Deer season off to good start in region

Judging deer hunting success a week into the season is kind of like predicting a football game after the first quarter when the score is 7-3, but so far, deer hunters are reporting seeing plenty of animals and expressed general satisfaction with their hunts.

Idaho Department of Fish and Game check stations around the state showed a mixed bag throughout the weekend after the first week of the general, any-weapon season. Most general season deer hunts started on Oct. 10, and many general-season mule deer hunts will continue through the end of October. However, there’s a wide variety of general and controlled hunts remaining in the fall and early winter with whitetail hunting typically peaking in November.

Comparing results at check stations from year to year is also a tricky proposition, especially early in the season, because things such as weather, hunter participation and timing of the season opener (which was a Monday this year) can affect results.

But of 12 check stations, success rates (percentage of hunters who havested) at six check stations were down from last year and six check stations showed an increase in success. For number of animals harvested, six check stations were down from last year, five stations were up, and one check station had a similar number of animals as were checked as last year.

Geographically, the Panhandle stations were all up, the McCall station was up slightly on success rate with similar harvest (fewer hunters, but better success), Southwest Idaho stations were mixed (one up, three down), Magic Valley was mixed (one up and two down), the Southeast station was up for success rate and down for overall harvest (fewer hunters), and the Salmon station was down for success rate, but double the harvest because of more hunters.

Check stations provide a snapshot of what’s happening early in the season. Fish and Game officials expect this year’s deer and elk seasons to be above the 10-year average, just like last year, which was well above average and included an all-time record whitetail harvest.

Elk seasons are also diverse in terms of season timing and include a mix of general and controlled hunts, but most general, any-weapon elk hunts start in mid-to-late October, many hunts extend into November and some go into December. Here’s information about big-game seasons and rules.

Roger Phillips is a public information specialist with the Idaho Department of Fish and Game.