Home Forums Hunting & Shooting General Big Game Idaho Zone 1 hunting info

My wife and I are ready to retire and we are looking at homes and land outside of Bonners Ferry.
I have never hunted in Idaho. Reading through the 2015-16 hunting regs and looking at the 2015 Elk Population Status by Elk Zone, the panhandle zones 1-9 states "No numeric objective". Does that mean the the elk population is so low that they do not even keep track of it?
Whitetails seem abundant.
What about mule deer? Is there a decent population?
Black bear population?
What about waterfowl and upland hunting?

I would like to live where I can hunt my own land or at some of the many public lands close by. Most of the places high on my list border state/federal land.

Is this area a good choice for what I am looking for or should I be looking a little more south west?
We will be making a road trip out there in the next month or so to look at places.
Any advice you can share with me will be greatly appreciated.

I don't think the elk that far north have been wolfed as bad as those along the Bitterroot range.
Idaho whitetails are underrated. I've seen some beauties up there.
You'll find very few mulies that far north.
Some areas allow you to take 2 bears to reduce the population and cut elk depredation. Idaho allows both dogs and baiting for bears.

Go to the IDFG web page, click on hunting, then controlled hunts info. It says the harvest stats are for controlled hunts but when you open it, it also includes open hunts. You can see what the past success has been in each unit. They don't have 2015 posted yet, though.

Someone here lives in Bonner's Ferry......I'll try to find out their name.
Waterfowl should be good.

deerstalker is the man.
You could PM him if he doesn't notice this thread.

Mulies near the area...

I can't really tell you why F&G lists no numeric objective for the Panhandle elk zone, perhaps because it is too difficult to get an accurate count from the air with the heavy tree cover in the panhandle. All in all elk herds in the panhandle are not in too bad of shape but we are in an ongoing battle to harvest enough predators (wolves in particular) each season to keep elk & moose numbers from crashing due to predation. Elk have always been tough to hunt and the wolves are not making things any easier, the 2 biggest differences I see are that the bulls are not quite as vocal as they used to be and some herds spend a lot more time on private land where they feel safe from wolves and other predators than they used to.

Whitetail are plentiful but mule deer population is a bit spotty, they have their favorite hangouts in the higher elevations and once you learn a few of these you can find mule deer to hunt when you want to but if you are looking for the best mule deer hunting in the state look at the southern half.

Bear population is good but all of the Bonners area is no bait & no dog hunting so you have to spot & stalk hunt, while doing so you have to be keenly aware that any bear you see could be a grizzly and you don't want to mistakenly shoot a grizzly, some thing about federal offenses and so on makes it a sticky subject.

There are several WMA's & refuges that have decent waterfowl hunting but a lot of the good hunting is in private fields at certain times, I'm not a waterfowl guy but that is what I know. The only real upland hunting is for grouse, further south in the state you will find more upland options, chukar etc.

I don't know what your budget is but most folks can't afford to buy enough land to do all their hunting on their own land however even a small piece in the right place can help your whitetail hunting opportunities, elk as well (on the years when they are there). If you are out here in April keep in mind that many of the animals you see in the fields will vanish into the mountains before hunting season opens, summer evenings will give you a lot better idea how many resident deer & elk live around any given property.

There is a very good diversity of hunting opportunity on public land but it is a place where you will have to spend some time to learn the country etc, you can't just watch an animal or herd from a distance and figure out what they are doing in a day or 2 very often, it generally takes time to piece things together from random sightings, trail cam pics, sign etc.

Not sure if this area is a good choice for you, if you prioritize what you are looking for I may be able to make a useful suggestion as to yes or no. One thing is for sure you will probably pay some dues for every animal you take on public land, especially trophy class animals.

A licensed outfitter can help a lot in short cutting the process of learning the country, the game and the best ways to hunt them but if you move here you may be asked to sign a waiver promising not to discuss hunting areas with others and made to wear a blindfold while traveling to the hunting area just for insurance...LOL! If you are interested in that sort of thing (just kidding about the blindfold) and would like to experience some spring bear hunting while you are out here I have a hell of a deal on a camp based spring bear hunt over bait with the option to do some spot & stalk hunting as well, I have a discount available from May 15- June 3, 2016. The hunting area is south of B.F. outside the grizzly recovery zone. PM me if interested or click on the link to our web site below for my contact info.

Thanks for help,
@LDB,
All of the homes with land are in the 20-40 acre range. The land plots are in the 40-65 acre range. A couple border on the Kaniksu NF. I realize that bagging a elk on my property would would not be high. I do plan on making the property a haven for wildlife with good cover and plenty of food plots.
My hunting priority's would be deer and elk for big game along with doing my part in controlling the wolf population by every legal hunting means possible.
I have never had the time to devote to bear hunting. My wife says we have to have hide to hang on the wall so that interests me.
My wife and I enjoy waterfowl and upland hunting.
I do not expect to fill up a trophy room the first couple years. The first season there I plan on doing a lot of upland hunting for the different grouse in the area while learning the land and scouting the big game along with getting to know the locals and and becoming part of the community.Along with finding the good waterfowl spots.
Our health is good and we are still young enough to hopefully have the time to learn the area well enough to take my family and friends from here hunting. The first thing everyone says when they learn we are moving there is, can I come out there hunting?

Whackem_stackem: I have only Hunted Whitetails in Idahos far north panhandle once.
I got a wild hair about 20 years ago and headed up there with an out of state Deer Tag in hand.
I was by myself and had a great time - saw some nice bucks and one lifetime trophy Booner on the second day of the Hunt.
I Hunted him, exclusively, for the next 7 days of a 10 day Hunt.
Never saw that monster again - but I know he was there.
I saw caribou on that trip as well. About 12 of them were across a wide basin/valley and they puttered along for hours.
Anyway my sleeping bag in the back of my camper shell absorbed so much of the moist/often foggy air that I could NOT sleep in it and in the middle of the night on day nine I got out of bed and began the 500 mile trip home.
I did stop at the first tavern I came to for some coffee and a snack - while there I struck up a conversation with a Hunter who had been successful that day.
After hearing of my tale of woe he took me outside and showed me the trophy he had killt - it was in the back of his rickety pickup.
It was a strong 160+ B&C scoring Whitetail, just a brute body wise as well.
He was a back-woodsy down on his luck type guy and he offered to sell me that Deer for $200.00 cash.
I only had $120.00 and no way to get more that night.
I finally decided against the deal and left in the fog.
There ARE big Deer up that a way and Moose - I have no idea about the Elk.
I did find three shed Moose horns down a remote foot trail I was travelling on that Hunt. They are hard to carry by the way when there is three of them.
I have had some excellent fishing for trout up in the north part of Idaho.
They used to have a nifty gun show in Sand Point, Idaho (once or twice a year IIRC).
I did see Grouse each day on my one Hunt up there.
It is my understanding that winters are gray and cold thereabouts. Summers and fall around there though are VERY nice.
I have Hunted just over the border into Montana from Idaho's Zone 1 MANY times for Black Bear and Whitetails and some class Hunting IS available thereabouts also.
I have a close friend who retired from the DEA and lives half the year in Florida and the other half on Lake Pend Orielle (sp?) he enjoys great fishing there and just had his second Moose tag filled up that a way.
My older brother kept a boat on Lake Couer D' Alene (sp?) and the fishing on that lake can be wonderful as well. It is also a glorious place to be come all summer and fall.
I also have friends in Post Falls and Couer D' Alene (sp?) and they love it and live there year round.
Best of luck to you in your retirement.
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

Hmmmm....

Lots of border patrol/customs officers sleeping in there pick-ups all over the place all times o the day.

The elk are numerous, so are the hunters. Fish and game play god with the season and soon will have all the bulls killed off.

Whitetails are like flies, as the same with hunters. Just ask the highway department... Occasionally you will see a whopper buck, but it will be at night on the highway.

Mule deer are not as numerous as there overpopulated whitetail relates... Trophies harder to come by than whitetails.

Bears are numerous, often taken as targets of opportunity in the fall. Spring season hunting them is enjoyable.

Shooting water foul is a nasty job.

Upland game mostly turkey, blue grouse and ruffed, hares. Plentiful and long take seasons. I killed 3 blue grouse a few years back, fed four people and still had left overs. If that would have been ruffed there would be no left overs and hungry people. Turkeys are on the most hated list, chit all over yards, decks, destroy landscaped yards and gardens, there noisy and overtake areas.

I hunt around there now and again

My heart and soul belongs in NE Wa and all of the extreme N Idaho(priestlake/sandpoint/bonnerferry) and NW Montana(Yak,cabinets). It's very thick country. Yes there are great whitetail hunting opportunity, OTC spring bear and put in the hard work and bagging a 22-24" wide muley buck every year is a definate possiblity. I love it there and want to spend my last breath in that country. BTW rattling up bucks and calling in bear works really well in that country.

That being said, it's remote and thick and that kind of country is for those that truly love it. It's very possible that farther south or even farther east well into Montana will provide you with far better wildlife veiwing and hunting opportunity. And if upland birds are in the mix even better. Best bet maybe get a damn nice and comfy RV and check some places out.

For me its where my heart lies. There are far better "killing fields" in Idaho. Best of times to you and your wife in your retirement.

Curious.
Why would you consider buying someone's deer?

20+ acres is enough to do a little habitat work and watch the place fill up with whitetails just about anywhere in the county, it's not enough ground to hold elk but that doesn't mean you can't get them to make it a regular stop, location is a little more critical with elk but now days their distribution is pretty good.

When you say elk and deer would be your top priorities if you mean any deer you will like it, if you mean to have equal opportunity between w/t & mule deer I would look at region 2 which consists of big game units 8-20, if mule deer interest you more than w/t the southern part of the state is the best, especially some of the units you have to draw for. The best elk hunting in the state is also probably in the southern part in units that are all draw tags for rifle hunting.

Region 2 also offers more upland options including chukar and there are still plenty of grouse as well as turkeys. A couple other things that may appeal to you about region 2 are the mild climate (Lewiston is the lowest elevation in the state) and the salmon/steelhead fishing in the rivers which we are devoid of up here other than land locked chinooks in lake Coeur'd Alene. Southern probably has the most upland opportunities.

If you are a trapper there is plenty of opportunity to get after the wolves up here but if you are strictly talking about hunting them once again you will have a better chance further south, this country is just awful thick for hunting wolves. If you want to know you are making a difference in wolf management I would suggest joining The Foundation for Wildlife Management at www.f4wm.org which helps fund successful wolf hunters & trappers.

boomwack; "Lots of border patrol/customs officers sleeping in there pick-ups all over the place all times o the day." Haha, sad, funny & true. It really kind of pisses me off as we have a real border crisis in this country but it has nothing to do with Canadians, can't see why 90% of them aren't sent south... I had a nice spot & stalk bear hunt blown up by them one time...

I concur LDB, money is not well spent by the ton on the surplus of "agents" that flood the area....Its also not just Idaho but Montana and Washington... I can see the issue with the Peoples Republic of Washington state with seaports though... Wonderful state, just LOTS of piddely rules. Just best the "agents" be shipped south and gone to along the other boarder with actual problems/issues.

Anyway, Unit one is not bad to hunt in besides!!!