Frequently Asked Questions

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The grizzly bear portion of your questions is timely and I can give you a pretty good answer. There was a large-scale effort to estimate grizzly bear numbers in the Cabinet Mountains that just ended last year. The sampling was comprised of collecting hair from grizzly bears from baited barbed-wire enclosures, then using the DNA from hair to identify individual grizzly bears. After an analysis of the year's sampling, the best population estimate of grizzly bears in the Cabinet Mountains is 22 bears, about equally split between males and females. The population could be as high as 39, but the best estimate is 22 bears. But keep in mind that this estimate is for the whole Cabinets that runs all the way down to the Plains and Thompson Falls area in Montana. The number of grizzly bears in the Idaho portion of the Cabinets is perhaps in the range of 10 bears, but grizzly bears do move quite a bit and some of these likely spend time in Montana and Idaho. The black bear portion is much harder to answer because we haven't done the in-depth research on black bears that we have on grizzly bears. Density estimates for black bears in this area ranges from about 0.5 bears per square mile to 1.0 bear per square mile. The high estimate is based on very good quality habitat in the Priest Lake basin. The lower estimate is based on some trapping we have done in the St Joe, an area that isn't quite as productive from a bear standpoint. My guess is that the bear density lies somewhere between these two figures - perhaps in the range of .6 - .7 bears per sq mile. The area that you are talking about is perhaps 150 sq miles in size, so the area could support somewhere around 100 black bears, give or take. Please realize that this is a pretty rough estimate. I hope this answers your question.

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The 2014 Big Game Rules are posted on our website.  From our front page you can find the link in the "Features" box on the left side of the home page.  Please try the link in that box instead of the link you list in your question details.

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The rules pertaining to land-locked Chinook Salmon as well as Deadwood Reservoir and tributaries are found on page 22-23 of the rules brochure.  For IDFG regulation purposes, land-locked Chinook Salmon are considered "trout".  You do not need a salmon permit to fish for or harvest them.  Land-locked Chinook are counted in your "trout" limit. So if you didn't harvest any other "trout" species, you could harvest up to 6 Chinook per day at Deadwood Reservoir. I remind you that "trout" bag and possession limits for Deadwood Reservoir are equal (i.e. you could never exceed 6 Chinook in possession regardless of the number of days fished). Please note on page 23 that the Deadwood Reservoir tributaries limit is only two "trout".  

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Unprotected nongame fish (including carp) may be used as bait for black bear.  Unprotected nongame fish include all those species not classified as game fish (http://adminrules.idaho.gov/rules/current/13/0106.pdf).  

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Basically, you only have to replace the items you need to (and want to). Before July the deer and elk tags have not been designated yet; when you decide the specific zone or type of tag you want you can go to any vendor to get a deer or elk tag.  All vendors can issue these along with salmon and steelhead permits and the actual hunting/fishing license portion of the sportsman's license. All the rest of the tags can be duplicated, but only through an IDFG office.  This includes bear, mountain lion and wolf and turkey tags. After the deer and elk tag receipts have been redeemed, you must get duplicates at an IDFG office also. Each duplicate costs $7.25, no matter where you get it.

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Usually only rainbow trout from an Idaho Commercial grower.

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If your second choice is NOT an unlimited hunt, you will only be considered for it if there are some permits left after all applicants who chose the hunt as a first choice are drawn. If your second choice IS an unlimited hunt, you will GET the unlimited hunt if you didn't get your first choice.  

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This would be a good question for your tax professional.

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The use of rim-fire cartridges is prohibited for hunting big game in Idaho.  There are no other restrictions including you are allowed to use 223 caliber rifles.  We do recommend hunters use well constructed bullets with enough energy at impact to make a clean kill.  Depending on the bullet weight, powder charge, distance, and bullet placement; a 223 may or may not result in a clean kill.

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We will have the Huntplanner updated on or before April 15th, the same day the printed regulations are anticipated to arrive.

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You can still apply for more than one species during the May 1-June 5 application period so yes, you can apply for deer and elk and pronghorn in the same year if you want to. Going by previous year's sales, it is most likely that there will be some nonresident deer and elk tags available for sale to hunters for use as a second tag in August.  Some capped elk zones  might not be available then, elk tags for most of the state will be available.  

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Well, the open hunts in this case are actually ALL hunts as put together by Fish and Game...general season hunts and controlled hunts.  For example, if you are drawn for the superhunt elk tag, you can hunt in any general season elk hunt and any controlled elk hunt.  You must abide by the rules we set for each hunt such as gender, weapon used and season dates as we set them.