Quick Tips
- Be careful not to hunt in the Coeur d'Alene River drainage
- Bring a motorcycle as well as an ATV for maximum access
- A lot of the hunting is on private land
| species | general Size | trophy potential |
|---|---|---|
| Mule Deer | 130"-150" | 150"+ |
| Whitetail Deer | 120"-140" | 140"+ |
| Elk | Raghorn-280" | 280"+ |
On The Ground
Most of this area is a strip of the Kanisku National Forest that is about 3-8 miles wide on the south shore of Lake Pend Oreille. Hunters can hunt elk, whitetail and mule deer here every year.
Some big whitetails live in this unit including the occasional record book animal. Mule deer are rare and don't get very big here.
Terrain
Bordering Montana and including Lake Pend Oreille, this hunt is on a strip of land that is 3-8 miles wide on the south side of the lake. The high points are Bernard Peak and the peaks along the watershed divide between the lake and the Coeur d’Alene River. Most land is in the Kanisku National Forest. Some flat land lies along the Clark Fork River, and is mostly privately owned.
Roughly 292 square miles
50.5% public land
Elevations from 2,000-6,400 feet
Vegetation
The mountains are mostly covered with trees, including hemlock, birches, aspen, western larch and western red cedar. There are also some pines in this area, like western ponderosa and white pine, with Engelmann spruce and subalpine fir, Douglas fir and grand fir. A lot of species of shrubs, forbs and grasses grow in cut blocks, meadows, basins and on hills and lowlands that either don’t support trees or have been burned or logged. Willows and other riparian plants can be found near streams.
Access
There is good access to national forest land toward the south and east of Lake Pend Oreille. Two forest roads that offer good access to the mountains are Lakeview Road and Johnson Creek Road.
Most forest roads are open to all vehicles
Four-wheel-drive is recommended
ATVs handle some roads better than full-size vehicles
Camping and Lodging
Lodging is available in Sandpoint. Some options include Sandpoint Vacation Rentals, Guesthouse Lodge Sandpoint and Best Western Edgewater Resort. Campgrounds close in September, so most hunters camp along forest roads.
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