good place to hunt besides wa?

[LeviD1]

So I have been elk hunting I'm NE Washington for 6 years now. Seems like every year we are trying to kill the one elk in the area...... this year so far we have not seen any elk sign less than a week old and have not even heard an elk bugle. This is somewhat odd cause we usually can get on one elk and get pretty close just its so thick I've never been able to get a shot. But to the point. It occurd to me, I want to hunt somewhere I can hear even a few bulls each year and chase a couple around throughout the season. Where the elk bugle at each other even! Which i have never heard happen up here. Its like theres so much area with so few elk they dont need to bugle at each other. I live in Spokane, I am thinking Idaho for next year? Montana is almost double price as idaho but is Montana even better than idaho and worth it? I have never heard anything about Oregon. Is Oregon good as well? I would like to start scouting next spring in one of these states. Idaho is most ideal because its so close. But has the wolves taken a tole on the elk? Im not to worried about killing monster trophy elk,  I just want to get potentially multiple bulls each year and kill one more often than not. If I do hunt one of these states I have no idea where to start. I dont know anyone who has hunted these areas and need pointed in a good direction. Im tired of using 2 weeks of my vacation time to have a crap chance at an elk. Can anyone give me some good info?

Thank you very much.

[JimmyHoffa]

Oregon is actually a major elk state.  One of the overlooked ones.  But I think they have the third highest elk population, after Colorado and Montana. 

[bobcat]

Idaho would be a great choice, since you're so close. Oregon has lots of elk but their tags cost too much, in my opinion. Why pay Oregon's prices when you can hunt Idaho for a lot less and you can scout more often because you're closer? Montana is also overpriced.

[gaddy]

And dont you have a chance at a wolf in Idaho ?

[Stein]

I would look at Idaho or Colorado - Montana's prices are a joke.

[LeviD1]

Idaho would be a great choice, since you're so close. Oregon has lots of elk but their tags cost too much, in my opinion. Why pay Oregon's prices when you can hunt Idaho for a lot less and you can scout more often because you're closer? Montana is also overpriced.

Thanks bobcat. Thats what I was leaning toward. Couple hour drive to locations and could make weekends out of it as well.

[LeviD1]

And dont you have a chance at a wolf in Idaho ?

I was thinking that would be pretty cool as well. Its only like $32 for out of state wolf as well.

[LeviD1]

I would look at Idaho or Colorado - Montana's prices are a joke.

Colorado seems like it would be amazing. Just quite a distance away. Wouldnt be able to scout it real effectively I feel like. Maybe someday. It would probably be a kick in the pants.

[theleo]

Spent the 9th-14th hunting in Idaho. Saw 15 bulls, killed a 5x5, heard or saw bulls everyday, saw around 2 to three times as many cows, neither saw or heard a wolf, but was packed in 2 hours from the nearest roads. I grew up around LaGrande OR, but never had good enough hunting to justify paying out of state prices to go back hunting there. Can't speak about other states but I'm happy with what hunting is available with an over the counter, any elk tag, that I can get in Idaho.

[elkinrutdrivemenuts]

I did NE Washington for a bit, and then went to Idaho.  5 years later I have 5 bulls on my wall.  Lived in Spokane and hunted the Panhandle.  It wont take you long to find a spot to hunt over here after a few trips and some scouting if you can find elk in NE Washington.  There are lots of elk and lots of places to go.

[LeviD1]

Spent the 9th-14th hunting in Idaho. Saw 15 bulls, killed a 5x5, heard or saw bulls everyday, saw around 2 to three times as many cows, neither saw or heard a wolf, but was packed in 2 hours from the nearest roads. I grew up around LaGrande OR, but never had good enough hunting to justify paying out of state prices to go back hunting there. Can't speak about other states but I'm happy with what hunting is available with an over the counter, any elk tag, that I can get in Idaho.

Thats awesome! Congrats on your bull! Even half that would be amazing to me. I would even take a cow the last few days or week and be perfectly happy and worth it to me.

[LeviD1]

I did NE Washington for a bit, and then went to Idaho.  5 years later I have 5 bulls on my wall.  Lived in Spokane and hunted the Panhandle.  It wont take you long to find a spot to hunt over here after a few trips and some scouting if you can find elk in NE Washington.  There are lots of elk and lots of places to go.

Great! Thank you. Positive information is really all I meant by pointed in the right direction. I just didnt want it to be all for nothing.

[cbond3318]

I know my Brother in Law lives in Spokane and goes over into the panhandle and usually gets his bull and seems he doesn't have to try real hard. I've always thought if a guy start saving a little each month starting now, the out of state fees would be easy to swallow and Idaho is not much of a commute to good elk hunting from anywhere east of the Cascades.

[theleo]

Spent the 9th-14th hunting in Idaho. Saw 15 bulls, killed a 5x5, heard or saw bulls everyday, saw around 2 to three times as many cows, neither saw or heard a wolf, but was packed in 2 hours from the nearest roads. I grew up around LaGrande OR, but never had good enough hunting to justify paying out of state prices to go back hunting there. Can't speak about other states but I'm happy with what hunting is available with an over the counter, any elk tag, that I can get in Idaho.

Thats awesome! Congrats on your bull! Even half that would be amazing to me. I would even take a cow the last few days or week and be perfectly happy and worth it to me.

I'm new to the archery game so I'm still dealing with the learning curve of how to deal with wind, calling, and how to set things up to my advantage hunting solo. It's hard for me to get to excited about this state though when I can get that sort of hunting in Idaho. I hunted harder than last time I was over there (3 years ago) but managed to get my second bull out of there. My 2nd archery, 2nd birthday bull, and 2nd 5x5 from the exact same spot. Idaho is fun!

[LeviD1]

I know my Brother in Law lives in Spokane and goes over into the panhandle and usually gets his bull and seems he doesn't have to try real hard. I've always thought if a guy start saving a little each month starting now, the out of state fees would be easy to swallow and Idaho is not much of a commute to good elk hunting from anywhere east of the Cascades.

Thats what I was thinking. Just needed some points of view. I figure when I get 2 days at least overtime each month and two OT days would buy an idaho tag I got the wife to pass on it as well 

[Eli346]

 I'd take Idaho in a heartbeat and a chance at a wolf too!

[Ridgerunner]

You are headed in the right direction, I'd be focused in on Idaho if I were you. 

[andrew_in_idaho]

Oregon is actually a major elk state.  One of the overlooked ones.  But I think they have the third highest elk population, after Colorado and Montana.

I know idaho is actually number 2 in total elk numbers, I'd guess oregon somewhere closer to 4 or 5, can't forget Wyoming has a lot of elk

[bearpaw]

Living in Spokane Idaho makes the most sense! 

http://www.fieldandstream.com/articles/hunting/big-game/elk/2009/01/state-sate-elk-hunting-report

Arizona Elk Population: 20,000
Colorado Elk Population: 300,000
Idaho Elk Population: 115,000
Montana Elk Population: 170,000
New Mexico Elk Population: 70,000
Oregon Elk Population: 120,000
Utah Elk Population: 59,000
Washington Elk Population: 60,000
Wyoming Elk Population: 103,000

[GoBeavs85]

I think those stats, while true, might be misleading. I moved from Oregon and I don't pay the out of state prices to go back there. What we all look for are concentrations of elk. OR has a lot of elk because there are elk everywhere in Oregon. North, south, west, east doesn't matter you can find elk.

Maybe Idaho has fewer acres of elk habitat so similar number of elk in smaller area = perception of more elk. I'm speculating but seems logical.


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