Big Game Winter Feeding

When winter brings wildlife out of the hills and into contact with people, we may ask when is it appropriate to feed big game animals. The desire to feed animals is natural, yet from past experience, Fish and Game knows it is a complicated decision.

Fish and Game looks to natural forage to sustain big game populations. But when emergency conditions exist, winter feeding becomes an option. Three main conditions that can trigger winter feeding are:

Private Property Damage

To prevent damage to private property such as damage to stored agricultural crops like haystacks

Public Safety Concern

To prevent significant human safety issues such as elk congregating near a busy highway

Excessively harsh winter conditions

To prevent excessive mortality that would affect recovery of the herd such as those conditions where a high percentage of the adult females would be expected to die

The agency’s policy and actions have evolved through decades of experience with winter feeding and is done with the best interest of Idaho’s big game populations.

After the devastating winters in the late 1990’s, the Idaho Fish and Game Commission developed a policy and process to guide the agency’s decisions to feed or not to feed big game animals.

News

SW Region Big Game Winter Feeding Update

Monday, January 23, 2017 - 5:51 PM MST

Winter feeding efforts began, on a small scale, in the Garden Valley area on Sunday, January 22. Three historic feed sites were plowed out and feed bunks set up and loaded with specially formulated deer “pellets.” Two more sites were set up today, with several others coming on line tomorrow. At least eight feed sites – possibly more - will be up and running by week’s end along the S.

Southwest Region Big Game Winter Feeding Elk (Cervus canadensis), Mule Deer (Odocoileus hemionus)
Winter feeding underway across Southern Idaho

Monday, January 23, 2017 - 3:21 PM MST

Fish and Game has commenced winter feeding in the Southwest, the Magic Valley, the Southeast and the Upper Snake regions.

Big Game Winter Feeding Big Game Hunting Hunting Elk hunting Deer Hunting
Southwest Winter Feeding Report - January 23, 2017

Monday, January 23, 2017 - 3:20 PM MST

History

Southwest Region Big Game Winter Feeding Mule Deer (Odocoileus hemionus), Elk (Cervus canadensis)
Magic Valley Winter Feeding Report - January 23, 2017

Monday, January 23, 2017 - 3:20 PM MST

History The Magic Valley Region has significant history of winter feeding and has an active Winter Feeding Advisory Committee. January 23, 2017 status report Magic Valley Regional staff toured the Bellevue/Picabo/Carey areas and met with approximately 30 landowners and ranch managers in the area to discuss winter weather conditions.

Magic Valley Region Big Game Winter Feeding
Additional Winter Feeding Sites Authorized in Southeast Idaho

Saturday, January 21, 2017 - 7:43 PM MST

The Idaho Department of Fish and Game with input from the Southeast Idaho Winter Feeding Advisory Committee (WFAC) has selected additional sites for baiting/feeding efforts in Caribou, Bear Lake, Franklin, Bannock, and Bingham Counties.

Southeast Region Big Game Winter Feeding Elk (Cervus canadensis), Mule Deer (Odocoileus hemionus)
Big game around the region continue to battle winter

Thursday, January 19, 2017 - 2:58 PM MST

HAILEY – As winter snows continue to pile up, elk, deer and pronghorn have sought refuge in non-traditional a

Magic Valley Region Big Game Winter Feeding
Elk and Mule Deer Feeding to Begin in the Silver Creek Valley and Carey areas

Thursday, January 19, 2017 - 12:23 PM MST

Magic Valley Region Big Game Winter Feeding Elk (Cervus canadensis), Mule Deer (Odocoileus hemionus)