Idaho next year?

[meatwhack]

With all the responses for “don’t go to Idaho” everyone must be worried about tags selling out even earlier.

[theleo]

With all the responses for “don’t go to Idaho” everyone must be worried about tags selling out even earlier.

If the OP was comfortable going alone and playing around in the back country, the answers would be different.

[snake]

Doesn't matter what you do, go to Idaho or go to eastern Washington. what the hell, go to Western Washington. There is great elk hunting to be had in each of these areas. the only thing that really matters is how much you scout and how prepared you are for the hunt.  You have good elk hunting within 1 hour of where you live, but if you feel it necessary to drive 6 or more hours go for it.

[Rainier10]

I will say that went out of state for the fourth time last season. New area again with the hope of less hunters and more animals.

New areas are tough with only 10 days to hunt.

I saw more hunters than elk. I saw more bull moose than bull elk.

When I returned to Washington to hunt an area for the day that I have hunted for 20 years I saw more elk and bull elk in the first three hours than I did on the entire 10 days out of state and my wife got a 30 yard shot at a cow elk. No elk were harmed but we had fun and didn’t have to pack out an elk.

Bottom line IMO, out of state hunting was a blast to see new country and experience a different hunt. Given multiple trips back to the same area I’m confident I would see more elk and eventually harvest an animal. For now to see more animals and have a higher chance of success I still feel that in state is the way to go.  I do see that possibly changing and that is why I’ve been looking at other options.

[KevrosWanderin]

Lots of solid advise, I am honing in on the Collville National Forest. I completely agree experience on the ground is what I’m focusing on. Just trying to pick a region. I run a in reach every time I go out. Not that I am wanting to go alone but finding hunting partners is worse than courting a wife. 😂 I will be e scouting the state like crazy, This next month trying to dial in on my first scouting trip. Gear and exercise are also in the works. Thanks for your two cents😉 it is great! The tag opportunities is what mainly has me looking out of state. I need to read over Idaho’s more though


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[Rainier10]

Tag opportunities is a huge benifit of out of state hunting that I didn’t address in my post.

Even though we saw less elk at least We had the option to shoot a big bull OTC.

[Naches Sportsman]

Anywhere you hunt requires finding animals to be successful. You don't know where the elk are unless you put boots on the ground. As mentioned in this thread, a lot of areas-mostly south of highway 12, will eat a solo hunter alive. I've done a couple 60 mile round trip adventures into the Wildernesses on foot and couldn't imagine packing an elk out without air assistance or stock animals present.

Generally north of highway 12, there are miles upon miles of logging roads a hunter can hunt off of via truck or atv/utv and have a good time. Tons of old growth to clearcuts to regen to commercial thinning that makes things fun