ELMORE COUNTY, Idaho — Idaho Fish and Game (IDFG) assumed ownership of 5,533 acres of land in Elmore County containing high-quality habitat for deer and elk.
The $7.86 million plot of land was paid for by Bonneville Power Administration via the Southern Idaho Wildlife Mitigation Agreement, which was created to fund land purchases made in an effort to offset the loss of wildlife habitat due to hydropower projects, according to a news release from IDFG.
IDFG officially took ownership of the property in early February 2024. Fish and Game said the land provides "valuable winter range" for both deer and elk.
In addition to serving as free range space for wildlife, the land will be open to the public for recreational use and will improve access to tens of thousands of acres of adjacent public land.
The seller of the property specifically sought out Fish and Game to purchase the land in order to preserve the property's wildlife population and prevent it from being developed on, according to IDFG.
The land, which supports roughly 1,800 mule deer and 700 elk, is part of the Boise River Wildlife Management Area. IDFG said the open space is home to big game, California quail, mourning dove, chukar, gray partridge and many other species of wildlife.
"We're very grateful to the landowners for reaching out to us, and their desire to see this land preserved as important wildlife habitat," said Idaho Fish and Game Director Jim Fredericks. "We also appreciate the Bonneville Power Administration for providing funding."
IDFG has already begun projects on the property to make it accessible, such as installing gates and fences, and creating road routes and parking.
"We ask the public's patience before using this property. It is currently being used for its intended purpose – a safe place for deer and elk to winter – and it will take some time to make it fully accessible and useable to the public," Fredericks said.
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