Rifle season for deer opens Friday

October 6, 2014

Idaho Department of Fish and Game Deer hunters are gearing up for opening day across Idaho, as numbers are up and opportunity is high. Three consecutive mild winters across most of Idaho are resulting in unusually high numbers of mule deer and whitetail deer. Survival rates have been higher than average in five of the last six years. Biologists say mild winters and good summer conditions allow bucks to put additional energy into antler growth, so 2014 will not only be good opportunity to take a deer, but also provides potential to bag a trophy. That opportunity is especially high in places where winter generally takes a more significant toll on deer herds. “Three mild winters in a row don’t happen in the Upper Snake Region; opportunities like this don’t happen very often,” said Wildlife Manager Daryl Meints. “Sportsmen should take advantage of this while it is available; it could all change this winter.” In the Panhandle Region, hunters will find high numbers of whitetail deer including abundant does, but are reminded to carefully identify before pulling the trigger, as mule deer hunting is bucks only in that region. In July the Fish and Game Commission approved a significant discount in the price of second tags. Thousands of hunters are taking advantage of the opportunity, but some second tags are still available. For more information on the second tag discount go to: https://fishandgame.idaho.gov/content/tagdiscount “With second tags at a discount and unusually high deer populations, 2014 could be the best opportunity we’ll see in Idaho in a long time” said State Wildlife Chief Jeff Gould.