PHOTO BY KAREN BOSSICK

The Bureau of Land Management Shoshone Field Office will implement seasonal motorized use closures in the Wood River Valley beginning Dec. 1 and ending April 30, 2018, to protect deer and elk. 

“Nearly every winter season causes elk and deer to work harder for their food and shelter,” said Shoshone Field Office Outdoor Recreation Planner John Kurtz.  “Motorized and non-motorized recreationists disturb wildlife and cause them to expend vital energy that is needed for survival. When deer or elk are encountered during an outing, it is important to respect the animals and view them from a distance so that noise or close proximity will not cause additional stress."   

The following areas in the Wood River Valley are closed annually to motorized use, including snowmobiles, from Dec. 1 through April 30:

·         Martin/ Big Dry Canyon

·         Croy Creek to south of Townsend Gulch

·         Big and Little Beaver drainages

·         South slopes above East Fork

·         Elk Mountain area

·         Portions of Picabo Hills

The BLM patrols these areas to monitor and enforce closures.  For additional information, contact Outdoor Recreation Planner John Kurtz at (208) 732-7296.