Idaho palisades

[packingdds]

What’s the atv traffic like in the Tex creek zone. I’ve hunted diamond creek for mulies and it seemed like most folks stuck to the main roads as required. Hunted bear river last year and tons of atv traffic on every accessible trail. Don’t mind running in to other hunters but listening to atvs running the ridges all day gets old.

 

[tshunter]

There are atvs everywhere in that area. It’s almost as bad as the Diamond Creek zone.

 

[packingdds]

Mostly on the roads or running the trails? I ran into a game warden in the bear river zone. He was unloading his dirt bike to go write tickets. Not a huge fan of seeing guys get ticketed but I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t wishing he caught a few of those guys.

 

[packingdds]

The atvs aren’t all bad. Most of those guys never get off their ride. Just have to plan accordingly and avoid the major routes. Helps eliminate country I have to cover I guess.

 

[tshunter]

Last time I hunted 66 there were motorcycles on most trails and atvs running up and down every road. It looked like half of them were from Utah. I told myself I’d never go back.

 

[stratofisher]

Appreciate the inputs- heading out there this fall for archery season and was hoping not to run into too many- will have to take into account for sure. Hunted 66A back in 2013 and only ran into horse folks and a wandering sheep herder during archery.

 

[Deplorable77]

ATV's everywhere. SxS's a close second. I believe this zone is where the term " road hunting " was invented. No bullshit, you'll see convoys rolling along most of the roads, and a handful of guys tearing it up back in areas they shouldn't be. The single track guys are usually really courteous and stay on marked trails, dont see them out and about too much. But holy shit there are definitely ATV's in this zone. This is the only zone I've ever hunted in Idaho and it is the worst I've seen out of the 11 states I've hunted. Get away from the roads and its fantastic country, I love it.

 

[jacknifejc]

66a sure has been flooded with people the past few years. I think it’s getting worse than 66.

 

[packingdds]

I’m sure it’s many folks fallback now that diamond creek sells out so fast.

 

[packingdds]

Appreciate the inputs- heading out there this fall for archery season and was hoping not to run into too many- will have to take into account for sure. Hunted 66A back in 2013 and only ran into horse folks and a wandering sheep herder during archery.

When are you planning on being out there? My son and I will probably be out the second week of September. Can’t pass up the cost of youth licenses. It actually makes it reasonable to bring my 14 year old along. Trying to build his love for the outdoors. Try to keep him from killing me on the hikes. Dang kid is like an energizer bunny. He was jogging up the mountains last year.

 

[stratofisher]

When are you planning on being out there? My son and I will probably be out the second week of September. Can’t pass up the cost of youth licenses. It actually makes it reasonable to bring my 14 year old along. Trying to build his love for the outdoors. Try to keep him from killing me on the hikes. Dang kid is like an energizer bunny. He was jogging up the mountains last year.

My buddy and I are leaving Illinois (St Louis area) on the 11th of Sept with the goal of being out two weeks. Would have gone earlier, but dropping my daughter off for her first year of college. Still working on our exact game plan for the area. Was thinking of backpacking in, but now leaning towards more mobility after hearing about all the ATV's. Will probably do the day hike in and spike with a central base camp.

 

[NJDiverDan]

ATVs in Idaho are not just a Hunter issue. Meaning that even though a trail is closed to a hunter during the season, it is still open for recreational ATVing. So, some of the people you see / off the roads, on the trails, may be just people out riding. Makes it really difficult for Fish & Game. Plus there is the "setting up camp or retrieving game" part of the rule. Basically, strap a tent to your ATV and you can go on just about any trail. Better be prepared to spend the night though.

 

[beardedbowhunter]

I’ll reiterate what others have said. Holy crap there are a ton of vehicles driving around but I didn’t see a soul out hiking. Just typical road hunters driving around all day. Once I realized that they weren’t hiking I was actually glad and had some pretty good hunting back off the roads.

 

[ThatJimKid]

I'm not asking for places to go, but would you say trail hiking in and setting up a camp a mile or so into the woods would keep a hunting party mostly secluded? In particular in 66.

 

[bluetick78]

I'm not asking for places to go, but would you say trail hiking in and setting up a camp a mile or so into the woods would keep a hunting party mostly secluded? In particular in 66.

Most single tracks will have guys on horseback with camps set up. That's not to say you won't find elk, you just won't be alone. It's a heavily hunted area, but most hunters dont go too far from roads or trails. Check Google Earth or Onx, find areas away from roads or trails, and go hunt.

 

[JCL 85]

My buddy and I are leaving Illinois (St Louis area) on the 11th of Sept with the goal of being out two weeks. Would have gone earlier, but dropping my daughter off for her first year of college. Still working on our exact game plan for the area. Was thinking of backpacking in, but now leaning towards more mobility after hearing about all the ATV's. Will probably do the day hike in and spike with a central base camp.

I will be headed that way from Texas

My buddy and I are leaving Illinois (St Louis area) on the 11th of Sept with the goal of being out two weeks. Would have gone earlier, but dropping my daughter off for her first year of college. Still working on our exact game plan for the area. Was thinking of backpacking in, but now leaning towards more mobility after hearing about all the ATV's. Will probably do the day hike in and spike with a central base camp.

I will be headed that way Sept 11th. This will be my first archery elk hunting experience. Which unit are you guys planning on hunting?

 

[WNYWhitetail]

I will be headed that way from Texas

I will be headed that way Sept 11th. This will be my first archery elk hunting experience. Which unit are you guys planning on hunting?

That is an area I am looking at for my first Elk hunt as well. Seems like an easy in from the east, but because so close to Idaho Falls and "sold out" Diamond Creek area appears to be the back up for many. Guess I will just have to hike deeper off the trails away from people...okay with me. BTW, coming from New York.

 

[Kurtisb1994]

I will be headed that way from Texas

I will be headed that way Sept 11th. This will be my first archery elk hunting experience. Which unit are you guys planning on hunting?

Im looking at the Beaverhead Area myself this year. Will be my first time elk hunting anywhere. Looking forward to just getting the experience. GL to everyone braving the crowded Idaho woods this year.

 

[Gun&BowSD]

I thought I had a good idea about the MV restrictions in 66. I called Game & Fish there to clarify and my understanding was if you were on a trail on an ATV or motorcycle, if you so much as raise your binos to look at something you could be busted? I will be on foot, but I was just looking to see what pressure could be avoided. So people are still out ripping around, while hunting?