BOISE, ID — Idaho Fish and Game officials are reminding hunters to be cautious this fall before taking a shot at what might appear to be a trophy bull elk. The department’s Enforcement Division is once again deploying artificial simulated animals, or ASAs, to identify illegal hunting activity across the state.

ASAs are lifelike replicas of deer, elk, and other big game species used by conservation officers during hunting season. The decoys are strategically placed in areas where reports of spotlighting, trespassing, and road hunting have been received. Officers monitor the scene and respond if someone violates state hunting laws.

“This tool is extremely important in our effort to curtail illegal activity that is otherwise undetectable,” said Joey Ishida, Fish and Game’s Assistant Chief of Enforcement.

Hunters who take aim at an artificial animal can face significant penalties, including a fine of up to $1,000, loss of hunting privileges, and up to six months in jail. In addition, shooters are required to pay a $50 restitution fee to maintain the decoys.

Common accompanying violations include firing from a road or vehicle and trespassing on private property—activities that often draw the most complaints from hunters and non-hunters alike. Because such incidents are difficult to detect through routine patrols, Idaho and other states began using ASAs in the late 1980s to discourage unlawful hunting practices.

Idaho Fish and Game urges anyone who witnesses a possible violation to report it to the department’s Citizens Against Poaching hotline at 1-800-632-5999 or through the online tip portal at idfg.idaho.gov/tipline.