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North Idaho and Sandpoint Hunting Guide While most of the country and much of Idaho call our region “the Panhandle,” we typically think of ourselves as simply North Idaho. As you can tell from our Lakes and Rivers page, we have almost 140 lakes, plus over 2,000 miles of rivers and streams. The largest lake, Lake Pend Oreille, has 111 miles of coastline and over 86,000 acres, and many other lakes – Hayden, Coeur d’Alene, Twin Lakes, Priest Lake, and Lake Cocolalla – are very large. We also have dozens of much smaller lakes – 1-2 acres – and everything in between. Many people associate Minnesota as the land of lakes for the U. S., but our Idaho Panhandle has the greatest concentration of lakes in all the western states, giving us the water sports and fishing haven we all enjoy. While the state of Idaho has more wilderness acreage than any other state, the Idaho Panhandle has more game, and better hunting than any other region of Idaho. With so many acres in the wild, no other state in the lower 48 has as much big game hunting variety and quality as Idaho. Idaho is sparsely populated with huge areas of forests, canyons, and mountain wildernesses. Idaho seasons generally run from 20-65 days. Hunter congestion remains rare. An amazing amount of land remains in the hands of the federal and state governments: 21,621,000 acres of the state’s total acreage remains forested. The Federal Government holds 65.2% of all land, with estimates of 78 percent of all of Idaho belonging either to state or federal forests, etc. Idaho’s elk herds are renowned. An Idaho elk hunt offers the opportunity to experience real nature and wilderness, spend time with family or friends, and harvest a nice animal. Idaho's percentage of older bulls presents a unique trophy hunting opportunity in the West. Idaho’s whitetail deer populations in Idaho have also have grown. Their distribution, concentrated in forested areas of northern Idaho, has grown substantially in recent years. Idaho's mule deer populations are rebounding from years of drought and the severe winters of 1992 and 1996. Mountain lion populations are extremely strong. Record sized cougars have been taken recently. Moose hunting is on the rise. Bighorn sheep, mountain goat, and antelope hunts are in high demand. Idaho continues to offer outstanding black bear hunting in fall and spring. Idaho’s non-wilderness areas are reached by hinterland roads, at times accessible only with 4x4s, and wilderness areas are accessed by horseback or on foot. Idaho outfitters offer archery, rifle and muzzleloader hunts. Customized services range from drop camps to fully guided trips. Accommodations are provided in comfortable camps or lodges. So, it is small wonder that Idaho’s big game reputation is stellar, with a large population of elk, moose, woodland caribou, mule and white-tailed deer, cougar, black and grizzly bear, and bighorn sheep. While our elk, moose and deer hunting reputation is world-class, opportunities abound to hunt waterfowl and upland birds. Because of the large ownership of land by the state, hunting in and around Sandpoint and North Idaho is typically on state or national forest lands. Because big game hunting here focuses typically on remote mountains (some 2.7 million acres in North Idaho are within national forests), backcountry camping is often the key to hunting success. But big game is not all North Idaho offers hunters and wildlife enthusiasts. Bird hunting in North Idaho finds ruffed grouse (referred to locally as "forest" grouse), blue grouse and wild turkeys. Ruffed grouse are commonly found in dense coniferous stands of fir and pine, but hunting success rate is highest in abandoned field acreage containing stands of quaking aspen. Blue grouse are typically hunted at higher elevations, and hunting pressure on this species throughout the season is light due in great part to strenuous mountain terrain. Idaho’s Fish and Game Department has been successful in establishing harvestable flocks of Merriam-strained wild turkeys throughout much of the state. An advantage to our area for bird hunters and watchers is that the Pacific Flyway runs directly through North Idaho, so waterfowl hunting is outstanding. Since our numerous bodies of water make great landing sites, duck populations are plentiful, and include both puddle ducks and divers, and quality goose hunting is available everywhere, particularly 30 miles north of Sandpoint on the Kootenai National Wildlife Refuge which is a major stopover for migrating ducks and geese. The diversity of habitat in North Idaho supports a wide variety of fish. Yellow perch, crappie, pumpkinseed, bullheads, and largemouth bass abound. Northern pike and mountain whitefish can also be found. Rainbow, cutthroat, brown, and brook trout reside in some of the same waters -- and in less accessible mountain lakes and streams. Priest Lake, with its seventy miles of shoreline bordered in ferns, evergreens spruce, hemlock, and with 7,000-foot peaks, is famous for its huge mackinaw, trophy cutthroat and rainbow trout. Kokanee salmon are abundant in this region, providing not only fishing pleasure but also nourishment for the larger trophy species. Gerrard rainbow (kamloops), bull trout (inland Dolly Varden), and chinook salmon have been known to tip the scales at 30 pounds. Although The Panhandle comprises only ten percent of Idaho, one third of the state's record fish are caught here. So, we know we have great fishing because of our great diversity with lakes, streams, and rivers. And most of the world thinks of our area as great timber country. Those two elements provide the perfect habitat for game and wildlife.
Links &
Resources
Idaho Wildlife Refuges
North Idaho Licensed Outfitters
Other Area Outfitters
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Tomlinson Sandpoint Sotheby's International Realty
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