Idaho is operating 23 feed sites for deer and elk

With winter conditions slowly improving, the Idaho Department of Fish and Game (IDFG) is anticipating not needing to establish any additional elk and deer feeding sites. IDFG opened the over 20 emergency feed sites in February to alleviate mortality due to deep snowpack and little available forage.

To date, there are 23 supplemental feeding sites across Idaho’s Southeast Region in the areas identified by the Southeast Region Winter Feeding Advisory Committee as the “highest-priority” due to “struggling animals, conflicts with animals in haystacks and feedlines, and public safety concerns on highways and roads,” according to the agency. All are located on private property aside from those noted below.

Supplemental feeding sites for deer:

• Bear Lake Plateau (three sites, including two sites at Bear Lake State Park on east side of Bear Lake)
• Worm Creek on west side of Bear Lake (two sites)
• Indian Creek/Dry Canyon
• Montpelier Canyon
• Montpelier Wildlife Management Area (two sites)
• Bloomington Canyon 
• St. Charles (lands managed by United States Forest Service and Idaho Department of Lands)
• Green Canyon
• Paris Canyon
• Fish Haven
• Cub River (two sites)
• Mink Creek (Franklin County, three sites)
• Little Mountain
• Soda Hills (three sites, including previous site at Swenson Canyon)

Supplemental feeding sites for elk:

• Banks Valley 
• Liberty area
• Stockton Canyon
• Dayton area
• City of Montpelier (on the Montpelier Wildlife Management Area)

With regard to elk, additional feed sites have been authorized in areas where localized conflicts with elk in feedlines are occurring. 

IDFG will continue to monitor deer and elk as spring thaw approaches.