The Fish and Game Commission set the 2017 and 2018 big game seasons at their March meeting. The hunting regulations are now available online at https://idfg.idaho.gov/rules/big-game. The brochure, which contains seasons and rules for deer, elk, pronghorn, black bear, mountain lion and gray wolf, is in the printing process and will be available at license vendors and Fish and Game offices around April 24.
In the Panhandle we are offering either-sex hunting opportunity (often called the cow season) on the general tag for the first time since 2011. There are 7 days of either-sex archery elk hunting on the A-tag and 3 days of either-sex elk hunting with any weapon on the B-tag.
In addition, there is a 7-day antlerless-only muzzleloader hunt on both the A and B tags in December within 1 mile of private land in Units 1, 2, 3, 4A, and 5.
The area that is open for cows in the 2017 and 2018 seasons is limited. The regulations state you can hunt “Within 1 mile of private land” in all of Units 1, 2, 3, 4A, 5, and 6 in September (archery A-tag) and October (any weapon B-tag).
Also, you can hunt cows in only a portion of Unit 4. It includes all of Unit 4 south of Interstate 90 plus that part of Unit 4 south of Forest Service Road 9. Forest Road 9 is the road that starts at the Kingston Exit, goes past The Snake Pit, upstream to Babins Junction, past Murray, and on to Thompson Pass. So as long as you are south of the road that goes to Murray and Thompson Pass you can shoot a cow during the either-sex season. Please see the map below. It doesn't show great detail, but the black line through the middle of the map is Interstate 90.
The statement “Within 1 mile of private land” is causing some confusion. Briefly, as long as you are on private land or on any land within 1 mile of private land it is legal to shoot an antlerless elk during the either-sex season. Corporate timber land is private land; Forest Service, State, and BLM land are not considered private land. The map at the end of the article is a coarse representation of the land that is available to hunt under this definition.
So, can you hunt cows on private land during the either-sex portion of the season? Yes, as long as you have permission to hunt there. Can you hunt on Forest Service, State, or BLM land? Yes, but only if it’s within 1 mile of private land. Remember that corporate timber land is considered private land.
Idaho Fish and Game is excited to offer either-sex elk hunting opportunity in the Panhandle. The cow season for the next 2 years doesn’t include all of the Panhandle Zone. Hopefully we are moving in that direction. Good luck with hunting this year, and as always, respect private land and be safe out there.
