Idaho Panhandle B Elk 30

[jbeaumont21]

Hey all, I drew an Idaho tag this year.  Never been but I have a cousin who's hunted it a few times.  We're planning to make a few scouting trips this summer.  I'm pretty excited but not sure what to expect.  Anyone on here done this hunt and have any advice to share?  Would be much appreciated. Thanks!

[hughjorgan]

I tried it a few years ago, everyone and their mom has a side by side and drives every where. Timber companies around the st Joe allow you to drive around gates. Not the type of hunt I was after, the archery season had less pressure and more elk.

[luvmystang67]

PM sent

[Longfield1]

The panhandle is a big place and there are going to be areas where theres going to be alot of road hunters if theres lots of road access. Other areas where maybe theres only hiking trails or single track are going to have alot less people. The #1 thing you need to focus on is aggressively finding elk. This is where it pays to scout because your not limited on time. E scouting can help a ton but alot of areas that look good online suck everybody else into also. If your not bumping elk your not finding elk in my opinion. Good luck!

[blackpowderhunter]

i've hunted the panhandle for the last 10 years.
it's steep....yes, its reaallly steep.  and as said, its a big region, so might need to narrow down where you're shooting for before you start making trips.
also be prepared to get s talked to you once they see your license plate.

[Pegasus]

If you like side by sides everywhere then you have the right tag. Appears to be mandatory equipment for the locals that gives them the right to run you off the road and screw with you every time you walk in to a gated area. Cover your license plate with mud and don't make eye contact with any locals as they drive by. Lastly make sure you don't wear blaze orange, not even an orange hat, as it immediately identifies you as one of those g-- da-- f---king fa----- commie tourists from Washington.

[blackpowderhunter]

I hunt in a very small town over there. Been friends with some guys who grew up there and still live there. Anyways, I hunt with them, stay at their place, etc. most people in town recognize and accept us now; but no joke the history teacher of the highschool tried driving us off the road up in the mountains one year because we had wa plates.
When he pulled up and asked what we were doing there and we told him who we were hunting/staying with his tune changed real quick.
But it’s a thing over there.

[jbeaumont21]

Appreciate everyone taking the time to respond and share your experiences. That’s exactly why I posted.

Sounds like the common themes are steep country, lots of access in certain areas, and plenty of side-by-sides if you’re near roads. That’s good intel to have going in. I’m not looking for a road hunt, so I’ll definitely be focusing on areas with limited access, hiking trails, and spots where I can get a little separation from the crowds.

The advice about aggressively finding elk and not being afraid to bump them is solid. I plan to make a couple scouting trips and put boots on the ground rather than just relying on e-scouting. I know anything that looks good on a map probably looks good to a lot of other guys too.

As for the local dynamic, I get it. I’ll be respectful, stay in my lane, and hunt hard. At the end of the day, we’re all just out there trying to enjoy the same public ground.

Thanks again for the insight and the PM. If nothing else, I’m looking forward to getting into some steep country and learning a new area. I’ll report back after the season.

[blackpowderhunter]

some of the panhandle like units 4 and 4A have  discounted black bear tags, so id pick one of those up as well for sure, especially depending on when you're going scouting.
feel free to PM me your general area and ill see if i have any insight i can share.

[raydog]

No insight on elk up there. Maybe Im lucky, but I haven't had any issues with Idaho residents in my adventures over there, all good interactions so far

[Longfield1]

No insight on elk up there. Maybe Im lucky, but I haven't had any issues with Idaho residents in my adventures over there, all good interactions so far

Ive noticed the same. No bad interactions yet, maybe at worst bad intel, but when I smell *censored*, and someone tells me otherwise I just nod and smile and thank them for their time.

[nwmein199]

No insight on elk up there. Maybe Im lucky, but I haven't had any issues with Idaho residents in my adventures over there, all good interactions so far

Same for me. Have hunted from the panhandle down to Salmon, ID for deerk/elk with archery/rifle over the past 8 years and never once had any issues with locals and my WA license plates

[TeacherMan]

As someone who lives in unit 6... Put yourself in a place that is not close to town, get back in and stay there. Most WA guys I see in my area try to stay in town and drive out to hunting areas in the morning. There are pockets this works but it is not going to get you in good country. Be prepared to shoot across canyons and bring a spotting scope. Yes its big timber and steep, there are also large clear-cut areas and reprob to glass. A wheeler is very helpful to get a couple miles behind gates to be in good areas at daylight and get out quickly after dark. Don't hunt off of it, the elk will just step out of sight if they hear your machine. Good luck!