It seems to me that with elk numbers across most of northern Idaho down IDFG would reduce permits, but they have done the exact opposite and have reduced the cost of the second tag. Why would you do that? Other than a way to increase short term revenue, and further decrease an already small elk population. Then I was reading how great Idaho is because they have OTC elk permits. That's great but what fun is hunting elk OTC when there are no elk to hunt. I would rather draw a tag and have a phenomenal hunt every few years than spend $500+ license and tag fees and not see 1 elk in 2 weeks of hard hunting. I am a non-resident who has hunted Idaho elk for a couple of years, and unless things change in they way you are managing your elk myself, my family, and friends will be taking our money and time to other more productive elk hunting states.
Answer:
Elk populations in northern Idaho are mixed - too few in some areas and too many in others. Perhaps the most important factor in managing an elk herd is management of cow and calf (antlerless) elk. Where elk herds have declined, Idaho Fish and Game has eliminated anterless elk hunting completely. Monitoring has show that too few calves are surviving to replace the cows lost each year, resulting in a declining population. The current survival rate of cows in the Panhandle is 90%. This was based on 58 adult cows in both the St. Joe and Coeur d'Alene River drainages, so cow survival seems to be holding up. Our primary concern is calf survival. Bull elk survival is of concern, not because hunters are taking to many, but because too few calves are survivng their first year. While success rates have indeed dropped, the number of hunters pursuing elk has not been shown to be a driving factor.
Answered on:
Friday, December 5, 2014 - 10:45 AM MST