December Idaho Elk Hunt: Too Cold?

[paleraider]

I have an late season Idaho cow elk tag for unit 51 that I drew.

My plan is to go from the 25th through the 31st and stay in a Kifaru Tut tent. I have a seekoutside stove, buddy heater, enlightened equipment 0 degree quilt, good insulation pad, and more wool blankets then is probably reasonable. I thought I would be ok in terms of staying warm at night. I also have full set of cold weather gear for being outside. I have spent full days at 16 degrees in it. Thing is the temp out there is getting down to -15. Having told many of the locals in Boise of my upcoming hunt they all told me I was insane for wanting to go out there and seriously all tried talking me out of it. I also don't know of anyone else who has done this type of winter hunt so now I am not so sure my plan is a good one. So I thought I would throw this question out to the more hardcore hunters and see what they thought.

Is tent camping out there reasonable, what of my list of equipment do you think is missing? How do I keep my water from freezing and what types of foods should I be taking? I was thinking mostly soups, oatmeal, and sandwiches as I didn't want to eat frozen bars!

 

[hobbes]

I've not done it. Everything is a challenge in temps like that. I hunted roosters 3 days last week in it and the extra effort to keep everything thawed is a pain and I was staying in a warm bed at night, but you won't have dogs to deal with. Going from warm humid tent to negative temps can be a challenge for everything metal and glass.

Are you packing in or camping at trailhead? I'd stay in a hotel if there is one reasonably close.

 

[paleraider]

This is not a high country hunt. As such I was going to camp at a campsite in the valley and utilize truck to traverse to the different hunting areas I have picked out. Nearest hotel is about and hour and 20 minutes from where I was planning on hunting, I had thought of that as well though.

 

[FreeRange]

I just hunted it a month ago for the rifle bull hunt. Not much snow fell but temps were down to 10 degrees most nights. Was luxurious in a SO 8 man with stove. Elk were still up very high, which is unusual for that time of the year in that unit, there was almost no snow on the ground though, hopefully for your sake some more has fallen.

I'd say definitely plan on hot tenting it, the logistics of staying in Arco would add a LOT of driving to your hunt. We saw a ton of elk and killed a 6x6 on the 2nd day. They'll likely be down lower by now not sure how much snow they've got in the last month. If you don't have an ATV you better hope the elk are down lower if there's been much snow, can't think you'd be able to drive too far up the access roads now.

PM me if you want more details on the unit, I don't think it'd be very tough to fill a cow tag with a rifle. If you want an elk just go and make it happen.

 

[Backpack Hunter]

I say prepare for the weather and go for it. From your description staying at the campsite means that at worst you are an hour and a half from a hotel room....in other words it is not life and death.
There are people that will try to talk you out of everything. Do what you want, but prepare for what you want.

 

[hobbes]

An hour and a half is a haul morning and evening. I'd camp as well if I had the right equipment and felt it necessary to fill a tag.

Drying out wet clothes will be a constant battle. I'd be sure to have some system to hang them in the tent near heat. I'd still be reasonable about it. You can push yourself a lot most times of the year, but consistent negative temps and some wind can get dangerous quick. Hypothermia is not something that you can muscle through.

 

[mntnguide]

Id be renting a camper from a camper rental in Boise...going there for a day or two..filling my cow tag...and not absolutely freezing my rear end off...But thats just me! ..The seek outside/kifaru tent set ups with a stove are great...but those stoves will not hold heat long, and you will get damnnnn cold in that country! up to you, but for a cow, id be upping my credit limit a little for some comfort that will be day and night above a tent set up in the end of december.