Post by: robertsjd on June 21, 2014, 01:51:16 PM
Post by: Bigshooter on June 21, 2014, 02:43:57 PM
Hey guys looking into an out of state elk hunt and with the vacation time I have available . Looks like te middle fork zones in Idaho November 1-18 I it's 20 A 26-27 are the units I'm allowed to take a bull I'm and it's open in a time frame I'm free . My question is are those units fairly descent for a chance at a bull pretty populated with elk and lots of public land things like that ? Thanks for any information !
Very remote country. If you don't know a lot about the area I would look else where.
Post by: robertsjd on June 21, 2014, 02:58:23 PM
Post by: Camo on June 21, 2014, 03:08:00 PM
Post by: bugs n bones on June 21, 2014, 03:57:19 PM
Post by: Bigshooter on June 21, 2014, 05:04:35 PM
Yikes ! Is it pretty populated with elk tho I'll make it over and scout it out before November . But those units are the only one open after November 5 th and I get my vaca November 5
Buy a MT elk tag then.
Post by: robertsjd on June 21, 2014, 05:53:47 PM
Post by: Beargravy on June 21, 2014, 06:14:13 PM
Post by: robertsjd on June 21, 2014, 08:39:54 PM
Post by: whuppinstick on June 25, 2014, 12:02:26 PM
I have hunted 26 and 27 a few times, killing game is not a problem getting them out is.This area is remote and extremely rugged,flying in is your best option.If you go allow lots of time for packing game and flight delays.If extreme backcountry is your thing have at it! Good Luck.
You're right about the rugged country. I would disagree that killing game is easy (especially elk). There is game, but there's many more huge swathes of land that don't have game. It's very spotty in there. Here's a story about one I killed in there, but I was very lucky: http://www.ifish.net/board/showthread.php?t=387418 (http://www.ifish.net/board/showthread.php?t=387418)
I went back to the same place the next year and saw one herd with a raghorn over a week. I went back late in November for ten days for deer and saw five deer (one tiny 3-point and four does about 2 miles away) and some herds of cows. Game is far and few between in the Middle Fork. I'd suggest going to Montana.
Post by: Bigshooter on June 25, 2014, 12:17:15 PM
I have hunted 26 and 27 a few times, killing game is not a problem getting them out is.This area is remote and extremely rugged,flying in is your best option.If you go allow lots of time for packing game and flight delays.If extreme backcountry is your thing have at it! Good Luck.You're right about the rugged country. I would disagree that killing game is easy (especially elk). There is game, but there's many more huge swathes of land that don't have game. It's very spotty in there. Here's a story about one I killed in there, but I was very lucky: http://www.ifish.net/board/showthread.php?t=387418 (http://www.ifish.net/board/showthread.php?t=387418)
I went back to the same place the next year and saw one herd with a raghorn over a week. I went back late in November for ten days for deer and saw five deer (one tiny 3-point and four does about 2 miles away) and some herds of cows. Game is far and few between in the Middle Fork. I'd suggest going to Montana.
I agree with Beargravy. I have almost always found a lot of game in the middle fork, unless I was way behind or way ahead of the migration. And that goes for deer and elk. I have never flown in to hunt elk. But I could have killed a bull every time that I have flown in. And besides one year where I saw a total of 8 deer, I have never had a day where I didn't see at least 50 deer in a day. And I have a lot of days of seeing 200+ deer in a day. Now if you are looking for quality animals those are hard to come by in the middle fork.
Post by: robertsjd on June 26, 2014, 11:00:17 AM
Post by: Camo on June 26, 2014, 06:24:41 PM
Can I ask how long it's been since you were in there? I ask because I was in there in '08/'09/'10. Though we could find enough deer to keep us entertained, we never had 200 deer days. Bucks were available but quality was a challenge. Most notably was that elk sightings went from abundant (thinking about buying tags), to a couple small groups(really not gonna pack one outta here anyway) to zero the last year(glad we didn't buy the tag). Wolf sign went from not terribly evident, to some definite sign, to tracks in the snow, howling at night, and the outfitter in our area trying to take the "black" one. Lots of stories about "how great it used to be". Just interested in your time frame.
Post by: Bigshooter on June 26, 2014, 09:22:58 PM
Post by: actionshooter on June 26, 2014, 10:07:25 PM
Bigshooter,And its only gotten worse, wolves are just a part of the package now, the elk don't talk, come out in the open or "herd up" I have been going since 08 and watched it change a little each year (for the worse). Also I have NEVER seen a or even heard of a 200 deer day, on the best day maybe 40. I go back only if I don't draw tags somewhere else and that's because my hunting partner and I really like the country.
Can I ask how long it's been since you were in there? I ask because I was in there in '08/'09/'10. Though we could find enough deer to keep us entertained, we never had 200 deer days. Bucks were available but quality was a challenge. Most notably was that elk sightings went from abundant (thinking about buying tags), to a couple small groups(really not gonna pack one outta here anyway) to zero the last year(glad we didn't buy the tag). Wolf sign went from not terribly evident, to some definite sign, to tracks in the snow, howling at night, and the outfitter in our area trying to take the "black" one. Lots of stories about "how great it used to be". Just interested in your time frame.
Post by: hirshey on June 27, 2014, 11:14:36 PM
Post by: Camo on June 28, 2014, 10:17:28 AM
Post by: robertsjd on June 28, 2014, 10:40:39 AM
Post by: Bigshooter on June 28, 2014, 07:20:59 PM
I have seen a lot more than 200 deer in a day in there. The last year I was in there there were 40 deer on the ridge every morning across from my spike camp.
Post by: whuppinstick on July 01, 2014, 01:27:05 PM
First year was 97 last time was 07 I think. I still have friends that fly in every year and still see a ton of deer and and some elk. What strip do you fly into? PM me if you don't won't to say.
What strip are you flying into?