The Courier
NEWS Preserving Idaho's Winter Wonderland
While it is an exhilarating rush slicing through pristine powder, navigating open meadows or between trees, the thrill of jumping off trail and "boondocking" can damage trees, fences, and gates. Idaho Department of Lands (IDL) is actively working to keep this beloved recreation open by collaborating with snowmobilers. "Accidental or careless activities such as running over young trees emerging out of the snow can stunt tree growth," said Todd Wernex, IDL Recreation Program Manager. "Trees provide product for the forest industry and help fund Idaho's public schools." One dollar from each Over Snow Vehicle (OSV) tag now goes to IDL to provide snowmobile opportunities and to repair impacts directly related to snowmobile use on Idaho Endowment Land. IDL, Idaho Parks and Recreation, counties, and private landowners are joining together to maintain access. "The OSV fund allows us to build kiosks, purchase snow poles for grooming, and assist with brush clearing on trails," added Wernex. "We are also developing maps and signs to guide snowmobilers away from vulnerable areas." While signs and maps are being developed, snowmobilers are urged to:
News from the Heart of Idaho Camas • Lincoln • Gooding
January 24, 2024
Vol 48 Num 4
Volunteer Instructors Needed For Idaho's Hunter Education Program
Are you a safe and responsible hunter or trapper? Are you passionate about hunting ethics? Do you like sharing your knowledge and skills with youth and adults new to Idaho’s hunting traditions? If you answered yes to these questions, you should consider becoming a volunteer hunter education instructor for the Idaho Department of Fish and Game. To get started all you need to do is attend the upcoming instructor training workshop on February 24, 2024, from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Hunter Education Center located at the Magic Valley Regional office in Jerome. Those who attend will learn about teaching hunter, bowhunter, and trapper education which gets you started towards becoming a certified instructor for any, or all those programs. If you want to become a hunter education instructor, please RSVP by calling TanaRae Alberti, Volunteer Services Coordinator at (208) 324-4359 or by email at tanarae.alberti@idfg. idaho.gov Use groomed snowmobile trails. Without the critical assistance of volunteer instructors our If you see the tips of young trees sticking out of the snow, avoid the area. program would be significantly diminished. We truly appreciate Stay out of tree farms or areas where it is hard to avoid running over trees or treetops. your willingness to help! On rangelands be aware of fences that may or may not be taken down. Thank you for making a difference by helping to ensure that Volunteer to assist ranchers with taking down and putting up fences. Idaho's hunting heritage continues into the future! -- -- -- -- -Report problems so IDL can address them quickly. Upcoming Instructor-led Hunter/bowhunter Classes Call the IDL Supervisory Area where you plan to recreate and find out if there are any newly An instructor-led hunter/bowhunter combination class will be forested areas you should avoid.
More than 96% of endowment land in Idaho is accessible by foot, watercraft, or motor vehicle, with about 2.4 million acres available for hunting, fishing, hiking, camping, or other recreation. The Idaho Board of Land Commissioners (Land Board) policy allows the public recreational use of legally accessible endowment lands, as long as the recreational activities do not degrade the lands, interfere with management activities, or otherwise negatively affect the longterm financial return to endowment beneficiaries. About 94% of revenue from endowment land is from timber harvests.
taught in Buhl starting on January 29 and ending on February 3, 2024. An instructor-led hunter/bowhunter combination class will be taught in Glenns Ferry starting on February 16 and ending on March 2, 2024.
Wolf-trapper Classes
An instructor-led wolf-trapper education class will be held in Glenns Ferry on March 9, 2024 as part of the Idaho Trappers Association fur sale. An instructor-led wolf-trapper education class will be held in Glenns Ferry on June 1, 2024, as part of the National Trappers Association Western Region Trapping and Outdoor Expo. To sign up for any of these classes use the hyperlinks above, or go to the Fish and Game website, www.idfg.idaho.gov/education and select Hunter Ed, then, “find a class near you”. For more information contact the Magic Valley Regional Office at (208) 324-4359.