# Idaho Loses 8,600 Acres of Public Hunting Access in North Idaho After Vandalism, Rule Violations
Nearly 8,600 acres of privately owned land in North Idaho has been closed to public access after years of unauthorized use, vandalism, theft, and damage left the landowner with no choice but to withdraw from a voluntary public access program — a significant loss for hunters, anglers, and outdoor enthusiasts across Kootenai County and the surrounding Panhandle region.
The Idaho Department of Fish and Game (IDFG) announced the closure affecting land in Unit 5 near Emida, a small community in Benewah County southeast of the North Idaho Panhandle. The land had been enrolled in IDFG’s Large Tracts Program, which allows public recreational access to privately held properties under agreements between landowners and the state.
## Background on Idaho’s Large Tracts Program
Idaho’s Large Tracts Program is a voluntary arrangement in which private landowners open their property to public access — typically for hunting, fishing, and hiking — in exchange for cooperation and recognition from the state. The program depends entirely on the goodwill of participating landowners and the responsible behavior of the public who uses those lands.
When that trust is broken, landowners have every right to withdraw, and that is precisely what has happened near Emida. According to IDFG, the land manager — identified as Manulife Investment Management — removed the acreage from the program after repeated incidents of vandalism, theft, and damage to roads and gates on the property.
The loss represents a significant reduction in accessible land for North Idaho sportsmen and outdoor users. Unit 5 is a popular area for big game hunting, including white-tailed deer and elk, drawing recreationists from across Kootenai County, Shoshone County, and the broader North Idaho region each season.
## Key Details of the Closure
The approximately 8,600 acres removed from public access were part of a larger block of privately managed timberland that had been made available to the public through the Large Tracts Program. IDFG confirmed that the closure is a direct result of ongoing violations by members of the public, including:
– **Vandalism** to property and infrastructure
– **Theft** of materials and equipment
– **Damage to roads and gates** used to manage the land
These types of violations are not isolated incidents in North Idaho. Land managers across the Panhandle have increasingly reported problems with trespassing, illegal dumping, damaged fencing, and destroyed gate hardware — all of which drive up costs for private landowners and erode the cooperative relationships that make voluntary public access programs possible.
IDFG has not indicated whether any specific individuals have been identified or cited in connection with the violations that led to this closure.
## Impact on Kootenai County Residents and North Idaho Sportsmen
While the closure is centered near Emida in Benewah County, the impact extends throughout the North Idaho Panhandle, including hunters and recreationists based in Coeur d’Alene, Post Falls, Hayden, Rathdrum, and Spirit Lake who regularly travel to surrounding units for seasonal hunting and other outdoor activities.
The loss of nearly 8,600 acres of accessible land places added pressure on remaining public ground and other Large Tracts Program parcels in the region. It also serves as a stark reminder that public access to private land is a privilege — not a right — and that irresponsible behavior by a minority of users has consequences for everyone.
North Idaho’s outdoor economy, which supports guides, outfitters, sporting goods retailers, and rural businesses across Kootenai County, depends in part on the availability of accessible hunting and recreation land. Closures like this one chip away at that foundation.
For more on statewide land access and wildlife management issues across Idaho, visit [Idaho News](https://idahonews.co).
## What Comes Next
IDFG has not announced any plans to negotiate a reinstatement of access with Manulife Investment Management, and no timeline for a potential reversal of the closure has been provided.
Sportsmen, landowners, and outdoor advocates who want to protect and expand public access opportunities in North Idaho are encouraged to:
– **Report violations** such as vandalism, trespassing, and property damage to IDFG or the Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office (KCSO)
– **Practice Leave No Trace** principles and respect all posted rules when accessing private land
– **Contact IDFG** at their regional Panhandle office to learn more about the Large Tracts Program and how responsible recreation protects future access
Preserving voluntary public access to private lands in Idaho requires every user to act responsibly. When that responsibility is ignored, thousands of acres — and the hunting and recreational traditions tied to them — can disappear in an instant.
—
*Tags: North Idaho, Kootenai County, Hunting Access, Large Tracts Program, Idaho Department of Fish and Game*