A word of warning to shed hunters

BOISE — Idaho Fish and Game officials are asking shed hunters to avoid stressing deer, elk and moose as they look for antlers.

All three species begin shedding their antlers in late winter or early spring. The state doesn’t regulate the collection of shed antlers, known as shed hunting, but according to a news release from the department, big-game animals are at their most vulnerable this time of year. Shed hunters who get too close to wintering herds can cause the animals to expend critical energy resources.

“Wintering big game animals are very susceptible to any kind of disturbance, whether it is from passing motorists, domestic dogs, predators or shed hunters in late winter and early spring,” said Greg Painter, Fish and Game wildlife manager based in Salmon. “There’s growing concern over shed hunters putting additional stress on wintering big game in many areas of the state.”

Energy depletion this time of year can lead to sickness and oftentimes death, especially for fawns and calves.

“Right now, deer and elk are just trying to hang on through spring green-up,” Painter said. “We see most of our mortality in March, and some animals may be pushed over the edge unintentionally by the very people who want to see them during the fall hunting seasons.”

According to the news release, shed hunters can alleviate potential negative impacts to big game by waiting until late spring to look for antlers, keeping dogs under control and watching big game animals from a long distance with binoculars or spotting scopes.

The department also is asking shed hunters to respect private property and to obey road and area restrictions.

Shed hunters can lawfully possess only antlers that are shed naturally from big game, from animals that have died of natural causes or from a road kill as long as the person completes the self-issued salvage permit available at https://idfg.idaho.gov/species/roadkill. The horns of bighorn sheep that have died of natural causes may be recovered but not sold, bartered or transferred to another person without a permit from Fish and Game. Bighorn sheep horns must be permanently marked with a metal pin at an Idaho Fish and Game regional office within 30 days of recovery.

In Washington, officials at the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife have closed the 4-O Ranch and Grouse Flats wildlife management areas, along with the Weatherly Unit, Shumaker Unit and all Asotin Creek units south of the North Fork of Asotin Creek and Campbell Grade to entry. The closure mainly affects shed hunters.

Closed areas are marked with signs whereever possible. Fishing access is still available for the river corridor on the Shumaker Unit. Motorized travel on county-maintained roads through the areas also is still allowed.