Another IDAHO thread

[7mmfan]

I'm coming back one more time to ask for some basic advice. I'm planning on heading to ID this year for either deer, or elk, or maybe both depending on what scouting turns up for me and what tags are left to purchase OTC.

I'm making this switch with mainly elk in mind, and mainly for my nephew. He is 15 this year, has hunted 2 years with me here in WA and seen a ton of animals, including several beautiful bulls that we've had to let walk. He's got the want and the will, but I know that if there isn't any success in the near future, that could fade as he enters his later teen years. I want to give him an awesome hunting trip to really plant the seed.

If someone could PM me some thoughts on decent OTC units, that would be fantastic. I'm not interested in specific drainages/roads/ridges etc... I'll figure that out. I just know some of these units are ghost towns during the general season, and I'm trying to avoid that. I've looked at harvest stats and it appears that the Boise area up to McCall (so basically all of west central ID) has the best OTC success %.

I'd like to have the ability to get off road to avoid quads/dirt bikes. We don't mind hiking a few hours in the dark to get to where we hunt. But we will be truck camping.

Anything anyone has will be appreciated. Thanks guys.

[vandeman17]

I will shoot you a pm this weekend. 

[7mmfan]

Thanks vandeman!

[BULLBLASTER]

Take a look at the controlled hunts also. It's cheap to apply if you have a locense anyways. And there are options for either sex tags that have good odds of drawing.

Good luck!

[7mmfan]

I've also seen and am curious about the early antler less hunts in some of those units. They run Aug 15 - Sept 30. Anyone have experience with them? I know it's a long way/ alot of money for a cow, but I'm more worried about success than horns, and August cow elk eats pretty good!

[idaho guy]

I have thought about those hunts for my son and some other younger hunters too. If you are talking about the within 1 mile of private land only cow hunts in Aug. As you probably know you cant be on national forest.  I have not gone for it yet but if that is the hunt you want a landowner contact is key for obvious reasons. I would start on trying to get a landowner first before wasting any time or money. I am not sure about the central to southern Idaho cow hunts but the elk get shot up pretty bad in the hunts more north so going early would probably be a necessity.

[7mmfan]

Thanks for the heads up on the cow hunt. I did not realize it was a private land deal. I'll have to look into it a little more.

[Mr Mykiss]

Ok I'm gonna do you a HUGE favor here. PM BLRman and ask him exactly where he hunted elk in Idaho last year. DO NOT GO THERE!!!!!!!!!

[BULLBLASTER]

Ok I'm gonna do you a HUGE favor here. PM BLRman and ask him exactly where he hunted elk in Idaho last year. DO NOT GO THERE!!!!!!!!!

[7mmfan]

   That's a good tip. He likes to go crazy places, which is exactly my style! I started my pre season conditioning last week and realized that I'm not 24 years old anymore. It was enough to convince me I need to start doing year round conditioning. I'll be glad to have my 15 y.o. nephew along as a work horse!

[Jonathan_S]

Ok I'm gonna do you a HUGE favor here. PM BLRman and ask him exactly where he hunted elk in Idaho last year. DO NOT GO THERE!!!!!!!!!

Bahahah!  That made me laugh... very funny American 

[Karl Blanchard]

Ok I'm gonna do you a HUGE favor here. PM BLRman and ask him exactly where he hunted elk in Idaho last year. DO NOT GO THERE!!!!!!!!!

Bro!!!!!!!!  That cut me deep


 

[7mmfan]

We've picked our zone, and talked with a biologist for the area who gave me some good insight. I've been doing extensive google earth scouting and I've gotten into some areas with TONS of game trails, but I'm curious if they are actually game trails. Is most of this ground rangeland like a lot of WA is? I just want to make sure they aren't cattle trails and get all fired up 

[elkinrutdrivemenuts]

Depends on where you are looking.  Care to share the unit?  I might be able to help a little more. 
Things to consider.  Nearest road, nearest town, how remote is the area, and what type of tags are available there. 

[7mmfan]

I've found some of these in 21A, 21, and 28. One in particular is in 21a, and its a few miles from a road plus about 2000' in elevation change. Those ones I'm pretty sure are game trails. The other is in 28 in a bottom with some beaver ponds and nice aspen groves. its not particularly far from a road, a little over a mile, but has pretty rough ground around it. The associated basin is absolutely covered in trails.