Fall 2013 Viki Harber, Editor Steelheading

In fall 2012, an- During glers averaged 13 hours the fall, per steelhead caught in the ma- the Salmon River be- jority of low North Fork, and bank averaged 10.5 hours per anglers steelhead in the Salmon can be River above North found Fork. Fall steelhead fishing fishing on the upper for steel- Salmon River typically head begins to pick up below the city Resident Norm Ando with a nice hatchery around the first of Oc- steelhead caught drifting the Salmon River of Salm- tober below North Fork in February 2013. (see map below). on. In However, this year, due recent to river conditions and years, the area of river ing below North Fork. late run timing steel- between Salmon and In fact, the majority of head fishing may be North Fork has gained steelhead caught during slow until mid-October. popularity with fly fish- March typically are erman due to the nu- caught below North merous boat ramps Fork. As the season and the river’s many progresses, the anglers

runs and riffles. The move upstream follow- Salmon River below ing the steelhead as the Middle Fork they head toward the Salmon River pro- Pahsimeroi or Sawtooth vides excellent op- Hatchery to spawn. By portunity for anglers late April, most of the with large jet boats. angler effort is either Once temperatures near the mouth of the Pahsimeroi River, near Little Emma Flinders begin to warm up in Ellis, or upstream by makes a catch at the Kids spring, the majority Pond in Salmon, a steel- of anglers begin fish- Stanley, Idaho. head plant from the Pahsimeroi Hatchery.

Dates to Remember  Oct 10-24: General Deer Season  Oct 12: Waterfowl Season opens Inside this issue:  Oct 15-Nov 8: General Elk Season  Oct 19-Nov 30: Pheasant Season Snowtracking 2  Oct 22: Trapping Season opens (see rules) Wildlife Biologists Recognized 2  Oct 26: Youth Mentored Pheasant Hunt  Oct 31: Bear season closes Backcountry Fishery Projects 3  Nov 10-Dec 9: Whitetail Short-range weapon Rancher Merrill Beyeler Receives Award 3  Nov 15-16 Youth Mentored Waterfowl Hunt Salmon Region Public Access Areas 4  Nov 15-Mar 31: Wolf Trap Season (see rules)  Dec 1: 2013 Licenses go on sale Great Outdoors SALMON REGION IDFG SPORTSMAN NEWSLETTER Snowtracking by Beth Waterbury, Regional Wildlife Diversity Biologist Snow tracking is a time- narrow down the possible suspects. mountain lion. Cat claws are re- honored means of identifying wild- Next, consider “relative track size”, tractable, so rarely show in prints. life in winter through their tracks remembering that tracks will appear Animal gaits and track patterns can and sign. It’s the stock-in-trade of smaller or larger depending on also give clues to its identity. trappers, hunters, and naturalists snow quality. This will help you Members of the weasel family have who use snowtracking to study ani- learn to judge the a distinct bound- mal behavior. It’s also a fun detec- overall size of the ing pattern, tive game to play while out skiing, animal that left the while rabbits and snowmobiling, or otherwise enjoy- track and differenti- hares use a ing the great, snowy outdoors. ate between taxo- “diagonal hop” nomic groups. Now where the small- Snow tracks leave a series of examine the track er forefeet are clues that, when studied, tell a story outline. Do you see diagonally posi- toes or hooves? tioned in front of Hooves would indi- much larger hind cate one of our local feet. Think out- even-toed ungulates: Blue grouse flush. side the track! elk, deer, moose, Some mammals pronghorn, mountain goat, or big- – like river otters, mink, fisher, and horn sheep. If toes are visible, do beaver – travel by sliding over you count 4 or 5? Four-toed mam- snow. And birds – like the blue mals include all canines, felines, grouse – make some of the more and rabbits. Five-toed mammals fascinating tracks around, leaving include bears, weasels, raccoons, beautiful imprints of wings as they Sr. Conservation Officer Dane and shrews. And just to confound flush from their undersnow roosts. you, the fifth toe of black bears, Cook measuring a marten track. There are dozens of great field wolverines, and fisher may not al- guides available to hone your track ways register in tracks. Presence of about the elusive animal that left detective skills. Snowtracking is claws can be a good clue to identifi- them. As a track detective, you’ll both an art and science. It takes cation, but are often lost in fluffy want to start with the big picture – some practice, but will certainly snow. Claws on a four-toed track using geographic location, habitat, further your winter enjoyment of can help distinguish a coyote from a and season of the year as clues to the great outdoors. bobcat, or a gray wolf from a

Wildlife Biologists Receive Awards

Mark Hurley, Sr. Wildlife Re- Milwaukee, Wisconsin this October bury received one of two Wildlife search Biologist stationed in the where Hurley has traveled to accept Leadership Awards. She was rec- Salmon Region, received the Out- this prestigious award. ognized for her agency-wide standing Monograph Wildlife Pub- contributions to the Region- At a recent Idaho lications Award from The Wildlife al Work Group endeavor as Department of Fish Society for the publication, lead for the Idaho Wolver- and Game Wildlife “Demographic Response of Mule ine Conservation Strategy, Bureau meeting at Deer to an Experimental Reduction and for presenting the Lead- Lake Coeur d’Alene, of Coyotes and Mountain Lions in ership Pathways for Women Salmon Region’s Southeastern Idaho.” Wildlife Mon- in IDFG workshop at the Wildlife Diversity Bi- ographs 178. The Wildlife Society Salmon Region’s Mark Hurley and bureau meeting for women ologist Beth Water- Beth Waterbury. Annual Conference took place in colleagues.

Page 2 GREAT OUTDOORS Fishery Efforts in the Backcountry by Cole Wilkie, Challis District Conservation Officer

Work in the far reaches of Ida- -mile round trip from the Tin Cup mote alpine ho is very rewarding, but is not for trailhead to the Middle Fork Salm- lakes. We the faint of heart! Much of the on River. stock rainbow and cutthroat trout in work performed by many lakes around the State by Salmon Region Idaho backpack, stock and plane. Department of Fish One such chain of lakes is Hat and Game (IDFG) Creek Lakes. The trail in is good, staff is in more re- so I chose to take four high school mote areas such as boys and their teacher along me to the Frank Church stock these lakes. These kids were Wilderness or simply from big cities all across the United rugged mountains States. They were exposed to where there is little-to horsemanship skills, backcountry -no road access. We Officer Wilkie leads the way for the backcountry fishery work, alpine lake fishing, and a commonly call this project in Loon Creek. downpour rain on the way out! the “backcountry”. It may take officers and biologists Lesson learned in Idaho: the Although very rewarding and three to five hours of drive time to weather can change in five minutes, beautiful, there is no room for mis- access some of this back- so be prepared for sunburns then takes for us or our horses. For five coun- snow all on the same trip! days, we packed camp gear and try….and snorkel gear for six biologists to that may be allow them time to get their only where ”...there is no room for mistakes work done. They wore the soles the trail for us or our horses.” off their shoes with day starts! packs and we wore the IDFG shoes down on the horses fisheries biologists spent much of with the rest! Short of a few the summer gathering information near wrecks, hornet nests, on fish in the Loon Creek drainage washed out trails, downed of the Middle Fork Salmon River trees and cliffs, the work this year. Officer Justin Williams was completed. and I assisted with this project by IDFG is also charged providing stock support to pack with keeping healthy popu- equipment, supplies and food on 44 lations of fish in more re- High school students assist with fish planting Hat Creek Lakes in the backcountry, September 2013.

Rancher Receives Recognition

Leadore rancher Merrill Beye- easements on his two Lemhi Valley in these ler was recognized by the Bureau of ranches which cover more than landown- Land Management with the Range- 2,000 acres. He has participated in er coop- land Stewardship Award and the projects on his land that improve eration Pacific States Marine Fisheries fish habitat by changing his irriga- efforts in Commission annual award for his tion methods and moving irrigation Lemhi work to improve habitat for salmon diversions to reconnect tributaries. and Cus- and steelhead in the Lemhi. ter coun- Rancher Merrill Beyeler and Jeff Jeff DiLuccia, Salmon Region ties. DiLuccia, IDFG. ~Cindy Salo Beyeler placed conservation Fish Habitat Biologist, has been key photo

FALL 2013 Page 3 New/Improved Angler Access Sites In recent years, IDFG has been busy either restoring or installing new accesses for boating and fishing enthusiasts. Salmon Region Access Guide can be picked at our Salmon Regional office or go online to find a statewide or re- gional copy to download: http://fishandgame.idaho.gov/public/fish/guides/anglerGuide.pdf

CARMEN ACCESS: The newly acquired 12-acre IDFG Carmen Bridge Access New outhouses at the Colston provides public boating access to the Salmon River, campsites, bank fishing and wildlife viewing. The construction of an American with Disabilities Act (ADA) Creek and Elk Bend accesses fishing platform was completed this fall. should be in place by late PAHSIMEROI RIVER ACCESS AREA: First photo below shows new ADA October. fishing platform. A new storage building has been added as well.

1 2 3 DEER GULCH: (Photos 2 & 3) In fall 2012, the Deer Gulch boat ramp was replaced with a wider, concrete ramp facing downstream for easier boating access.

IDAHO DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND GAME SALMON REGION

99 Highway 93 North Salmon ID 83467

Main Office Phone: 208-756-2271 Fax: 208-756-6274 Anadromous Screen Shop Phone: NORTH FORK: A 25 year IDFG/Private lease agreement with the Village at 208-756-6022 North Fork provides public boating access to the Salmon River and ADA re- http://fishandgame.idaho.gov stroom. Food, lodging and camping is available at the Village at North Fork.