Idaho Fish and Game Authorizes Additional Winter Feeding Sites

The Idaho Department of Fish and Game (IDFG) with input from the Southeast Idaho Winter Feeding Advisory Committee (WFAC) has selected an additional 27 sites for baiting/feeding efforts in multiple counties in southeast Idaho. The total number of feed sites is now 89 (71 for deer, 16 for elk, and 2 for pronghorn). Over 100 volunteers are lending assistance to date.

Since mid-January, over 200,000 pounds of deer pellets and more than 400,000 pounds of hay have been distributed to authorized feed sites by IDFG. IDFG has also delivered approximately 20,000 feet of panels to landowners to protect haystacks from elk and deer and assisted with the installation of the barriers.

Number of elk and deer at each Emergency Winter Feeding site in the Southeast Region

16 active elk feeding sites feeding approximately 2780 animals

Bear Lake County

Banks Valley – 500 elk
Joe’s Gap (aka Ranch Hand) – 300 elk
Geneva – 50 elk
Bennington – 50 elk
Georgetown – Pine Canyon – 40 elk
Georgetown Summit – 40 elk
Nounan – 45 elk

Caribou County

Swan Lakes – 65 elk
Burton Canyon – 300 elk
Bench – 200 elk

Franklin County

Twin Lakes – 300 elk
Riverdale #3 – 15 elk
Treasureton – 5 elk (These elk are coming in to a feed site established for deer.)

Bannock County

Downey – Aspen Hollow – 40 elk
Downey – Flags – 30 elk

Bingham County

Wolverine – 800

71 deer feeding sites feeding approximately 8,731 deer

Bear Lake County

Georgetown Canyon #1 – 150 deer
Georgetown Canyon #2 – 50 deer
Montpelier WMA – 50 deer
Skinner Canyon – 100 deer
Paris Canyon – 100 deer
Bloomington Canyon – 100 deer
Bloomington Dry Canyon – 100 deer
Worm Creek – 100 deer
Bagley Hollow – 50 deer
Montpelier – M Hill – 100 deer
Georgetown -3-Mile Ranch – 200 deer
Montpelier Golf Course – 100 deer
Montpelier Canyon – Costello – 400 deer
Georgetown Narrows – 50 deer
Indian Creek #1– 400
Indian Creek #2 – 400
Chokecherry – 200 deer
Ranger Dip – 100 deer
Fish Haven – 100 deer
St. Charles Dry – 100 deer
Georgetown – Pine Canyon – 100 deer
Georgetown – Summit – 100 deer
West Bear Lake – Jacobs Canyon – 100 deer
Rocky Point – East – 150 deer
Rocky Point – West – 150 deer

Caribou County

90% Canyon – 250 deer
Burton Canyon – 50 deer
Swenson Canyon – 80 deer
McPherson Canyon –200 deer
Ivins Roas – 50 deer
Crow Creek – 30-50 deer
Ten Mile Pass – 100 deer

Franklin County

Twin Lakes– 200 deer
Clifton – Rattlesnake Hill – 150 deer
Michael Creek – 100 deer
Giraffe Road – 100 deer
Clifton-East- – 40 deer
Clifton – Gravel Pit-200 deer
Whitney – 100 deer
Dayton – 150 deer
Mouth of the Cub River – 65 deer
Little Mountain – 150 deer
Riverdale North – 75 deer
Riverdale South – 75 deer
Riverdale #3 – 25 deer
Weston – 30 deer
Weston Canyon #1 – 100 deer
Weston Canyon #2 – 100 deer
Treasureton – 100 deer

Bannock County

Downata – 500 deer
Old Oregon Trail – 200 deer
Cherry Creek – 150 deer
Inkom – Mouth of Rapid Creek – 125 deer
Inkom – West Portneuf – 100 deer
Inkom-Reef – 60 deer
Inkom – Sorelle Canyon – 100-125 deer
Swan Lake – 200 deer
Downey – Woodland – 65 deer
Downey – Hot Pools – 50 deer
Downey – West of Town – 50 deer
McCammon – Walker Creek – 50 deer
McCammon – Bell Marsh North – 25 deer
McCammon – Bell Marsh South – 150 deer

Bingham County

Springfield #1 – 75 deer
Springfield #2 – 75 deer
Springfield #3 – 50 deer
Sterling – 50 deer
Atomic City – 16 deer

Oneida County

Elkhorns #1 – 100 deer
Elkhorns #2 – 100 deer
Stone – 300 deer

Two pronghorn feeding sites feeding 215 pronghorn.

Bingham County

Tilden – 105 pronghorn
Pingree – 110 pronghorn

Shoshone-Bannock Tribal Fish and Game Department is feeding elk at two sites and pronghorn at one site, and is in continual communication with IDFG.

PLEASE DO NOT VISIT FEEDING SITES. Wintering wildlife need to be disturbed as little as possible so that they can maintain as much of their fat/energy reserves as possible. Outdoor activities such as snowmobiling, antler hunting, cross country skiing, snow showing, sightseeing, and target practice with firearms will move wildlife, even driving them from feed sites. Furthermore, most feed sites are located on private property.

Additional areas being evaluated: Numerous additional sites are being monitored closely, and additional feeding will be initiated if needed.

Overall Weather Conditions: The region has received record snowfall amounts this winter, and most areas exceed snowpack criteria to justify winter feeding. Many areas of the region have experienced a recent warm-up, causing snow depths to settle or even melt. Some slopes have begun to bare off in certain areas of the region. However, much of the region (especially Bear Lake, Caribou, and Franklin Counties) is still experiencing winter conditions that merit emergency feeding, and because several weeks of winter still remain, emergency winter feeding at the authorized feed sites will continue.

WMA Emergency Closures: The Portneuf, Georgetown Summit, and Montpelier Wildlife Management Areas are CLOSED to all recreational entry to protect wintering wildlife until further notice.

The Southeast Region has significant history of winter feeding and has an active Winter Feeding Advisory Committee. Members of the WFAC include:

Eric Hancock, Pocatello, 208-242-9365
David Priestley, Preston, 339-0227
Dennis Caywood, Montpelier, 847-1386 or 847-2119
Sid Cellan, Soda Springs, 390-7057

Who Do You Call About Feeding Deer and Elk? Unauthorized winter feeding is not advised due to the problems it can create for animals, people, and habitat (see https://idfg.idaho.gov/region/southeast for articles and information about the emergency winter feeding program in Idaho’s southeast region). In fact, unauthorized feeding of elk in counties that border Wyoming is unlawful per Idaho Department of Agriculture rules due to concerns with transmission of Brucellosis to livestock. If you have concern for wintering wildlife in your area, please contact your local representative of the Winter Feeding Advisory Committee or the Idaho Department of Fish and Game.

Please refer to Idaho Fish and Game’s webpage for the southeast region for current winter feeding information, including pictures and video at https://idfg.idaho.gov/region/southeast.