The Idaho Hunt Planner provides all information the hunter needs for a successful Idaho hunt: regulations, seasons, drawing odds, harvest statistics, and hunt boundaries in one location. The Palouse, Dworshak and Hells Canyon elk zones continue to produce good elk hunting in the region, and the Elk City Zone is seeing increased harvest in unit 14, but decreases in units 15 and 16, which is attracting more hunters into Unit 14. We did not have weather last year that was conducive to harvesting cow elk. In 2019, Idaho hunters harvested 23,679 mule deer, 3,294 fewer than 2018, which is a decrease of about 12 percent. Deer: Herds appear in good shape due to a mild winter with mixed snow depths and much of it coming later in winter. Deer and elk hunters should see plenty of game in Idaho during fall hunts as mild winters have helped rebound mule deer herds hit hard in recent years, and Idaho’s elk herds continue to soar and harvests have come roaring back over the last six years. Harvest statistics based on mandatory harvest reports, big game mortality reports and check station records. Mule Deer: Deer hunting should be about the same as it was last year. The Idaho Hunt Planner provides all information the hunter needs for a successful Idaho hunt: regulations, seasons, drawing odds, harvest statistics, and hunt boundaries in one location. Winter weather was normal and there were no signs of excessive winter die off. A mature bull can easily weigh more than 500 pounds dressed out. So while the elk are there, that doesn’t mean they’re easy to hunt. In the grand scheme of 2020 hunting season, that could be significant, because yearling, or two-point bucks (which were born last year), typically make up a significant portion of the buck harvest. First, Idaho’s whitetails are abundant and resilient, which means there’s a steady population of animals available to hunt. With elk survival and production both ranging from moderate to high, hunters will have plenty of elk to pursue in the Panhandle Region in 2020 and should have a good-to-excellent hunting there. Elk: The Boise River Zone has seen consistently high winter calf and cow survival rates during the past six years. While many of the mule deer herds around the state are in better shape this year than they were in 2019, Ward pointed out that hunter congestion could prove to be more prevalent this year, particularly in areas that are more popular with mule deer hunters. The Idaho Hunt Planner provides all information the hunter needs for a successful Idaho hunt: regulations, seasons, drawing odds, harvest statistics, and hunt boundaries in one location. Adult winter survival has been consistently high. The indications are there will likely be more young bucks available for hunters to pursue this fall. (Photo source: Garett Gabriel/Idaho Department of Fish and Game), Elk are not light creatures. When you consider that about 80 percent of the mule deer in Idaho’s herds are between 1 and 3 years old, and take a look at the winter fawn survival numbers for the few years leading up to 2019, the dip in harvest was likely inevitable. The Pioneer Fire is just getting to the place now where it just cranking out deer and elk food, so it’s worth mentioning that elk and deer are continuing to move back into the area and hunting should continue to improve this year, particularly in areas near the edge of the burn where good cover remains. Elk: Elk herds are stable in most of the region, and hunters will also see similar hunting to recent years, but there’s some signs of growing herds in the Selway and Lolo elk zones, but modest growth. The Idaho Hunt Planner provides all information the hunter needs for a successful Idaho hunt: regulations, seasons, drawing odds, harvest statistics, and hunt boundaries in one location. Because resident general deer tags are sold throughout the hunting season and unlimited for residents, it’s hard to project how many of resident hunters will be in the field come fall. However, if the speed at which nonresident general deer tags sold out this year (two months sooner than they did in 2019) is any indication, deer hunter numbers could also be up this year after dropping a bit from 2018 to 2019. The 2019 elk harvest came in at 945 animals, with a 19 percent success rate. Elk hunters in 2020 can expect that trend to continue. Mule deer account for most of the deer in the area, but about 40 percent of the deer in Unit 23 are whitetails, and whitetail herds remain stable in that unit. Mule Deer: Deer numbers are starting to bounce back from the 2016-17 winter, and wildlife managers are expecting to see a good general season this year. Elk: Lots of elk in the Weiser River Zone continues to be a good problem to have, but still a problem. Hopefully it will cool and hunters will have some better conditions to hunt elk in. Managers are hoping this year for a little bit of early snow that starts moving elk around. With a little help from the weather and plenty of hunters in the woods, there’s no reason the 2020 whitetails harvest can’t bounce right back to around the 10-year average of 24,568 white-tailed deer. Agriculture remains a fundamentally important part of Idaho’s economy, communities and way of life. The Idaho Hunt Planner provides all information the hunter needs for a successful Idaho hunt: regulations, seasons, drawing odds, harvest statistics, and hunt boundaries in one location. The state has nearly 25,000 farms and ranches which produce more than 185 different commodities. It’s been so good for so long that good has become average. What hunters should be aware of for the fall: There are no major changes to deer and elk season this year, but something worth noting is the increase in hunter numbers seen in the Salmon Region. What hunters should be aware of for the fall: An overarching theme for the Magic Valley Region is that late summer conditions were extremely dry, and one of the things that hunters should note is that places that they’re used to hunting that maybe had some water, or were wet, might not be this year. Units 2, 3, 5 and 6 were also in the top 10 for whitetails thanks to habitat and weather conditions that have been favorable for growing whitetails. Elk harvest is largely going to be dictated by weather, especially the cow harvest. With several mild-to-moderate winters in the Clearwater in recent years, hunters should see a fair-to-good number of mature bucks. Check out our brochure for more information. Since 2015, winter conditions in Southeast Idaho have been extremely variable with severe conditions (2016-17, 2018-19), average (2017-18) and mild (2015-16 and 2019-20). The Idaho Hunt Planner provides all information the hunter needs for a successful Idaho … Although the fawn survival in Unit 39 specifically was below average in 2019, it was higher-than-average for the greater population that the unit is a part of, which biologists refer to as the Smoky-Boise Data Analysis Unit, or DAU. What hunters should be aware of for the fall: Managers are making some changes to the collection techniques and the locations where we Fish and Game is monitoring for Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD). Elk: For elk, we are above objectives across the board, and wildlife managers are continuing to try to reduce overall elk numbers in the region by providing over-the-counter antlerless elk opportunity. Mule deer hunting in the eastern part of the region is probably going to be a little down, whereas the western part of the region, west of Interstate 15, should be decent. […], Below is a news release from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. That’s particularly true the eastern portion of the region, which is basically missing an entire age class of animals because of extremely low survival in the 2016-17 winter, and had a couple years of below-average survival since then. Ward said that elk tend to be hardier than mule deer and capable of withstanding harsh winters. The statewide elk harvest has exceeded 20,000 annually for the last six years, which has not happened since the all-time high harvests between 1988-96. “We are in the second Golden Age of Idaho elk hunting,” Ward said. Fish and Game’s generous allocation of over-the-counter, general hunt tags, and a broad range of antlered hunting opportunity, particularly for archery hunters, is appealing to resident and nonresident hunters. However, biologists are trying to learn more about Idaho’s whitetail populations and what drives them, as well as what might limit them. There are two main reasons for whitetails’ ascent. Biologists surveyed the area in 2010 and again last winter and saw about 30 percent fewer deer. P: (208) 332-8500 info@isda.idaho.gov M – F; 8 am – 5 pm 2270 Old Penitentiary Road, Boise, ID 83712 Mailing Address P.O. The Idaho Hunt Planner provides all information the hunter needs for a successful Idaho hunt: regulations, seasons, drawing odds, harvest statistics, and hunt boundaries in one location. Fawn survival over this past winter was about even with the 10-year average, and biologists are now seeing that herds have absorbed the effects of the winter of 2016-17, which is partly due to the fact that fawn survival over the past couple winters has been decent. While 2019-20 wasn’t a great year for fawn survival statewide, the region probably dodged a bullet last year, followed by about average fawn survival over the most recent winter. 1068), and hunters should not hesitate to harvest a doe. The elk harvest in the Boise River Zone has also remained largely stable over that time period (averaging about 956 animals), as has the hunter success rate. The next closest was neighboring Unit 43, where hunters harvested 1,179 mule deer. “But it is a positive sign for our mule deer herds and for hunters.”. Idaho agriculture is diverse, abundant and rooted in our history. The three-year stretch of winters spanning from 2016-2019 was tough on many of Idaho’s mule deer herds, largely due to poor-to-average fawn survival — including the second-lowest on record in 2016-17 — and harvest numbers have reflected that trend. Idaho elk hunters enjoyed another year of excellent hunting in 2019, harvesting 20,532 animals statewide. Things hunters should be aware of for the fall: Weather conditions during the hunting season can sometimes affect big game behavior and distribution– and thus, hunter success. While there should be more young bucks this year, there will still be limited numbers of older bucks because the harsh winter of 2016-17 essentially wiped out the 2016 fawn crop, which would now be mature bucks had they survived. They’ve started a multi-year study so they can learn more about whitetail populations and become better at managing them to ensure healthy populations and meet hunters’ expectations. Elk: By and large, the elk forecast is really good. In recent years, mule deer hunting has been on a bit of downswing, but 2020 could shape up to be a momentum changer. Hunters harvested more mule deer (3,374) in the unit than any other unit in the state in 2019, and it wasn’t particularly close. It should be noted that fawn survival was not consistent throughout the state, so some areas were closer to average, and a few fell below. “Throughout southern Idaho this winter, we had above average winter fawn survival, which bodes well for the upcoming mule deer season.”. They’re trying to figure out what’s happening with the herds and what’s driving, or limiting, the elk populations. As word has gotten out about the resurgence of elk hunting in Idaho, there has been a corresponding increase in the number of hunters, which have exceeded 100,000 annually over the last six years. The population has remained stable due to antlerless harvest opportunity, and this year had good winter calf survival again. The Idaho Hunt Planner provides all information the hunter needs for a successful Idaho hunt: regulations, seasons, drawing odds, harvest statistics, and hunt boundaries in one location. The elk harvest in 2019 was down from the prior year by about 8 percent, but it was still good for fourteenth highest of all time, and fifth highest in the past decade. The Idaho Hunt Planner provides all information the hunter needs for a successful Idaho hunt: regulations, seasons, drawing odds, harvest statistics, and hunt boundaries in one location. Elk: The elk populations in the region continue to be really strong, so it’s set up for some pretty good hunting again this season. It’s gotten to the point where it may be nearing carrying capacity up there. As elk populations have redistributed and continue to grow in these “front country” areas, in some cases pushing the boundaries of social tolerance, it has presented wildlife managers with unique challenges. When surveyed in January 2018, wintering deer in Unit 39 were up about 5,000 animals from the 2010 count. What hunters should be aware of for the fall: Hunters in the Panhandle are reminded that more than 336,000 acres of private timberland is open to hunting due to Fish and Game’s Large Tracts access program, which pays private landowners to provide public access for hunting, fishing, trapping and other outdoor recreation. Idaho ranks in the top ten in the nation in 30 of those commodities Idaho is the third-largest agricultural state in … The McCall Zone also has lots of elk and lots of public lands to pursue them, but road access is limited in much of the zone and hunters have to pursue them in steep, brushy backcountry that may put them to the test. While 2019 whitetail harvest was down 14 percent from 2018 and the lowest since 2011, biologists said that’s likely a normal variation in annual harvests, not a sign of declining whitetail populations. It’s likely the dip in success rates was a factor of the weather conditions last year. Hunt details by game unit, harvest statistics, detailed maps of each unit, and hunt areas showing ownership and access can be found using Fish and Game’s Hunt Planner, or hunters can also contact regional Idaho Fish and Game offices. Whitetail hunters in the Panhandle have a long hunting season, generous either-sex hunting opportunities and a good chance to encounter mature bucks. Biologists surveyed the Diamond Creek Zone in 2018 and the population estimate was dramatically higher than the previous survey in 2013, and the bull:cow:calf ratio indicates that it is still a stable to increasing population. “One of the challenges we face in managing elk populations is getting enough hunters to hunt hard for and harvest antlerless elk in areas where we are working to bring elk herds back to the population objectives in the statewide elk plan,” Ward said. Box 7249, Boise, ID, 83707. Isn’t that a good thing? If you’ve ever tried to wrestle a whole […], If an elk hears you sneaking through the woods, you might be ok. As hunter numbers continue to increase, managers want to encourage hunters to be courteous in the field. When you look back since 2004 when Idaho’s deer harvest statistics were segregated between whitetails and mule deer, whitetails were a smaller portion of the statewide deer harvest with mule deer being the majority of deer taken by hunters. The zone had very high success rates in 2018 and dipped in 2019, but there’s nothing to indicate elk numbers declined. “I think all indications are that this should be another very good elk season,” Ward said. These expanded antlerless opportunities are a great way for hunters to put meat in the freezer while helping to manage elk populations, and it’s something they should take greater advantage of this year. When you look back since 2004 when Idaho’s deer harvest statistics were segregated between whitetails and mule deer, whitetails were a smaller portion of the statewide deer harvest … But it’s not alone as a top producer in the Panhandle. Deer survival was good with no sign of excessive winter kill and no signs of fatal disease outbreaks, such as EHD or blue tongue, occurring so far during summer. What hunters should be aware of for the fall: The one tip that is pretty good in this part of the state is to get away from roads. Most of the elk zones are either at or above objectives. Managers also want to remind folks of reduced youth antlerless opportunity in the region. Despite lots of elk, they can often find refuge on private lands, or on steep, rugged public land that is difficult to access. Fish and Game offers 1,500 either sex deer tags for Units 39 and 43 (Controlled Hunt No. Weiser River and Brownlee zones (Brownlee is limited to controlled hunts) remain over objectives for elk, and Brownlee Zone has a bull/cow ration that is “out of this world.”. Together, agriculture and food processing generate 28% of Idaho’s total economic output in sales and 13% of GDP. When you look back since 2004 when Idaho’s deer harvest statistics were segregated between whitetails and mule deer, whitetails were a smaller portion of the statewide deer harvest with mule deer being the majority of deer taken by hunters. Because deer numbers remain down, antlerless hunting opportunities are limited to youth hunters, and only during the first week of the general any-weapon season. Elk: Elk numbers in the Panhandle also remain strong with Units 1 and 4 being among the top elk units in the state, ranking fourth and third in 2019, and Panhandle units accounted for half of the top 10 elk units in the state with the Units 3, 6 and 5 joining Units 1 and 4. “The distribution of elk has definitely changed since the 80s and 90s, when there was that first pulse of high elk numbers and the Lolo Zone was leading the way. Biologists have seen an increase in large wildfires in portions of the Clearwater, which historically has benefited elk herds, so they’re hopeful they could see improved forage for elk and a corresponding increase in elk herds. Anyone else wondering why it's May 2nd, and the info from 2011 still hasn't been posted? Doing some scouting of potential hunting areas may give hunters an idea of animal distribution and behavior. While whitetails aren’t broadly distributed throughout the region, there is an elevated numbers of whitetails in pockets of the Teton Valley, specifically in units 62, 62A, 65. Deer: The Weiser/McCall area has had two hard winters in the last 5 years, which set back mule deer herds. Elk hunters should have plenty of elk to chase, and one of things that is going to dictate the success of elk hunters is the weather. Along those lines, hunters should check in with the U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management before they make big plans to go somewhere because access could be affected if there are wildfires in the area. As a result they are doing well across the region as evidenced by recent aerial surveys conducted the past few years. Whitetail hunters should expect good, or average, whitetail hunting in the state again in 2020. Mule Deer: On a regional level, mule deer hunting is likely to be middle-of-the-road this year. Mule Deer: With generous over-the-counter, any weapon opportunity and given its proximity to Idaho’s most populated area, Unit 39 is the state’s most popular and productive unit for mule deer hunters. The Idaho Hunt Planner provides all information the hunter needs for a successful Idaho hunt: regulations, seasons, drawing odds, harvest statistics, and hunt boundaries in one location. The Idaho Hunt Planner provides all information the hunter needs for a successful Idaho hunt: regulations, seasons, drawing odds, harvest statistics, and hunt boundaries in one location. The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation maintains that state agencies should manage wolves just […]. Unit 39 has been a very productive mule deer unit, and has been for a long time, but biologists are starting to see fawn production go down, and the herd composition in December and fawn weights in the winter are starting to decline — all of which is used to measure the carrying capacity of our deer and elk herds. Despite general hunts that include antlerless elk with any weapon, the zone is still over its objectives for elk. Over the last five years, Unit 39 has accounted for between 61 and 70 percent of the harvest in the Nampa subregion, which is also composed of units 33, 34, 35, 38, 40, 41 and 42. That’s not the case anymore, but now our elk populations in the front country — particularly in Southern Idaho — are doing fantastic.”. Below is a news release from the Idaho Department of Fish and Game. Biologists continue to monitor cow and calf elk via radio collars to see how well the animals are surviving, or what’s killing them. Fawn production and winter survival have been good the last two years, and the region has not had population setbacks in the recent years. Hunters should expect very similar hunting experiences in terms of numbers of deer and age classes of bucks that were observed last year — a result of average over-winter fawn survival this past winter. @import url(https://agri.idaho.gov/main/wp-content/plugins/siteorigin-panels/css/front-flex.css); #pgc-9422-0-0 { width:27.6339%;width:calc(27.6339% - ( 0.723661106234 * 30px ) ) } #pgc-9422-0-1 { width:72.3661%;width:calc(72.3661% - ( 0.276338893766 * 30px ) ) } #pl-9422 .so-panel , #pl-9422 .so-panel:last-child { margin-bottom:0px } #pg-9422-0.panel-no-style, #pg-9422-0.panel-has-style > .panel-row-style { -webkit-align-items:flex-start;align-items:flex-start } #panel-9422-0-0-0> .panel-widget-style { max-height: 300px } #panel-9422-0-1-0> .panel-widget-style { padding:0px 0px 0px 0px;padding-top: 30px;max-height: 300px } @media (max-width:780px){ #pg-9422-0.panel-no-style, #pg-9422-0.panel-has-style > .panel-row-style { -webkit-flex-direction:column;-ms-flex-direction:column;flex-direction:column } #pg-9422-0 .panel-grid-cell { margin-right:0 } #pg-9422-0 .panel-grid-cell { width:100% } #pgc-9422-0-0 , #pl-9422 .panel-grid .panel-grid-cell-mobile-last { margin-bottom:0px } #pl-9422 .panel-grid-cell { padding:0 } #pl-9422 .panel-grid .panel-grid-cell-empty { display:none } }. 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