Post by: baker5150 on June 26, 2019, 02:14:53 PM
I've been in the Pioneer a few times chasing animals in early September, and know it pretty well, but any tips would be greatly appreciated.
Mostly looking for input on elk movement in early Oct, the timing isn't my usual Elk season. Bulls still chasing cows, batched up, hiding out, up high, down in the ag, etc...
No spots needed, just insight into their usual activity/movements once the mad house of general archery season ends.
Thanks
Post by: Karl Blanchard on June 26, 2019, 02:34:20 PM
Post by: baker5150 on June 26, 2019, 02:37:08 PM
Is it the early tag?
Oct 1 -14
Post by: theleo on June 26, 2019, 02:50:09 PM
Post by: idahohuntr on June 26, 2019, 03:00:43 PM
Post by: baker5150 on June 26, 2019, 03:46:05 PM
Look high and for open country...you'll have over 1,000 archery hunters hammering that unit right up until the day your season opens - so elk have been pressured, chased, shot at etc...and so safety from bowhunters from the elks perspective often involves areas that are hard to reach and wide open. Don't be discouraged if you roll in a few days early and feel like there are camps of hunters everywhere...they will nearly all disappear on your 'opening day'. Fun tag!
Thanks
Post by: zwickeyman on June 26, 2019, 05:34:21 PM
Where we hunt a 360" ( in fact the biggest I have seen there) is huge with the average herd Bull between 290" and 320"
Good luck on your hunt
Post by: baker5150 on June 26, 2019, 07:23:07 PM
Big bulls will still have cows but close to leaving them and looking for single cows in heat. I missed a 360" Bull in the Pioneers on the 2nd to last day of Archery Elk. On the first day of Rifle a guy shot him in the basin I left him in on the last day. I knew a rifle guy would get him
Where we hunt a 360" ( in fact the biggest I have seen there) is huge with the average herd Bull between 290" and 320"
Good luck on your hunt
Thanks
I’m hoping we can hear some bugles. He’s never hunted Elk in the rut, so he’s excited to say the least.
Post by: zwickeyman on June 26, 2019, 07:52:13 PM
Are you day hunting from a camp or packing in?
Post by: baker5150 on June 26, 2019, 08:01:24 PM
Do you have a general area you are thinking about hunting?
Are you day hunting from a camp or packing in?
PM sent
Post by: Mr Mykiss on June 27, 2019, 01:08:10 AM
Post by: 7mmfan on June 27, 2019, 07:45:33 AM
Post by: baker5150 on June 27, 2019, 09:17:50 AM
I know the Salmon area doesn't have near the pressure from A-tag hunters that the Pioneer zone and other southern zones do, but we have found herded up animals every year we've been there for the general season elk opener, with bulls still bugling. Not as much during the day, but if you spend time at night in their zones, they're still getting after it. A full two weeks before that I'm sure you'll have plenty of activity to work with.
Were going to be in there a couple days prior to season.
I also will be heading over in a couple weeks to get the first scouting trip in. Should be a fun summer spent in the hills
Post by: theleo on June 27, 2019, 10:01:44 AM
If you can I'd recommend some camp trips with your nephew just going in fishing and learning the trails and roads. What you're going to be spending a lot of your time in in October still has snow on it. Learning glassing spots and how to navigate the terrain is a huge part of the battle in that country, especially hunting it with that tag. If you've not spent much time in elk country that lends itself to relying on your optics a lot, you're about to.I know the Salmon area doesn't have near the pressure from A-tag hunters that the Pioneer zone and other southern zones do, but we have found herded up animals every year we've been there for the general season elk opener, with bulls still bugling. Not as much during the day, but if you spend time at night in their zones, they're still getting after it. A full two weeks before that I'm sure you'll have plenty of activity to work with.
Were going to be in there a couple days prior to season.
I also will be heading over in a couple weeks to get the first scouting trip in. Should be a fun summer spent in the hills
Post by: baker5150 on June 27, 2019, 10:30:51 AM
If you can I'd recommend some camp trips with your nephew just going in fishing and learning the trails and roads. What you're going to be spending a lot of your time in in October still has snow on it. Learning glassing spots and how to navigate the terrain is a huge part of the battle in that country, especially hunting it with that tag. If you've not spent much time in elk country that lends itself to relying on your optics a lot, you're about to.I know the Salmon area doesn't have near the pressure from A-tag hunters that the Pioneer zone and other southern zones do, but we have found herded up animals every year we've been there for the general season elk opener, with bulls still bugling. Not as much during the day, but if you spend time at night in their zones, they're still getting after it. A full two weeks before that I'm sure you'll have plenty of activity to work with.
Were going to be in there a couple days prior to season.
I also will be heading over in a couple weeks to get the first scouting trip in. Should be a fun summer spent in the hills
:tup:
I've spent quite a bit of time in this zone hunting elk. I know parts of it really well, and I'm planning to get to know a lot more of it this summer.
Post by: wheels on June 27, 2019, 01:56:29 PM
Post by: baker5150 on July 11, 2019, 06:00:37 PM
Saw lots of critters and had a blast hiking in some new country.
I loved it so much i left my cell phone there. So if anyone finds an IPhone in the Pioneer Zone, let me know.