Lemhi Zone, Unit 29 ID, general archery

[huntinluva]

Hey guys, my buddy and I have committed to hunting Unit 29 for the archery season.  I have formulated a plan, reviewed maps, scoured Google Earth and talked to the regional biologists.  Being stubborn I am going to stick to the hunt I have planned and have created some  B and C scenarios if plan A doesn't pan out.  As with other ID units I am sure wolves have had some effect on the area but it is what it is.  Probably steep, working on physical conditioning leading up to the WA season starting so just knowing my limits will be key.  Being that I have a plan I want to get some insight from fellow hunters who are willing to share some experiences with the unit/area.  Has anyone hunted the Lemhi Range, in particular Unit 29?  Feel free to share via PM, looking to establish some working relationships on here so anything anyone is willing to shed some light on would be greatly appreciated. I know we are all jones'n for our seasons to start!

Thanks for any replies/PM's fellas?

[theleo]

I can't speak to the unit or zone (I hunt the Pioneer zone) but you might want to talk to a range biologist for the area to and see where any bands of sheep are likely to be before and during your hunt. Wolves get into sheep year round and as soon as a couple sheep die because of wolves the government trapper gets sent in to kill some of the wolves. So if there's a drainage or area the bands have been running in for a chunk of the summer odds are some of the wolves will have gotten shot out of there creating an area with less predators for the elk to hang in. Just something to think about.

[huntinluva]

theleo, thanks for the insight, definitely not something I was aware of and thanks to others who have PM'd me.  Good to know we have guys willing to assist another hunter! Hopefully I can repay the favor on future inquiries from others.

Everyone says ID is steeper than steep, what are we talking about here.  Understand some units are worse than others, looking at the topo this may be the case depending on area of focus for 29.  I have hunted the Blues (Lick Creek) and the Snake River breaks in Almota up and down through the day, legs are burning but all for the greater good.  Just trying to get a comparison.  Thanks again guys, only 11 weeks left (for some of us).

[2MANY]

Sheep are not around.
Steepness is the same as other steepness elsewhere IMHO.

[NoBark]

Send me a PM   I have some thoughts for you.

[busterbrown]

back in the late 90's, unit 29 was a great spot. Then the word got, too many people started pounding the area, including lots of out of state hunters.

Send me a PM, I can point most of the spots in unit 29 that used to hold critters.

[idaho guy]

I still think 29 is a good unit and I think they have a good handle on the wolf situation now. It is not that bad for steepness, there may be some sheep but I have not seen any in there. Its not really that big if you focus on the middle to southern part of the unit and scout it you will figure it out pretty quick. 

[huntinluva]

Thanks for all the pointers fellas, it is appreciated!

[theleo]

You've hunted some steep country but what your not taking into account is that a lot of the time in Idaho is your starting elevation is where you top out in the blues. There's a big difference between going from 2,000 to 5,000 than 5,000 to 8,000. Where I've hunted in Idaho a common spot has me going from 6,000 to 9,000 and back in a day. Living in the Tri-citties at 2,000 and change it takes my body a few days to build the red blood cells to deal with the altitude difference. 

[ipkus]

The Tri-Cities is only 400 ft. in elevation.

[2MANY]

Regardless his point is a good one.

[theleo]

Did a quick search and google says the town of Leadore is just shy of 6,000 ft in elevation. For all practical purposes figure all you're hunting you'll start at the top of the Blues and will be going up. It will take you're body 4 or 5 days to generate the extra red blood cells to compensate for the elevation. Drink lots of water while you're there and be in shape. You can't do anything short of sleeping in a hyperbaric chamber to deal with the red blood cells but getting nice and lean will help your muscles to be able to recover over night to be ready for the next day.

[2MANY]

Gotta love the Halloween party at the Leadore tavern.
If you have the chance...................................Partake.

[blacktailcrzy]

I was hoping to spark this thread back up or maybe get in contact will some people with familiarity with unit 37 and 37a I will also be archery elk hunting there this year and could use all the help I can get such as areas to stay away form for reasons such as there's low elk numbers or over crowded. I have at least 10 places I have marked on google earth and I'm looking to narrow them down to a number I can effectively hunt on a 10 day hunt

[idaho guy]

huningluva how did your hunt go?

[huntinluva]

Hunt went well in my opinion for never setting foot in the area prior to our arrival.  No tags (2) were notched but definitely not for lack of effort or opportunity.  Not much rut activity while we were there and the guys we ran into (yes there were others in the unit) had the same luck.  Stay high and work the benches.  Water was not an issue as there were many natural springs for wallows/drinks (for the elk not me).  Knowing what I do now I would have sat at said water sources longer (no patience) and had a decoy with me as the timber was more "open" than I had expected.  Overall had a great time.

[trophyhunt]

Hunt went well in my opinion for never setting foot in the area prior to our arrival.  No tags (2) were notched but definitely not for lack of effort or opportunity.  Not much rut activity while we were there and the guys we ran into (yes there were others in the unit) had the same luck.  Stay high and work the benches.  Water was not an issue as there were many natural springs for wallows/drinks (for the elk not me).  Knowing what I do now I would have sat at said water sources longer (no patience) and had a decoy with me as the timber was more "open" than I had expected.  Overall had a great time.

the hunt is over already?  That's an early start date!

[theleo]

the hunt is over already?  That's an early start date!

Idaho has some early hunts. I even know of at least one OTC tag you can get and hunt bulls in velvet with a rifle.

[trophyhunt]

the hunt is over already?  That's an early start date!

Idaho has some early hunts. I even know of at least one OTC tag you can get and hunt bulls in velvet with a rifle.

way too hot for me, are you going back or is your hunt over?

[idaho guy]

the hunt dates ar 8-30 to 9-30 for his hunt he went last fall.Huntingliva glad you had a good hunt 

[huntinluva]

The hunt I referenced was last fall.