Free: Contests & Raffles.
I've hunted the frank for elk/deer/bear/wolf, I would recommend looking else were for elk. The deer hunting can still be good in Nov. If your looking for an experience and some incredible country, that it is
Quote from: idahohuntr on January 24, 2019, 01:11:35 PMNumerous wilderness units are producing lower harvest than historic high numbers - in part because of predation. However, I'm not aware of any major reductions in seasons/opportunities. I think NR tags were cut for late season deer hunts in the Frank Church, but that seemed like *R's getting tired of being overrun by *NR's?? Elk harvest rates are pretty comparable to non wilderness units...somewhere in the 15-25% range...pretty normal for OTC units IMO. But yes, they are at a low compared to what they were historically. Its worth noting - those wilderness units are one of the only remaining elk hunts in the world where you can buy a tag OTC and go hunt elk with a rifle during the rut...you won't ever see seasons or opportunities like that in heavily motorized access areas...so not sure its fair to say opportunity is less relative to non-wilderness units. I'd say its probably more opportunity, but its not as good as some of the old days of the 60's-80's. Different baselines.Overall, yes, Idaho is experiencing tremendous deer/elk harvest...I think the winter of '16 '17 has been the only real downward pressure on those harvests of late. Thankyou, I just want to emphasize again, the increased herds and success is in the accessible units and the decreased herds and success is in wilderness units.I operate in some Idaho units that are fairly accessible, it's a mix of motorized access and non-motorized backcountry, with access very similar to the Kettle Crest and Abercrombie areas in Washington. As you know Idaho flies units about every 5 years to do herd counts, our elk herd has grown by nearly 40% from the previous survey to the most recent survey. Perhaps I am wrong, but I attribute the gains to excellent habitat created by USFS treating maple thickets to benefit aspen and sage growth and the access for ranchers and predator hunters to be effective at taking cougar, wolves, and coyotes . We don't have many bear in the area I'm referring to and wolves have never been able to take off either, the sheep and cattle ranchers are pretty effective whenever they have livestock losses. What stands out is that most of these effective actions that help elk and deer herds could not occur in wilderness.
Numerous wilderness units are producing lower harvest than historic high numbers - in part because of predation. However, I'm not aware of any major reductions in seasons/opportunities. I think NR tags were cut for late season deer hunts in the Frank Church, but that seemed like *R's getting tired of being overrun by *NR's?? Elk harvest rates are pretty comparable to non wilderness units...somewhere in the 15-25% range...pretty normal for OTC units IMO. But yes, they are at a low compared to what they were historically. Its worth noting - those wilderness units are one of the only remaining elk hunts in the world where you can buy a tag OTC and go hunt elk with a rifle during the rut...you won't ever see seasons or opportunities like that in heavily motorized access areas...so not sure its fair to say opportunity is less relative to non-wilderness units. I'd say its probably more opportunity, but its not as good as some of the old days of the 60's-80's. Different baselines.Overall, yes, Idaho is experiencing tremendous deer/elk harvest...I think the winter of '16 '17 has been the only real downward pressure on those harvests of late.
Give George Doris of G&S Aviation a call. He flies out of Cascade (and is the guy who dropped those guys into Cold Meadows/Chamberlin Basin area for their "death hike" that they did a podcast on). I have flown with George several times, and before that I flew with his brother and dad since 1991 when they owned McCall Air. Cold Meadows is aptly named, be sure to take the right gear!Grade
I guided in the Frank and hunted there twice and I now spend my hunting time elsewhere.
