Idaho help...

[elkinrutdrivemenuts]

I know this topic has been beaten to death here, but I was doing some pre hunt research and saw there are still some good non resident zone elk tags available in Idaho.  I was planning on hunting the panhandle but that changed once I saw what is available.  Below are the zones with tags still available as of 6/3/2011. The Panhandle would be the closet area to me to scout effectively, but ill burn gas to get to another area if the hunting is worth it What are your thoughts?

Type    Quota    # Of Tags Available
Lolo Zone - A Tag               206
Lolo Zone - B Tag                151
Selway Zone - A Tag                247
Selway Zone - B Tag               106
Middle Fork Zone - A Tag       145
Middle Fork Zone - B Tag        203
Dworshak Zone - B Tag        72
Elk City Zone - B Tag                     187
Diamond Creek Zone - A Tag        579
Sawtooth Zone – A Tag       16
Sawtooth Zone – B Tag        123
Salmon Zone – B Tag               792
Smoky Mountain Zone – A Tag    50

[huntnnw]

2 reasons there is alot left..drawings not run yet in the controlled hunts or other states being complete...other is all of the above mentioned units have been ravished by wolves

[Bigshooter]

I know this topic has been beaten to death here, but I was doing some pre hunt research and saw there are still some good non resident zone elk tags available in Idaho.  I was planning on hunting the panhandle but that changed once I saw what is available.  Below are the zones with tags still available as of 6/3/2011. The Panhandle would be the closet area to me to scout effectively, but ill burn gas to get to another area if the hunting is worth it What are your thoughts?

Type    Quota    # Of Tags Available
Lolo Zone - A Tag               206
Lolo Zone - B Tag                151
Selway Zone - A Tag                247
Selway Zone - B Tag               106
Middle Fork Zone - A Tag       145
Middle Fork Zone - B Tag        203
Dworshak Zone - B Tag        72
Elk City Zone - B Tag                     187
Diamond Creek Zone - A Tag        579
Sawtooth Zone – A Tag       16
Sawtooth Zone – B Tag        123
Salmon Zone – B Tag               792
Smoky Mountain Zone – A Tag    50

The only tag I would want that is left is the Diamond Creek zone tag.  And its as far away from Washington as you can get. 

I guess I might take a Middle Fork Zone -B tag to, if I had the money to fly in.

[Todd_ID]

Both replies above are right on.  The limit on tags is mainly coming from a lack of elk.  That's how they keep the hunter numbers low enough to not kill too many elk from an already hard hit area.  I'd only take a Lolo A tag if someone bought it for me, and then it'd be a second tag to hunt on after I filled my first tag, and I'd only hunt it then because we have a cabin there and know the area intimately, and then I'd have to be damn lucky to actually get one; that's why Lolo, Elk City, Salmon, Selway and Dworshak make the list of reduced tags.  Plus, nobody is hunting out of state anymore because of the economy and the price of gas, so the tags are left because they're not selling many tags at all.  They've only sold 2000 elk tags and 1000 deer tags total.  7 or 8 years ago you had to buy your tag before July just to be sure they didn't sell the quota of 10000 elk and 12000 deer tags.

[huntnnw]

I had a great place to hunt on the panhandle tag..parking in the lolo zone and hiking into the panhandle tag...I havent been there in 6 years..I am afraid to go back and see what its like now

[trophyhunt]

I remember going to the dworshack 15 years ago hunting and seeing by the end of the season hundreds of elk.  The past few year has seen a dramatic change in the numbers and that has reflected by the amount of tags sold.  It is still a place we like to hunt but it is not easy to find the elk, and when you do it is in places that are not fun to get him out of.  The last 2 years my hunting partner and I have taken 2 spikes and one 6 point, if we don't get a controlled hunt then well be back. And of course the same reason for the down fall in the dworshack as the rest is the wolves.

[mebco09]

Give the good folks in Idaho a few years of good wolf control and the elk numbers will jump right back.   I plan on helping out this year if the wolf hunt stays on.

[high country]

Be aware that the highest country will have snow all year this year. The guys are still riding sleds and had a foot of fresh last week above mc call. If you plan to stay under 7500 feet you should be good if summer ever shows up.

[Elknut1]

High Country is right, I live in McCall & there is still a huge amount of snow in the higher mtns. It will be July before I can romp around a bit!

  ElkNut1

[high country]

We were talking about a 4th of July sled ride out of cascade....it looks quite possible.

I was all set for a spring bear trip into id this year....pretty much snowed out. I broke trail through the snow from 4th of July pass to rose lake.....that is all under 4k......this was last week!

[busterbrown]

Elknut1, from McCall?

Lived in Boise 12 years, layed off, economy forced me to Seattle area 10/2008.

Hunted all over the McCall area. I miss Idaho hunting and fishing.Whats going on with the wolves these days in the McCall area?

How's hunting been for you?

[elkinrutdrivemenuts]

Elknut1, from McCall?

Lived in Boise 12 years, layed off, economy forced me to Seattle area 10/2008.

Hunted all over the McCall area. I miss Idaho hunting and fishing.Whats going on with the wolves these days in the McCall area?

How's hunting been for you?

So your thoughts on the tags are??

[Elknut1]

Buster, I've been here 25 years, the elk hunting was very good back then but has slowed quite a bit with both wolf introduction years ago as well as hunter influence from all over! 6000 hunters hit the woods last year in this zone, that's a ton! We still kill elk every year here but you work for them!

  Elkinrut, all the tags & zones you are asking about are out of our areas so don't have much say about them, your best help is to contact locals & Fish & Game in your interested areas!

  ElkNut1

[busterbrown]

Elkinrut,

First, whats your weapons? Second, how far do you want to drive, how much time do you have to hunt and are you willing to hump the hills etc.

Are you by yourself or will you be with buddies? Just about everywhere you will go in Idaho be prepared for high, steep and rugged country.

I blew my left knee out in 2003 elk muzzleloader hunting packing out a cow elk 2 miles off the rode in hole.

Elknut1, hows the fishing in Cascade Lake these days? Save some bass for me. My old hunting partner used to work in the Boise Cascade Mill. What the heck are you doing for a living in McCall?

When I retire, I'm think about moving back to Emmett, Payette or one of many small towns around there, not sure yet.

[Elknut1]

BBrown, the fishing in the lake for smallmouth has been pretty darned good, I've been there a couple times this year with my son.

  We've had a Masonry business here the whole time living here but my Son took it over 4 years ago, I run ElkNut Outdoors full time, between the two it keeps our heads above water! (grin)

  ElkNut1