to those who are headed home from
hunting or fishing and do not stop.
Check Station data is only accurate and
meaningful when all hunters and anglers comply
with the requirement to stop. It is important
that hunters stop to give biologists information
relating to the trip from which they are
returning. The check stations serve as a helpful
immediate measure of how the season is going.
Final season success and harvest figures are
derived from hunter harvest reports, mandatory
checks (for bear, lion, moose, sheep, wolf,
goat), check station data and telephone surveys.
If you arrive at a check station with a species
for which a mandatory check is required, your
animal will be checked and necessary data will
be recorded. This can save you a trip to check
in your animal at a later date.
You may also complete your requirement to file a
harvest report if you have harvested a deer or
elk. You can also file your report while at a
check station If you are done hunting for the
season. Simply complete the form and drop it off
at the check station and you will be finished
with reporting your hunting results for that
species for the year.
The information you provide at a station is
important to successful management of the
wildlife resource we enjoy in Idaho. You can
also ask questions and get information about how
the seasons are progressing.
All hunters, both big game and small game are
encouraged to carefully review the hunting
regulations prior to heading into the field.
Nobody wants to violate a rule because they were
not aware of a recent change.
If you have questions about regulations or
seasons, contact the Fish and Game office in
your region:
http://www.fishandgame.idaho.gov/public/about/offices/
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