Metaline Falls / Ione Elk population

[10thmountainarcher]

An any elk season for many years sure didn't help the population grow by leaps and bounds.  Glad to see it by permit for cows now.

Archery is still any elk in the NE sir.

I was referring to rifle, guess I didn't specify that.

Gotcha makes sense...

[buckfvr]

An any elk season for many years sure didn't help the population grow by leaps and bounds.  Glad to see it by permit for cows now.

Archery is still any elk in the NE sir.

I was referring to rifle, guess I didn't specify that.

Better take a closer look before late archery elk........................

[oldleclercrd]

There's 3 confirmed wolf packs up there (international, salmo-priest, and diamond). Those are just the ones they admit. Then you have the individual wolfs kicked over the border from Idaho looking for a new territory of their own. Heck just the Diamond pack has 14 wolfs I believe.

[KFhunter]

These guys are exactly right, it's not hunting like you see on the hunting channel with open spaces and bulls screaming.

I've heard them called "jungle elk" and it seems to fit.


You get a bull over there you've earned it,  unless your a local sitting on a well maintained bait pile opening morning 

[10thmountainarcher]

An any elk season for many years sure didn't help the population grow by leaps and bounds.  Glad to see it by permit for cows now.

Archery is still any elk in the NE sir.

I was referring to rifle, guess I didn't specify that.

Better take a closer look before late archery elk........................

Yea I'm tracking that during the late archery elk it's any bull.  It's also only in GMU 117 for that area as 111 and 113 are not open. Guess they don't want you to get a 2 for 1 on a cow that is pregnant...  Agreed Oldlecler, there are a lot more wolves then they like to admit in the area..

[dibbs]

I work in the area.  It's steep, brushy, LOTS of wolves, and elk populations are low. I'm out in the woods frequently, and it's an extremely rare occasion when I see elk.  Wolf crap and tracks, different story altogether.

[Expedition Scout]

Even the WDFW admits that the aerial counts only reflect half of the population. It's easy to find a wolf with tracking equipment and count the number with the group. Its all the single's out there looking for a group that have filtered in they can't account for.

As for the Bull only in late season, I agree about the two for one with pregnant cows. I't will boost the numbers to leave them alone. Up there it is very difficult to make the choice to shoot a cow knowing you are reducing the population by one or two each year for the life of the cow. But if you have a bull in your sights, you better take the shot, you might not get another!

[10thmountainarcher]

Even the WDFW admits that the aerial counts only reflect half of the population. It's easy to find a wolf with tracking equipment and count the number with the group. Its all the single's out there looking for a group that have filtered in they can't account for.

As for the Bull only in late season, I agree about the two for one with pregnant cows. I't will boost the numbers to leave them alone. Up there it is very difficult to make the choice to shoot a cow knowing you are reducing the population by one or two each year for the life of the cow. But if you have a bull in your sights, you better take the shot, you might not get another!

Bingo, and I wouldnt shoot a cow in the early season.. that is just me though..

[cryder]

JEEEEEZE !I think I will bring the side arm for turkey up there too next year !I had a black bear bust out on me while turkey calling 5 years ago nothing like that since but thanks for the warning,probably don't go after us but kill something and its dinner served maybe !!!THANX!!

[Expedition Scout]

I make every choice at full draw, first question is (freezer empty or freezer not empty)? Still have a tag in my pocket from early season... think that says it all for this year!

Looking forward to some work late season, but still believe that keeping the cows will only improve the numbers. Especially with the extra mouths to feed!

[CoryTDF]

They can tell your from out of town if you have Bino's on! I got out of the truck and a local guy laughed at me and said what are those for? He then said matter of factly " Your not from around here are you?" He was right it is so thick you almost never really need your bino's. The only elk I saw was in pieces on the back of some alpacas. It's not the type of place you just drive to and expect to find elk. They are there but few and far between.

Also watch your GPS you might end up doing a spot of hunting in Canada and have to talk with the Border Patrol guys. Not that I know anything about that......

[bassquatch]

OP, you are obviously on to something! For future reference, the more dire the warnings or the more comical the replies the closer you are to the truth! "Super rough country", "be ready to hike 50 miles a day", "it's a pumpkin patch maybe biggest in the State?!", "watch out for the psycho locals they like to burn cars", "way more animals in your own backyard", "it was great years and years ago", "wolves everywhere", "my hunting partner got raped up there...never been back", these are just a few examples. The biggest thing I have learned researching on this site is when it comes to 'lying' and 'mis-information', most hunters make fishermen look like choir boys! Also go waaaay back in the pages of the topic! People were more open 200-300 pages ago when the site wasn't very old. The other thing I will tell you is that one of the contractors that comes in to my work told me he has taken an elk out of that area 9 out of the last 10 years for whatever that's worth?!

Hang in there, don't take it personally and watch for PM's, even though the masses may flame you there are always some upstanding folks that will PM you with the straight scoop 

[10thmountainarcher]

OP, you are obviously on to something! For future reference, the more dire the warnings or the more comical the replies the closer you are to the truth! "Super rough country", "be ready to hike 50 miles a day", "it's a pumpkin patch maybe biggest in the State?!", "watch out for the psycho locals they like to burn cars", "way more animals in your own backyard", "it was great years and years ago", "wolves everywhere", "my hunting partner got raped up there...never been back", these are just a few examples. The biggest thing I have learned researching on this site is when it comes to 'lying' and 'mis-information', most hunters make fishermen look like choir boys! Also go waaaay back in the pages of the topic! People were more open 200-300 pages ago when the site wasn't very old. The other thing I will tell you is that one of the contractors that comes in to my work told me he has taken an elk out of that area 9 out of the last 10 years for whatever that's worth?!

Hang in there, don't take it personally and watch for PM's, even though the masses may flame you there are always some upstanding folks that will PM you with the straight scoop 

Have you yourself ever hunted the area? Basically you get on here calling me a liar? There are members on this sight that can vouch that I have given them plenty of information about the area and general vicinities of where they could get into animals.  Are there elk there... yes, but you will work your butt off trying to get one.   As stated if you yourself has never hunted the area then Do Not get on here and attack the integrity and honesty of the others who have posted..

[huntnnw]

Entertaining theory's and a read 

[mdbuck5x5]

OP, you are obviously on to something! For future reference, the more dire the warnings or the more comical the replies the closer you are to the truth! "Super rough country", "be ready to hike 50 miles a day", "it's a pumpkin patch maybe biggest in the State?!", "watch out for the psycho locals they like to burn cars", "way more animals in your own backyard", "it was great years and years ago", "wolves everywhere", "my hunting partner got raped up there...never been back", these are just a few examples. The biggest thing I have learned researching on this site is when it comes to 'lying' and 'mis-information', most hunters make fishermen look like choir boys! Also go waaaay back in the pages of the topic! People were more open 200-300 pages ago when the site wasn't very old. The other thing I will tell you is that one of the contractors that comes in to my work told me he has taken an elk out of that area 9 out of the last 10 years for whatever that's worth?!

Hang in there, don't take it personally and watch for PM's, even though the masses may flame you there are always some upstanding folks that will PM you with the straight scoop 

  While I would tend to agree with you on certain occasions I saw nothing in this thread that suggests what you're claiming! I guess you're just looking for an argument!