Public lands open millions of acres to hunting

The Inland Northwest has a wealth of public lands, most of which are open to hunting.

Idaho is 64 percent publicly owned, with the U.S. Forest Service the major landholder in the north half of the state while the U.S. Bureau of Land Management dominates public land in the south half.

Each state and federal agency has different recreation management plans. Some restrictions may apply, including seasonal closures and limits on motorized vehicle access.

Following are contacts that can lead to a lifetime of hunting opportunities.

National Forests are among the most popular haunts of hunters pursuing everything from forest grouse to bear, cougars, deer, elk and moose. National Forest maps, available at forest offices or Northwest Map and Travel Center in Spokane, (509) 455-6981, should be in every hunter’s rig.

Key headquarters in this region include:

“Clearwater National Forest (1.8 million acres) in Orofino, (208) 476-4541.

“Colville National Forest (1.1 million acres) in Colville, (509) 684-7000.

“Kootenai National Forest (2.2 million acres) in Libby, (406) 293-6211.

“Lolo National Forest (2 million acres) in Missoula, (406) 329-3750.

“Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forests (4.1 million acres) in Wenatchee, (509) 664-9200.

“Panhandle National Forests (2.5 million acres) in Coeur d’Alene, (208) 765-7223.

“Umatilla National Forest (1.4 million acres), Pomeroy District, (509) 843-1891.

Wildlife Recreation Areas totaling about 800,000 acres are managed by the Washington Fish and Wildlife Department in 65 wildlife areas – 46 of which are east of the Cascades. About 26 of the areas are geared specifically to waterfowl, mostly in the Columbia Basin. Big-game habitat is the emphasis on 25 areas.

Info: WDFW Spokane Region office, (509) 892-1001; or online wdfw.wa.gov.

Wildlife Management Areas totaling 375,000 acres are managed by the Idaho Fish and Game Department in 32 units, ranging from as small as 300 acres to the superior hunting opportunities at the 78,000-acre Craig Mountain Wildlife Area a the confluence of the Snake and Salmon rivers. Considering the other public lands around Craig Mountain, the area offers a 120,000-acre haven for hunters.

Info: Idaho Fish and Game, Coeur d’Alene Region office, (208) 769-1414 or online at http://fishandgame.idaho.gov/ cms/wildlife/wma.

Idaho Department of Lands manages nearly 2.5 million acres in Idaho, including 780,000 acres of commercial timberland.

Info: IDL Coolin Office, (208) 443-2516.

Washington DNR (Department of Natural Resources) manages more than 5 million acres ranging from Eastern Washington scablands to timberlands sweeping up the east side of the Cascades and throughout Western Washington:

“Colville Region office, (509) 685-2701.

“Ellensburg Region office, (509-925-8510.

National wildlife refuges often offer hunting opportunities. The entire 40,000-acre Little Pend Oreille Refuge, (509) 684-8384, east of Colville was opened to hunting in 2005.

Other refuge’s to check out, especially for waterfowl:

“Columbia National Wildlife Refuge, Othello, (509) 488-2668.

“Kootenai National Wildlife Refuge, Bonners Ferry, (208) 267-3888.

Bureau of Land Management, since 1991, has consolidated about 75,000 acres of public land in nine large blocks.

Info: BLM Spokane District Office, 1103 N. Fancher Rd., (509) 536-1200.

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers manages 20,000 of wildlife habitat land that’s open to hunting in southeastern Washington. Updated maps are available.

Info: (509) 543-3200 or e-mail albert.f.sutlick@ usace.army.mil.