Clearwater wildlife blog series: Installment #1- season recap

White-tailed deer are a valuable resource to sportsmen in the Clearwater Region. To help foster public engagement and participation in the management of this resource, this blog is being established to discuss topics relevant to white-tailed deer and their pursuit across the region. It is our hope that this blog may serve as a public resource for interested members of the public to learn about and better understand the why’s and how’s of white-tailed deer management in the Clearwater. Further, this blog will provide an outlet for members of the public to engage with the Department and ask questions concerning white-tailed deer and their management in the region. We ask that interactions and dialogue associated with this blog be constructive and respectful to help promote a positive learning environment for all interested readers. We will be collecting comments, questions and responses from you. This information will help direct/develop our blogs in the coming months. 

We want to hear how hunters in the Clearwater region did this past season. Whether you filled your tag or not, hunters are reminded that their experience in the field is important to the Department. When a hunter pulls through a check station or completes their Mandatory Harvest Reports, they provide important information used by the Department to gauge hunting success and wildlife population trends. 

In short, hunters provide the information Idaho Fish and Game relies on for monitoring the state’s wildlife. What hunter effort looks like, what sort of success is being had, and what animals are being harvested, all factor into wildlife management in Idaho, and that information comes straight from hunters.      

Check stations are an important tool that help Idaho Fish and Game gauge hunter effort and get an early glimpse of how fall seasons are going. In 2023, Clearwater regional staff interacted with nearly 1,000 hunters during fall check stations. These interactions allowed staff an opportunity to talk with sportsmen and gather information from harvested animals. From hunters sharing stories of first deer and biggest elk, to determining success in the field and the collection of Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) samples, check stations play a key role in monitoring Idaho’s wildlife. 

If you missed us at a check station, we still want to know how your season went! Mandatory Harvest Reports should be completed within 10 days of the end of the hunting season. The information provided in these reports is gathered and used to create Idaho’s harvest statistics. These statistics are used in conjunction with wildlife survey data to help managers and biologists develop recommendations for hunting seasons. Because these statistics are heavily relied on, it is important that hunters complete their harvest reports so their experience can be incorporated into the process.

So, how does my check station data help the Department? Great question! From hunters who stopped by a check station in the Clearwater this fall, early indications look like it was productive for white-tailed deer hunters:

• Of the 900 deer hunters who came through check stations, 409 were successful and 491 were unsuccessful. In other words, deer hunters were averaging a 44.4% success rate across the region.
• Of the surveyed hunters, 357 were successful in harvesting a white-tailed deer. That number comes from 281 bucks and 76 antlerless deer.
• Of the 281 bucks harvested, 150 had four or more points on an antler. This translates to a strong buck harvest with greater than 50% of harvested deer sporting four or more points on at least half their rack. 

Remember, these statistics provide only a glimpse into our hunter’s seasons. To ensure your experience this fall is included, make sure to fill out a Mandatory Harvest Report if you did not see us during check stations. For more information or to ask questions about Clearwater Region white-tailed deer management, contact the regional office at (208) 799-5010. 

Thank you for taking the time to read this article and good luck on your next hunting adventure!