Panhandle comeback complete

North Idaho’s forests will echo with the report of rifles in October as hunters try to fill their freezers with elk meat.

And the odds of tagging an elk are the best in years.

Panhandle elk herds were in good shape last year, and they are in excellent shape this fall, biologists say. A combination of several mild winters with this year’s wet spring to green up the range and boost calf survival have virtually completed the comeback of elk herds hit hard by winterkill in 1996-1997s.

Biologists are pleased with the range of bulls in the region’s herds, from spikes to trophy seven-pointers.

One big change to note: Opening day for the major B-tag general bull seasons is Oct. 9, which is a Saturday, not a Sunday. That opener is followed by the start of a five-day “any elk” season starting Oct. 15. The Panhandle zone remains one of the few regions in the nation that allows either-sex elk hunting during a portion of the general season for general tag holders, although Montana is allowing either-sex hunting in a few areas starting this fall.

Archers have been hunting elk since Aug. 30. Back-country units 16A, 17, 19 and 20 open earlier than units that can be reached easily by vehicles. A-tag archers will hunt bulls Oct. 1 though Oct. 31. B-tag holders start hunting Sept. 15; their season ends Sept. 30.

John Nelson, Idaho Fish and Game Department wildlife technician in Lewiston, expects hunters to exceed last year’s harvest of 2,700 elk in the Clearwater region.

Late-summer rain storms have dampened the ground and cover, making it easy for hunters to move around without making a lot of noise.

Top areas include the Coeur d’Alene River drainage and units along the Clearwater and St. Joe Rivers.

New this year, hunters are not required to drive to check stations and have their elk checked. However, hunters still must file the mandatory reports.

(Correspondent Fenton Roskelley contributed to this story.)