Hunting Prospects Positive in Panhandle

Of the 8,000 square miles in the Idaho Panhandle, 85 percent is forestland. Over half of the land area is publicly owned. With so much forested area and large blocks of land open to public hunting, the Panhandle is a big game hunter's paradise. The dense vegetation provides high security and escape cover and limits hunter success rates, enabling long and liberal hunting seasons to be offered. Hunters can rifle hunt in general hunts for mule deer and white-tailed bucks as well as white-tail doe continuously in Panhandle units from October 10 through December 1, provided they are willing to move around to open hunt units. Elk rifle hunting opportunities run from October 10 through November 3 in much of the Panhandle with a portion of the season open for both bulls and cows. As a result of such long and liberal seasons for both deer and elk, no special youth big game hunts are offered in the Panhandle. Whitetails make up over 80 percent of the Panhandle deer harvest. Despite low productivity soil types, many trophy-class bucks are taken annually. The heavy cover provides high escapement allowing Panhandle deer to live long and grow big racks. A high percentage of the harvested whitetail bucks and mule deer bucks taken in the Panhandle sport four or more points on each side. The most significant limiting factor on deer populations in the Panhandle is winter mortality. The last nine winters were exceptionally mild. Deer survival through these winters was well above normal, and deer populations are much higher than the long-term average. Many trophy bucks have reached old age and are available to Panhandle Region hunters this season. Hunters may not harvest doe mule deer in Panhandle units. Mule deer with at least one antler longer than three inches may be taken by hunters holding a regular deer tag. Antlers must accompany the carcass of a mule deer while in transit. Hunters are permitted to harvest whitetail does in the Panhandle. As a result, hunters must leave the fully haired tail attached to all doe deer harvested in the Panhandle. Evidence of sex must be retained on all harvested big game animals until the carcass reaches the final place of storage or consumption. For black bears and mountain lions, external evidence of sex must be retained until the mandatory check requirement has been met. For specific details, see the 2006 Idaho Big Game Season brochure. Hunters should be aware of two misprints in the 2006 Big Game brochure in the white-tailed deer general archery season table. Due to a printing copy error, units 3, 4 and 4A were omitted. Early archery season for holders of white-tailed deer tags runs from August 30-September 30 in all Panhandle Region units. Panhandle big game hunters focus much of their attention on elk. Strong elk herds in the region and low vulnerability to hunting due to dense cover allow for general hunting in all units for both bulls and cows. Elk in the Panhandle can live long lives by using the thick cover and resultant low visibility to evade hunters. Of the bulls taken in the Panhandle, 27 percent have six or more points on at least one side. Panhandle Elk are surveyed every one- to two-years in the Panhandle Elk Trend Area, which includes the majority of elk in Units 4, 6, and 7. In February of 2006, aerial surveys showed calf recruitment remained high at over 40 calves per 100 cows. Biologists recorded 34.5 bulls per 100 cows, en excellent bull/cow ratio. In 2004, bulls numbered 24.6 per 100 cows. Elk numbers will provide outstanding elk hunting this season. Hunters should note that the big game brochure incorrectly omitted unit 4A from the Panhandle Zone any weapon season list, however the unit is open Oct 10- Nov 3. Almost a third of the state's black bear harvest occurs in the Panhandle. The Priest Lake area holds the highest black bear densities in the state. The fall bear season in the Panhandle is expected to be a good one. Although bear numbers are down from levels in the mid 1990s, most populations remain healthy. In the past two weeks, I have hiked over 100 miles to plant fish in alpine lakes. I have observed some areas with bumper crops of huckleberries (ex. Hidden Lake), and other areas where the berries all dried up and there are no berries at all (ex. Caribou Lake, Standard Lake). The berry supply for bears is very spotty, and bears may be traveling a great deal to locate berries. When this happens, there are more bear sightings and a higher bear hunting success rate. In addition to high bear harvest, the Panhandle also provides almost a third of the state lion harvest. Lion numbers grew rapidly during the early 1990s, and lion hunting was particularly good. Lion numbers began declining in 1998 are now at reduced levels. Lion hunters can expect it to be more difficult to find a lion this year than the past few years. Many prime duck production areas of Canada had reasonably good nesting success, but production was not outstanding. Duck hunting should be best early during the harvest of locally produced ducks, with late duck hunting only average. Individual storms can bring good duck hunting even in poor years, so hunters should pay special attention to the weatherman this year. Goose populations remain good, and goose hunters should again have a good season. Fall populations of upland birds are mostly dependent upon brood survival. It was a very wet and cool spring; so pheasant brood survival was likely below average. Ruffed and blue grouse nesting conditions were also undesirable and chick survival was probably lower than last year. IDFG does not do grouse or pheasant population surveys in the Panhandle. Therefore the fall hunting forecast for these species is merely intuitive and anecdotal. Quail nest a little later, and quail are being sighted in areas where they have long been absent. With quail often utilizing low elevation habitats on private land, hunters are reminded to secure permission from landowners prior to hunting on private property. Spring turkey hunting was good, implying turkey hunters should find good fall populations as well. Turkeys are persistent re-nesters, so spring weather is not as much of a factor in fall populations. All in all, Panhandle hunters should have very good opportunities to fill the freezer with delicious and healthy game meat this fall. Here's to an enjoyable and safe hunting season in the Idaho Panhandle. Do your part to eliminate accidents by utilizing safe and ethical hunting methods. Wearing orange may not be the law, but it is an important way to help ensure your outing will be a safe one.