Idaho elk report?

[Usi05]

Hunted 8 day in Idaho OTC Unit for first elk hunt. Didn’t hear a bugle until two nights ago when we were night bugling and a bull was responding.

Lots of rain last few nights and tonight.

Lots of sign around 7600 feet. Tons of mule deer.

Got on elk most days and some bulls along the way but they ran the other way when we did any type of calling. Area wasn’t conducive to spotting anything further than 10 feet Away. Lots of climbing and training helped me hold up.

Wouldn’t believe elk even bugle if I hadn’t heard one at night popping off. Locals say it is “worst years they remember.”

Heard wolves one night. Only ran into one hunter in woods because we were willing to hike and all the wall tents barely go a 1/4 in.

Thinking a move to Boise will pan out through work in next few months but right now I’m checking to see if my tag offers a rifle option. Should have been more prepared to hunt elk in more ways.


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[Flatlander89]

In 56. He ended up howling pretty close to camp the night I posted that so there’s at least 1.

What's this far? I've heard of wolves in the most southern units...so yes but in less density probably.

 

[idahohikker]

Gee I feel really sad that I’m a rifle hunter. While some guys are getting into pockets of unpressured elk, that’s a lot of guys hearing no bugles or having elk run the other way at calling. Archery hunting is where the big increase in resident and nonresident pressure can occurred in recent years. Lots of units I’m familiar with in Central Idaho went from 200-300 archery hunters to 3x that in five years.

 

[Vandal 44]

I went out September 6th through the 11th and I heard one bugle, I was hunting both Washington and the Panhandle. I shot a bear at 16 yards in Washington. I bought this knife for my grandson who is 2 years old; I am going to give it to him when gets his first animal. I am headed out this Sunday for eight days in the Panhandle

 

[ID_Matt]

Opening weekend was the most action i have seen this season. Multiple bulls all screaming in one drainage. Convinced this one to come check us out. Has been very slow since then.

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[Trooper1288]

I just finished 10 days in unit 66a. I didn’t take anything but had plenty of opportunities. Lots of action, chased a big one for a couple days. Enjoy your hunt!


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[Wrench]

I'm in the panhandle on a mtn top now. It's quiet compared to a week ago, but I've had two bulls cruise in to cow calls.

One was walking through the tag alders and all I could see was his tops. I had to be in mid crap when he came by. I had no call in,my mouth and no bow....hell...not even pants!

I had a hoochie momma (which I typically hate) so in times of need, I squeezed that biotch and that bull stopped and all but came to me.

I had to "wipe up " and get my bow. He chuckled me from 10 yards and I pleaded with a cow call reed. That went on for about 3 minutes. He destroyed a tree and damn near pissed on me. It was so thick I couldn't draw my longbow, but in hindsight probably could have stabbed him.

He was a real nice north Idaho bull, about 350 Internet inches 290-300+ in color. That was one of the coolest elk experiences I've ever had. I hope to go kill him tomorrow.

Last night I set up with 20 mins of light or less and ripped a few cow calls. I see a quick flash of brown and suddenly there's a satellite bull trying to get me to come to him. I played hard to get and he started to bark at me like a dog. I laid on the buzz really thick and he finally gave in and showed himself at 20 yards. He'll be a beaut in 2 more years.

Don't be discouraged if it's quiet, just work your setup and pay attention.

Good luck guys.

 

[kvw4x4]

Just got off the mountains after a week of hunting. The bulls bugled for us. Shot my first bull on Tuesday. On my birthday.

 

[ridgefire]

Bulls were starting to go really good for us in central/eastern Idaho when we left on Friday. Started our hunt about a week to early this year but I managed to tag out on a 6x6.

 

[BRTreedogs]

Anyone else in beaverhead.
Really slow for us. Hardly any sign

 

[Team4LongGun]

I went out September 6th through the 11th and I heard one bugle, I was hunting both Washington and the Panhandle. I shot a bear at 16 yards in Washington. I bought this knife for my grandson who is 2 years old; I am going to give it to him when gets his first animal. I am headed out this Sunday for eight days in the Panhandle

Nice blade-who makes it?

 

[elkguide]

[Bulls were starting to go really good for us in central/eastern Idaho when we left on Friday. Started our hunt about a week to early this year but I managed to tag out on a 6x6.] ridgefire

Without pictures..... it's just a good story!

 

[Wrench]

I had another bull come in silent and make all kind's of noises...grunts, chuckles, barks, farts....everything but a classic bugle.

Ps, I'm the one guy who didn't have on a mtn ops hat. I ran into an army of mtn ops hats this weekend.

Fantastic marketing guys, but next time hike uphill.....it was hot up here.

 

[ttltown]

Hunted Tex creek area. Saw a dozen or so....half bulls. Called a bull up from across a ridge all the way up hill to us but we weren’t prepared and he busted us at 45 yards lol. Our first archery elk hunt. We also had a bull at 20 yards but had a number of failures and learning moments...very disappointed! Not much bugling at all except one night where they were bugling like crazy but otherwise not much. Probably came a week too early. We had a blast though.


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[Idahunt]

Anyone in 32a lately? Two weeks ago they were silent for the most part, a buddy hunted saturday up there and said it was still quiet. Although from the sound of it he gave it a half hearted attempt. Looking to head back this week sometime. PM if you want

 

[ridgefire]

No bugles out of this guy

 

[Danny Hoey]

Hit it hard, and it was pretty quiet throughout the week. Didn't fling an arrow.

 

[BRTreedogs]

Well shot a cow yesterday. I'm a trigger happy freak.
Mmm mmm tho

 

[Vandal 44]

Nice blade-who makes it?

Its the Altitude by Benchmade. I broke that little bear down with that knife and its still crazy sharp

 

[Schmidty Of Oregon]

Spent 10 days in Unit 50. I just got back last night. We had one satellite bull responding to bugles early in the week, but the herd bull was silent. My buddy spot and stocked a small herd and shot a cow about the middle of our trip there. We saw elk everyday, nothing was below 8000 feet. We called in 2 wolves that came into 50 yds. We had a bull bugling on his own with 3 cows on the last day we were there. Other than that the elk were silent. Talked to the Game Warden on the last day we were there and she said only 3 cows were taken and no bulls during the time we were there, at least that she knew of.