Panhandle Zone (Units 1, 2, 3, 4, 4A, 5, 6, 7, 9) | |||||
| September | October | November | December | |
A Tag | Archery only — antlered only Aug 30- Sep 30 See archers caution Page 36 | Any weapon — antlered only Oct 25 - Oct 29 | Muzzleloader only — antlered only Units 4, 7 & 9 only | Muzzleloader only — antlerless only | |
Archery only — any elk Within 1 mile of private land in the following Units: 1, 2, 3, Sep 15 - Sep 21 See archers caution Page 36 | Archery only — antlered only Dec 10 - Dec 16 | ||||
B Tag | Archery only — antlered only Sep 6 - Sep 12 See archers caution Page 36 | Any weapon — antlered only Oct 10 - Oct 24 |
| Muzzleloader only — antlerless only | |
Any weapon — any elk | |||||
|
| ||||
Note B | That portion of Unit 4A within the following boundary: starting at the mouth of the Clark Fork River, follow Johnson Creek FS Road 278, then south on FS Road 1066, then east on FS Road 332 to the Montana border, and follow Montana border north back to the Clark Fork River, then to the point of beginning. | ||||
Proposed Change(s) | Remove Unit 4 from the general antlerless hunt on both A and B tags | ||||
Panhandle Region
Elk
Overview Summary and Rationale
Current levels of cow harvest are likely causing declines in the Silver Valley elk herds. The antlerless season was returned to the general A and B tags in 2017 with the expectation that 80-100 cows would be harvested. Over the last 5 years, harvest has averaged 235 cows, which is as many as were harvested in all of Unit 4 when cow seasons were open in the entire Unit. The January 2023 aerial survey resulted in fewer elk seen in most subunits flown compared to past surveys. Mid-winter calf ratios of 31 are not sufficient to produce a stable elk herd when annual cow survival is 89% not including hunting mortality.
Activities
Hunting
Species
Elk
GMU
GMU: 1
GMU: 2
GMU: 3
GMU: 4
GMU: 4A
GMU: 5
GMU: 6
GMU: 7
GMU: 9
Tag Category
General Hunt