Headed to Hells canyon!(Updated with pics)

[Machias]

Great photos, thanks for sharing!!

[huntnphool]

It was a permit hunt...225 bull tags..335 cow tags. I spoke with a bio last week at IDFG and shared my exp with him..he agreed with exactly what I said about the elk. They are trying to get the herd cut down as it has exceded carrying capacity, but the terrain has created some huge mangement issues with large roadless areas and private on other side protecting the elk. He said the long term goal is for the unit to be an exceptional bull hunt

How long is the season for that permit, and which weapon?

[huntnnw]

It ends Nov 3rd and its any weapon..we are headed back the 1st to see if we can fill a tag or 2

[huntnphool]

It ends Nov 3rd and its any weapon..we are headed back the 1st to see if we can fill a tag or 2

Oh ok, it doesn't seem so bad then. I was thinking that many tags on a short permit hunt seemed a little wacko but stretched out over that much time it doesn't.

Good luck

[huntnnw]

Yeah its pretty long....by our 5th day on the hunt about 80% of the people had left and I guess its pretty empty from there on out. The damge was done by then anyways shoving the elk onto private or 2-3K feet in elevation down into the wilderness. My hope is with the pressure being down now for awhile and cooler temps now that the elk will be out a little more.

[huntnphool]

Yeah its pretty long....by our 5th day on the hunt about 80% of the people had left and I guess its pretty empty from there on out. The damge was done by then anyways shoving the elk onto private or 2-3K feet in elevation down into the wilderness. My hope is with the pressure being down now for awhile and cooler temps now that the elk will be out a little more.

Yeah, and all but the die hards will avoid hunting in the increasingly worse weather.

[BrettinWen]

Sorry to hear about the bad luck, I think your in good company. The Hell's Canyon units 11, 13 and 18 are tough to hunt, have way too many hunters and access can be tough with outfitters locking down private land leases.  This year they screwed up the unit 11 hunt by having a cow hunt Oct. 1-9.   

[NWTFhunter]

Horses are the answer to that area. When I was younger, my dad, grandpa, and I would pack in and not be pressured.