When Fish and Game biologists predicted hunting would be similar to last year, they probably didn't realize how accurate that might be based on opening weekend results from the St. Maries check station.
A total of 360 hunters came through the check station, who had taken 23 deer and elk.
Last year's total for opening weekend was 369 hunters taking 24 deer and elk.
Things were different at the Enaville check station, where the number of hunters fell by nearly half with 668 coming through opening weekend last year and 361 coming through this year. The harvest was also down by nearly half, from 35 deer and elk to 19, but in another note in consistency, the success rate was almost identical to last opening weekend (5.24 percent vs. 5.26 percent).
Check stations provide a snap shot of what hunting was like in the early season, but there's lots more deer and elk hunting available in the Panhandle this fall, and elsewhere in Idaho. October and November are the peak season for deer and elk, and hunters are expecting similar hunting success to 2017, which was an outstanding year for whitetails and elk, but down from previous years for mule deer.
Hunters are required to stop at check stations, and you here's more information about why check stations are valuable for gathering data on wildlife and hunter satisfaction.