New to N. Idaho advice

[Kpem]

Just bought a house in post falls, Idaho. I'm exploring the opportunity to hunt elk here in north Idaho but have no idea where to start. I know there is tons and tons of public land up here to go after but having trouble pinpointing an area to kick off. I am undecided on bow or rifle as of yet, so i'm open to both, though I've never hunted elk with a bow,m could be a fun new one on me. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. I'm 24 years old and in great shape, although for scouting purposes it would be cool to find somewhere I could explore by truck or atv access until I find an area to call home and really dump some time into.

If anyone's willing to lend a hand or take me under there wing, drop me a PM. It wont go unappreciated. Or any small tid bits of info i'd appreciate as well.

Thanks fellas
Kevin

[TheHunt]

Call the Biologist for the areas and get some ideas from him.  Than go scout it... 

[Dhoey07]

The panhandle tags offer both archery and rifle opportunities.  Jump in with two feet, you'll be all right 

[boneaddict]

Well, drive for about ten minutes and you'll be in some of the best elk country there is, besides maybe Yellowstone.   It should take you about one evening to figure it all out. 

[elkinrutdrivemenuts]

Well, drive for about ten minutes and you'll be in some of the best elk country there is, besides maybe Yellowstone.   It should take you about one evening to figure it all out.

Pretty much.  The panhandle gives you an opportunity to have a lot of areas.  In a day trip you will find fresh sign I am positive.   Then start exploring that area more and it will become clear to you.  I find new areas every time I go into the woods.  Key points to remember.  The timber is your friend, learn to love the brush, if there are game trails use them, walk slow.and listen sound does not travel far, don't sit and watch a clear cut all day, and you don't have to be as far from the road as you think. You may think an area is desolate of elk then a min later you are in a herd of elk. 

[buglebrush]

I would look South.  Best hunting.   

[boneaddict]

Well, drive for about ten minutes and you'll be in some of the best elk country there is, besides maybe Yellowstone.   It should take you about one evening to figure it all out.

Pretty much.  The panhandle gives you an opportunity to have a lot of areas.  In a day trip you will find fresh sign I am positive.   Then start exploring that area more and it will become clear to you.  I find new areas every time I go into the woods.  Key points to remember.  The timber is your friend, learn to love the brush, if there are game trails use them, walk slow.and listen sound does not travel far, don't sit and watch a clear cut all day, and you don't have to be as far from the road as you think. You may think an area is desolate of elk then a min later you are in a herd of elk.

and the old story "Steep and DEEP" is a bunch of horse poo.   I've been knee deep in bugling bulls with roads all around me in the panhandle.   In fact its typical moose country where the critters run the roads to close the distance because its often so dang thick.   

[Kpem]

I've camped up around Big hank campground and noticed quite a few areas I could venture off the road to, I was thinking of checking out that area though it's a little further east. Also I've hunted up around hauser lake (but on the wa side) and down near mica peak (also wa side) in the past as well, would those be decent places to get an idea?

I really want to check out the area up north of Kingston. I've driven through there before during season and seen tons of trucks pulled off left and right. But again it's not knowing exactly where to decided to stop the truck and start the hoofing it.

It sounds like the general consensus is that you really can't go wrong no matter where you're at. My new place is about halfway between post falls and rathdrum so if I could find somewhere in relatively close proximity, my thought is I'll be able to have the opportunity to spend a lot more time doing my homework on the area.

[lord grizzly]

camp up at independence creek. your welcome.

[coop2424]

Come on guys there are very little elk in the panhandle after the wolves.  To get to the ones that are there you have to be miles in the deep and steep areas. 

There are elk in all the areas you have stated you just need to get boots on the ground to start figuring them out and the area out.  I am going to say what helped me out after coming to Idaho is narrow it down to one or two areas and just focus on them tell you learn them.  My first two years I thought the grass was always greener and kept moving from location to location and never learning a single location which I think was part of me not being successful.  I think this is good to do in off season but sure isn't during the season.  I have now focused on one area the last 3 years and have tagged out two of them.  Also had an excellent caller call both of them in.   How I picked my area is I drove through during season and found where no one was camping or hunting and that was my new spot.  Haha

[Kpem]

Does anybody have experience out near boundary ridge and the big hank/devils elbow area? Thinking of maybe setting up camp at either of those spots and scouting up for a weekend trip, that way the girl can decide to come up for the night if desired and camp should be a breeze. Also ive been looking at grizzly mountain and just north of it on the ridge.

If anyone can shed some light on these areas id appreciate it! A buddy of mine hunts south of the freeway, but i have no idea whats out there.

[buglebrush]

Look South of the freeway.  That's all I'll give.

[Kpem]

Thank you sir!

[coop2424]

Look South of the freeway.  That's all I'll give.

I agree that's where I tell everyone also.  Nothing north of freeway.  :-)

[Fl0und3rz]

Congratulations on your purchase, and best of luck hunting the area.

[Kpem]

Thanks! Do you all just hunt deer up north then? I know there are some monster Mmuleys if you can get to them up there! Also how about the wolf hunting? That's something I'm most excited to check out

And bear I suppose 

[elkinrutdrivemenuts]

Lots of different opportunities around here.  Been around wolves but never had a shot.  Whitetail hunting is good around here, mulies are tough, if anyone is dumb enough to give up a mulies spot up here, then take advantage of it. 
Sounds to me like you are chomping at the bit to get out in the mountains.  Do it and a lot of your questions will be answered.  There is a lot of hunters around here and when you figure out an area it's best to keep it to your self.  You may not see physical animals your first few trips, but look for the evidence they leave behind and you are gonna have a fun season.

[Kpem]

So went out scouting an area i liked on the map, on foot, after an hour or so of hoofing it up the trail, a kid on a quad came screaming past me, looking at me like im crazy.

I've been studying all the maps looking for prime area, more particularly area that show non motorized roads, so that maybe i can avoid getting passed by quads or a side by side haha. Does anyone know if the ID hunt planner map is actually accurate. Looking at area over toward the boarder in unit 4 that has a good amount of everything with some non-motorized access?

Also been looking south of the freeway for non-motorized as well, its tough to find roads like that, that dont have a motorized atv road or jeep road within a hundred yards.

I havent gotten the opportunity to actually get out and scout yet, i just want to make sure when i do im not wasting my time on an area that will be crawling with hunters on rigs that i dont have. I didnt think it would be this hard to get away from people haha. Any help would be greatly appreciated, im just new to this kind of hunting and want to do my best to make the most of it!

[meatwhack]

If you're in Idaho and there's some type of road or trail chances are you'll see 4-wheelers whether they're suppose to be there or not. If you want to get away from people I'd just park and hike up a ridge without any trails.

[elkinrutdrivemenuts]

So went out scouting an area i liked on the map, on foot, after an hour or so of hoofing it up the trail, a kid on a quad came screaming past me, looking at me like im crazy.

I've been studying all the maps looking for prime area, more particularly area that show non motorized roads, so that maybe i can avoid getting passed by quads or a side by side haha. Does anyone know if the ID hunt planner map is actually accurate. Looking at area over toward the boarder in unit 4 that has a good amount of everything with some non-motorized access?

Also been looking south of the freeway for non-motorized as well, its tough to find roads like that, that dont have a motorized atv road or jeep road within a hundred yards.

I havent gotten the opportunity to actually get out and scout yet, i just want to make sure when i do im not wasting my time on an area that will be crawling with hunters on rigs that i dont have. I didnt think it would be this hard to get away from people haha. Any help would be greatly appreciated, im just new to this kind of hunting and want to do my best to make the most of it!

http://idaho.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=2252207eb95b49f99b2c05228831dfbb

This will let you know all the open trails and the dates they close for any form of vehicle.  There are lots in unit 4.  It's summer time as well, lots of people out recreating. Hunting season will be similar if you get a b tag.  Lots of road hunters then. 

[Kpem]

I don't expect to not see anyone i just want to get away from people in general. No worse feeling than thinking you're almost remote only to get passed up by a quad haha. I guess ill have to do some bush wacking unfortunately. Thanks for the map, ill take a look and roll the dice on if people will obey the closures to vehicles or not.

[elkinrutdrivemenuts]

I don't expect to not see anyone i just want to get away from people in general. No worse feeling than thinking you're almost remote only to get passed up by a quad haha. I guess ill have to do some bush wacking unfortunately. Thanks for the map, ill take a look and roll the dice on if people will obey the closures to vehicles or not.

Unit 4 is not the place to do that then.  I would look to the st joe for true remote walk in only areas. 

[Kpem]

I was also looking to the SE corner of unit 4 which is near St. Joe, do you think thats far enough off? Like i said i dont expect to completely get away from everyone, people come from all over to hunt ID, I just figured from moving here from WA that i could avoid the pumpkin patch effect. I want to get a panhandle tag though because i can hunt more often close to home for day trips on my days off from the ER than ill be able to actually get out and camp. Thinking of going with the A tag BTW.

[elkinrutdrivemenuts]

I was also looking to the SE corner of unit 4 which is near St. Joe, do you think thats far enough off? Like i said i dont expect to completely get away from everyone, people come from all over to hunt ID, I just figured from moving here from WA that i could avoid the pumpkin patch effect. I want to get a panhandle tag though because i can hunt more often close to home for day trips on my days off from the ER than ill be able to actually get out and camp. Thinking of going with the A tag BTW.

That would be a good start, check out snow peak if you are a true back country Hunter.  You won't see another atv out there!  A tag is best for a long season.  Get a muzzleloader  and get good with it.  You get a very generous season with the a tag.