Archery elk Smokey Bennett unit 43/48 Idaho

[3pointer]

Anybody have any POSITIVE light to shine about an archery elk hunt in these zones? Not looking for gps coordinates , but just any little tips that could generally put a person in the right direction, I understand the zone is heavily pressured and tag numbers are high. I hunt a similarly pressured zone in Idaho for mule deer and we still manage to pull out a couple good ones every trip, so there for realize the little extra effort goes a long ways, just wondering maybe if archery elk in 43/48 might be that way as well. Hoping to hear something positive about the unit being everything I usually here leads to the negative side, but I’ll listen the the bad things as well if that’s all u got lol !!! Thanks in advance, looking forward to hear wat everyone has to say .
, 3pointer

 

[jmcd22]

Anybody have any POSITIVE light to shine about an archery elk hunt in these zones? Not looking for gps coordinates , but just any little tips that could generally put a person in the right direction, I understand the zone is heavily pressured and tag numbers are high. I hunt a similarly pressured zone in Idaho for mule deer and we still manage to pull out a couple good ones every trip, so there for realize the little extra effort goes a long ways, just wondering maybe if archery elk in 43/48 might be that way as well. Hoping to hear something positive about the unit being everything I usually here leads to the negative side, but I’ll listen the the bad things as well if that’s all u got lol !!! Thanks in advance, looking forward to hear wat everyone has to say .
, 3pointer

I hunt this area yearly. The first thing I will tell you is that the Sun Valley area got absolutely hammered this winter. There are pictures in another thread...I will have to find it and post here for you to see. Elk are easier to keep alive than deer but I have a feeling that the elk got hit this year. That area struggles with wolves too. Last year our spot got hit and we didn't see an elk in 6 days...we moved around as well. Last negative aspect of this area is that it is rough. And when I say rough...I mean it. The area we go to is so steep that in the 5+ years we've hunted it, we've only seen two other hunters. Which leads me to the positives...you can definitely find solitude if that is something you want. And despite what I have said about the negatives, there are elk to be found but you are definitely going to have to work at it.

I should be back in that area sometime this spring as we have a fly fishing area we enjoy going to and we still have our trail cams up but this will be the first year that we will not be in there...need a break from it and want to see some new country. Feel free to shoot me a PM if you want more information.

 

[jmcd22]

Here is the picture I was talking about. I don't live up there, but from the looks of it, this is down in the valley. I do not own this photo...it was posted by @IdahoElk (feel free to remove if me posting it has broken a rule).

 

[3pointer]

Wow , thanks for the visual Jmcd22 , I can’t figure out how to PM , any easy way to walk me through it lol?

 

[3pointer]

Aww just saw the PM rule , guess I can’t pm until I’m a member for a week ,

 

[jmcd22]

Wow , thanks for the visual Jmcd22 , I can’t figure out how to PM , any easy way to walk me through it lol?

I will do my best but since this is a regular area for my family and I, please excuse my reluctance to post much on a public forum. I can tell you that 43 has far more people than 48 because of it's proximity to Boise but 48 has more wolves (in my experience). With either unit, especially 48, I would tell you to get in the best possible shape you can get in. I would also say to have someone go with you because if you get one down, they are going straight to the bottom and it is a PITA to get an elk out of there.

The weather can vary from year to year though. I've seen temps in the 70s and 80s but I've also seen 20 with snow. Be prepared for both. Really depends on the year and that can drastically effect the hunt and elk activity. Your best bet for 48 or 43 is to find an area with very little roads. If there are roads, there are hunters with side by sides and 4wheelers and the elk just will not tolerate that. Google Earth will be your biggest help there. Good luck!

 

[3pointer]

Much appreciated jmcd22. Best of luck to u as well . I’ll be in touch wen I gain my pm privileges . I do have some Mule deer knowledge in a close unit if I could help at all feel free to reach out

 

[jmcd22]

Sounds good! Thanks!

 

[wind gypsy]

in the 5+ years we've hunted it, we've only seen two other hunters.

Sweet, see ya in September Bro!

 

[jmcd22]

Sweet, see ya in September Bro!

Haha! We are taking this year off of that area, so have at it!

 

[Idaho_Potato]

Sweet, see ya in September Bro!

It seems like unit threads get deleted pretty regularly here. Why is this one still up?

Yeah, let's talk about more uncrowded otc spots and see if we can fill em up!

 

[idahohikker]

If you think these units aren't crowded, you haven't been there and haven't looked at the stats. Backcountry guys everywhere can sometimes avoid bumping into too many hunters in the field based on randomness or good planning but you'll work your tail off to escape pressure in this zone. Same as any high pressured area in the West. That wasn't the case in this area five years ago but it certainly is today. These areas are popular and close to towns. Your first challenge in some areas is finding a parking spot. Lol. I wonder how long uncapped nonresident archery tags in some Idaho zones will remain viable. At some point in the near future it will just be too much congestion.

As many posters regularly remind people, PMs are best for discussing specifics of certain areas.

 

[3pointer]

If you think these units aren't crowded, you haven't been there and haven't looked at the stats. Backcountry guys everywhere can sometimes avoid bumping into too many hunters in the field based on randomness or good planning but you'll work your tail off to escape pressure in this zone. Same as any high pressured area in the West. That wasn't the case in this area five years ago but it certainly is today. These areas are popular and close to towns. Your first challenge in some areas is finding a parking spot. Lol. I wonder how long uncapped nonresident archery tags in some Idaho zones will remain viable. At some point in the near future it will just be too much congestion.

As many posters regularly remind people, PMs are best for discussing specifics of certain areas.

I understand your not trying to post too much on a public forum , I’m not allowed to PM yet, my apologies, ID hiker, I’ve deer hunted this zone quite a bit and yes pressure can be discouraging , pressure doesn’t push me away , just makes me work harder. I’ve never elk hunted here, was just trying to scratch the surface , once again my apologies, I’ll wait until I can pm

 

[idahohikker]

Not all guys agree but I'm fine with threads about various areas, responses just should be through PM. Without threads being posted it would really cut down on the info sharing.

 

[3pointer]

Agreed

 

[jmcd22]

It seems like unit threads get deleted pretty regularly here. Why is this one still up?

Yeah, let's talk about more uncrowded otc spots and see if we can fill em up!

Unbelievable. Nothing I posted said anything about this unit at all. To be honest, I felt bad posting what I did because I really didn't give the OP much of anything that isn't obvious. If you really think that unit isn't crowded then you haven't been there at all. It is overran with people other than a few areas that 9/10 guys won't even think about going.

 

[Idahohillboy]

These are my units since I was a kid. It has been ruined bottom line by forums and magazines like hunting fool and Eastmans come on in and join the crowds why not everyone else has. I am not hunting this unit this year. Good luck everyone 5 trucks at every trail head and idfag doesn't care about the hunters experience they like your money. Sorry but if you look back 5 years ago vs today it is ruined no room people everywhere elk are quiet good luck.

Sent from my SM-N960U using Tapatalk

 

[3pointer]

I didnt mean to start anything between anyone , I was just looking for general info, I’ve been to this unit numerous times just never elk hunted it , looks like I’ve struck a nerve , regardless of wat negativity you guys throw out there I’ll be there in September, I was just looking to shine a little light on the unit but apparently it’s a dark dark place lol , if u let crowds get to you your better off not even hunting OTC , otherwise you just have to hunt harder than the next , good luck

 

[idahohikker]

OP, it's just a hot button issue now because there's been crazy growth in hunter density in many areas including these units in the last few years. It's easy to be frustrated with an area that was pretty chill getting overrun after you've invested so much in it. Any long time hunter in the West has experienced this phenomenon. Does it mean the hunting is terrible today? No, but there are some new realities that need to be acknowledged and planned for in many cases.

I have a spot that for whatever reason is now completely jam packed. I'm halfway nervous to drive down the one lane road and not get stuck driving backwards over and over. Almost all the guys in there are nonresidents. That's tough to swallow but you have to. The elk are still in there but you have to plan for where they'll get pushed not where they're blissfully grazing like is the case in these units.

 

[HookUp]

I hunted 48 for a few years and have given it up. Wayne Carlton hunted this unit before it burned and said there was 4-5 bulls per drainage. My experience is 1 herd bull per big drainage and once its bumped by the 3-4 hunters chasing it. getting on new elk is tough. The unit is open and the elk dont talk much do to all the picalo Pete's on the ridges.. Headed for greener pastures in 2019, the success for this unit has plummeted over the years. Its around 13% which is horrible for an any elk unit,