The Conservation Biology Alternative for Grizzly Bear Population Restoration
in the Greater Salmon-Selway Region Central Idaho and Western Montana

XIII. BIG GAME MANAGEMENT

(a) Grizzly Bear Predation on Big Game--Grizzly bear recovery efforts will have no noticeable effect on big game population numbers. Predation studies from the Yellowstone grizzly bear population (Mattson 1995) indicate there are between 1.4 and 5.8 ungulate kills made annually by each grizzly bear. This study found that the frequency of predation increased with ungulate population density. Adult males used ungulates the most, and subadult females the least.

It is estimated that there will be a median ratio of 3.5 kills/bear/year in the Salmon-Selway area, which among the recovery zones in the Northern Rockies appears to be the most similar to the Yellowstone area. During the first phase of the recovery effort, bear predation on big game will be negligible. For example, if there are 20 total grizzly bears after five years, these bears will kill approximately 70 ungulates annually. There are an estimated 241,400 ungulates in the Greater Salmon-Selway region (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 1993). Most of these are mule and whitetail deer (66%) and elk (31%). These figures are the post- hunting season ungulate population. In the initial stages of the recovery effort, grizzly bear predation will likely account for less than three one hundreths of one percent of the population. Three hundred grizzly bears would account for less than one half of one percent of the population. Weather, and legal and illegal hunting by humans will continue to be the dominant factors in big game kills. For example, hunters kill approximately 12% of the central Idaho ungulate population annually (from U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 1993). This figure does not account for poaching, which can be significant, nor animals shot and wounded but not recovered by hunters. It is also believed that grizzlies will prey on younger and smaller animals and not the trophy size antlered bulls sought by many hunters.

Total Grizzlies	Annual Kills	% of Pop.
20	70	0.00025
100	350	0.00127
300	1050	0.00382
500	1750	0.00636

Table 3. Estimated Predation of Ungulates by Grizzly Bears as a Percent Total of the
Pre-Hunting Season Ungulate Population at Different Grizzly Population Levels.

(b) Standards for Big Game Management--Currently, the State of Idaho allows black bear hunting using baits and dogs. This type of hunting would have a potential affect on grizzly bears due to chase and harassment, and attracting grizzly bears to baits where they may be mistaken for black bears and killed. In the initial stages of the recovery effort, hunting with baits and dogs shall be prohibited within the zone described for the initial release sites for translocated bears (see Figure 9). This policy is consistent with the Grizzly Bear Recovery Plan (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 1993). As documentation is made of dispersal of grizzly bears to other parts of the population recovery zone, the Scientific Committee shall review whether to expand the area where black bear hunting with baits and dogs is prohibited. If, as part of the monitoring process, the Scientific Committee identifies additional areas of conflict, they shall make appropriate recommendations for changes in big game management and regulations.

(c) Hunter Education--Working with the state fish and game management agencies, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service shall encourage education programs instructing hunters in how to distinguish between grizzly bears and black bears in order to reduce mistaken identity killings. Efforts shall also be made to inform hunters in proper handling of game meat and gut piles as described above in Section 12 to avoid conflicts with grizzly bears.

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