Skip to main content
idfg-badge

Idaho Fish and Game

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.

Panhandle Zone (Units 1, 2, 3, 4, 4A, 5, 6, 7, 9)

 

September

October

November

December

A Tag

Archery only â€” 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 
Nov 15 - Dec 1

Muzzleloader only â€” antlerless only
Within 1 mile of private land in the following Units: 1, 2, 3, 4A & 5 only
See Note B below
Dec 2 - Dec 8

Archery only â€” any elk

Within 1 mile of private land in the following Units: 1, 2, 3, 4,  4A, 5 & 6 only See Notes A & B below

Sep 15 - Sep 21

See archers caution Page 36

Archery only â€” 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 â€” antlerless only
Within 1 mile of private land in the following Units: 1, 2, 3, 4A & 5 only See Note B below
Dec 2 - Dec 8

Any weapon â€” any elk
Within 1 mile of private land in the following Units: 1, 2, 3, 4, 4A, 5 & 6 only
See Notes A & B below
Oct 15 - Oct 17

Note A

That portion of Unit 4 within the following boundary: starting at the junction of State Highway 97 and State Highway 3 near Harrison, then north on  State Highway 3  to Interstate 90, then East on Interstate 90 to Kingston, then north and east on Forest Service Road 9 (CDA River Road) to the Montana border, and then follow the Unit 4 boundary south and west to the point of beginning.

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

      
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