Hunting Options In Idaho Expanded

As Idaho’s hunting season gets into high gear this weekend, hunters are finding expanded opportunity in most directions.

Hunting units 3 and 5, which previously closed to elk hunting 10 days prior to surrounding units, now has an extended season.

With the exception of Unit 1, the Panhandle general elk season runs through Nov. 3. This change is the result of increasing elk populations in units 3 and 5. Unit 1 retains the shorter season, with cow season closing Oct. 21 and bull hunting closing Oct. 24.

However, the part of Unit 1 open to hunting of cow elk has been expanded westward to Deep Creek because of crop damage complaints.

About 75 percent of the 15,000 deer taken in the Panhandle are whitetails. A dearth of snow caused hunter success to drop nearly 25 percent last season. That should mean more bucks in the field this year in a season that spans nearly two months, from early October to Dec. 1.

While only 18 percent of North Idaho’s elk hunters fill their tag, about half of the hunters bag their deer.

Bear populations are growing, Idaho Fish and Game Department biologists report. Hunters have a split season in Panhandle units. Bear hunting is closed Sept. 30-Oct. 15 to reduce the number of bears taken incidentally to the opening of elk season. Biologists say this is necessary to prevent overharvesting bears.

Cougar season has been extended this year to help counter a growing cougar population.

The waiting period for using a bear or lion tag has been reduced from four days following purchase to two days.

Bobcat season has been doubled in length, reflecting increases in bobcat numbers, officials said.

, DataTimes