Everything deer and elk hunters need to know heading into the 2025 big game season.
For any of you headline skimmers out there, the takeaway of this year’s deer and elk hunting outlook is one of optimism; statewide, deer and elk hunting in Idaho looks positive heading into the 2025 big game season.
Now, the nitty gritty, beginning with elk. By now, you’ve learned that mild winters are a winning recipe for building deer and elk herds. Typically faring better than deer, elk this past winter did particularly well.
Specifically, 82% of collared elk calves (statewide) survived the 2024-2025 winter.
On the other hand, survival of collared mule deer fawns was around 58%—an uptick from the long-term average of 57%—and 91% of collared does survived.
“With 58% fawn survival, we’re growing mule deer herds,” the state’s Deer and Elk Coordinator Toby Boudreau said.
Before you rush down the sporting goods store to buy a new, fancy rifle or bow (not that you need our encouragement), remember Idaho is a big state, and not every region had the same winter. Fawn survival also wasn’t uniform, and there are some troubling signs ahead, but more on that later.
Lastly, there’s whitetails. White-tailed deer aren’t tracked the same way throughout winter as muleys and elk. But biologists do look for many of the same ecological conditions heading into spring and summer before they can make a reliable estimate on what the fall/winter hunting season may look like.
But yet again, with white-tailed deer herds, it’s estimated we’re not only over the hump, but clearing that hump as if it were a downed Doug fir.
It’s usually at this point in the summer, however, that biologists begin looking for signs of epizootic hemorrhagic disease (EHD), which has a nasty track record of wiping out huge portions of white-tailed deer herds during the dog days of summer, as seen quite dramatically in 2021.
Wildlife staff in the Clearwater Region recently confirmed a case of EHD in a white-tailed deer in Unit 11, southeast of Lewiston. This is the first confirmed case of the season in the Clearwater Region.
It is still too early on to determine how serious this EHD detection may or may not be. However, regional wildlife biologists will continue to monitor the situation and keep hunters up to speed as we head into the fall.
Here’s a story worth celebrating.
Big game hunters apparently got after it in the fall of 2024, accomplishing a statewide hat trick of harvest increases—the first time since 2020—of elk, mule deer, and white-tailed deer. Hunters are no strangers to swings in populations and harvests, and Fish and Game wildlife biologists highlight that each year; there are a lot of contributing factors. But last year’s hunter harvest is a hopeful indicator that herds are once again back on track.
Not to harken back and beat a frozen horse, but it always helps to remember recent history in regard to the brutal winter of 2022-23. That winter didn’t just leave its mark in the record books; it greatly impacted mule deer herds in Idaho. The hunting season that followed some six months later came as no surprise as statewide harvests dropped.
But fast forward to 2024—a year that granted Idaho’s deer and elk some much-needed reprieve from harsh winter weather—and now we could be starting to see the dawn of greener pastures for both big game and big game hunters alike.
But moral of this story? Increased hunter success across the board in fall 2024 should be chalked up as a win. After all, hunters can’t harvest animals that aren’t there.
There’s not too much to go over in the “lows” department since harvest of all three species increased, but let’s start with mule deer this time, since they were the tragic stars of the dramatic 2023 winter. After a 22% drop in harvest (remember, these numbers are statewide) from 2022 to 2023, it was enough to put a smile on any mule deer hunter’s face to see that number go from 18,568 to 23,898 in the fall of ’24.
And elk were no different. While the mountain bruisers didn’t necessarily see the same impacts of that brutal winter as their smaller, long-eared cousins, elk harvest in 2024 still rose roughly 13% from the previous year. Nearly a quarter of all general season elk hunters last year successfully hiked out of the mountains with an elk on their back, a statistic also slightly up from the previous hunting season.
This year’s harvest landed at 97.5% of the 10-year average, which makes it about as close to a “normal” harvest as you can get with fluctuating annual harvests.
What about whitetails? What were they up to last fall? Well, I’m glad you asked.
White-tailed deer represented the only “X” in the win column back in 2023’s hunter harvest report, where the primary “W” word was winter, not whitetails. But for the last two years now, white-tailed deer harvests have kept pushing the needle clockwise, accounting for roughly a 9% bump since 2022. In 2024, roughly 48,766 white-tailed deer hunters took home an estimated 20,908 whitetails statewide.
For the full 2024 deer and elk harvest stats, check out this earlier story.
If you recall, the drop in elk harvest two seasons ago was a bit of a head-scratcher. Anecdotally, we heard reports from experienced elk hunters who were not finding elk in their usual spots during fall and suspected that maybe a combination of hot temperatures and scant precipitation might have been a significant factor. Boudreau stated that the dip in statewide harvest did not reflect a dip in the overall elk population, but it would possibly take another year to know for sure.
And now, a year later, that’s exactly where we’re at, and Fish and Game biologists believe the statewide elk population is healthy and relatively stable.
“While things vary from elk zone to elk zone, statewide elk populations tend to stay relatively stable from year to year,” said Boudreau.
Environmental conditions can sometimes have misleading observations when it comes to the perception of populations. For example, rain was plentiful in August 2023 which led to fantastic summer range conditions for elk. Combined with a mild fall, elk didn’t necessarily feel the need to lock up their summer vacation homes and head to cooler habitat, so the effect (in hunters’ minds, at least) was the perception of fewer elk on the landscape.
In reality, the elk were still there on the landscape in 2023; just not on the same landscape as you.
That’s all good and well. But what about this year?
Over-winter survival and collar data concluded in May, indicating excellent conditions for Idaho’s elk heading into summer. Remember that every year Fish and Game wildlife biologists collar and track deer and elk survival throughout the winter, paying especially close attention to that data in April and May when the animals are at the end of their rope nutrition-wise.
While elk, hardy as they are, tend to fare better than deer, it’s always cause for celebration when their survival numbers stay relatively high. With yet another mild winter in 2023-’24, elk herds across the state will continue to grow, as Boudreau forecasts bigger herds this fall than last.
“Seasonal factors like mild winters and spring moisture are how you get healthy herds, as far as elk go,” Boudreau said. “This year, we’re anticipating earlier antler growth among bulls and fuller-bodies calves and cows.”
Factors, such as wildfire and dry conditions, could still shuffle the deck in the months and weeks leading up to the elk opener. Dry conditions, for instance, could mean fewer food options available on the hillsides, forcing herds to head for greener (and higher) pastures.
But, and I’ll leave you with this, the flipside to that is a mild summer. So far this summer, you can count the number of triple-digit days on one hand, with most days sticking to the 80s and 90s—depending on where you are in the state.
In years past, summers with higher average temperatures have noticeably played a role in elk distribution. Recall that head-scratcher season of ‘23? That’s exactly what can (and could) happen if we see an uptick in temperatures later this month and into September.
But for now, look forward to another average to above-average season in the mountains chasing after Rocky Mountain elk.
Last Year’s Numbers
Not to say we told you so, but we told you so. We predicted a bump in statewide mule deer harvest last fall, and it happened. That’s simply because mule deer population cycles are relatively predictable, and harvests tend to follow those cycles.
A total of 73,748 mule deer hunters successfully harvested 23,898 mule deer, which was nearly a 30% year-over-year increase.
Mild-to-normal winters typically grow Idaho’s mule deer herds, or more accurately, allow herds to grow, which boosted mule deer herds and led to this prediction in last year’s big game outlook:
“Healthy fawn crop that survived winter means more young antlered bucks that will be sporting spikes, forked-horn antlers, and a small percentage will be three-points. Those young bucks represent a large portion of the annual buck harvest, so it’s likely hunters will see an uptick in the fall harvest.”
More positive signs for 2025
Another normal winter means odds are in our favor that we’ll have as good or better mule deer hunting than last year. As stated above, survival of collared fawns last winter was around 58%, a point up from the long-term average of 57%.
All news isn’t good news, but let's start there. After the Southeast Region was hit hard by a catastrophic winter in 2022, it posted some of the highest fawn survival rates in the state last winter, which bodes well for herds in the eastern part of the state.
Things were opposite in the Southwest Region, which is one of the state’s most-popular mule deer regions. Despite a normal winter, Unit 39 had only 31% survival of collared fawns.
No need to panic (yet). Unit 39 still has one of the largest mule deer herds in the state, but low fawn survival is a sign that the herd is reaching the limits of its habitat.
Biologists have seen lighter fawns coming into recent winters, and fawn weight is an accurate predictor of their winter survival.
“Light fawns often indicates some habitat limitations on summer range,” Boudreau said.
In other words, too many mouths and not enough groceries, which could lead to something that’s counter intuitive to many hunters—the need to harvest more deer, including does.
To get a healthy and sustainable herd, you don’t want just large numbers, you want hardy and productive mule deer. Otherwise, a hard winter could hit those herds harder and drop them farther.
But when we look across southern Idaho, most mule deer herds are healthy and stable-to-growing in most areas, so the potential is there for an above-average hunting season.
The usual disclaimer
A boost in herds isn’t always followed by a boost in harvest. A hot, dry October can make hunting conditions difficult, have animals scattered over vast areas, and decrease the harvest. The opposite is also true. Rainy or snowy fall weather can start migrations to lower elevations and put more deer in contact with hunters.
Not to overstate the obvious, but more deer in the fields and woods means better chances for a higher harvest. And things get better because consecutive normal winters also mean more bucks are likely reaching maturity, so there may be more larger bucks available.
Last Year’s Numbers
Fall 2022 was a low spot for white-tailed deer harvest. The reason for that 10-year low was not bitter cold, but hot, dry weather and biting midges. Epizootic hemorrhagic disease (EHD) wreaked havoc on the Clearwater Region’s whitetails that summer, killing an estimated 6,000-10,000 deer. So, to see two consecutive increases in whitetail harvest is a good sign for wildlife managers and hunters alike that whitetails herds are moving back in the right direction.
An estimated 48,766 white-tailed deer hunters hit the woods last year, with 40% of those successfully bagging a deer. Who knows! Maybe the same 48,766 hunters went 2 for 2 during the past two years, as harvest success was identical. But I doubt it.
As predicted though heading into the 2024 hunting season, overall harvest numbers for whitetails increased from 19,828 to 20,908.
Like with any species, and as mentioned countless times in regard to mule deer, it takes time for animals to rebound, but whitetails tend to rebound more quickly. Back in early 2023, Boudreau forecasted “another 2-3 years” before the Clearwater’s whitetail herds would be fully recovered, but optimistically pointed out that they were in fact “over the hump.”
And while the jury’s still out on east Idaho’s mule deer, the verdict on the Clearwater’s white-tailed deer is in: The herds have bounded right back.
The lay of the land
Like with other big game species, there are different environmental factors that can impact herd health. Temperature, annual precipitation and snowpack, drought, wildfires, etc. are environmental variables our biologists consider when determining how and where deer and elk are going to be in the months leading up to opening day.
“Body size and antler growth on this year’s white-tailed deer is looking solid,” Boudreau said.
When it comes to whitetails, the picture couldn’t look better. As the herds continue to build back up, a mild winter, a precipitous spring, and a relatively fireless summer (so far) have all been positive ingredients for a successful fall.
With that said, this time of year is when EHD typically rears its ugly head. And biologists are still monitoring a recent EHD detection in Unit 11. For more on that case, check out this press release.
Tooth and consequences
Last thing worth mentioning here. Back in 2023, Fish and Game wildlife biologists began a comprehensive tooth collection project (that’s deer teeth) to help determine the age structure of white-tailed deer in a few north Idaho hunting units.
Teeth collected from whitetails—specifically the front teeth—are sent to a lab and aged to determine a range of how old or young harvested deer are, and by extension, the age structure of the rest of the deer out there on the landscape.
Additionally, in 2024, biologists asked hunters to measure the circumference of buck antlers harvested that season.
The 1,100 white-tailed deer teeth collected in the project’s inaugural year combined with last season’s 1,500 teeth and 700 antler measurements have helped our biologists determine a wider spread of ages among deer than previously thought.
“It was originally thought that buck ages were down, or in other words, we were seeing more younger bucks out there in the field,” Boudreau said. “But thanks to our tooth data and the hunters who submitted those teeth, the data shows there’s actually quite a bigger spread between buck ages.”
Our biologists are once again looking for white-tailed deer tooth submissions during the 2025 hunting season. For more information, check out this article or contact the Panhandle and Clearwater regional offices.
Last Year’s Numbers
Hunters in 2025 will have mandatory testing for CWD for deer in seven hunting units, including the addition of Unit 63A north of Idaho Falls, which was added after a domestic elk tested positive on a private game operation.
Fish and Game currently manages CWD through three main methods:
Currently, Units 14, 18, and a portion of Unit 1 comprise the CWD Management Zone for 2025. CWD testing is mandatory for all harvested deer in those units, and the following rules also apply:
Mandatory testing in Units 23, 24, 32A, and 63A, but no carcass transport restrictions
CWD testing is mandatory in Units 23, 24, 32A, and 63A for all deer, but does not apply to elk and moose taken those units. These units are not within the CWD Management Zone, so carcass transportation restrictions do not apply. Fish and Game also welcomes any voluntary testing of elk and moose.
Why is CWD management important for hunters
Fish and Game’s CWD management priority is keeping the percentage of animals infected – or prevalence – low in deer herds. CWD can’t be eradicated because it remains in the environment for decades. Keeping the prevalence low will help maintain healthy big game populations.
Hunters are reminded fill out their report 10 days after harvest, or if the hunter did not hunt or harvest (deer, elk, and pronghorn only), 10 days after the closing date of their season for each tag purchased.
When you file your Mandatory Hunter Report, you give critical hunt and harvest information to wildlife managers to maximize and sustain healthy herds. Help us collect this vital information and conserve your hunting, fishing, and trapping dollars. For more information, check out Fish and Game’s Mandatory Hunter Report webpage.
Elk
Units 1, 4, and 6 remain top-tier elk units in the state, promising hunters another productive fall season. The past two winters in the Panhandle Region were relatively mild, with below-average snowfall across winter range. This lighter snowpack likely made it easier for elk to travel and access forage throughout the season.
In Unit 4, overwinter elk calf survival was notably strong, holding steady at 90% during the past two winters. Winter ended early again, and spring arrived ahead of schedule in 2025, accelerating snowmelt at lower elevations and prompting an early green-up in the mountains. However, spring remained fairly dry, leading to forage drying out by July.
White-tailed deer
The Panhandle supports plentiful and diverse hunting opportunities for white-tailed deer, and hunters should expect a promising season ahead. Winter conditions have been mild in recent years, providing high over-winter survival of adults and fawns.
Timely rain events have helped alleviate some concerns over otherwise drought-like conditions, although much of the region remains below average for precipitation in 2025. Slight upticks in hunter success and the number of harvested deer in past seasons indicate that white-tailed deer have been benefiting from consecutive years of mild weather.
Mule deer
Hunters pursuing mule deer in the Panhandle this fall should expect similar conditions to previous seasons but hope for additional precipitation in the forecast. Antlered mule deer harvest and hunter success have been improving in recent years. Like white-tailed deer, mild winters have benefited mule deer as of late, but the drought-like conditions of 2025 have been less favorable. Late summer and fall forage conditions will likely wane early, which may isolate deer into smaller pockets of more productive habitat early in the hunting season.
What hunters should be aware of this fall
Attention Panhandle Elk Zone B Tag Rifle Hunters: Due to the need to reduce Panhandle-wide cow harvest, the 3-day rifle cow season on Oct. 15-17 has been removed. Be sure to plan your hunt accordingly—no cow harvest is allowed during this time.
Fish and Game is collecting chronic wasting disease samples across the region. CWD testing is mandatory for all deer harvested in a portion of Unit 1, referred to as the CWD Management Zone. In addition, whole carcasses cannot be transported outside of the CWD Management Zone.
Fish and Game encourages all hunters participating in deer or elk hunts in the Panhandle to have their harvested animal tested. Hunters can submit CWD samples or deposit heads from harvested animals at drop-off locations around the region.
For those returning to or passing through the Panhandle from hunting in other states, remember that there are carcass transport rules in place from CWD-positive states and management zones. Check the regulations before moving your harvested animals.
Hunters across the Panhandle should remain vigilant in their bear awareness and identification skills as they are out and about in the woods. In the Panhandle, grizzly bears are mostly found in Unit 1, but have been infrequently documented in Units 2, 3, 4, 4A, 6, 7, and 9. Black bears are common throughout the region.
Hunters are also asked to observe all off-road and on-road travel restrictions and check for and abide by fire restrictions in their hunting area. Information concerning access and motorized vehicle restrictions on many of the region’s industrial forests can be found on Fish and Game’s website on the Large Tracts Program page.
Lands enrolled in the Large Tracts Program are privately owned, and rules governing access to these lands are established by the landowner. Respecting these rules will help ensure these lands remain available to hunters and recreators.
– Micah Ellstrom, Regional Wildlife Manager; Barb Moore, Regional Wildlife Biologist; Kenny Randall, Regional Wildlife Biologist
Elk
Harvest numbers and success rates saw a slight uptick last year in the Palouse Zone. Populations appear stable or slightly increasing. These trends are expected to continue into the 2025 season, supported by expanded antlerless muzzleloader opportunities in Units 8 and 11A.
In the Dworshak Zone, 2023 hunter success rates reached a five-year high, and total harvest was comparable to recent years. However, surveys suggest that elk populations in the zone have declined over the past decade. In response, Fish and Game collaborated with sportsmen in 2024 to form the Dworshak Elk Working Group, which included representatives from various user groups in the region. The group provided recommendations to the Fish and Game Commission, resulting in adopted changes for the 2025-2026 seasons. Hunters are encouraged to review the Idaho Big Game 2025 Seasons and Rules for more information on these changes.
Unit 14 continues to serve as the stronghold for the Elk City Zone, with growing elk populations supporting the majority of the zone’s elk, harvest, and hunting activity. In contrast, elk numbers in Units 15 and 16 remain below long-term averages. Elk numbers and harvest remain relatively low in the Lolo, Selway, and Hells Canyon zones. However, recent improvements in calf recruitment offer a more optimistic outlook for future seasons. Strong elk numbers have also been observed in specific areas within these zones, suggesting localized potential for improved hunting opportunity.
Mule deer
The Snake and Salmon River breaks harbor the region’s strongest mule deer populations. Harvest opportunities along the Snake and Salmon remain limited to controlled hunts in Units 11, 13, 14, and 18 to support the longevity of these populations. However, in response to the spread of CWD from Unit 14 into Unit 18, antlerless harvest opportunity was increased in Unit 18 to help reduce deer densities within the CWD Management Zone.
Mule deer occupy other reaches of the Clearwater Region at lower densities. General seasons with reasonable mule deer hunting opportunities are available along the Clearwater River in Units 8, 8A, 10A, and 15.
Additionally, for those hunters willing to put in the effort to hunt the backcountry, Units 16A, 17, 19, and 20 can be good—but challenging—hunting opportunities during general season mule deer.
White-tailed deer
Trends in harvest, harvest success, and hunter numbers continue to reflect robust white-tailed deer populations throughout the Clearwater. Regional buck harvest and the proportion of bucks harvested with five or more points on an antler also continue to remain strong.
Upswings in hunter success and harvest across northern agricultural Units 8, 8A, and 11A indicate white-tailed deer populations are continuing to recover from the 2021 EHD outbreak that caused severe impacts to local populations along the Clearwater River corridor. White-tailed deer hunting opportunities are plentiful across the region, and hunters should experience high-quality hunting conditions this season.
What hunters should be aware of this fall
Fish and Game is collecting CWD samples across the region, but CWD testing in Units 14 and 18 is mandatory. In addition, whole carcasses cannot be transported outside those units.
White-tailed deer hunters in Unit 10A are encouraged to submit a tooth (front incisor on lower jaw) from their harvest to learn the age of their deer and to help contribute to efforts to better understand age structure of harvested white-tailed deer in Unit 10A.
Hunters should be aware that treponeme-associated hoof disease (TAHD; aka hoof rot) has been detected in multiple units of the Clearwater Region. Elk harvested with TAHD are safe to consume. However, biologists are interested in documenting the occurrence of TAHD and ask sportsmen to report elk that have difficulty walking or have abnormal hooves, and to submit abnormal hooves of harvested elk to the department for testing.
Hunters should also be aware of changes to the Dworshak B-tag for 2025. Antlered harvest is now restricted to brow-tined bulls only. For more information, refer to page 36 of the Idaho Big Game 2025 Seasons and Rules.
– Jana Ashling, Regional Wildlife Manager; Nathan Floyd, Regional Wildlife Biologist
Elk
Elk herds remain at/or above objectives in most of the region, except for the Middle Fork Zone, which is still below objectives. Wildlife staff surveyed the Weiser River and Brownlee zones last winter. Elk numbers in both those zones were well above management objectives, leading to several hunting season changes. The quota was removed from the Weiser River Zone B tag, and general hunting opportunity was added on a Brownlee B tag. Controlled hunts for both youth and adults were added in Brownlee and Weiser River units. It is important to note that elk in both zones can be challenging to hunt in areas with a mix of private and public lands, as elk will often seek refuge on private lands with limited hunting access.
Deer
Deer populations in Units 22, 32, and 32A are likely still feeling the effects of several large fires (Lava, Paddock, and Limepoint) last summer. Those fires impacted both summer and winter range, and likely led to higher than average fawn mortality last winter, as deer came onto winter range lacking fat reserves and spent winter in an area with little forage. Hunters may see fewer yearling bucks on the hill this fall as a result of higher fawn mortality last winter.
White-tailed deer herds are stable to slightly increasing across the region, with the highest densities occurring in the northern units, such as Units 23 and 24.
Hunters pursuing mule deer on the regular deer tag are reminded that youth are restricted to harvesting antlered deer only in Units 23, 31, and 32A.
What hunters should be aware of this fall
The biggest thing deer hunters need to be aware of this year is that CWD testing is mandatory for mule deer and white-tailed deer harvested in Units 23, 24, and 32A, following the detection of a CWD-positive mule deer buck near the border of Units 23 and 32A during fall 2023.
Units 23, 24, and 32A are not within the CWD Management Zone, so carcass transportation restrictions do not apply. Hunters have several options for submitting CWD samples, including check stations, sampling sites, and remote collection sites such as freezers and head barrels.
– Regan Berkley, Regional Wildlife Manager
Elk
Back in 2021, a population survey in the Boise River Zone revealed that both cows and bulls were exceeding population objectives. Starting in 2023, the season for the Boise River B Tag was extended to begin earlier on Oct. 27. Hunter success rates have remained fairly consistent since the hunting season was extended.
Both general season and controlled hunt tag holders should still have plenty of opportunity this season. Harvest metrics will be carefully monitored to ensure the Boise River Zone's population stays within target levels.
Starting this fall, Unit 38 was added to the Boise River B tag to address ongoing depredations. Unit 38 has minimal suitable elk habitat, and nearly all elk are on private agricultural lands. Hunters should not consider this hunt unless they have secured permission to access private lands beforehand.
The Sawtooth Zone was last surveyed in 2023. Estimates of overwintering bulls showed a decline, while cow numbers increased compared to the previous survey in 2017. However, it is important to remember that much of the huntable population migrates into the Sawtooth Zone in the spring.
Over the past five years, our staff have noticed a slight decline in overall hunting success rates. However, last year was a notable exception. Hunters who waited out the fires during the 2024 season experienced a noticeable bump in success. It’s likely that the large fires displaced elk from their usual hiding places, making them easier for hunters to find.
Elk hunting in the Owyhee Zone, which is limited to controlled hunts, will continue to offer hunters excellent chances to harvest mature bulls this fall. These herds are stable and/or growing, which allows for controlled hunt antlerless opportunities in the zone aimed at slowing population growth.
Mule deer
With generous over-the-counter tags, any-weapon harvest seasons, and its proximity to Idaho’s most populated area, Unit 39 is the most popular unit for mule deer hunters in the state.
Fawn recruitment in Unit 39 was severely reduced following the winter of 2022-23, and the population continued to experience poor fawn survival during the winter of 2024-25 despite mild weather conditions. In the past decade, there has been a pattern of fawns leaving their summer range in poor body condition and facing intermittent harsh winters, which can drive mass fawn mortalities and increase the likelihood of death during the winter months.
The recent abundance survey conducted in the winter of 2024-25 reflected a pattern of poor recruitment. Compared to the 2018 survey, the estimated mule deer population wintering in Unit 39 had declined. The survey flown in December 2024 showed an increase in antlered deer and a significant rise in the fawn-to-doe ratio over the past two years. However, high fawn mortality rates following this survey probably offset these recruitment gains. Hunters in the field will likely encounter the same or fewer mule deer this season compared to last.
Mule deer in the southern part of the Central Mountains (Units 33, 34, and 35) have shown steady recovery since winter 2016-17, with multiple years of rising buck-to-doe ratios observed during surveys through winter 2024-25. The survey conducted this past winter recorded the highest antlered deer and fawn-to-doe ratios since winter 2016-2017. Hunters can expect slightly more mature bucks at low densities and a similar hunting experience to recent years.
The general season mule deer hunting opportunity in the Owyhee units is limited to bucks that are two points or less on at least one side (2-point bucks). As a result, most harvested deer are yearlings. A winter flight survey showed an average fawn-to-doe ratio, and since the Owyhees had a typical winter, hunters can expect a decent crop of yearling bucks this fall. Hunters should have experiences similar to recent years during the general season. In the late season, hunters in controlled hunts should expect to see fewer mature bucks, but still have a quality desert hunting experience.
What hunters should be aware of this fall
Hunters should be aware of extensive burn scars in Units 33, 34, and 35 following last year’s fires. They should also check the Forest Service and BLM websites for updates on road repairs or hazardous conditions caused by falling dead trees.
– Ryan Walrath, Regional Wildlife Manager; David Bernasconi, Regional Wildlife Biologist; Rachel Curtis, Regional Wildlife Biologist
Elk
Elk herds in the Magic Valley Region are at/or near population objectives across all zones after being well over objective for several years. Current management is focusing on maintaining moderate elk herd growth while still offering some over-the-counter opportunities as a chance for family and friends to hunt together in areas with healthy elk herds.
Summer temperatures throughout the region have been high, and forage will continue to dry out if the region does not receive any late summer or fall precipitation. Continued hot and dry conditions into the fall may lead to local shifts in elk distribution to higher elevations or wetter foraging habitats.
Cow elk harvest is largely dictated by weather, and without early snow this fall, hunters can expect to find elk at higher elevations than previous hunting seasons. The best elk hunting will be in areas away from roads and motorized trails.
Mule deer
Over-winter mule deer fawn survival in the Magic Valley Region has been below normal in 2 of the last 5 years—including 2024-25. While lower fawn survival rates will result in fewer yearling bucks on the mountain this fall, excellent fawn survival in 2023-24 should result in good numbers of two-year-old bucks in the harvest.
Some mule deer populations in the Magic Valley Region have recently declined due to unfavorable environmental conditions including severe winters, summer drought, and loss of habitat due to wildfires. Several antlerless hunting opportunities were eliminated in the region to bolster these herds.
The dry spring and hot and dry summer will likely affect mule deer distribution this fall. If conditions persist, deer will likely be concentrated near areas where there is plentiful forage and water.
What hunters should be aware of this fall
As part of Fish and Game’s ongoing CWD surveillance program, regional staff are interested in collecting heads or lymph nodes from adult deer throughout the region. Hunters can have their deer sampled at the Magic Valley regional office during office hours (8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday) or drop off a head or lymph node sample at a freezer located next to the Magic Valley region’s hunter education building.
– Mike McDonald, Regional Wildlife Manager
Elk
Hunters should expect good elk hunting again this fall. Winter conditions this past year were again favorable where calf and adult survival were above average. As a result, elk populations should be similar to, or slightly higher, than what hunters experienced last fall.
Biologists surveyed the Diamond Creek and Bear River Zones in 2023, and the population estimates were within objectives. In the Bannock and Big Desert Zones aerial surveys are not conducted; however harvest and hunter success rates have remained stable.
Mule deer
Mule deer populations across the Southeast Region were drastically reduced after the 2022-23 winter. However, the past two winters have been much more favorable for mule deer, resulting in above average survival. Although total mule deer abundance hasn’t fully recovered from the recent harsh winters, populations are trending upward.
Hunter success rates in 2023 were some of the lowest recorded in decades, but in 2024 success rates increased in many areas, indicating a population starting to rebound. This coming fall hunters should see more deer compared to 2024 with an increase in both yearlings and two-year-old bucks.
Overall, biologists are anticipating hunter success, total harvest, and hunter participation to increase for the 2025 season. That being said, the lingering effects of the 2022-23 winter will still be noticed by hunters with total abundance still below desired levels.
On the bright side, mule deer came out of this past winter in good condition, which should result in healthy fawns. Range conditions with the above-average snowpack and intermittent rain through the spring and early summer should benefit mule deer as they enter the fall and winter months.
What hunters should be aware of this fall
Fish and Game set big game seasons for the 2025 and 2026 seasons this past winter which resulted in some changes to hunt opportunities across the region. It is the responsibility of hunters to look at current regulations to see how changes (such as season dates, weapon types, tags, etc.) may or may not have affected their familiar hunts.
Most notably, the mule deer any-weapon general season in Unit 73A was changed to a muzzleloader-only season. Centerfire rifles are no longer a legal method of take in Unit 73A general deer seasons.
Weather conditions during the hunting season can affect big game behavior and distribution—and thus, hunter success. Doing some scouting of potential hunting areas may give hunters an idea of animal distribution and behavior. Hunters can also use preseason scouting to check road and trail conditions, as well as make landowner contacts if they are planning to hunt on private property.
– Zach Lockyer, Regional Wildlife Manager
Elk
Elk numbers across the Upper Snake Region are at or above management objectives, and this fall should be a good time to be an elk hunter (if the weather cooperates).
Overall, the department has been able to increase hunting opportunities for elk across the region, most notably in the Island Park zone. Last winter’s survey found numbers well above objectives, prompting an increase in opportunity.
In the mountain valley areas (Beaverhead, Lemhi, and Pioneer zones), numbers appear mostly stable, and hunting should be similar to previous years, although weather conditions can change elk distribution on the landscape. Recent reductions in antlerless hunting opportunity in the Pioneer zone should continue to result in a slowly increasing population. In the Snake River Zone, management actions continue to aim at reducing elk numbers to address agricultural depredations.
Harvest opportunities were recently expanded in the zone, and while harvest was stable in 2023 and 2024, the impact of these changes should result in fewer elk on the landscape at some point and an associated reduction in harvest rates. The Palisades and Tex Creek zones generally remain within objectives, and hunter success should be similar to past years. The exception to this being antlered opportunity in Tex Creek, where bull numbers were above objective in the most recent survey, and harvest opportunities were expanded as a result.
Mule deer
Mule deer in the Upper Snake region have taken two different trajectories over the past decade as a result of severe winter conditions. Populations in the southeastern portion of the region (Palisades and Caribou zones) are still in recovery mode after several extreme winters (2022-23 being the most recent). However, the last two winters have been milder with improved survival rates, allowing populations to begin to rebound. With improved fawn recruitment following the severe winter, it is likely that mule deer abundance and hunter success will continue to improve during the coming hunting season when compared to recent years. However, deer abundance and harvest will remain far below the long-term average for these populations.
In contrast, the impact of severe winters in the northern part of the region (Island Park and Mountain Valley zones) has been less extreme. As a result, deer abundance in these areas has remained more stable. Similarly, the impact of severe winters on hunter harvest has been more short-term (one-year drops in harvest due to low fawn survival and yearling buck availability, but faster rebounds because adult deer were less impacted).
For example, harvest in Units 58, 59, and 59A during the 2024 harvest season approached levels experienced in 2015. Similarly, our staff flew the Island Park population survey during this past winter and observed dramatic increases in deer abundance when compared to the previous survey in 2020. These observations are supported by harvest data that suggest a growing population. Hunters in these areas should experience similar to slightly improved mule deer numbers and harvest opportunities compared to last fall.
White-tailed deer
While the harsh winter of 2022-23 also impacted white-tailed deer survival, the effect was less severe than on mule deer. During the 2023 hunting season, a minor decline in hunter success was observed, but regional white-tailed deer harvest returned to historic averages during the 2024 hunting season. White-tailed deer harvest in the Upper Snake region has been slowly increasing over the last 10 years.
Remember that for the first time this year, CWD sampling is mandatory for deer harvested in GMU 63A. Look for barrels and sampling supplies at boat ramps and at the Fish and Game regional office.
– Eric Freeman, Regional Wildlife Manager
Elk
Hunters should see good harvest opportunity again this season because most of the elk zones are either at or above objective. The region experienced an average winter with good survival rates. The summer has been hot and dry in the lower elevations with scattered moisture events occurring throughout the higher elevations.
The Salmon Zone remains within management objective, but has experienced a slight decline in elk numbers in portions of the zone. In response to reduced counts, the department has reduced cow harvest opportunities in some units. Those looking for bulls during the any-weapon season may experience less elk in the field than in years past.
Elk numbers in the Middle Fork Salmon River appear to be holding steady but will still be in low densities across the wilderness. Hunters in this low-density landscape are encouraged to use their optics and boots to cover as much ground as possible to locate small herds of elk and be successful in harvesting a bull.
Mule deer
Mule deer numbers are stable in those units west of the Salmon River and stable to slightly declining in those units east of the Salmon River. Wildlife managers are expecting an overall good general season this year.
The Salmon Region experienced an average winter, and overwinter deer survival was good across the region. The Salmon Region is managed under a primarily general season, buck-only structure. And although mule deer are common, the rugged terrain of the region typically leads to low to moderate hunter success rates. Mule deer can be found throughout the region, but densities tend to be highest in the western half of the region.
White-tailed deer
White-tailed deer have become common in the Salmon Region over the past several decades. A liberal general season offers opportunity to pursue them from August through December. Hunters should note that most whitetails are found on private property, and hunters are responsible for obtaining permission before entering private land to hunt. Although they may occasionally be found on public lands, access to consistent whitetail hunting is limited in this region.
What hunters should be aware of this fall
Although we have not seen any large forest fires in the region at the time of this release, hunters should be aware that wildfires are frequent in this landscape and may impact your hunt. Hunters are advised to check the Salmon-Challis National Forest and Salmon BLM websites or contact their offices if you have any questions or concerns regarding wildfires, access, or current campfire restrictions.
Happy hunting!
– Dennis Newman, Regional Wildlife Manager