Hunting Washington Forum

Big Game Hunting => Elk Hunting => Topic started by: Chuethou_b18c5 on February 27, 2011, 08:07:28 PM

Title: Idaho Panhandle 2011
Post by: Chuethou_b18c5 on February 27, 2011, 08:07:28 PM: Alright guys I went to cabelas today and purchased an Idaho license and elk tag (A TAG) in the Panhandle region. Any suggestions on where I can find elk in this region? First time hunting out of state so any input would be great!!! Not looking for anyone's honey hole, but just want to get an idea so I can start scouting this summer. Thanks guys!
Title: Re: Idaho Panhandle 2011
Post by: Wenatcheejay on February 27, 2011, 08:10:59 PM: Find the wolves then find the deepest darkest hole and there they will be running with their lives. (Just personal experience in Unit 6.)
Title: Re: Idaho Panhandle 2011
Post by: ribka on February 27, 2011, 08:13:16 PM: I spent a lot of time over there. Get out this Summer and start hiking. Look for nasty steep drainages. Lots of wolves and there are grizzlies over there too. Call ID F&G and they will help
Title: Re: Idaho Panhandle 2011
Post by: HornHoarder on February 27, 2011, 08:28:49 PM: Ouch! How much did that tag and liscese set you back? Only asking because I need one. 2008 was the last year I made that hunt and did enjoy success. Unit 4 has been good for me in the past. Get off the logging roads, hike the ridgetops, bugle+cow call in sept. You'll find elk. That unit is very steep and rugged so be physically ready to pack one out. Good Luck.
Title: Re: Idaho Panhandle 2011
Post by: Chuethou_b18c5 on February 27, 2011, 08:34:54 PM: I paid close to $600 for the license and tag. I'll be scouting this summer. I heard lots of good things about Unit 4, so that will be one unit I scout first then i'll go from there. Hopefully this year will be a good year....
Title: Re: Idaho Panhandle 2011
Post by: elkaholic on February 27, 2011, 09:03:18 PM: chue- where you outta of. maybe able to help you out. ill be doing some scoutring this summer as well
Title: Re: Idaho Panhandle 2011
Post by: Chuethou_b18c5 on February 27, 2011, 09:08:57 PM: Elkaholic: I am from spokane. I think i've met you before up by power lake. I was with the group that hiked in last season and camped out by the intersection. You were guiding another fellow on an Elk hunt. Your trail cams were close by my cousins cams. I figure I might have a little more chance in Idaho so I purchased a tag knowing nothing about it. Time to research and hike to figure it out...
Title: Re: Idaho Panhandle 2011
Post by: coop2424 on February 27, 2011, 09:29:18 PM: Pretty much get into the thick holes and should get into them. This will be my second year hunting the panhandle and last year I had the best luck in unit 4 and 4a. I believe a couple of us are going to scout together this summer let me know if you want some company.
Title: Re: Idaho Panhandle 2011
Post by: Ranger91298 on February 27, 2011, 10:09:38 PM: Unit 4 is where we hunt, you can look around "Bumblebee" for a place to hunt. With that information I shouldn't be giving away anyones honeyholes as it is a pretty vast area with many roads. But as said there are wolves in the area and plenty of them. Don't get discouraged if you don't hear them bugling throughout the day; they are there; it just means that the wolves are in the area. :bash: :bash: :bash:
Title: Re: Idaho Panhandle 2011
Post by: huntnnw on February 28, 2011, 12:30:44 AM: Bumblebee.. never would i hunt that area again... a zoo of hunters.. by far the worst area I hunted last time I was there
Title: Re: Idaho Panhandle 2011
Post by: coop2424 on February 28, 2011, 08:27:54 AM: Quote from: huntnnw on February 28, 2011, 12:30:44 AM
Bumblebee.. never would i hunt that area again... a zoo of hunters.. by far the worst area I hunted last time I was there

I completly agree. At least that was the case for me last year...
Title: Re: Idaho Panhandle 2011
Post by: Chuethou_b18c5 on February 28, 2011, 08:39:57 AM: Thanks for the input guys. Today I spoke to Laura Wolfe, from the IDFG and she gave me a little more infor about unit 4. I'll definately have to go check it out. I remember back when I was younger me and my uncle use to go up to bumblebee creek to pick huckleberries. It's been too long so I can't remember exactly where it is, but I will buy a map and go look to see how things are. I am also planning to go down south a little more and scout unit 6. Heard there's some nice bulls down there. Not looking for a trophy just yet. Anything legal will do, but If a trophy does me a chance then hrmm :rolleyes:
Title: Re: Idaho Panhandle 2011
Post by: elkaholic on February 28, 2011, 02:38:34 PM: that was me. PM and we can make some trips this summer. Gas/diesal are going to get spendy.
Title: Re: Idaho Panhandle 2011
Post by: Machias on February 28, 2011, 07:18:41 PM: Looks like the Panhandle will be crowded with all us Eastern WA guys. :chuckle:
Title: Re: Idaho Panhandle 2011
Post by: dscubame on February 28, 2011, 07:29:01 PM: There is no Elk in the Panhandle they are all in the Blues.
Title: Re: Idaho Panhandle 2011
Post by: Hornseeker on February 28, 2011, 07:48:25 PM: Definitely dont go to Bumblebee... very crowded and NO ELK... they all migrated to the Blues... :rolleyes:
Title: Re: Idaho Panhandle 2011
Post by: 400out on February 28, 2011, 07:50:47 PM: Quote from: Hornseeker on February 28, 2011, 07:48:25 PM
Definitely dont go to Bumblebee... very crowded and NO ELK... they all migrated to the Blues... :rolleyes:
:bdid: :bash:
Title: Re: Idaho Panhandle 2011
Post by: Chuethou_b18c5 on February 28, 2011, 08:30:34 PM: I'll be zooming through a lot of these units this summer...eventually things will fall into its places...there's plenty of elk in the blues :chuckle: but i'll just look for the lost one in the panhandle...
Title: Re: Idaho Panhandle 2011
Post by: huntnnw on February 28, 2011, 09:46:09 PM: the entire panhandle tag holds elk.. just get out in the mountains.. find old logged out areas..u will find elk, theres a ton of terrain to hunt elk
Title: Re: Idaho Panhandle 2011
Post by: Chuethou_b18c5 on March 01, 2011, 02:32:53 PM: Thanks for the advice/tips guys....
Title: Re: Idaho Panhandle 2011
Post by: piledup on March 02, 2011, 01:10:19 PM: hey buddy the tag u bought seems to be pretty good after looking at the stats. Ill be missing out on the scouting but hopefully i make it up there when season comes.
Title: Re: Idaho Panhandle 2011
Post by: KimberRich on March 02, 2011, 03:43:24 PM: Quote from: Machias on February 28, 2011, 07:18:41 PM
Looks like the Panhandle will be crowded with all us Eastern WA guys. :chuckle:

If a guy can afford it, I don't see how people couldn't hunt Idaho also. A short drive east and your in gret country. Wish it was closer for me.
Title: Re: Idaho Panhandle 2011
Post by: boneaddict on March 02, 2011, 03:47:39 PM: Zooming through those units won't help you much. They are THICK...bank to bank. :) You can be standing 100 feet from 20 elk and not be able to see one of them. Gotta love it.
Title: Re: Idaho Panhandle 2011
Post by: Machias on March 02, 2011, 04:18:44 PM: Quote from: boneaddict on March 02, 2011, 03:47:39 PM
Zooming through those units won't help you much. They are THICK...bank to bank. :) You can be standing 100 feet from 20 elk and not be able to see one of them. Gotta love it.

You can be a heck of alot closer than 100 feet and STILL not see them!!!!
Title: Re: Idaho Panhandle 2011
Post by: boneaddict on March 02, 2011, 04:31:09 PM: Thats for sure.
I had a bullmoose shredding, and I mean shredding a forest about 18 feet away and couldn't see anything but moving trees, antler tips and feet. :chuckle:
Title: Re: Idaho Panhandle 2011
Post by: Chuethou_b18c5 on March 02, 2011, 09:13:59 PM: I'm sure Northern Idaho is pretty thick with my experience from picking huckleberries. I've just never seen elk up there so was just wondering what parts are more popular...I kind of have an idea where to look now. Should be a good experience...
Title: Re: Idaho Panhandle 2011
Post by: huntnnw on March 03, 2011, 10:32:24 PM: Ill take the thickness of the joe area anyday over NE WA.. nothing compares to the underbrush here
Title: Re: Idaho Panhandle 2011
Post by: Chuethou_b18c5 on March 04, 2011, 09:58:19 AM: I have hunted the NE corner for the past 3 years, no luck. Some close encounters but just couldn't seal the deal. So that's why I decided to go with Idaho. Hopefully there's more elk and will be a little more chance than the NE corner.
Title: Re: Idaho Panhandle 2011
Post by: elkaholic on March 05, 2011, 10:40:37 AM: You will get into them!!! From where I met you at up there you have no problem putting in the miles.
Title: Re: Idaho Panhandle 2011
Post by: Todd_ID on March 05, 2011, 11:03:44 AM: Quote from: elkaholic on March 05, 2011, 10:40:37 AM
You will get into them!!! From where I met you at up there you have no problem putting in the miles.
That's pretty funny! And a darn good start to success in the Panhandle. If you can find a place on the map that has no roads within 1/2 mile, then you can be pretty sure nobody is hunting it. Pick 12 good looking places off the topo maps and Google Earth; check them out this summer to narrow it to 8; come hunting season you'll find 6 of them hold elk; you can go to a different one each day and take Sunday off for church, but more importantly you're not going back to the same place day after day getting busted and hunting smarter and smarter elk; that's a recipe for tag soup. I stumble all around hell's half acre up there and never see a soul except when I come out to a road. But getting from camp to where I want to take off you'd think we were being invaded based on the amount of camps and traffic; and that's during archery. Rifle season is the time to set up the espresso stand at the bottom of about 4 of the major intersections in the St. Joe. You'd make enough money to buy a cattle ranch not just a beef to replace not hunting for elk.
Title: Re: Idaho Panhandle 2011
Post by: huntnnw on March 05, 2011, 01:19:04 PM: Also pay attention to what people are driving right by! I have a few places I hunt that have major road systems on both sides of me but nobody stops to hunt..always has elk. :chuckle:
Title: Re: Idaho Panhandle 2011
Post by: Chuethou_b18c5 on March 06, 2011, 01:00:05 AM: Putting in the miles is not a problem at all. I like to get to the middle of nowhere so there are not many hunters around. Although you never know. It's just nice to have lots of country with no one else in there but you and elk :chuckle:

I'll look at some maps and pickout some spots to scout this summer. Nice pieces of land with not too many roads around would be great to hunt!
Title: Re: Idaho Panhandle 2011
Post by: boneaddict on March 06, 2011, 06:48:55 AM: First thing you need to understand, the idaho panhandle isn't the place you "Put in the Miles". Everyone has this thought and its a great speech....get out hike a bunch and you won't see anyone. " Fine and dandy. The panhandle, you hike 30 feet off the road and you "aren't going to see anyone", almost literally. If you are hunting it right, you probably won't be logging too many miles in a day. If you do, its probably becasue you are lost and are going in circles.
Title: Re: Idaho Panhandle 2011
Post by: Machias on March 06, 2011, 11:34:40 AM: Quote from: boneaddict on March 06, 2011, 06:48:55 AM
First thing you need to understand, the idaho panhandle isn't the place you "Put in the Miles". Everyone has this thought and its a great speech....get out hike a bunch and you won't see anyone. " Fine and dandy. The panhandle, you hike 30 feet off the road and you "aren't going to see anyone", almost literally. If you are hunting it right, you probably won't be logging too many miles in a day. If you do, its probably becasue you are lost and are going in circles.

Badda Bing, Bingo! oh :yeah:
Title: Re: Idaho Panhandle 2011
Post by: elkinrutdrivemenuts on March 06, 2011, 03:43:37 PM: Just to be clear there is no limit on non resident tags for the panhandle tag right? I could buy one in august and be fine? Any body on here ever go up by lookout pass or the northfork of the CDA river? how is the hunting pressure there? The residents i know that hunt on the joe or up in the northern portion do very well during archery driving roads and hunting lots of spots and bugling during the week. It could be just luck, but it seems like the elk are moving a lot and you gotta hit up spots you have seen them before. Last 3 years a guy i know has stopped and bugled within 100yds of the rd and taken bulls!
Title: Re: Idaho Panhandle 2011
Post by: Chuethou_b18c5 on March 06, 2011, 07:51:50 PM: The lady at Cabelas told me that the OTC tags for the panhandle usually never run out, but I'm not sure either...I just got mine now so I will be more determined to hunt there this year.
Title: Re: Idaho Panhandle 2011
Post by: Ridgeratt on March 06, 2011, 07:56:06 PM: Back in the 80's and 90's panhandle tags sold out within a month. We used to have to go buy them right after the 1st of Jan.
Title: Re: Idaho Panhandle 2011
Post by: HornHoarder on March 06, 2011, 08:10:23 PM: What great about this surplus of tags is the fact you can buy another one if you tag out early! My buddy did just that last time we hunted there, filled that one too!
Title: Re: Idaho Panhandle 2011
Post by: elkinrutdrivemenuts on March 06, 2011, 08:40:05 PM: http://fishandgame.idaho.gov/cms/licenses/quota/nrquota.cfm (http://fishandgame.idaho.gov/cms/licenses/quota/nrquota.cfm)

Looks like there are quite a few left, over 9000. So when those run out the panhandle is closed to nr hunters is how I read it. My wife wants me is making me save up separately for it, so I am just wondering when the latest I should pick one up is?
Title: Re: Idaho Panhandle 2011
Post by: Todd_ID on March 07, 2011, 11:46:58 AM: Quote from: elkinrutdrivemenuts on March 06, 2011, 08:40:05 PM
http://fishandgame.idaho.gov/cms/licenses/quota/nrquota.cfm (http://fishandgame.idaho.gov/cms/licenses/quota/nrquota.cfm)

Looks like there are quite a few left, over 9000. So when those run out the panhandle is closed to nr hunters is how I read it. My wife wants me is making me save up separately for it, so I am just wondering when the latest I should pick one up is?
Aug 28 is when the extra tags go on sale to everyone as second tags.
Title: Re: Idaho Panhandle 2011
Post by: boneaddict on March 08, 2011, 05:37:56 AM: They haven't been running out, especially since they jacked the prices.
Title: Re: Idaho Panhandle 2011
Post by: dscubame on March 08, 2011, 01:12:24 PM: Quote from: boneaddict on March 08, 2011, 05:37:56 AM
They haven't been running out, especially since they jacked the prices.

And drastically shortened the "any elk" days to hunt.
Title: Re: Idaho Panhandle 2011
Post by: piledup on March 08, 2011, 06:58:18 PM: Quote from: dscubame on March 08, 2011, 01:12:24 PM
Quote from: boneaddict on March 08, 2011, 05:37:56 AM
They haven't been running out, especially since they jacked the prices.

And drastically shortened the "any elk" days to hunt.

Don't forget about the wolves too
Title: Re: Idaho Panhandle 2011
Post by: Chuethou_b18c5 on March 08, 2011, 07:50:40 PM: Quote from: piledup on March 08, 2011, 06:58:18 PM
Quote from: dscubame on March 08, 2011, 01:12:24 PM
Quote from: boneaddict on March 08, 2011, 05:37:56 AM
They haven't been running out, especially since they jacked the prices.

And drastically shortened the "any elk" days to hunt.

Don't forget about the wolves too

That's the one thing i'm worried about...
Title: Re: Idaho Panhandle 2011
Post by: elkinrutdrivemenuts on March 08, 2011, 10:05:22 PM: They lengthened the seasons in some units
this year check the fish and game website
There are links that show you the proposed dates for 2011.
Title: Re: Idaho Panhandle 2011
Post by: Chuethou_b18c5 on March 08, 2011, 11:12:54 PM: I just checked the proposal for the 2011 season in the Panhandle. If that goes through it'll be pretty good Seasons are very long.
Title: Re: Idaho Panhandle 2011
Post by: dscubame on March 09, 2011, 11:26:16 AM: Quote from: Chuethou_b18c5 on March 08, 2011, 11:12:54 PM
I just checked the proposal for the 2011 season in the Panhandle. If that goes through it'll be pretty good Seasons are very long.

Horrible....taking away the antlerless opportunity.
Title: Re: Idaho Panhandle 2011
Post by: Chuethou_b18c5 on March 09, 2011, 11:50:22 AM: Quote from: dscubame on March 09, 2011, 11:26:16 AM
Quote from: Chuethou_b18c5 on March 08, 2011, 11:12:54 PM
I just checked the proposal for the 2011 season in the Panhandle. If that goes through it'll be pretty good Seasons are very long.

Horrible....taking away the antlerless opportunity.

Am I looking at the right proposal?

http://fishandgame.idaho.gov/apps/11bgProp/pan.pdf (http://fishandgame.idaho.gov/apps/11bgProp/pan.pdf)
Title: Re: Idaho Panhandle 2011
Post by: elkinrutdrivemenuts on March 09, 2011, 07:41:54 PM: Probably the same, they are focusing on growing the herd. I would rather have longer seasons for bulls though, especially at $600 a tag!
Title: Re: Idaho Panhandle 2011
Post by: dscubame on March 09, 2011, 07:47:17 PM: Quote from: Chuethou_b18c5 on March 09, 2011, 11:50:22 AM
Quote from: dscubame on March 09, 2011, 11:26:16 AM
Quote from: Chuethou_b18c5 on March 08, 2011, 11:12:54 PM
I just checked the proposal for the 2011 season in the Panhandle. If that goes through it'll be pretty good Seasons are very long.

Horrible....taking away the antlerless opportunity.

Am I looking at the right proposal?

http://fishandgame.idaho.gov/apps/11bgProp/pan.pdf (http://fishandgame.idaho.gov/apps/11bgProp/pan.pdf)

Ya same one. Took any elk away from at least 3 units that I briefly looked at.
Title: Re: Idaho Panhandle 2011
Post by: coop2424 on March 09, 2011, 08:16:54 PM: I sure am happy with the 3 weeks now for the panhandle. I just have to find another babysitter for the third week since I have the the first two weeks covered.
Title: Re: Idaho Panhandle 2011
Post by: dscubame on March 09, 2011, 08:17:57 PM: Quote from: coop2424 on March 09, 2011, 08:16:54 PM
I sure am happy with the 3 weeks now for the panhandle. I just have to find another babysitter for the third week since I have the the first two weeks covered.

I agree those extra days rock.
Title: Re: Idaho Panhandle 2011
Post by: Chuethou_b18c5 on March 09, 2011, 10:42:56 PM: Quote from: elkinrutdrivemenuts on March 09, 2011, 07:41:54 PM
Probably the same, they are focusing on growing the herd. I would rather have longer seasons for bulls though, especially at $600 a tag!

I agree!
Title: Re: Idaho Panhandle 2011
Post by: rgalanti21 on March 18, 2011, 02:53:09 AM: Head up in the hills near cour de alene and kellogg. Got an elk there myself once!
Title: Re: Idaho Panhandle 2011
Post by: Chuethou_b18c5 on March 31, 2011, 01:18:46 AM: I will be heading up around Kellogg area and scout for elk too. Too many units with gas prices going up scouting will be tough this year.... :dunno: Will most likely be out there for 2 weeks straight during elk season to save gas....
Title: Re: Idaho Panhandle 2011
Post by: elkinrutdrivemenuts on April 01, 2011, 07:54:19 AM: It is nice having lots if area to choose from, I'm thinking the st
Joe will be where I call home for the season. I hear there are some
Places to get away from the road that people usually take horses into or big wheels. Anyone ever tries up by lookout pass?