help with idaho jumping off point

[harveymarv]

Hey Folks,

Thinking of going to Idaho for elk next year. Wife's going to have baby #2 in May, and so thinking I need to spend less, more productive time huntin for a year or few.

I'm looking for a jumping off point to start scouting this spring. I like to bike in with a trailer and camp 5-10 miles from the gate, looking at A tags. I don't like to run into ATV's or other folks and am willing to put in some work to that end.

Can anyone help me out with some general areas to start looking 2 hrs or so from Spokane? Any help is greatly appreciated.

Thanks

[Elknut1]

You need to scout areas out within your 2-3 hour limit form your home, there should be several areas that may suit you. Talk with Forestry in your area about locked gates in Sept. Many areas do not lock gates for archery, find the ones that do lock them & it can narrow down your search! Preparation & scouting is part of the hunt! (grin)

  ElkNut1

[elkinrutdrivemenuts]

That type of hunting 2 hours from Spokane will not be productive.  Lots of roads in this neck of the woods.  And lots of hunters.

[Jonathan_S]

What zone? Big difference if you live in Pullman, Ellensburg, Spokane or Newport

[Magnum_Willys]

Not as many roads with gates in middle idaho - more trailheads instead and finding a bikeable trail not so easy. 

[Jonathan_S]

Sorry just saw Spokane. Most guys that have cherished gated roads are going to play it close to the best but the good news is, you have all summer!

[BULLBLASTER]

Don't get stuck into thinking that you have to be miles and miles in to get into good elk hunting. It can be had closer to the roads

[boneaddict]

    Extremely good advice, especially panhandle

[harveymarv]

thanks for the advice!! i know several (mostly deer) places where animals can be had close to roads but still prefer to hike a few miles in - i like solitude when hunting. nothing sucks worse in my mind than having your peace and quiet broken by engine noise...

narrowing my search to panhandle and maybe palouse. thanks for the help guys!

[kball4]

Everyone who hunts in Idaho has a ATV it seems, and even if the road is gated or considered closed someone will eventually drive around the gate.

[Magnum_Willys]

Everyone who hunts in Idaho has a ATV it seems, and even if the road is gated or considered closed someone will eventually drive around the gate.

[coop2424]

Don't get stuck into thinking that you have to be miles and miles in to get into good elk hunting. It can be had closer to the roads

If there was elk in the area!  Great advice and I can tell you that the elk are use to places where there is heavy traffic.   Tough country with the under brush and it either being straight up or straight down.

[huntnnw]

I have a honey hole you can drive a car to and  I hunt 100-200 yards from a main road as everybody drives by. There are some big areas near the MT border with no quad trails. Look into areas north and east of Avery that has some big country and few quad trails.

[Jonathan_S]

I have a honey hole you can drive a car to and  I hunt 100-200 yards from a main road as everybody drives by. There are some big areas near the MT border with no quad trails. Look into areas north and east of Avery that has some big country and few quad trails.

This year I was inches away from shot on a 6x6 in Idaho. I was maybe 300 yards from a main road and had multiple rigs drive by during the stalk. He was vocal as heck too!

Good news is I think I educated him so hopefully nobody else killed him 

[huntnnw]

 

[Magnum_Willys]

Son and I spent an entire morning bugling back and forth with three bulls who were just 200 yards on the wrong side of the unit border in Idaho.  Couldn't call em or move em over.    They weren't 500 yards from the truck. 

[dmoua]

Everyone who hunts in Idaho has a ATV it seems, and even if the road is gated or considered closed someone will eventually drive around the gate.

Happens all the time in Wa as well. I have plenty of film of illegal atv riders/hunters during the hunting season.

[BULLBLASTER]

Everyone who hunts in Idaho has a ATV it seems, and even if the road is gated or considered closed someone will eventually drive around the gate.

Lots of gated roads in Idaho allow tag use on them.

[kball4]

Everyone who hunts in Idaho has a ATV it seems, and even if the road is gated or considered closed someone will eventually drive around the gate.

Lots of gated roads in Idaho allow tag use on them.

Every road I walked in Weiser River zone that was listed as closed for winter by USFS maps had ATV tracks on them.

[BULLBLASTER]

I've never hunted the weiser zone but in the handle it's common for roads to be gated adnatv use is perfectly fine. Unless it's posted otherwise

[Gentrys]

Idaho's Fish and Wildlife Dept is having a seminar Friday 1pm at the WA Sportsman's Show for DYI deer and elk hunts.

[ballpark]

I've never hunted the weiser zone but in the handle it's common for roads to be gated adnatv use is perfectly fine. Unless it's posted otherwise

The Weiser Unit we hunted had motor vehicle restrictions(in other words "closed to all motor vehicle use") on the roads where we encountered ATV and motorcycle use.  Just saying

[boneaddict]

Just a heads up, the Idaho fish and game issued a warning yesterday of estimated 80% winterkill or higher in a list of units. I imagine that was more for deer than elk, but it doesn't go without saying a bad winter is a bad winter and will effect all.   Im sure you can google it. 

[Bean Counter]

  

[7mmfan]

Just did a quick search for it and did not come up with anything current. I found on the website from a few days ago where they initiated emergency feeding in the Southern portion of the state, but that the North Central and Central areas were experiencing normal winter conditions.

[2MANY]

Seems early to have such winter kill predictions but hell what do I know.

[kentrek]

Just a heads up, the Idaho fish and game issued a warning yesterday of estimated 80% winterkill or higher in a list of units. I imagine that was more for deer than elk, but it doesn't go without saying a bad winter is a bad winter and will effect all.   Im sure you can google it.

Can't find anythinges on this, do you have a link ??

Thank you very much

[BULLBLASTER]

I've never hunted the weiser zone but in the handle it's common for roads to be gated adnatv use is perfectly fine. Unless it's posted otherwise

The Weiser Unit we hunted had motor vehicle restrictions(in other words "closed to all motor vehicle use") on the roads where we encountered ATV and motorcycle use.  Just saying

like I said I haven't ever hunted the weiser unit but was sharing my experience in other units... wasn't doubting any of the weiser info posted.

[boneaddict]

ATTENTION SPORTSMEN AND WOMEN OF IDAHO! Just got a call form the Fish and Game and they are expecting severe winter die off (UP TO 80%) of the fawns, in the Weiser, Gooding, Shoshone, Ketchum, areas... extreme winter conditions have forced the deer on to roads. The Game department has started emergency winter feeding in these areas. Please stay away and don't pressure the deer. Don't be that guy that thinks he is not effecting the deer. Let the game department do their job. Thank you!

[Mr Mykiss]

ATTENTION SPORTSMEN AND WOMEN OF IDAHO! Just got a call form the Fish and Game and they are expecting severe winter die off (UP TO 80%) of the fawns, in the Weiser, Gooding, Shoshone, Ketchum, areas... extreme winter conditions have forced the deer on to roads. The Game department has started emergency winter feeding in these areas. Please stay away and don't pressure the deer. Don't be that guy that thinks he is not effecting the deer. Let the game department do their job. Thank you!

^^^Is there a link to that statement from IDFG?

[skeeter 20i]

I saw this a couple of days ago.  Man I hope 80% isn't right.

http://idahostatejournal.com/outdoors/xtreme_idaho/more-emergency-winter-feeding-stations-open-across-southeast-idaho/article_4efb170f-6fa6-5067-8c3a-1e3bbbdaff24.html

[harveymarv]

Idaho's Fish and Wildlife Dept is having a seminar Friday 1pm at the WA Sportsman's Show for DYI deer and elk hunts.

thanks for the tip! wish they had something in spokane; can't get out of work to get to puyallup.

[buglebrush]

You'll actually find much less pressure by driving an hour or so further and hitting Montana.  More and more WA hunters are hitting Idaho.  Have noticed an amazing increase in pressure the last five years.  If I was starting from scratch I would do Montana.   

[LeviD1]

Montana is also almost $500 more for the tag. That's the reason I will eventually hunt idaho instead of montana.

[buglebrush]

Montana is also almost $500 more for the tag. That's the reason I will eventually hunt idaho instead of montana.

Actually only $266.50 different, but that is still more expensive.  However, I still say if I was starting from scratch I would take the long view and commit to Montana.   

[andrew_in_idaho]

ATTENTION SPORTSMEN AND WOMEN OF IDAHO! Just got a call form the Fish and Game and they are expecting severe winter die off (UP TO 80%) of the fawns, in the Weiser, Gooding, Shoshone, Ketchum, areas... extreme winter conditions have forced the deer on to roads. The Game department has started emergency winter feeding in these areas. Please stay away and don't pressure the deer. Don't be that guy that thinks he is not effecting the deer. Let the game department do their job. Thank you!

Looks like something unsubstantiated to me, not trying to call you out bone but there have been lots of chicken little sky is falling doomsdayers with the winter we've had here in Idaho. Winter kill is going to be bad but I haven't heard or read anything where IDFG is  actually stating how bad


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[bearpaw]

Idaho is feeding deer and elk in many areas. I have several guides who live around Idaho, most are reporting that there is a lot of snow, but most say the deer still look fair and some southern exposure is baring off. I'm hoping numbers hold steady, I think what happens with weather this month and next month makes the biggest difference! Fingers crossed! My advice is to call the regional office where you might want to hunt in May and ask for the elk and deer biologist, ask them about winter impacts!

[Karl Blanchard]

ATTENTION SPORTSMEN AND WOMEN OF IDAHO! Just got a call form the Fish and Game and they are expecting severe winter die off (UP TO 80%) of the fawns, in the Weiser, Gooding, Shoshone, Ketchum, areas... extreme winter conditions have forced the deer on to roads. The Game department has started emergency winter feeding in these areas. Please stay away and don't pressure the deer. Don't be that guy that thinks he is not effecting the deer. Let the game department do their job. Thank you!

Looks like something unsubstantiated to me, not trying to call you out bone but there have been lots of chicken little sky is falling doomsdayers with the winter we've had here in Idaho. Winter kill is going to be bad but I haven't heard or read anything where IDFG is  actually stating how bad


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  For your information that is straight from IDFG.  I received the same email as well as some correspondence with the bio for my area.

[bearpaw]

Idaho F&G News
https://idfg.idaho.gov/news

[buglebrush]

I went out snowshoeing a little this weekend and found 5 fresh cat kills.  Only one meals worth eaten out of each one.  Couldn't believe it.  The deer were breaking through the crust and the cats were staying on top.     Not good for sure.  We need some serious warm weather and wind about now.