Weiser Zone Elk
(GMUs 22, 32, 32A)
This information is to supplement the proposals for the 2017-2018 big game season. Please review the proposals and make your comments online.
Summary of Proposed Changes:
Remove several controlled antlerless elk hunts. Replace with general antlerless hunts on both the A and B tags. Add short-range restriction on early portion of the Weiser A tag, and amend hunt area boundary, to reduce conflicts with archers and clarify a confusing hunt area. Add Landowner Permission Hunt in January and February.
Reasons for Proposed Changes:
Weiser elk objectives call for 2100-3300 cow elk and 450-650 bull elk in the Weiser Zone. Surveys dating back to 2007 indicate elk populations are far above objectives. The large and growing elk population has led to an increase in private land depredations, particularly during late summer and winter.
Beginning in 2013, IDFG increased controlled hunt cow elk tags in the Weiser Zone units. In 2015 and 2016, there were more than 3500 controlled antlerless tags available in these units. Harvest success has been between 24% and 29%, with just under 1000 elk harvested in 2015. Despite this, depredations have continued to increase.
On average, about 1550 people hunt the Weiser A-Tag elk hunt. Another 4000 hunt the Weiser B-Tag hunt. With harvest rates of approximately 26%, we would expect about 400 cow elk to be harvested on the A-Tag and another 1050 to be harvested on the B-Tag. Total elk harvest should therefore increase by about 500 per year above current levels. This should be sufficient to stop the growth, and perhaps slightly reduce, this elk population, therefore moving the population towards objectives.