Mandatory checks for bears, mountain lions and moose are an important tool Idaho Fish and Game uses to understand and manage those species. The Fish and Game Panhandle Regional Office is open Monday-Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and staff are ready and available to conduct mandatory checks during those hours of operation.
Fish and Game also understands that there are times when a visit to a regional office isn’t an option due to proximity or timing.
Please note that all moose must be checked in at a Fish and Game Regional Office or checked by a Fish and Game Conservation Officer within ten days of harvest. This is a mandatory requirement to allow Fish and Game staff to collect samples and other information that is critical for moose management in Idaho.
Below is a list of businesses authorized to conduct mandatory checks of bears, moose and mountain lions in the Panhandle. These businesses may offer business hours on weekends or otherwise outside of our operating hours, although that is up to the specific business.
- Avery:
- Bonners Ferry:
- Clark Fork:
- Oldtown:
- Ponderay:
- Prichard:
- Priest Lake:
- St. Maries:
- Wallace:
Many taxidermists in the Panhandle are also able to check bears and mountain lions, but hunters will need to contact them to determine their availability and hours of operation.
Please do not call the Citizens Against Poaching Hotline or other law enforcement agencies to locate an available checkpoint. These lines are specific to the reporting of wildlife and other crimes, respectively.
Please contact the Panhandle Regional office at (208) 769-1414 if you have any questions about the mandatory check process for bears, mountain lions or moose.
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