Hunting Sandpoint, and Northern Idaho

Idaho contains more wilderness acreage than any other state in the lower 48. Nicknamed the Gem State, Idaho's 83,557 square miles feature peaks up to 12,662 feet (Borah Peak) with rivers providing some 3,100 miles of white water. An astounding 21,621,000 acres of the state's total acreage remains forested. It was Idaho's highly regarded former senator, Frank Church, who once said "I never knew a man who felt self-important in the morning after spending the night in the open on an Idaho mountainside."

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Idaho is an outdoors kind of state, with a big game population that includes elk, moose, woodland caribou, mule and white-tailed deer, cougar, black and grizzly bear and bighorn sheep. The state's elk, moose and deer hunting reputation is world-class, and opportunities abound to hunt waterfowl and upland birds. Hunting in Sandpoint occurs often 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 harvest success.

Bird hunting in the Sandpoint region revolves for the most part about ruffed grouse (referred to locally as "forest" grouse), blue grouse and wild turkeys. Habitat for ruffed grouse is comprised to a large extent by 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.

Sandpoint is located on the eastern fringe of the Pacific Flyway and waterfowl hunting in this region of Bonner County is excellent. Duck populations 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.

Hunting Units in the Sandpoint Area

Unit 1

Unit 1 is the largest game unit in the Northern Panhandle, covering Priest River, Clark Fork, Hope, Priest Lake and Bonners Ferry all the way to the Canadian border.

Unit 1 is a beautiful unit which include both the Selkirk Mountain Range and the Cabinet Mountain Range, in the Sandpoint, Idaho area.

GAME IN UNIT 1

The game in unit 1 include Rocky Mountain Elk, Whitetail Deer, Mule Deer, Black Bear, Moose (once in a lifetime draw), Wild Turkey, Ducks, Geese, and Grouse.

There are some preditor hunting available in unit 1 for Mountain Lion, Coyote, and Wolf.

There are also some trapping opportunities for smaller game animals with pelts that draw value.

Unit 2

Unit 2 makes up the area including Sagle, Cocolalla, Athol, Spirit Lake, Blanchard, and Rathdrum.

Most of Unit 2 is privately owned, but there are still some small areas of public land to hunt, and you can always ask the land owners for permission. Please ask for permission before hunting private land, if not it really infuriates the land owners and makes for less and less hunting land.

GAME IN UNIT 2

Unit 2 has Elk, Whitetail Deer, Moose, Black Bear, Wild Turkey, Ducks, Geese and Grouse.

There are also preditors in unit 2, that some of the land owners may not mind you ridding them of, due to the killing of livestock or pets.

Unit 3

Unit 3 includes places south of Athol and join up to the Coeur d'Alene Mountains and Unit 4, and covers Coeur d'Alene, Harrison, Wolf Lodge and the Hayden Lake area.

A lot of Unit 3 is privately owned, but Unit 3 also goes into National Forest on the Western borders, so there is some public land to hunt.

GAME IN UNIT 3

The game in unit 3 include Rocky Mountain Elk, Whitetail Deer, Black Bear, Moose (once in a lifetime draw), Wild Turkey, Ducks, Geese, and Grouse.

There are also plenty of preditors in unit 3 with Mountain Lion, Wolf and Coyote.

Unit 4

Unit 4 is in the Coeur d'Alene Mountains and is mostly National Forest, so there are plenty of hunting opportunities.

GAME IN UNIT 4

Much like the rest of the units, unit 4 is known for Rocky Mountin Elk, Whitetail Deer, Mule Deer, Black Bear, and Moose.

Unit 4 also has an abundace of preditors and the wolves have really taken off in this area, so there is also a good chance to find one of them. You can also find Lions and Coyotes.

There are also several game bird species, like Ruffed Grouse, Spruce Grouse, and in some areas Turkey and Blue Grouse.

Unit 4A

Unit 4A is just North of unit 4 and it borders the shores of Lake Pend Oreille and Montana. Unit 4A is one of the smaller units, but still has some great hunting.

GAME IN UNIT 4A

Unit 4A has Elk, Whitetail Deer, Muleys, Moose, Black Bear, Wolves, and Mountain Lions.

You can find a Coyote here and there in unit 4A, but for preditor hunting you will be better served looking for Wolves, Lions, or Bobcat.

Worms of the bottom for the Bullhead around dark.

Hunting Resourses

Idaho Fish and Game

2015 and 2016 Big Game Seasons and Rules

Individual Seasons and Rules - Big Game

Big Game Field Dressing

License Fees

Bonner County SA

The Bonner County Sportsmen Association is the oldest conservation organization in the state of Idaho commencing way back in 1934. Its membership has continued to grow through the years and has been the driving force to represent fishing and hunting interest for all Bonner County Sportsmen.

Membership Form >>

Web Site >>

Hunting Events and Expos

Big Horn Show

2017 BIGHORN OUTDOOR ADVENTURE SHOW - Web Site >>
March 16th - 19th 2017
Spokane Interstate Fairgrounds Spokane, Washington

Bonner County Gun & Horn Show

Gun 'n Horn show at Bonner County Fairgrounds the first weekend in March.

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Bonner County Sportsmen Association

Meetings are held the first Thursday of each month at the Leo Hadley range located across from the Sandpoint City Hall on Lake Street (September thru May) . Memberships are available for only $10.00 per year for an individual or $20.00 per year for a family, on a calendar year basis. The mailing address for Bonner County Sportsmen is P.O. Box 1011 , Sandpoint , Idaho 83864 . Major programs and activities include the following:

Gun 'n Horn show at Bonner County Fairgrounds the first weekend in March.
Ongoing Hunter and Archery education classes meeting state requirements. Sign up on-line at Idaho Fish and Game.
Caretakers of the Wildlife Building at the Fairgrounds. Which displays different wildlife found in our area, has an active pond during the Bonner County Fair, and many different learning tools for animal tracks and fish identification.
First to join the Adopt a Wetland Program (Pack River Flats is our project)
Working with Idaho Fish & Game on comprehensive wildlife and fishery issues.
Affiliated with Sandpoint Archers, Panhandle Free Trappers (muzzle loading club) Sandpoint Jr. and Sr. Rifle Club and Sandpoint Pistol Club
They have working relationships with Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and Lake Pend Oreille Club on habitat restoration issues.
Cooperate with Idaho Wildlife Council and Idaho Wildlife Federation on legislative issues.

The Sandpoint Archers host a winter league on Friday nights at 7pm at the Hadley range. Open range for archery is every Wednesday at 7pm.
The Sandpoint Jr Rifle Club (under 21) meets 6:00pm on Monday's. (Sept - June)
The Sandpoint Sr Rifle Club meets at 5:00pm on Thursday's (Oct - April)
The Sandpoint Pistol Club meets on Tuesday and Sunday's.
Members of the NRA, CMP and USA Shooting associations.
Sponsors of two yearly scholarships, open to all Bonner County residents who are furthering their education at a college or trade school. Write to BCSA for more information.
The pistol club meets on Tue. 6:30 - 8 PM (Nov. - March) and Sun. 3 - 4:30 PM also Nov. - March.

Current officers:

Carl Zmuda - President - 946-0196
Tom Johnson - Vice-President/Membership
Holly Banning - Treasurer
Vance Geisinger - Secretary
Kathy Konek - Gun 'n Horn Show Vendor Coordinator

Bonner County Sportsmen P.O. Box 1011 , Sandpoint , Idaho 83864

Hunting Guides & Outfitters

Buckshot Outfitting

Clint & Cherry Gray

494492 Hwy 95 Naples, ID 83847

Phone (208) 290-2144
Web Site

Our exclusive outfitting and guiding territory is located in the panhandle of northern Idaho, and encompasses over 1200 square miles (768,000 acres). It extends north and south of Sandpoint, Idaho and Lake Pend'Oreille. Only 25 miles north of the area lies the Canadian border.

Clark Fork Outfitters

Leon, Molly, Ashley and Devon Brown

P.O. Box 311 Clark Fork, ID 83811

Phone (208) 290-3087
Web Site

Clark Fork Outfitters is the primary Guide Service in Units 4 and 4A in Northern Idaho specializing in Lion and Bear hunts, but also offer quality Elk, Whitetail and Mule Deer.