Tracking big game season with Idaho Fish and Game

Considered by many in North Idaho to be a holiday worthy of taking time off from school or work, hunting season for deer and elk has arrived.

With the season just kicking off Oct. 10, it’s difficult to gauge yet whether hunters are having success, said Regional Wildlife Manager Micah Ellstrom.

“The weather has been a little difficult with the season so far,” Ellstrom said. “These warm temperatures and dry conditions can be difficult for elk harvest in particular.”

He explained that when temperatures are high, elk often head for areas more difficult for hunters to access.

“We tend to see a decrease in harvest during years of these warm, dry conditions that persist through October,” Ellstrom said.

Based on statistics gathered over the years from radio collars that have been placed on elk populations in the panhandle, the Idaho Department of Fish and Game has been seeing moderate to high survival rates for calves.

Winter seasons are traditionally the driver of big-game populations in North Idaho, so the relatively mild winters experienced over the last few years have generally translated to increased survival rates.

When it comes to deer, Ellstrom said Fish and Game has seen some fluctuation in populations.

“We did see some increases in mortality in whitetail deer fawns,” he said.

He added that this increase could be attributed to last summer’s significant drought, combined with persistent snow throughout the winter and even into the spring in certain areas.

“A lot of the deer that went into winter were already stressed from the drought,” Ellstrom said.

While the drop in whitetail numbers is something for Idaho Fish and Game to monitor, he doesn’t anticipate hunters will see a decreased number of them in the woods.

Areas that could see a decrease in animals of all types are those recently affected by the numerous wildfires that burned in North Idaho this summer and into fall in some places. Ellstrom said forest fires can be a unique factor for big-game wildlife habitat and movement, as the animals tend to leave those areas temporarily, but have been known to return to feast on the new vegetation.

“Wildfires are interesting,” he said. “They'll displace animals in the short term and it makes access more difficult for hunters if there are road and forest closures, obviously. However, long-term in our forested habitats, fires tend to be very beneficial for big game … it increases the (amount) of groceries on the ground.”

To help determine how factors such as fires, abnormal temperatures or illness are affecting the health of big-game animals in the Panhandle, Idaho Fish and Game will sometimes set up check stations in areas with high hunter traffic. Several of these stations were active last weekend, during which time hunters had the opportunity to harvest cow elk in certain zones.

Hunting zones in Idaho are drawn up based on elk population movements and migrations, as well as hunter behavior.

“We just set up and as folks come by, they’ll stop and visit with us,” Ellstrom said of the check stations. “We check in on how their hunt went and if their hunt was successful. We will collect information from them regarding their harvest. Oftentimes, we will take samples depending on what the species is and what we are looking to do with it. That data goes into our mandatory harvest reporting database.”

One of the many things state wildlife officials are currently on the lookout for is signs of Chronic Wasting Disease. Idaho Fish and Game states that CWD is a contagious and fatal neurological disease that affects deer, elk and moose for which there is no cure. The disease was detected for the first time in Idaho in 2021 after more than 20 years of proactive surveillance and testing.

Ellstrom said that while CWD has not been detected in the Panhandle region yet, it's important for biologists to stay vigilant and catch it early if it does make its way here.

Idaho Fish and Game Regional Communications Manager T.J. Ross said another important aspect of the check stations is the interaction Idaho Fish and Game employees are able to have with other outdoor enthusiasts such as themselves.

“I think a huge part of it is being able to talk with folks as they’re coming,” Ross said. “Micah and I and the rest of our staff do what we do because we love to hunt and fish and we love to talk to people who love to hunt and fish.”

Listen to the full interview with T.J. Ross and Micah Ellstrom on the North Idaho Now Podcast. To listen, visit nin.buzzsprout.com and find Episode 173.