Tag ‘em and Track ‘em

It’s not every day we get the opportunity to tackle, collar and release mule deer — at least not for those who don’t work for the Idaho Fish and Game (IDFG)! In an effort to help collect more data on the local mule deer population in the Bear Lake area, the IDFG planned a day to capture and collar the animals.

Recruiting help for this event, the IDFG reached out to numerous people, including a few ITD employees from District 5. Employees who volunteered to help included Alissa Salmore, Deloy Romrell, Darcy Linford, Corey Krantz, Gene Staags, Caitlin McGraw, Ty Mashburn and myself.

On Friday, January 24, we all got up early and set off to meet and follow the IDFG personnel to the site location in Montpelier. We were split up in numerous groups, we all headed south and enjoyed the nice drive without wind or snow…which doesn’t happen too often this time of year in East Idaho!

Joined by the Southeast Idaho Chapter of Muley Fanatics Foundation chair and her family, we parked and got situated. We geared up and gathered supplies and necessities for the day, then hitched up to the snowmobiles and climbed up the mountain to the site. About 1.5 miles in, we all unloaded and started setting up nets and anything else the Fish and Game folks tell us.

When we were lmost done getting the nets setup, we heard the spotter helicopter making his way up the draw to scout for muleys. Soon after getting things setup and ready, we all scattered, crouched down and patiently waited for Armageddon to hit the fences. Within about 10 minutes or so, here comes the chopper with a small group of deer, doing what he can to separate the fawns and bucks, the pilot races behind the does to push them into the nets.

Running like the Roadrunner getting chased by Wiley Coyote, a few does run into the nets. As soon as they hit the fence, the person nearest the scene of the crash jumps up and pounces on the deer like a cat trying to get the red dot.

Once the deer is down, it’s quite the process. Typically this is how it goes:

- Take the deer down and get it under control
- Blindfold on the deer
- Untangle deer from net
- Pick a person to straddle and hold the deer down
- Let IDFG officers and biologists process and collar the deer
- Free the deer, making sure it doesn’t run back into the nets
- Set the nets back up
- Repeat

It sounds easy and quick…but...it’s not. This is fun work, but it's 100% work. It’s a super hands-on and physical job. The IDFG crew have this system down pretty smoothly and work so efficiently together. It was fascinating to watch them work so effortlessly.

What was even more exciting was the experience of watching the chopper find the deer, try and separate them off, crest over the ridge lines, get down in between the draws and chase the deer to the nets. It was absolutely amazing. Let me say this, the chopper pilots are tough and ridiculously talented. They do a seriously dangerous job, and these guys are pros!

After more than five hours of chasing deer, we were able to collar about 18 does. We now are able to track where these deer are going which has been helpful in tracking their patterns — not only for the IDFG, but also for ITD as far as migration routes and our highways. ITD currently has a project in the same Bear Lake area to help mitigate for wildlife on the highway.

Nothing beats tromping though three feet of snow, being in the mountains, chasing and messing with deer and having fun with the rest of the crew. Each one of us had an absolute blast. It was challenging, and we never would have gotten that experience if it wasn’t for ITD and the great relationship we have with the IDFG.

It’s not every day you get the opportunity to sit on a mule deer that is alive and healthy and know you are making a difference.

Heres the video from the mule-deer collaring.

Published 02-21-20