- Plan one - Retain the Clearwater Deer Tag with current season and allow general deer tag holder to hunt either-sex deer during October and early November. Late season whitetail deer hunters would be required to have a Clearwater Deer Tag. The length of late season whitetail deer hunters could be adjusted to address some sportsmen's concerns for buck quality. Increased harvest on antlerless whitetail deer could be accomplished by increasing extra antlerless controlled hunt permits.
- Plan two - Eliminate the Clearwater Deer Tag. Allow general deer tag holders to hunt either-sex deer, but reduce season length in most units. Late season either-sex whitetail hunts in accessible units could be through an unlimited controlled hunt. Increasing extra antlerless controlled hunt permits and lengthening the season could accomplish increased harvest on antlerless deer.
- Plan three - Retain the Clearwater Deer Tag with current seasons and allow general deer tag holders to hunt either-sex deer during October and early November. Late season whitetail deer hunters would be required to have a Clearwater Deer Tag. Length of late season deer hunts could be adjusted to address some sportsmen's concerns for buck quality. Increased harvest on antlerless deer could be accomplished by allowing general deer tag holders to hunt antlerless deer until late November.
Clearwater White-Tailed Deer
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CLEARWATER - With white-tailed deer numbers on the rise and causing depredation problems in the northern part of the state, the Department of Fish and Game is looking for input from the public to help manage the problem.
In the past, the hunting pressure was so great from the southern part of Idaho the Fish and Game Commission implemented a Clearwater Region deer tag.
Whitetail deer seasons run much later than general season mule deer hunts, so hunters not filling their tags down south would head up north to extend their chances on taking an animal.
The plan worked well, lightening the hunting pressure and making it a quality hunt for area sportsmen. But now the whitetail population is growing to fast.
The Fish & Game has devised three different strategy plans to change the situation which will increase sportsmen opportunity as well as helping to control deer population.