Doubling Down: Washington/Idaho

[Dhoey07]

  I've been hunting deer all my life and hunting elk for the past 5 years.  I've shot my share of deer but have not killed an elk yet.  I've had my chances but that's a longer story and memories/nightmares that I don't care to explain right now 

So, I went to put in for a spring bear a few days ago and starting clicking on all the tags and licenses for this year and when it was all tallied up, I couldn't quite press the submit button.  A little voice inside of me was saying "why not double down this year and go all in on elk", among other things like "how the hell did that total get so high"......

Why don't I cut the Washington deer, bear, multi season, second deer draw, blah, blah, blah, out and just but an elk tag for both Washington and Idaho?   I live close enough to Idaho to scout/hunt and I feel like I'm damn close on getting a Washington bull.  So am I crazy?  Should I go all in on elk this year? 

For what it's worth, I would be getting the Eastern Wa archery tag and the Panhandle B tag.  A solid 2 months of chasing elk in hopes of finally popping my Wapiti cherry.

Thoughts?

[Henrydog]

I am in the same boat.  Lots of deer over the years, never an elk.  I always see them, but something always happens.  I have always done EWa Muzzleloader and I think I am done.  I spend a lot of time fishing the panhandle, and I cut a coupe of cords of wood each fall on the northside 4th of July pass, I can tell you the Cd'A Drainage get hammered with hunters, (but I have the river all to myself).  I read an article last spring in the Cd'a press that the St Joe herds are finally recovering. I would go Idaho in a heartbeat.  Last time I checked it was something like $750 bucks for a tag and license

[bobcat]

If you're close to Idaho I'd hunt elk there for sure. I think I'd even consider dropping out of Washington entirely. If you're going to spend the money on the non-resident elk tag, you might as well focus on Idaho. At least for your first time hunting there. Any time you spend hunting in Washington could have been spent in Idaho instead, as the season will be open at the same time.

[kentrek]

Absolutely do both if you can, just make sure the seasons don't over lap and you have enough vacation time to put in the time needed....you can never go wrong spending more time in the woods, esp chasing elk !!

[Dhoey07]

If you're close to Idaho I'd hunt elk there for sure. I think I'd even consider dropping out of Washington entirely. If you're going to spend the money on the non-resident elk tag, you might as well focus on it. And least for your first time hunting Idaho.

 I can't drop Washington all together, I have a bird dog that needs to hunt

[elkinrutdrivemenuts]

Just get a Idaho Panhandle A tag and you can have 2 months of chasing elk! Month with the bow, 5 days with the rifle, and a couple weeks with a muzzy, then a late archery season.  It will help you greatly to spend all your time in the woods over here to learn where the elk are and how they act.  Its hard to just stumble across them up here during rifle season.  Some do, but it sounds like you wanna put some work in, so make it worth your while. 

[coachcw]

next to elk I like sex best ! go for it.

[BIGDOG253]

If you're close to Idaho I'd hunt elk there for sure. I think I'd even consider dropping out of Washington entirely. If you're going to spend the money on the non-resident elk tag, you might as well focus on Idaho. At least for your first time hunting there. Any time you spend hunting in Washington could have been spent in Idaho instead, as the season will be open at the same time.

That's my plan this year. I wont be hunting elk in Washington this next year, instead I will be spending most of my time getting familiar with new areas in Idaho.
And hopefully get my first elk 

[Eli346]

Don't forget to get an Idaho wolf tag. You can use a deer or elk tag on a wolf too I believe.

[buglebrush]

That is exactly what I do.  Washington Archery, and Idaho B-Tag are the perfect combo with the new Washington archery dates. 

[BULLBLASTER]

I would personally do a panhandle a tag. Then plan WA hunts around that. For me anymore WA is mostly filler hunts around my Idaho and other state draws. 

[Dhoey07]

If you're close to Idaho I'd hunt elk there for sure. I think I'd even consider dropping out of Washington entirely. If you're going to spend the money on the non-resident elk tag, you might as well focus on Idaho. At least for your first time hunting there. Any time you spend hunting in Washington could have been spent in Idaho instead, as the season will be open at the same time.

If I don't deer hunt then I would be able to hunt Idaho elk from sept 6-12, then Wa elk directly following, and then back to Idaho Oct 10-24 with a rifle, then dec 2nd-9th for Idaho Muzzy if needed. 

[buglebrush]

The huge advantage of hunting Washington Archery is that he can shoot a cow for meat, and then use his B-tag to trophy hunt Idaho.

[idaho guy]

never elk hunted in Washington but seems like you guys are selling the hunt a little short. As mentioned, if its your first elk you have the opportunity to shoot a cow and put some meat in the freezer. Idaho otc panhandle does not offer any cow opportunity. I take my son deer hunting in Washington on the eastside  and we run into elk all the time. The panhandle is  good elk hunting with tons of opportunity with multiple weapons but the cda river and others are turning into a zoo with a ton of hunters. I would definitely do both if I were you and I am considering taking my son elk hunting in Washington! as well as Idaho just because we bump a fair number of elk and the units we hunt for deer are either sex elk in Washington. Do both and kill two elk!   

[pd]

IdahoGuy is correct.  Unit 4 (Coeur d'Alene river drainage, mostly) is just slammed during the "B" tag (rifle) season.  Depending on where you live, go north to Units 1 or 2, perhaps 4A.  Or, south to 6 or 9.  Much less pressure.

I-90 is just too convenient, access to Unit 4 is going to kill it some day.