Fish & Wildlife Volunteers

It's sad news to announce that one of my dear friends and supporters Jay & Laurie Anderson were killed in a traffic accident in Arizona while visiting their son Kevin. Our prayers go out to Kevin and his extended family. 🙏🙏🙏

Here is the official statement from a family spokesperson:
Jay and Laurie Anderson, died in a car accident in Arizona November 19th in Arizona.

Survived by Kevin Anderson, Chris Anderson, Lindsey Heddon and Brian Gruber and their families. Funeral services on December 13th at Whittier Area community church 8100 Colima rd. Whittier Ca 90605 at 10:00 am. Burial at Rose Hills Cemetery at noon on the same day.🙏🙏🙏

If you hadn't heard what Calif. Gov. Gavin Newsome just did to Hunter Education, Youth Shooting Sports, Youth Sports Fairs, 4H and Boy Scout Youth Camps, you need to read this.

Chuck Michel & Associates with the Calif. Rifle & Pistol Association (CRPA) will file an injunction to try to stop this illegal executive action.

Firearm Industry Surpasses $14 Billion in Pittman-Robertson Excise Tax Contributions Firearm and ammunition manufacturers have topped $14.1 billion in contributions to the Wildlife Restoration Trust Fund since its 1937 inception.

A handful of seats still available (AM & PM) for the March 20th Trapper Ed Class in Nampa.

https://www.register-ed.com/events/view/165235

https://www.register-ed.com/events/view/165236

Event - Trapper Certification: Instructor-led Course - March 20, 2021 in Nampa, ID Register-Ed is the Official Online Hunter and Boater Education Course Registration platform of many states. Choose your state, find an event, and signup online.

Cheatgrass: Grass Awns, Hunting Dogs, and Climate Change Tiny grass seeds can cause enormous health problems for hunting dogs without better prevention or awareness of the risks of cheatgrass.

IDAHO

February 4, 2021

Roswell Marsh Offers Snow Goose Viewing Opportunities

The annual snow goose spectacle at Fort Boise Wildlife Management Area (WMA) will not occur this spring, as the WMA wetlands that attract the birds are without water due to construction.

Snow goose watchers can still view the birds just five miles south of the WMA, at Fish and Game’s Roswell Marsh Wildlife Habitat Area (WHA). To reach the WHA, snow goose seekers should travel five miles south then west from Parma on Highway 18 through the community of Roswell. Turn south on Pebble Lane and travel a short distance to the Roswell parking lot overlooking a large wetland. The wetland area itself is closed to public entry. Please obey all closure postings and use extra caution if slowing down or stopping along Highway 18 or Pebble Lane.

Upwards of 60,000 snow geese, white-fronted geese and other waterfowl take a weeks-long break in the area each year before continuing their northern migration to Canada, Alaska and even Siberia.

The temporary displacement of snow geese at Fort Boise WMA will pay big dividends for all waterfowl species in the future. Nearly 400 acres of wetland habitat are being enhanced, with major earthwork scheduled to begin February 9th and continue until April. The construction site is closed to public entry for the duration of the project, and visitors travelling along Old Fort Boise Road should use caution as there will be heavy truck traffic in the area.

For more information regarding the Fort Boise WMA Habitat Improvement Project, or snow goose viewing opportunities at Roswell Marsh WHA, please contact the Fort Boise WMA office at 208-722-5888.

Here's a picture sent to me from about 25 years ago (I think I actually took that picture). These boys & girls were building dozens of Dove nesting cones to be place in nearby trees, These young volunteers are now in their 30's and many have children of their own now.

Idaho Fish & Game

Public’s Help Leads to Successful Conclusion in Waterfowl Carcass Wasting Case

A waterfowl wasting case, first reported on January 25th, came to a successful conclusion with multiple citations issued to two local college students. Fish and Game district conservation officer Ben Cadwallader credits the public, the Boise Police Department and Fred Meyer security personnel for the outcome.

During the initial investigation, Cadwallader found 19 whole waterfowl carcasses, along with 15 others with the breast meat removed, dumped behind the Fred Meyer store at Glenwood and Chinden in Garden City. A suspect vehicle was identified through security camera footage; Fish and Game issued a plea to the public for information that might crack the case.

Several calls to the Citizens Against Poaching (CAP) hotline led conservation officers Brian Flatter and Kurt Stieglitz to a Boise State Parking garage where the suspect vehicle was located. Additional leads helped identify the two suspects who eventually confessed.

Penalties for the incident will cost just a bit less than a semester’s tuition. The civil penalty of $50 for each wasted bird totals $950, while the minimum/maximum fine per bird is $25 and $1,000 respectively. The presiding judge also has the discretion to revoke hunting license privileges for up to three years and impose a jail sentence of up to six months. The two suspects will appear in court later this spring.

Cadwallader noted that poor planning led to the dumping incident. “Every ethical hunter needs to be prepared for what comes after the hunt, that is, caring for the meat,” Cadwallader said. “Lawful waterfowl hunters pay extra attention to each and every duck they shoot by taking the proper steps to field dress and consume the meat. These kids’ hunts should have ended before the birds stacked up and forced them to dump and waste the unwanted birds.”

Persons with information about any suspected wildlife crime are encouraged to call the Citizens Against Poaching (CAP) hotline at 1-800-632-5999 twenty four hours a day.

Needing "Hands On" attention? Done with doing classes Online ?

Instructor Lead Hunter & Bow Ed Classes to resume in March 2021. Class sizes will start out small and Covid 19 protocols will apply. First class scheduled will be at the Fish & Game office in Nampa, followed by classes in other neighboring communities.

Seating is limited !

Event - Hunter & Bowhunter Certification: Instructor-led - March 8, 2021 in Nampa, ID Register-Ed is the Official Online Hunter and Boater Education Course Registration platform of many states. Choose your state, find an event, and signup online.

Tired of taking everything ONLINE ?

Instructor Lead Hunter Ed Classes to resume in February 2021. Class sizes will start out small and Covid 19 protocols will apply. First class scheduled will be at the Fish & Game office in Nampa, followed by classes in other neighboring communities

Seating is limited !

Event - Hunter Ed Certification: Instructor-led - February 21, 2021 in Nampa, ID Register-Ed is the Official Online Hunter and Boater Education Course Registration platform of many states. Choose your state, find an event, and signup online.

Attention all "Would Be Wolf Trappers" !
Four Wolf Trapper Ed classes offered for this weekend January 16 & 17 in Nampa. To register visit the links below.
Saturday AM class https://www.register-ed.com/events/view/165145
Saturday PM class https://www.register-ed.com/events/view/165146
Sunday AM class https://www.register-ed.com/events/view/165147
Sunday PM class https://www.register-ed.com/events/view/165148

Event - Wolf Trapper Certification: Instructor-led Course - January 17, 2021 in Nampa, ID Register-Ed is the Official Online Hunter and Boater Education Course Registration platform of many states. Choose your state, find an event, and signup online.