Idaho makes changes for 2022 deer and elk seasons

Changes are on-deck for fall deer and elk season in Idaho. Last week, the Idaho Department of Fish and Game (IDFG) announced the season changes as a result of chronic wasting disease (CWD) and an outbreak of Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease (EHD) in 2021, according to a press release.

Along with mandatory CWD testing for all deer, elk and moose harvested in Units 14 and 15, the Idaho Fish and Game Commission also changed the number of available tags in an effort to curb the spread of CWD and help herds rebound following the EHD outbreak that killed 6,000 to 10,000 whitetail deer in the Clearwater Region. 

“This is the start of managing chronic wasting disease in Unit 14 and in Idaho,” said IDFG Director Ed Schriever. “From what we learn, we will adapt in the future.”

The 2022 season will run Oct. 10 to Nov. 20 in Unit 14. 

Here’s what to expect for for mule deer:

• An increase in antlered mule deer tags for Unit 14 from 180 to 380 tags.
• A new controlled hunt with 180 more antlerless tags for mule deer in Unit 14.
• An additional 250 antlered whitetail deer tags as well as 250 antlerless whitetail deer tags in Unit 14.
• Landowners can expect more tags “based on the percentage of the tags available in controlled hunts drawings.”

Here’s what to expect for elk:

• An increase in elk tags (from 50 tags to 80 tags) in landowner permission hunt No. 2165 in the Unit 14-1 controlled hunt. The southern boundary of this hunt unit will also be extended by about three miles.

Here’s what to expect for whitetail deer:

• Because of the EHD outbreak, there will be 1,500 fewer tags in five antlerless deer hunts in these controlled hunt units: 8-1X, 8-2X, 8A-1X, 10A-1X and 11A-1X.