With May and early June being the peak time for wildlife to have their young, the Idaho Fish and Game reminds those well-intentioned people that find baby animals that appear to be abandoned to leave them alone. Chances are the mother is close by waiting for you to leave.

This dilemma is the same for a deer fawn curled up beneath the brush, baby birds fallen from a nest, a lost duckling, or lonely looking squirrel.

Just because the mother is not present, doesn't mean the youngster isn't being properly cared for. Many wild animal mothers often leave their offspring alone for extended periods of time to feed, rest or to find food for their young. For example, female deer and elk will often leave her young for most of the day and night, only to return to feed and quickly leave.

Many times when well-meaning people take young wildlife from the wild, their chances of survival are not improved — but lessened. Most do not survive well in captivity and many lack survival skills to allow release back to the wild.

Fish and Game has two alternatives when dealing with animals removed from the wild. Volunteer wildlife rehabilitators can attempt to raise the animal and return it back in the wild, but this option often fails because the majority of young animals brought in are often in poor condition and providing the proper nutrition is a huge challenge. The animals that do make it generally have no survival skills and have often unnaturally formed bonds with humans. Fish and Game can attempt to place the animals in zoos, but most zoos now refuse to take the animals because of crowding and potential disease concerns.

In addition, bats are also currently migrating back from their wintering grounds and as they move through, they often roost in places that might seem odd, like low on the side of buildings, tree trunks, and even in people's gardens. If a bat is hanging upside down in its normal position, and not on the ground, leave the bat alone and make sure that pets and children do not disturb or touch the bat. If you find a grounded or injured bat, contact your nearest Fish and Game office.

It is recommended that if a small animal, such as a bird, rabbit or squirrel is found near a home, it should be placed back in the nest or close by and left undisturbed. Note the location carefully and contact the nearest Fish and Game office who will able to advise you on the best action to take.

Do not plan to raise wild animals on your own. Young wild animals require special care and feeding that is beyond what the average household is prepared to manage. Additionally, possession of most species of wildlife taken from the wild is illegal in Idaho.

In the spring when wildlife reproduction is at its peak, you may have the good fortune to observe a nest of birds or a litter of young mammals with no adult in sight. Enjoy the sight but if nothing is obviously amiss, it is best to leave young wildlife alone.

Moose, goat and sheep controlled hunt results available online

Results of the drawings for moose, bighorn sheep and mountain goat controlled hunts are now available.

Hunters can find out if they were successful in drawing tags by going to the Idaho Fish and Game website at http://fishandgame.idaho.gov/ch and entering their hunting license numbers.

Results are also available at Fish and Game offices. It is the responsibility of hunters to find out whether they were successful in any controlled hunt drawings they entered. All applicants will receive either a tag or a refund check by mail no later than June 10.

The deadline to apply for deer, elk, pronghorn, black bear, and fall turkey continues through June 5. Hunters may apply at any hunting and fishing license vendor, Fish and Game office; with a credit card by calling 1-800-554-8687; online at http://fishandgame.idaho.gov, or by mail to Fish and Game's License Section, P.O. Box 25, Boise, ID 83707.

To help plan their hunts, hunters can use the Hunt Planner on the Fish and Game website at: http://fishandgame.idaho.gov/ifwis/huntPlanner/, to zero in on where, when, and what species to hunt this fall.

Still time to enter Super Hunt drawing

The deadline to enter the first Super Hunt drawing is Tuesday, May 31.

The Super Hunt is a fund-raising drawing for 34 big game tags handed out in two drawings. Entries are drawn for elk, deer, pronghorn, and moose tags. Winners can participate in any open hunt in Idaho including general hunts and controlled hunts.

The first drawing will be for eight elk, eight deer, and eight pronghorn, and one moose hunt. One Super Hunt Combo entry also will be drawn that will entitle the winner to hunt for all four species - elk, deer, pronghorn and moose. Winners will be notified by June 10.

A second drawing will be for two elk, two deer, two pronghorn, and one moose hunt. Another Super Hunt Combo entry will also be drawn. The entry period for the second drawing is June 1 through August 10, with winners notified by August 20.

Winners can participate in any open hunt in the state for deer, elk, pronghorn or moose, including general hunts and controlled hunts, in addition to any general season or controlled hunt tags they also hold.

Hunters who win any Super Hunt tag may still enter controlled hunts, except where other restrictions apply. All other rules of individual hunts apply.

Super Hunt entries are $6 each. Super Hunt Combo entries are $20 each. No license is needed to enter a Super Hunt drawing and there is no limit to the number of entries.

Money raised by the drawings goes to Fish and Game's Access Yes! Program and helps compensate private land owners who provide sportsmen access to or across their land to public land.

Hunters may enter the drawing at license vendors, Fish and Game offices, online at http://fishandgame.idaho.gov/superhunt., or by calling 1-800-554-8685.

For more information, including frequently asked questions and photos of previous winners, visit the Super Hunt page on Fish and Game's website at https://idfg.idaho.gov/superhunt.

Gear up for kokanee fishing

The warm weather may finally be here to stay, and for many anglers across the state, warm spring weather means kokanee fishing.

With kokanee fisheries scattered across the state, opportunities abound for anyone to experience these exciting and delicious game fish. Before we talk about catching kokanee, let’s review the basics of kokanee biology.

Kokanee are land-locked sockeye salmon and are found in many lakes and reservoirs across Idaho. Their native range spans from the Columbia River basin to Alaska and includes Idaho. They are also one of the state’s most colorful game fish.

Fish and Game stocks kokanee annually in several lakes and reservoirs that do not produce kokanee naturally, or in places where natural spawning may not produce enough fish to sustain sport fishing demands.

Kokanee are typically stocked as 4-inch fingerlings and often grow rapidly. For example, in Lucky Peak Reservoir near Boise, kokanee reach 10 to 13 inches after just one year and 14 to 17 inches after two years, at which point they typically spawn. A small percentage of the population will live a third year and reach 18 to 20 inches.

Near Idaho Falls, kokanee in Ririe Reservoir grow more slowly and typically reach 12 to 14 inches after two years. They often live to three years before spawning.

Kokanee fishing starts to turn on in the weeks approaching spring and continues to be good through mid-summer. Kokanee are caught mainly from boats while slowly trolling lures. Finding the fish often requires a depth finder to locate schooling kokanee. Look for kokanee around large points, across the face of dams and off the mouth of any major spawning tributary.

Typical kokanee lures include a variety of spinners, spoons and soft plastic tube jigs called “hoochies”. Colors vary from reds and pinks, to fluorescent orange and green and others. Visit your local tackle shop for recommendations on the best lures for the water you plan to visit.

Kokanee are prized for their hard fight and because they make excellent table fare. A fresh kokanee fillet off the grill or from your smoker is a summer highlight. Once you’ve caught your first kokanee, you’ll know why they are so popular with anglers!

To find a place to fish for kokanee near you, go to the Fish and Game website and click the blue Fishing Planner logo. Click on “view recommended waters,” then under the “recommended game fish” section, check the kokanee box. You can filter results to waters in your Region and see maps, recent and historic stocking reports, fishing rules, and the facilities available when you get there.