F&G takes ownership of big game winter range parcel in Elmore County

Feb. 14, 2024 - Idaho Fish and Game recently took ownership of a 5,533-acre land parcel in Elmore County about 20 miles southeast of Boise that contains high-quality wildlife habitat and provides valuable winter range for deer and elk.

The property was bought from a seller who sought out Fish and Game as a preferred buyer to keep the land undeveloped while retaining its value to wildlife and preserving open space. The property lies within heavily used winter range that supports roughly 1,800 mule deer and 700 elk, depending on the year. Deer and elk are currently wintering on the property.

The property cost $7.86 million and was paid for by Bonneville Power Administration through the Southern Idaho Wildlife Mitigation Agreement, which pays for land purchases to offset the loss of wildlife habitat due to hydropower projects.

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