Idaho Moose

[nwhunter]

So who's putting in for Idaho moose this year?  Question for the more experience moose guys. In the panhandle there are of course multiple units but also for each unit there are several different seasons to apply for with different dates, Sept thru Nov, Sept thru Oct and Oct thru Nov and odds are different for all of them. If you had your choice what would you choose for dates and why, rut, weather etc? Its a lot of money to front for a tag but odds aren't too bad because of that so may try for moose instead of the goat tag I thought I would draw last year and didn't! Tks for any input. nwhunter

[bearpaw]

IMHO the two best times to hunt moose are:
The last week of Sept or first week of Oct when they are rutting.
Mid-November when leaves have fallen and there is snow on the ground.

[Ridgerunner]

early October when they are rutting is a blast, although hunting them in snow would be cool too.

[bearpaw]

We generally see 3 to 4 times as many moose in November with snow and no leaves. However, if you are a bow hunter, hunt early when you can call them. Crusty snow is a bugger for stalking moose with a bow.

[Machias]

I'm seriously thinking about putting in this year, when is the deadline?

[boneaddict]

End of April.  Cost is about 2 grand up front

[boneaddict]

Play the odds.   Any of their seasons are good.  If you are a bowhunter, end of sept/early october is probably the best.  If you are a rifle hunter then November probably is.

[high country]

timing should be considered relative to your area. the basin gets pounded with snow by late oct.

[boneaddict]

makes them stand out like a sore thumb....snow on the ground and leaves dropped.  EXCELLENT rifle ops.

[high country]

as long as you have the beans to haul out a moose in snow that could be 1-5 feet deep. otherwise I totaly agree. the ridge pic in the HC buck thread is where I jumped THE bigges shiras I have EVER seen.....alive or dead.

[buckhorn2]

My friens from idaho always put in for november when the leaves are gone and snow leaves tracks. They said they see way more moose in november and still can hunt the rut with the longer season. But say they see bigger later.

[nwhunter]

Thanks guys, good info. I hadn't seen the new price increases for the oil tags in Idaho for this year...oouch! May change my mind on this one at $2000 plus. nwhunter

[boneaddict]

It is a pucker factor. 

[bearpaw]

I think odds will be better to draw with the increased cost. When it gets up to $10,000 just think how easy it will be to draw.

Better apply now....

[boneaddict]

I drew first time, 4 years ago(I think) and it was 1600.  Dad drew the next year first time and it was 1800.   Damn inflation

[Alan K]

If you don't plan on using a quad, I'd suggest one of the September tags.  I know most of the forest service gates around the Potlatch area close October 1st.  While the bulls aren't rutting they're very visible during the first part of September when they still have or are rubbing their velvet. I watched a 45" bull 3/4 of the nights I sat in my tree stand for deer last year in the same clear cut.  My tree stand was about 50 yards inside the timber on a major traveling route from the bedding areas to the feeding areas.