2024 ELK / Deer ? Wolf hunt unit 10 Idaho questions

[Proto]

New here and my first post. I will be doing a combo hunt this year Rifle Elk , Deer and Wolf hunt in Unit 10 this year. I will hunting with either a .30 cal and a .25 cal (bringing 2 rifles) . Looking at the terrain I am thinking shots are going to be either 50 yards or 700+. I am really interested in Deer and Wolf or Elk if it shows up and curious as to weather I should focus on Mule deer or Whitetails.

 

[elkguide]

Welcome to the forum.
Lots of good info here. Try the search feature.

 

[johnsd16]

Per the Idaho harvest stats, 88% of the deer harvested were whitetails. The mule deer are probably pockety. If you want to shoot a mature buck, focusing on whitetail will give you better odds. I’ve not been in 10 much but it’s a lot like 7. Big, thick, steep country and remote.

 

[Wrench]

Do you like to hunt high country in the snow? If you don't LOVE that....mule deer are pretty much out. There's a few down lower....but most will be near the tippy top of the mountain.

Whitetail can be anywhere.

Wolves are pretty much an opportunistic hunt at best during the season.

If I were tagged up in unit 10, I'd be keeping my eyes on the elk.....that's where I run into wolves.

 

[insanelupus]

I realize this is unsolicited, but a word of advice from one who has tried and failed many times. Pick a species and bore down on hunting that one. If the opportunity comes up to turn an elk hunt into a deer or wolf hunt, so be it. But trying to hunt all species at once is often unprofitable.

In college a fella from Montana told me he only elk hunted. Said the only time he killed a deer was when they got in the way of elk hunting. Sure wish I would have understood what he meant many years before I did.

 

[BAKPAKR]

I don’t think your unit is famous for its mule deer hunting and the season ends before the whitetail rut. As @insanelupus suggested, I would concentrate on elk and shoot any wolf or buck that interfered with that. I would probably go early in the season when some bulls could still be bugling.

BTW - there is road construction planned in that unit so you might want to check the status of that before you go, just to prevent lost hunting time.

This buck interfered with an elk hunt:

 

[Proto]

Thanks for the responses. I am coming out from the east coast and all I have been seeing about the Lolo is no elk, lots of wolves, and very little of about the deer. Elevation seems pretty low to me as when I have hunted mule deer it was in Utah at 6k-9k feet. This looks like it top out around 6k-7k feet. Maybe will focus on Elk and if I see a deer or a wolf then change up the hunt for the day. We will be getting out on OCT 9th, and will be there a week.

 

[Proto]

I don’t think your unit is famous for its mule deer hunting and the season ends before the whitetail rut. As @insanelupus suggested, I would concentrate on elk and shoot any wolf or buck that interfered with that. I would probably go early in the season when some bulls could still be bugling.

BTW - there is road construction planned in that unit so you might want to check the status of that before you go, just to prevent lost hunting time.

This buck interfered with an elk hunt:

View attachment 710193

That is a dandy! He looks to be well into the Rut.

 

[BAKPAKR]

Don’t forget to pick up reduced price tags for bear and mountain lion. Odds of running into a cat are low but you never know.

 

[Tailhunter]

New here and my first post. I will be doing a combo hunt this year Rifle Elk , Deer and Wolf hunt in Unit 10 this year. I will hunting with either a .30 cal and a .25 cal (bringing 2 rifles) . Looking at the terrain I am thinking shots are going to be either 50 yards or 700+. I am really interested in Deer and Wolf or Elk if it shows up and curious as to weather I should focus on Mule deer or Whitetails.

Hunted Lolo 2 years ago. Heading back there in 2025. PM me and we can discuss more detail. It has just about everything. I saw grizz tracks, mule deer, whitetail rudding down the road, (didn't see any bucks) group down the road killed a bear, had a group with a bear treed on the drive up, was stalked by cat after the atv broke down, saw some wolf scat, and got a shot off at a monster bull but was shaking so bad from the hike i missed. This was during archery season tho. Prepare for a rough hunt. Im 27 and have hunted a lot of idaho and colorado and this was the worst terrain I've ever been in. Excited to get back there!

 

[Bowhunterjk]

Drew a general deer tag for unit 9 and an elk for lolo A. First timer here. Would love to chat for some direction if you’re up for it.