Hunting Washington Forum

Big Game Hunting => Elk Hunting => Topic started by: Thefisherman83 on July 22, 2016, 07:04:49 AM

Title: Smoky-Bennett Idaho
Post by: Thefisherman83 on July 22, 2016, 07:04:49 AM: Anyone Elk hunt in the Smoky Bennett area in Idaho? My buddy and I were going to hunt Diamond creek, but it sold out before we could get our tags so were looking into 43,48. The harvest reports looked pretty good and there's lots of public land to check out. Were going over this weekend to scout it out, just wondering if anyone here has had any success or possibly advice for someone that has never been there. Thanks in advance for any help.
Title: Re: Smoky-Bennett Idaho
Post by: gotcha on July 22, 2016, 07:40:22 AM: Isn't that a draw area
Title: Re: Smoky-Bennett Idaho
Post by: Thefisherman83 on July 22, 2016, 07:51:52 AM: Looks like 43&48 are open for a general archery tag.
Title: Re: Smoky-Bennett Idaho
Post by: theleo on July 22, 2016, 08:12:23 AM: It's draw for rifle but it's a OTC any elk tag for archery. If I were hunting that zone I'd concentrate on 43 and 48, they're the only units you can hunt in that zone for OTC archery. According to the IDFG the highest success rate was in 48 last year. I can't help on particular areas there since I hunt the Pioneer zone but I'm told the habitat has really come back well from the fire that burned most of 48 a few years ago. Other than that, have good glass and boots, it's vertical country.
Title: Re: Smoky-Bennett Idaho
Post by: Thefisherman83 on July 22, 2016, 09:19:52 AM: Quote from: theleo on July 22, 2016, 08:12:23 AM
It's draw for rifle but it's a OTC any elk tag for archery. If I were hunting that zone I'd concentrate on 43 and 48, they're the only units you can hunt in that zone for OTC archery. According to the IDFG the highest success rate was in 48 last year. I can't help on particular areas there since I hunt the Pioneer zone but I'm told the habitat has really come back well from the fire that burned most of 48 a few years ago. Other than that, have good glass and boots, it's vertical country.

The harvest reports looked really good in 48 last year, 29% success rate and 50% of the bulls were 6pt+. That's where we are going to concentrate our scouting efforts.
Title: Re: Smoky-Bennett Idaho
Post by: NoBark on July 22, 2016, 09:23:51 AM: Sent you a message!
Title: Re: Smoky-Bennett Idaho
Post by: Eric M on July 22, 2016, 10:35:43 AM: Have you checked out the Rokslide forum? Lots of Idaho guys on there. This was one I saw but they're talking about looking for mulies in 48-
http://www.rokslide.com/forums/showthread.php?31938-Idaho-unit-48-help
Title: Re: Smoky-Bennett Idaho
Post by: Thefisherman83 on July 22, 2016, 12:08:41 PM: Quote from: Eric M on July 22, 2016, 10:35:43 AM
Have you checked out the Rokslide forum? Lots of Idaho guys on there. This was one I saw but they're talking about looking for mulies in 48-
http://www.rokslide.com/forums/showthread.php?31938-Idaho-unit-48-help

I have not, thanks for the link.