idaho unit 48

[western-extremist]

so me and a buddy are doing a trip to idaho this year and ive decided to choose unit 48. if anyone that has any useful info about this unit it would be greatly appreciated. we are both 25 and in good shape. have all the gear to do a 4-6 day backcountry trip. ive got a specific area im looking into but dont want to reveal for the rest of the world to see so if you have any info on the unit please PM me and ill let you know where im concentrating my google earth scouting. thanks in advance for any advice given

 

[Nick Muche]

Pretty popular unit, but if you eliminate the ATV/Dirtbike trails, I'd bet you have a great hunt... Good bulls are taken every year in 48 and the surrounding units. Best of luck!

 

[western-extremist]

Thanks. I know that the motorcycle and atv trails are closed during hunting season so I'm hoping that will get rid of a most people that don't wanna hike more than a mile off the road. As for me the area I'm looking into, ill be hiking in around 6-7 miles before I set up a camp.

 

[Rizzy]

Yeah, the areas without the ATV trails will be what you want to concentrate on, especially for Elk. They get pushed into their hide outs long before the roads are closed for the hunting season. Some of those roads get a lot of traffic over the summer. The Smokey Bennet zone might sell out pretty fast this year, so get your tag if you haven't already. The Sawtooth zone sold out a while ago.

I have been into unit 43 a few times, but never 48. I see more Deer than Elk, but there are some good Bulls and it will be a good hunt if you move around enough to find them. Don't be afraid to move camp every night in order to get into new Bulls and/or stay on them. I would trade in my tripod and spotting scope for a bugle tube in September. It's more a game of calling and still hunting during the rut.

 

[Nick Muche]

Thanks. I know that the motorcycle and atv trails are closed during hunting season

As far as I know, they are not closed or at least a majority of them are not closed...

 

[western-extremist]

On the trails.gov Idaho site it shows every marked trail and it says that all motorcycle and atv trails close at the end of August. But I may be wrong, I'm not from Idaho so ill gave to call Idaho fish and game and ask.

 

[Rizzy]

Depends on the particular trail, also some trails allow motorcycles but not ATV. Check out the hunt planner;

http://fishandgame.idaho.gov/ifwis/huntplanner/mapcenter/

turn on the "roads and trails" layer

 

[David Gough]

Thanks. I know that the motorcycle and atv trails are closed during hunting season so I'm hoping that will get rid of a most people that don't wanna hike more than a mile off the road. As for me the area I'm looking into, ill be hiking in around 6-7 miles before I set up a camp.

How was your hunt experience? I was up there for ten days last season. Having all the trails closed around where I was hunting was nice. Met two guys from WA my first day.

 

[western-extremist]

didnt get to go last year and planned on going this year but unfortunatly work isnt going to allow me to go. do u remember the guys names u met?? i had 4 buddies over there. Brad, brad, jeff, and bobby. the got 4 bulls in 6 days. how did u do??

 

[David Gough]

didnt get to go last year and planned on going this year but unfortunatly work isnt going to allow me to go. do u remember the guys names u met?? i had 4 buddies over there. Brad, brad, jeff, and bobby. the got 4 bulls in 6 days. how did u do??

I don't. It was two guys in a bivy/tarp setup. Wow, that's awesome! It was my first archery/elk/out of state hunt....so I did A LOT of learning. Had close encounters with elk, deer, a bear, wolves, and multiple moose. Did they hunt out of a base camp or back pack in? Your buddies were the most successful I heard about during my 10 days there. Heading back for two weeks in September.