idaho elk hunting cows? bulls?

[MuleyMania]

Wanting to hunt elk in Idaho, have no idea what areas would be a reasonable chance for cow or bull. Any help would be much appreciated. Have looked at Idaho regs. What a maze, may need help on that end also.

[go4steelhd]

 I have a few questions before I answer this. Rifle or archery? This year or next? Do you like to hunt timber or more open glass able country?
I lived in Idaho for ten years.

[fishngamereaper]

Idaho has a hunt planer that is much easier to navigate than most other states. Start with harvest stats for the species and narrow your search down by success rates. Its all there, I think they go back to 2008 right now. Most of Idaho's OTC tags go on sale in December, they used to sell out in a few weeks, but now because of tag price and wolves they generally dont sell out.

[MuleyMania]

Would be hunting archery for next year. Prefer timber for archery, but a mix would be ideal

[ridgefire]

Idaho has a ton of info on their website. between that and a scouting trip or two you should have no problem finding elk.

[HUNTINCOUPLE]

Not sure how feasible it is for you to make summer scouting trip or two or three? Sometimes before we even think about dropping out of state tag fees we will scout/camp/family trip the areas we have been studying on maps an internet for one,two, or more years? With that said going in cold and showing up to hunt can be very rewarding as well! 

[go4steelhd]

I would look really hard at the Weiser river area.

[huntnnw]

lotta units took cow harvest away and made it bull only and have to draw a cow tag now

[MuleyMania]

Thanks for the input. Planned on making some scouting trips to check it out. Have been to the hunt planner. Central part of the has good stats, but shows heavy hunting pressure. If anything like the colockum count me out! I am not a trophy hunter. I just like hunting elk.

[huntnnw]

You can avoid pressure in the panhandle if you choose to hunt north. Lotta country, but thick and steep.

[MuleyMania]

At 58yo steep and deep doesn't do it. Still in good shape, but not willing to kill myself for an animal. Have been looking at unit 22, 32 and 32a, looks to be a lot of people in there but terrain is more to my liking, maybe elk city area. Any thoughts on those areas?

[rawhide67]

I have a cabin in the Elk City area and mostly hunt whitetails in the area.  There are Elk in the area but the wolves have been hard on the herds.  The terrain in the varies from open pastures to heavy steep timber.  Be prepared for brutal cold weather if you head over for the late archery.  I would advise heading over to check it out in the summer before you decide.  Shoot me a pm if you have any other questions. 

[Mr Mykiss]

Take your time to figure out the regs/website. Their website is one of the best in the west in my opinion. We hunted central Idaho for deer and didn't see an elk but then again we weren't hunting them. We saw an OTC 360-370" awesome non-typical at the local gas station kilt by some ATV riders so they're out there for the taking brother!!