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Hunting Sandpoint, 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." 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. |
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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. Links...
Idaho Fish & Game
Idaho Fish & Hunt
US Forest Service
IdahoSportsman.com
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Bonner County Sportsmen Association
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.
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:
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Gun 'n Horn show at Bonner County
Fairgrounds the first weekend in March.
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Ongoing Hunter and Archery education
classes meeting state requirements. Sign
up on-line at
Idaho Fish and Game.
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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.
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First to join the Adopt a Wetland
Program (Pack River Flats is our
project)
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Working with Idaho Fish & Game on
comprehensive wildlife and fishery
issues.
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Affiliated with Sandpoint Archers,
Panhandle Free Trappers (muzzle loading
club) Sandpoint Jr. and Sr. Rifle Club
and Sandpoint Pistol Club
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They have working relationships with
Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and Lake
Pend Oreille Club on habitat restoration
issues.
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Cooperate with Idaho Wildlife Council
and Idaho Wildlife Federation on
legislative issues.
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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.
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The Sandpoint Jr Rifle Club (under 21)
meets 6:00pm on Monday's. (Sept - June)
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The Sandpoint Sr Rifle Club meets at
5:00pm on Thursday's (Oct - April)
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The Sandpoint Pistol Club meets on
Tuesday and Sunday's.
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Members of the NRA, CMP and USA Shooting
associations.
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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.
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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
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