8/27/2007

Fires Close Backcountry Trails, & Roads

Several large fires burning in Idaho's backcountry have raised concerns about public safety and hunter access.

In the interest of public safety the U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management have closed access to some areas. Other areas may be closed as fires grow or new fires start.

But Forest Service road closures may affect access to some hunting units.
Idaho Fish and Game will not recommend closing hunts or altering season dates in response to fire restrictions. Most fires are not large enough to affect an entire hunt unit. Hunters affected by a fire closure can adjust their schedule to hunt later in the season or exchange general tags to hunt in a different area. Tags must be exchanged before the season begins.

Hunters with controlled hunt tags may exchange them for general season tags before the controlled hunt begins. But controlled hunt fees would not be refunded.

Fish and Game will consider requests for rain checks or refunds in the event that access to a hunting unit is blocked by fire. Hunters requesting a rain check will be required to submit their tags and permits with a letter describing the conditions of their request.

Rain checks will be evaluated case-by-case at the end of the hunting season.
Rain checks will be valid in 2008 and offered only for the same species and hunt area as the hunter held in 2007.

Written requests should be sent to the license section at Fish and Game, P.O. Box 25, Boise ID 83707 when the season is over.

Hunters and anglers, and anyone else heading into the backcountry, are advised to check with Forest Service Ranger District offices or county sheriffs' offices before heading out.

Fire updates and road closures can be found at: http://www.fs.fed.us/idahofires; and at http://www.fs.fed.us/r1/nezperce/gvc/.

National fire incident information also is available at: http://www.inciweb.org/state/13/. Links also are available on the Fish and Game Website at http://fishandgame.idaho.gov.