Details for chronic wasting disease surveillance hunt in portion of Unit 1 in the Panhandle Region

Following news of the first confirmed case of chronic wasting disease in the Panhandle Region, the Idaho Fish and Game Commission met on Aug. 15 and approved a surveillance hunt in a portion of game management unit 1. The intent of the surveillance hunt is to determine the initial prevalence and geographic distribution of CWD in the area, not to reduce deer numbers.

In response to the Commission’s decision, Idaho Fish and Game will conduct a surveillance hunt from Aug. 24 to Sept. 1. Stipulations for participating are different from those of general and controlled hunts in Idaho.

Purchasing a tag

A total of 300 tags will be sold only in Bonners Ferry at the public overflow boat parking lot directly south of the Boundary County Search and Dive Rescue boat launch (6821 Riverside Street, 83805) on Thursday, Aug. 22 from 5:30-8:00 p.m. PDT. Tags will be sold on a first-come, first-served basis at a discounted rate of $10 each (all fees included, exact change required), cash or check payment only. Each tag is valid for either sex of white-tailed deer, and they are only available to Idaho residents. 

Tags may only be purchased by eligible hunters on-site, plus for their spouse or dependent children. Folks cannot purchase tags for friends. Those wishing to purchase a tag must have and present a valid Idaho hunting license at the time of purchase. Hunting licenses will not be available for purchase at the tag sale location in Bonners Ferry.

Any remaining, unsold tags will go on sale only at the Panhandle Regional office on Friday, Aug. 23 starting at 8 a.m. PDT, again on a first-come, first-served basis. Upon purchase and issuance of a tag, hunters will receive an informational packet and briefing from Fish and Game staff on-site.

Purchase of a surveillance hunt tag does not affect a hunter’s ability to participate in any other big game hunts in 2024 or future years.

Hunt boundaries

The hunt will occur in a small portion of hunting unit 1 (see map below). The same map will be issued to all tag holders at the time of tag purchase.

The hunt area is defined as:

“That portion of Game Management Unit 1 beginning at the intersection of U.S. Highway 95 and the Kootenai River, east along the Kootenai River (including islands within the Kootenai River) to the mouth of the Moyie River, north along the Moyie River to Meadow Creek Road (Road #34), west along Meadow Creek Road to its junction with Bethlehem Road (Road #2547), north on Bethlehem Road to its junction with Camp Nine Road (Road #397), west and south along Camp Nine Road to its junction with Giles Connection (Road #2494), north along Giles Connection to its intersection with Rock Creek, west along Rock Creek to its confluence with the Kootenai River, then south and east along the Kootenai River (including islands within the Kootenai River) to its intersection with U.S. Highway 95.”

All participating hunters are required to only hunt within the defined boundaries of the hunt area.

Sampling requirements for CWD

Upon successful harvest, participating hunters are required to have their deer sampled for CWD by Fish and Game within 24 hours. Fish and Game will run a mandatory sampling site Aug. 24 to Sept. 2 from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the public overflow boat parking lot directly south of the Boundary County Search and Dive Rescue boat launch (6821 Riverside Street, 83805). 

All hunters are encouraged to quarter their deer in the field, leaving the spinal column at the harvest location and only retrieving the meat and head for mandatory disease sampling. Fish and Game will contact the hunter if the deer they harvest tests positive for CWD.

Community Chats

Fish and Game recognizes the news of CWD in hunting unit 1 along with the surveillance hunt has likely generated questions, concerns and perhaps confusion among people who live, hunt and recreate in the Bonners Ferry area. We’re in this together, and Fish and Game is committed to remaining present, accessible and transparent throughout this new challenge. 

To those ends, Fish and Game will be hosting a weekly "Community Chat" in Bonners Ferry that will follow an open house format. Folks can stop by and talk with our staff to hear updates, gain a better understanding, ask questions or voice concerns relative to CWD.

“Fish and Game will be there for the community the whole way. From sharing updates at every step along the way to working with folks to remove the question marks around what this detection means and how it can affect hunters, we’re going to be there for you,” said Carson Watkins, Panhandle Regional Supervisor.

Community chats will be held Tuesday evenings from 6-8 p.m. at the U.S. Forest Service Bonners Ferry Ranger Station (6286 Main St, 83805) beginning Aug. 20.

For more information or if you have questions, please contact the Panhandle Regional office.

You can also follow the Panhandle Region Facebook page to get regular news and updates.