Idaho Department of Fish & Game
Panhandle Region
Preliminary Proposed Changes for the 2012 Big Game Seasons
The 2012 proposed changes are designed to address several objectives. Objectives include:
WHITE-TAILED DEER
Minor change to return muzzleloader season to traditional dates.
MULE DEER
Minor change to return muzzleloader season to traditional dates.
ELK
Respond to poor calf recruitment and assumed higher cow mortality. Surveys of the elk
population in the Panhandle Bellwether Area Zone has not been completed due to lack of
snow, but information so far points to the population not meeting objectives.
BLACK BEAR
Assist in management of elk objectives in areas with severe problems.
MOUNTAIN LION
Assist in management of elk objectives in areas with severe problems.
GRAY WOLF
Propose increasing bag limit for hunting and trapping and other options to increase harvest.
Provide extended season on private land in Panhandle zone.
OTHER
Panhandle Region
2012 Big Game Season Preliminary Proposed Changes
Unit(s)
4,7,9
Unit(s)
4,7,9
Hunt Area
1X
2012 REGULAR DEER TAG GENERAL DEER MUZZLELOADER SEASONS
Antlered
Antlerless
Notes
Change
Nov 10 – Dec 1
Nov 10 – Dec 1
+10 days; return to traditional
(White-tailed deer
muzzleloader season
only)
2012 WHITE-TAILED DEER TAG GENERAL DEER MUZZLELOADER SEASONS
Antlered
Antlerless
Notes
Change
Nov 10 – Dec 1
Nov 10 – Dec 1
+10 days; return to traditional
muzzleloader season
Season Dates
Aug 30 – Dec 24
2012 EXTRA ANTLERLESS DEER CONTROLLED HUNTS
Permits
Notes
Change
250
Good during any open deer
Adds 150 permits and expands the
season, using the weapons legal
timeframe for the hunt.
for that season
Tag
Aug/Sep
A
Archery only – antlered
only
Sep 6 – Sep 30
B
Change
Hunt Area
5-1
2012 GENERAL ELK SEASONS
Panhandle Zone
October
November
Any weapon – antlered only
Oct 25 – Oct 29
December
Muzzleloader only – antlered
only
Dec 2 – Dec 9
Archery only – antlered only
Dec 10 – Dec 16
Archery only – antlered
Any weapon – antlered only
only
Oct 10 – Oct 24
Sep 6 – Sep 12
No general antlerless elk hunting, reduced all hunting seasons, eliminated B tag spike bull muzzleloader hunt,
eliminated A tag any bull muzzleloader hunt in Units 4, 7,and 9, added A tag any bull muzzleloader hunt in all units.
Added controlled antlerless seasons in units 1, 2, 3, and 5.
Season Dates
Dec 1 – Dec 31
2012 ANTLERLESS ELK CONTROLLED HUNTS
Permits
Notes
50
Hunt area 5-1.
Change
Modified hunt area and changed
hunt area number.
2012 EITHER-SEX ELK CONTROLLED HUNTS
Permits
Notes
300
Hunt area 1.
Hunt Area
1
Season Dates
Oct 10 – Oct 24
2
Oct 10 – Oct 24
100
Hunt area 2.
3
Oct 10 – Oct 24
200
Hunt area 3.
5
Oct 10 – Oct 24
200
Hunt area 5.
Hunt Area
1X
Season Dates
Jan 1 – Jan 31
2012 EXTRA ANTLERLESS ELK CONTROLLED HUNTS
Permits
Notes
Change
40
Eliminate hunt. The elk herd in
this small area has been
sufficiently reduced through this
hunt, Canadian efforts, and wolf
predation such that depredation
problems can be handled better
otherwise.
ELK CONTROLLED HUNT AREA DESCRIPTIONS:





Change
Conversion from general hunt,
added 9 days, removed
approximately 90% of cow elk
hunters
Conversion from general hunt,
added 9 days, removed
approximately 90% of cow elk
hunters
Conversion from general hunt,
added 9 days, removed
approximately 90% of cow elk
hunters
Conversion from general hunt,
added 9 days, removed
approximately 80% of cow elk
hunters
1 – All of unit 1.
2 – All of unit 2.
3 – All of unit 3.
5 - All of Unit 5.
5-1 - That portion of Unit 5 south of Elder Road and Sunup Bay Road. (New description.)
Unit(s)
4, 4A, 6
Take Season
Aug 30 – Oct 31
Apr 15 – May 31
6, 7, 9
Aug 30 – Oct 31
Apr 15 – June
30
FALL 2012 / SPRING 2012 BLACK BEAR SEASONS
Dogs Prohibited
Dog Training
Notes
Aug 30 – Sep 14 Jun 1 – July 31
Oct 10 – Oct 31
Apr 15 – Apr 30
Oct 10 – Oct 31 Jul 1 – July 31
Apr 15 – Apr 30
Unit(s)
Take Season
Dogs Prohibited
1
Sep 15 – Feb
16
Sep 15 – Feb
16
Aug 30 – Mar
31
Sep 15 – Dec 13
2, 3, 4,
4A, 5, 6
6, 7, 9
2012 MOUNTAIN LION SEASONS
Female Quota
Notes
Change
Move Unit 6 to a group with more
liberal bear seasons.
Extend the Unit 6 spring bear hunt
to close June 30 (+30 days). Add
16 days of hound hunting
opportunity during fall in Unit 6.
Change
Oct 10 – Dec 13
Oct 10 – Nov 21
Dec 1
Add 60 days to the lion harvest
season in Unit 6. Add 44 days to
the lion season in Units 7 and 9.
Delay of 9 days in the use of
hounds in Units 7 and 9. Lion
numbers appear to be increasing
and low calf elk recruitment and
cow elk survival may benefit from
lower lion numbers.
Zone
Panhandle
Season
Aug 30 – Mar 31
July 1 – March 31
Zone
Panhandle, except
Units 2 and 3 are
CLOSED
Season
Nov 15 – Mar 31
2012 GRAY WOLF HUNTING SEASONS
Harvest Limit
Notes
Bag limit 5 wolves per
calendar year
Private land only
2012 GRAY WOLF TRAPPING SEASONS
Harvest Limit
Notes
Bag limit 5 wolves per
trapping season
Change/Rationale
Propose increasing bag limit to 5
wolves per calendar year.
Allow extended harvest season on
privately owned lands within the
Panhandle wolf management
zone.
Change/Rationale
Propose increasing bag limit to 5
wolves per trapping season.