With a little help from the weather and plenty of hunters in the woods, there’s no reason the 2020 whitetails harvest can’t bounce right back to around the 10-year average of 24,568 white-tailed deer. The Idaho Hunt Planner provides all information the hunter needs for a successful Idaho hunt: regulations, seasons, drawing odds, harvest statistics, and hunt boundaries in one location. Hunters should also note Potlatch Deltic requires special permits for camping and ATV use on its lands. Mule Deer: The region is at objectives, but there was pretty good fawn survival last winter, and there are probably going to be a lot of yearlings in the deer herds this year. Biologists have seen an increase in large wildfires in portions of the Clearwater, which historically has benefited elk herds, so they’re hopeful they could see improved forage for elk and a corresponding increase in elk herds. Elk hunters should have plenty of elk to chase, and one of things that is going to dictate the success of elk hunters is the weather. Biologists surveyed the Diamond Creek Zone in 2018 and the population estimate was dramatically higher than the previous survey in 2013, and the bull:cow:calf ratio indicates that it is still a stable to increasing population. When you consider that about 80 percent of the mule deer in Idaho’s herds are between 1 and 3 years old, and take a look at the winter fawn survival numbers for the few years leading up to 2019, the dip in harvest was likely inevitable. All things considered, it will likely to be a good year for mule deer hunters — although they shouldn’t expect any harvest records to be broken in 2020. “While it was above average, the overwinter survival of this year’s crop of fawns is not going to make up for the poor survival we saw in 2016-17 and 2018-19 in one fell swoop, particularly in those areas that were hit hardest in those years,” Ward said. Elk: Elk herds are stable in most of the region, and hunters will also see similar hunting to recent years, but there’s some signs of growing herds in the Selway and Lolo elk zones, but modest growth. Second, Fish and Game offers long seasons, generous either-sex hunting opportunities, and unlimited general season tags for residents. Fawn survival over this past winter was about even with the 10-year average, and biologists are now seeing that herds have absorbed the effects of the winter of 2016-17, which is partly due to the fact that fawn survival over the past couple winters has been decent. Be the first to hear about our latest news and events. The Bear River Elk Zone was last flown in 2017, and was up by about 40 percent from the last survey in 2010. Not exactly because some of those elk still cause damage to agriculture operations, so Fish and Game is offering generous antlerless hunting opportunities. The Pioneer Fire is just getting to the place now where it just cranking out deer and elk food, so it’s worth mentioning that elk and deer are continuing to move back into the area and hunting should continue to improve this year, particularly in areas near the edge of the burn where good cover remains. As a result they are doing well across the region as evidenced by recent aerial surveys conducted the past few years. Watch videos, see the latest gear and more. So far, there’s no sign of an EHD or blue tongue outbreak, which are two diseases that can hit in late summer and kill lots of whitetails right before hunting season. There are no upcoming events at this time. Deer: Herds appear in good shape due to a mild winter with mixed snow depths and much of it coming later in winter. What hunters should be aware of for the fall: Managers are making some changes to the collection techniques and the locations where we Fish and Game is monitoring for Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD). Biologists surveyed the area in 2010 and again last winter and saw about 30 percent fewer deer. First, Idaho’s whitetails are abundant and resilient, which means there’s a steady population of animals available to hunt. @import url(https://agri.idaho.gov/main/wp-content/plugins/siteorigin-panels/css/front-flex.css); #pgc-9422-0-0 { width:27.6339%;width:calc(27.6339% - ( 0.723661106234 * 30px ) ) } #pgc-9422-0-1 { width:72.3661%;width:calc(72.3661% - ( 0.276338893766 * 30px ) ) } #pl-9422 .so-panel , #pl-9422 .so-panel:last-child { margin-bottom:0px } #pg-9422-0.panel-no-style, #pg-9422-0.panel-has-style > .panel-row-style { -webkit-align-items:flex-start;align-items:flex-start } #panel-9422-0-0-0> .panel-widget-style { max-height: 300px } #panel-9422-0-1-0> .panel-widget-style { padding:0px 0px 0px 0px;padding-top: 30px;max-height: 300px } @media (max-width:780px){ #pg-9422-0.panel-no-style, #pg-9422-0.panel-has-style > .panel-row-style { -webkit-flex-direction:column;-ms-flex-direction:column;flex-direction:column } #pg-9422-0 .panel-grid-cell { margin-right:0 } #pg-9422-0 .panel-grid-cell { width:100% } #pgc-9422-0-0 , #pl-9422 .panel-grid .panel-grid-cell-mobile-last { margin-bottom:0px } #pl-9422 .panel-grid-cell { padding:0 } #pl-9422 .panel-grid .panel-grid-cell-empty { display:none } }. The Idaho Hunt Planner provides all information the hunter needs for a successful Idaho hunt: regulations, seasons, drawing odds, harvest statistics, and hunt boundaries in one location. Together, agriculture and food processing generate 28% of Idaho’s total economic output in sales and 13% of GDP. During 2019-20 winter, Fish and Game managers monitored 704 radio collared elk in various parts of the state. Based on that, hunters can expect to find plenty of white-tailed deer in the Clearwater Region and hunting very similar to recent years. Elk: Elk numbers in the Panhandle also remain strong with Units 1 and 4 being among the top elk units in the state, ranking fourth and third in 2019, and Panhandle units accounted for half of the top 10 elk units in the state with the Units 3, 6 and 5 joining Units 1 and 4. But over the years, that proportion has shifted and whitetails now represent nearly half of the statewide deer harvest, despite 90 percent of whitetail harvest coming out of just two regions: the Panhandle and Clearwater. That’s particularly true the eastern portion of the region, which is basically missing an entire age class of animals because of extremely low survival in the 2016-17 winter, and had a couple years of below-average survival since then. The Idaho Hunt Planner provides all information the hunter needs for a successful Idaho hunt: regulations, seasons, drawing odds, harvest statistics, and hunt boundaries in one location. Elk zones west of U.S. 93 (Salmon, Middle Fork) are at or near objectives. Below is a news release from the Idaho Department of Fish and Game. The good news for Idaho mule deer hunters is that the statewide fawn survival data from last winter paints a brighter picture for 2020. “Harsh winters tend to have more of an effect on mule deer than they do on elk. Hunters took 21,540 whitetails in 2019 and had a 38 percent success rate. Anyone else wondering why it's May 2nd, and the info from 2011 still hasn't been posted? Herds in the region are not back to where they were prior to the 2016-17 winter, when things were really, really good. The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation maintains that state agencies should manage wolves just […]. About 63 percent of radio collared fawns survived last winter, which is the highest number in four years and above the 20-year average of 57 percent. It should be noted that fawn survival was not consistent throughout the state, so some areas were closer to average, and a few fell below. There’s a bit of irony when it comes to Idaho’s whitetail hunting. The Idaho Hunt Planner provides all information the hunter needs for a successful Idaho hunt: regulations, seasons, drawing odds, harvest statistics, and hunt boundaries in one location. Hopefully it will cool and hunters will have some better conditions to hunt elk in. Because hunts in the Salmon Region are primarily general season opportunities, we’ve seen a steady increase in deer and elk hunters of the last four to five years. Biologists continue to monitor cow and calf elk via radio collars to see how well the animals are surviving, or what’s killing them. Check out our brochure for more information. As elk populations have redistributed and continue to grow in these “front country” areas, in some cases pushing the boundaries of social tolerance, it has presented wildlife managers with unique challenges. However, biologists are trying to learn more about Idaho’s whitetail populations and what drives them, as well as what might limit them. Unit 1, which encompasses the northern part of the state, was the top whitetail producer in 2019, and remains a perennial top deer producer that shows no signs of letting up. Hunters can also use preseason scouting to check road and trail accessibility and conditions as well as make landowner contacts if they are planning to hunt on or near private property. It also contributes significantly to the state’s economy: 2018 Agriculture Cash Receipts: $7.4 billion, Processed Food and Beverage Sales: $8.4 billion. The Idaho Hunt Planner provides all information the hunter needs for a successful Idaho hunt: regulations, seasons, drawing odds, harvest statistics, and hunt boundaries in one location. “Throughout southern Idaho this winter, we had above average winter fawn survival, which bodes well for the upcoming mule deer season.”. Elk: The Boise River Zone has seen consistently high winter calf and cow survival rates during the past six years. Deer: The Weiser/McCall area has had two hard winters in the last 5 years, which set back mule deer herds. What hunters should be aware of for the fall: Hunters in the Clearwater are reminded that 567,000 acres of Potlatch Deltic timberlands are open to the public due to Fish and Game’s Large Tracts access program, which pays private landowners to provide public access for hunting, fishing, trapping and other outdoor recreation. They’re still trying to recover from that winter, along with a couple other winters with elevated fawn mortality since then. When you look back since 2004 when Idaho’s deer harvest statistics were segregated between whitetails and mule deer, whitetails were a smaller portion of the statewide deer harvest with mule deer being the majority of deer taken by hunters. What hunters should be aware of for the fall: An overarching theme for the Magic Valley Region is that late summer conditions were extremely dry, and one of the things that hunters should note is that places that they’re used to hunting that maybe had some water, or were wet, might not be this year. The Idaho Hunt Planner provides all information the hunter needs for a successful Idaho hunt: regulations, seasons, drawing odds, harvest statistics, and hunt boundaries in one location. Hot, dry weather can result in game using green agriculture fields or high elevations and timbered areas.  Rainy conditions can result in more availability of quality native forage and natural water sources, which in turn can lead to big game being more widely dispersed on the landscape. The next closest was neighboring Unit 43, where hunters harvested 1,179 mule deer. Mule Deer: With generous over-the-counter, any weapon opportunity and given its proximity to Idaho’s most populated area, Unit 39 is the state’s most popular and productive unit for mule deer hunters. The elk harvest in the Boise River Zone has also remained largely stable over that time period (averaging about 956 animals), as has the hunter success rate. Because resident general deer tags are sold throughout the hunting season and unlimited for residents, it’s hard to project how many of resident hunters will be in the field come fall. The Idaho Hunt Planner provides all information the hunter needs for a successful Idaho hunt: regulations, seasons, drawing odds, harvest statistics, and hunt boundaries in one location. With elk survival and production both ranging from moderate to high, hunters will have plenty of elk to pursue in the Panhandle Region in 2020 and should have a good-to-excellent hunting there. Look for thermal cover — avoiding the heat kind of thermal cover — and spring seeps, meadows, etc. The Idaho Hunt Planner provides all information the hunter needs for a successful Idaho hunt: regulations, seasons, drawing odds, harvest statistics, and hunt boundaries in one location. Fish and Game is currently meeting or exceeding its population goals for bull elk in 17 of 22 elk zones, and 16 out of 22 for cow elk, Ward said. As hunter numbers continue to increase, managers want to encourage hunters to be courteous in the field. Not coincidentally, as the hunter success in Unit 39 goes, so goes the hunting success in the southern portion of the Southwest Region. The Idaho Hunt Planner provides all information the hunter needs for a successful Idaho hunt: regulations, seasons, drawing odds, harvest statistics, and hunt boundaries in one location. The state has nearly 25,000 farms and ranches which produce more than 185 different commodities . What hunters should be aware of for the fall: There are no major changes to deer and elk season this year, but something worth noting is the increase in hunter numbers seen in the Salmon Region. While 2019-20 wasn’t a great year for fawn survival statewide, the region probably dodged a bullet last year, followed by about average fawn survival over the most recent winter. Idaho agriculture is diverse, abundant and rooted in our history. The McCall Zone also has lots of elk and lots of public lands to pursue them, but road access is limited in much of the zone and hunters have to pursue them in steep, brushy backcountry that may put them to the test. Idaho ranks in the top ten in the nation in 30 of those commodities Idaho is the third-largest agricultural state in … While whitetails aren’t broadly distributed throughout the region, there is an elevated numbers of whitetails in pockets of the Teton Valley, specifically in units 62, 62A, 65. Winter weather was normal and there were no signs of excessive winter die off. Only does are collared in the Owyhees as part of a research project, and overwinter doe survival there was good. In 2000 hunter numbers were not collected. The population has remained stable due to antlerless harvest opportunity, and this year had good winter calf survival again. Hunters harvested more mule deer (3,374) in the unit than any other unit in the state in 2019, and it wasn’t particularly close. Harvest statistics based on mandatory harvest reports, big game mortality reports and check station records. Unit 39 has been a very productive mule deer unit, and has been for a long time, but biologists are starting to see fawn production go down, and the herd composition in December and fawn weights in the winter are starting to decline — all of which is used to measure the carrying capacity of our deer and elk herds. Biologists saw excellent fawn survival last winter, which will boost the number of young bucks available for hunters, but overall deer populations are still down. Over the last five years, Unit 39 has accounted for between 61 and 70 percent of the harvest in the Nampa subregion, which is also composed of units 33, 34, 35, 38, 40, 41 and 42. Agriculture remains a fundamentally important part of Idaho’s economy, communities and way of life. When you look back since 2004 when Idaho’s deer harvest statistics were segregated between whitetails and mule deer, whitetails were a smaller portion of the statewide deer harvest … If you’ve ever tried to wrestle a whole […], If an elk hears you sneaking through the woods, you might be ok. Too many elk? With several mild-to-moderate winters in the Clearwater in recent years, hunters should see a fair-to-good number of mature bucks. The elk harvest in 2019 was down from the prior year by about 8 percent, but it was still good for fourteenth highest of all time, and fifth highest in the past decade. “But it is a positive sign for our mule deer herds and for hunters.”. Mule Deer: On a regional level, mule deer hunting is likely to be middle-of-the-road this year. The indications are there will likely be more young bucks available for hunters to pursue this fall. Elk: Lots of elk in the Weiser River Zone continues to be a good problem to have, but still a problem. Fawn production and winter survival have been good the last two years, and the region has not had population setbacks in the recent years. Along those lines, hunters should check in with the U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management before they make big plans to go somewhere because access could be affected if there are wildfires in the area. Units 2, 3, 5 and 6 were also in the top 10 for whitetails thanks to habitat and weather conditions that have been favorable for growing whitetails. Managers also want to remind folks of reduced youth antlerless opportunity in the region. These variations in winter conditions have resulted in negligible changes to deer populations since the severe winter of 2016-17. Although the fawn survival in Unit 39 specifically was below average in 2019, it was higher-than-average for the greater population that the unit is a part of, which biologists refer to as the Smoky-Boise Data Analysis Unit, or DAU. These expanded antlerless opportunities are a great way for hunters to put meat in the freezer while helping to manage elk populations, and it’s something they should take greater advantage of this year. Deer: Whitetail hunters should be see the usual healthy herds of whitetails in Panhandle. Elk: The elk populations in the region continue to be really strong, so it’s set up for some pretty good hunting again this season. Overall deer numbers have been increasing in Unit 39 for the last several years. Elk: By and large, the elk forecast is really good. This is primarily to alleviate some of the primary property issues seen in the region. Elk are simply more resilient to harsh winter conditions than deer. They’ve started a multi-year study so they can learn more about whitetail populations and become better at managing them to ensure healthy populations and meet hunters’ expectations. Whitetail harvest was still below mule deer (23,679), but whitetail hunters’ success rates were nine points higher than mule deer hunters. The flip side of that is when conditions are good, a deer herd can grow more rapidly than an elk herd,“ said Rick Ward, Deer/Elk Program Coordinator. The Idaho Hunt Planner provides all information the hunter needs for a successful Idaho hunt: regulations, seasons, drawing odds, harvest statistics, and hunt boundaries in one location. While 2019 whitetail harvest was down 14 percent from 2018 and the lowest since 2011, biologists said that’s likely a normal variation in annual harvests, not a sign of declining whitetail populations. Fish and Game’s generous allocation of over-the-counter, general hunt tags, and a broad range of antlered hunting opportunity, particularly for archery hunters, is appealing to resident and nonresident hunters. The lone exceptions were units 21 and 21A, where we saw a little more winter fawn mortality in each of the last two years than the rest of the Salmon Region. “The distribution of elk has definitely changed since the 80s and 90s, when there was that first pulse of high elk numbers and the Lolo Zone was leading the way. During the last season setting cycle in 2019, wildlife managers responded by offering increased elk hunting opportunity in these areas, including general, either-sex hunts; over-the-counter cow tags; and generous antlerless controlled hunt tags. But there will need to be a string of a few winters with above-average fawn survival to really start pushing us back to those upper levels of mule deer harvest that occurred prior to 2017. That typically makes elk populations easier for biologists to manage through hunting. Elk zones east of U.S. 93 (Beaverhead, Lemhi, and Pioneer) are above objectives outlined in the elk management plan for both cow and bull elk. Deer survival was good with no sign of excessive winter kill and no signs of fatal disease outbreaks, such as EHD or blue tongue, occurring so far during summer. Units 10A and 8A were the second and third top whitetail producers last year, and are frequently in the top five for the state in recent years. Managers are hoping this year for a little bit of early snow that starts moving elk around. That’s not the case anymore, but now our elk populations in the front country — particularly in Southern Idaho — are doing fantastic.”. “I think all indications are that this should be another very good elk season,” Ward said. Despite general hunts that include antlerless elk with any weapon, the zone is still over its objectives for elk. The Idaho Hunt Planner provides all information the hunter needs for a successful Idaho hunt: regulations, seasons, drawing odds, harvest statistics, and hunt boundaries in one location. […], Below is a news release from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. 1068), and hunters should not hesitate to harvest a doe. Adult winter survival has been consistently high. Adult cow survival was 97 percent and calf survival was 73 percent — up from 66 percent in the 2018-19 winter. Doing some scouting of potential hunting areas may give hunters an idea of animal distribution and behavior. They point out that weather during hunting season can account for a 10  to 20 percent swing in harvest, and there’s been no unusually harsh winters in the Panhandle and Clearwater regions that might have curbed the state’s largest whitetail populations. Biologists expect the elk hunting Sawtooth Zone to be good in 2020, but weather is going to drive a lot of that. All of the region’s elk herds are at least meeting our objectives. Mule deer account for most of the deer in the area, but about 40 percent of the deer in Unit 23 are whitetails, and whitetail herds remain stable in that unit. If it sees you, you may be able to play it cool. P: (208) 332-8500 info@isda.idaho.gov M – F; 8 am – 5 pm 2270 Old Penitentiary Road, Boise, ID 83712 Mailing Address P.O. Despite lots of elk, they can often find refuge on private lands, or on steep, rugged public land that is difficult to access. So while the elk are there, that doesn’t mean they’re easy to hunt. Elk harvest is largely going to be dictated by weather, especially the cow harvest. Elk: Hunters should expect good elk hunting this fall. Wildlife managers would like to see more antlerless harvest in Unit 39 and Unit 43. It’s likely the dip in success rates was a factor of the weather conditions last year. That may impact the upcoming bucks in those hunting units, but the region’s holding pretty strong. Here are regional outlooks compiled by regional wildlife managers and biologists in each Fish and Game region. The zone had very high success rates in 2018 and dipped in 2019, but there’s nothing to indicate elk numbers declined. It was the lowest total since 2011, and about 15 percent lower than the 10-year average harvest of 27,964 animals. But it’s not alone as a top producer in the Panhandle. The Idaho Hunt Planner provides all information the hunter needs for a successful Idaho hunt: regulations, seasons, drawing odds, harvest statistics, and hunt boundaries in one location. That includes eliminating youth antlerless opportunity in Unit 66 and 69, and limiting the youth antlerless mule deer season across the rest of the region to the first week of the any-weapon season. The Idaho Hunt Planner provides all information the hunter needs for a successful Idaho hunt: regulations, seasons, drawing odds, harvest statistics, and hunt boundaries in one location. The number of animals available for hunters, as well as success rates, will vary significantly throughout mule deer country. There’s a pretty good age class of bucks incoming, but still missing some of those 3- to 4-year-old bucks from the 2016-17 winter, but for the most part, bucks are going to be pretty widely distributed across various age classes this fall. If there’s a lot of people, the deer and elk aren’t going to be near the roads anyway. Since 2015, winter conditions in Southeast Idaho have been extremely variable with severe conditions (2016-17, 2018-19), average (2017-18) and mild (2015-16 and 2019-20). White-tailed deer: There’s no reason to believe the whitetails are in a bad place, and whitetail hunting should be about normal, or average to what it has been over the last number of years. The leading cause of mortality for elk calves was mountain lions, and for cow elk it was a tie between hunter harvest and mountain lions. However, if the speed at which nonresident general deer tags sold out this year (two months sooner than they did in 2019) is any indication, deer hunter numbers could also be up this year after dropping a bit from 2018 to 2019. (Photo source: Garett Gabriel/Idaho Department of Fish and Game), Elk are not light creatures. A mature bull can easily weigh more than 500 pounds dressed out. The Palouse, Dworshak and Hells Canyon elk zones continue to produce good elk hunting in the region, and the Elk City Zone is seeing increased harvest in unit 14, but decreases in units 15 and 16, which is attracting more hunters into Unit 14. When you look back since 2004 when Idaho’s deer harvest statistics were segregated between whitetails and mule deer, whitetails were a smaller portion of the statewide deer harvest with mule deer being the majority of deer taken by hunters. From fries to cheese to wine, Idaho is producing quality products to feed the world and fuel our state. If we get some weather, we’re probably going to have pretty good harvest rates on cow elk; if not, it will be pretty similar to last year, which was a little bit frustrating. What hunters should be aware of for the fall: Hunters in the Panhandle are reminded that more than 336,000 acres of private timberland is open to hunting due to Fish and Game’s Large Tracts access program, which pays private landowners to provide public access for hunting, fishing, trapping and other outdoor recreation. Things hunters should be aware of for the fall: Weather conditions during the hunting season can sometimes affect big game behavior and distribution– and thus, hunter success.