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Big Game Hunting => Out Of State Hunting => Topic started by: Karl Blanchard on April 14, 2015, 07:25:09 PM


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Title: Idaho Elk Experience's?
Post by: Karl Blanchard on April 14, 2015, 07:25:09 PM
So I have made the decision to fully abandon anything and everything Montana.  I have had enough of their money grabbing ways.  That has turned my sights on Idaho.  I am very interested to hear from people who have hunted the Clearwater, Lemhi zone, or McCall zone.  Whats the terrain like?  Vegetation?  Hunting pressure? 

My baby brother's post deployment leave will be landing smack dab in the middle of September this year :IBCOOL:  He hasn't hunted elk for 5 years and has been shooting his bow religiously, all spring.  He heads for Afghanistan the middle of May, so no bow shooting until he gets back the end of August.  I have a few units in mind, I'm just curious to hear what others experiences have been.  Feel free to PM if you don't want to discuss things in public.  Good luck to everyone in the up coming draws, wherever those may be. :hello:
Title: Re: Idaho Elk Experience's?
Post by: pd on April 14, 2015, 07:27:23 PM
PM sent.
Title: Re: Idaho Elk Experience's?
Post by: Karl Blanchard on April 14, 2015, 07:33:00 PM
PM sent.
Thank you :hello:
Title: Re: Idaho Elk Experience's?
Post by: 300rum on April 15, 2015, 09:15:29 AM
Can you guys walk in 7 miles or so (mostly up hill and then some really up hill) and hunt for a week?
Title: Re: Idaho Elk Experience's?
Post by: Karl Blanchard on April 15, 2015, 10:39:25 AM
Can you guys walk in 7 miles or so (mostly up hill and then some really up hill) and hunt for a week?
oh ya!  We were planning on living out of the packs.  My baby brother is with RANGER Regiment and is the fittest human I know.  I'm gonna make him carry all my stuff :chuckle:
Title: Re: Idaho Elk Experience's?
Post by: skeeter 20i on April 15, 2015, 10:51:17 AM
Can you guys walk in 7 miles or so (mostly up hill and then some really up hill) and hunt for a week?
oh ya!  We were planning on living out of the packs.  My baby brother is with RANGER Regiment and is the fittest human I know.  I'm gonna make him carry all my stuff :chuckle:

 :tup:  Enjoy your time outdoors with your "baby brother"  :chuckle:
Title: Re: Idaho Elk Experience's?
Post by: Karl Blanchard on April 15, 2015, 11:01:25 AM
Can you guys walk in 7 miles or so (mostly up hill and then some really up hill) and hunt for a week?
oh ya!  We were planning on living out of the packs.  My baby brother is with RANGER Regiment and is the fittest human I know.  I'm gonna make him carry all my stuff :chuckle:

 :tup:  Enjoy your time outdoors with your "baby brother"  :chuckle:
it bugs the hell out of him when I call him my baby brother!  That's why I have made it a habit :chuckle:
Title: Re: Idaho Elk Experience's?
Post by: elkinrutdrivemenuts on April 15, 2015, 01:02:35 PM
So I have made the decision to fully abandon anything and everything Montana.  I have had enough of their money grabbing ways.  That has turned my sights on Idaho.  I am very interested to hear from people who have hunted the Clearwater, Lemhi zone, or McCall zone.  Whats the terrain like?  Vegetation?  Hunting pressure? 

Clearwater:  I have hunted it a few times and scouted a bunch, no where near the glory days of old.  I stay closer to Montana. Elk appear non existent. Very little hunting pressure.  I see elk tracks every so often, but no elk.  Shot a mule deer there last year and didn't cut any fresh elk tracks and didn't see another human being in 3 days.  We were the only guys that went in and out that weekend on 20 miles of road. I keep hoping it will get better, but so far it hasn't.  Good spot for wolves though!

Lemhi:  No comment, never been.

McCall:  Probably your best bet of the 3 units you mentioned, but there are better OTC tags in the state.  More open, lots of places to get away from people and there are elk there, but not like there used to be. A good friend hunts it yearly and still does well. 
Title: Re: Idaho Elk Experience's?
Post by: Taco280AI on April 15, 2015, 01:11:58 PM
Some of the areas I've hiked and hunted

(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1098.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fg364%2Fnwoutdoors%2FIdahounit39elkbelow-1.jpg&hash=ec7e12ffc2f41d5379453e804d5b170ebaac5ef0) (http://s1098.photobucket.com/user/nwoutdoors/media/Idahounit39elkbelow-1.jpg.html)

(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1098.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fg364%2Fnwoutdoors%2FIMG_0301.jpg&hash=45fc908db9a7a6fd18cbb316ba018b7025402e06) (http://s1098.photobucket.com/user/nwoutdoors/media/IMG_0301.jpg.html)

(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1098.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fg364%2Fnwoutdoors%2FIMG_0289.jpg&hash=b5c2a30bca6fdbdf06d949d9d400681dea421f64) (http://s1098.photobucket.com/user/nwoutdoors/media/IMG_0289.jpg.html)

(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1098.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fg364%2Fnwoutdoors%2FIMG_0283.jpg&hash=c08e35c12a4903fee36bdb454d5f379e1ae28db1) (http://s1098.photobucket.com/user/nwoutdoors/media/IMG_0283.jpg.html)

(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1098.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fg364%2Fnwoutdoors%2FIMAG0196.jpg&hash=8181538481163d811db82395c5971215139bcddb) (http://s1098.photobucket.com/user/nwoutdoors/media/IMAG0196.jpg.html)

(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1098.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fg364%2Fnwoutdoors%2FIdahounit39.jpg&hash=1fc44c21dfe8cdaddb31a4e4e4d14bdd8ff66d17) (http://s1098.photobucket.com/user/nwoutdoors/media/Idahounit39.jpg.html)

(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1098.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fg364%2Fnwoutdoors%2FIMG_0319.jpg&hash=64730362b894f199974aea7f3f5347eb3345293f) (http://s1098.photobucket.com/user/nwoutdoors/media/IMG_0319.jpg.html)
Title: Re: Idaho Elk Experience's?
Post by: Taco280AI on April 16, 2015, 12:13:30 AM
My experience in Idaho, for deer and elk, is that if you're willing to hike up - then out, you'll find game.
Title: Re: Idaho Elk Experience's?
Post by: Karl Blanchard on April 16, 2015, 04:24:57 AM
Big thanks to everyone who has replied or sent PM's so far!  As always, the kindness and generosity of my fellow hunters is humbling. :tup:
Title: Re: Idaho Elk Experience's?
Post by: buglebuster on April 16, 2015, 04:42:16 AM
You figure it all out, and I'll go with you karl  :chuckle:
Title: Re: Idaho Elk Experience's?
Post by: Karl Blanchard on April 16, 2015, 05:20:01 AM
You figure it all out, and I'll go with you karl  :chuckle:
Haha.  You've got a Washington bull to kill.
Title: Re: Idaho Elk Experience's?
Post by: buglebuster on April 16, 2015, 05:35:08 AM
You figure it all out, and I'll go with you karl  :chuckle:
Haha.  You've got a Washington bull to kill.
Next year! :chuckle:
Title: Re: Idaho Elk Experience's?
Post by: Karl Blanchard on April 16, 2015, 05:41:23 AM
You figure it all out, and I'll go with you karl  :chuckle:
Haha.  You've got a Washington bull to kill.
Next year! :chuckle:
. You just want to put that Mystery Ranch to work! :chuckle:
Title: Re: Idaho Elk Experience's?
Post by: TommyH on April 16, 2015, 07:39:12 AM
My dad and I Are trying to make it over there this year . My bow hunting Buddie is now a Idaho resident so hopefully have a spot to put the old man on a bull. Good luck.
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