Planning DIY Elk hunt in Idaho for back up next year and need help...

[IZZY]

Since I didn't get drawn this year in AZ for Elk, am trying to learn from my mistake and have a back up plan for next year...I have settled on Idaho mainly because of quality, price, and the fact that I can just buy the tag and not worry about being drawn...I am curious if anyone knows of a good, reputable packer that can possibly pack me in and out...I don't have a unit yet (thinking St. Maries, Boise River, and Tex Creek WMA) just trying to do a cost calculation so I know what to start saving....more questions will follow, but obviously blue collared hunter's biggest issue is usually cost....

Thanks

 

[Shrek]

Why wait a year ? Buy a tag and drive up for a week and start the learning curve this year. I'm betting that if you really want to hunt elk you can make it happen this year and next. Spend the money for the packer on a quality pack and be the packer. Jmo.

 

[IZZY]

Point received...however, there are extra expense that I have not budgeted for this year, which is why am trying to do it next year now...ie gas, shipping of meat, e.t.c....if it was AZ, the cost would have been minimal...in regards to the packer, reason I want one is I am probably going to be on my own, and I don't feel like having to limit myself to where I can take game due to distance of hiking with all the deboned meat on my back...figured with a packer, I can probably make my way further into more remote areas, and have either horses or mules do the packing....if I budget far out enough, I should be able to save up for it...

 

[Shrek]

Only you know what you can afford but remember, life doesn't tack on a great hunt at the end of your time because you didn't go earlier in life. It's just a blown opportunity. If you have to plan over a year in advance to afford a packer and shipping then that's always going to be a problem. How about picking an area to learn that wouldn't ever need a packer ? Drive up and back with the meat and skip the shipping. Scratch together some basic gear and go would be my attitude. I didn't hunt in Idaho last fall but I drove through many miles of Idaho NF. I could have hunted the area with a small car if thats all I had. I didn't get down to the southern portion of Idaho but the NF where I was was pretty cut up by reasonably good roads. I don't think that there was much land that was more than a couple of miles from a road and i saw elk tracks in those roads. It's all about diy and giving it a go. I didn't do great last year but I was ahead of most hunters because they never even tried. Good luck with whatever you do but I'd find a way to hunt this year.

 

[dotman]

No need for a packer in that jungle. FYI ID is pretty much the same cost as CO when you add the hunting license.

 

[twsnow18]

No need for a packer in that jungle. FYI ID is pretty much the same cost as CO when you add the hunting license.

Yeah but the archery season in Idaho is 4 full weeks and most of the rifle seasons are 3 full weeks. Thins the hunters out immensely and it's easy to find areas close to the road with zero boot tracks, and even plenty of huntable elk. Once you hunt the same area for a few years and find a decent honey hole, you'll be back every year. The smart ones always are.

 

[IZZY]

Shrek are you driving from FL to ID? How long a drive is that? seems like a long haul...Dotman, is CO OTC tags for cows or both cows and bulls? I have not really researched CO other than knowing that they have a very abundant population of elk, don't know much about the OTC tags...

 

[Shrek]

Izzy , it was 2867 miles door to tent. Both ways I took two short naps in the drivers seat and banged it out in 46 hours each way. It's a heck of a drive for sure but it's what it takes. I did it in a '99 Ford Ranger last year and unless I win a lotto it will have to go again.

 

[IZZY]

You are definitely a trooper...that is a long haul..

 

[Bonedalien]

the otc CO tags are either sex,bulls must be 4 points or better.

 

[IZZY]

I just saw that Bonedalien...am doing archery so now I need to start researching GMUs to see which ones hold a good number and quality size wise...

 

[IZZY]

I am going to settle for the Idaho hunt...specifically Blackfoot River WMA Pocatello...does anyone have any experience with this WMA? Or perhaps does anyone have any other ideas for someone that will probably not have time to scout, but will have a good chance of getting into some good Idaho elk..thanks

 

[CentennialELK]

I don't know anything about that area hunt wise but I do know the area straight north of there on the Id Mt border very well. From Spencer to Island Park. The general rifle hunt sucks, it's spike only and a very tough hunt. Archery is otc and any elk. I passed on 56 elk this fall so they are there.

 

[Shrek]

Izzy , are you going this year now ? I don't know a dang thing about the area but it looks like plenty of NF in the area also. Good luck.

 

[IZZY]

Its looking that way...am thinking why not just take a trip as you stated...been researching more areas and I keep flip flopping based on what I find...am focusing on the Diamond Creek Zone now Units 66A and 76...

 

[Shrek]

I don't think you will regret giving yourself a shot at getting an elk this year. Just getting out and chasing your dreams is always a good thing.

 

[IZZY]

And that is what it boils down to...it will be nice to bag one, but that is not the purpose..its my vacation and just time to get out in nature and test myself....will probably be calling the depart of fish and wild life tomorrow to see what the terrain and numbers of elk is like...what unit do you hunt in when you go...if you don't mind me asking...

 

[Shrek]

Montana. If I get ahead and save enough I'll add three weeks and an Idaho elk tag but it doesn't look good. One week of travel time and four weeks hunting is my realistic goal this year. Deer and elk combo tag is what I have.

 

[Rizzy]

I think being able to hunt the same mountain range year after year leads to way more success than you would think. The success rates in the OTC Idaho/Montana hunts are more a measure of how many hunters are getting off the roads rather than how many hunters are harvesting animals.

Of the areas I'm familiar with, I would recommend the B tag in the McCall zone, Sawtooth zone, Salmon Zone, or Boise River zone if your an archery hunter. These units are almost all national forest and wilderness with lots of access. I see more Elk than Deer most of the time, and if you backpack in you will probably do good. The Archery only season for all these zones, except the BR zone, opens Aug. 30. However the best rut action is around the 12th of September ish. So plan accordingly. Check the regs for the details of seasons, legal animals, hunt boundaries, and what other species your tag is good for;

http://fishandgame.idaho.gov/ifwis/huntPlanner/

The Idaho hunt planner page is a good page with a lot of info, I use it all the time, particularly the map center link.

There is an OTC Archery only deer tag available also for some of the units that make up these Elk zones and it is open concurrently. Having both tags doubles your odds of success for the same amount of miles driven and hiked. In fact if the nonres archery tag is like the nonres general tag in that you can also use it for Bear, mountain lion, and wolf your odds are now 5 fold for having both tags and 4 fold for having one. In other words, the most bang for your buck in the lower 48.

The BR zone is a November hunt and the weather is the big issue for a backpack hunter. It's actually more of a day hunt and you will have company. Nov 1-9 is the rifle season and the first bull hunt of the year in that zone. Nov. 10-30 (?) is the archery. It's OTC, but the lack of a long rut hunt or earlier rifle hunt yeilds a little bit better quality from what I've seen.

McCall and Sawtooth have longer seasons but a little bit less quality. The Sawtooth is a limited tag and will sell out before the seasons. Of the 2 zones I have spent more time in the Sawtooth and like it better because it's closer to home (Boise area) and there is more wilderness. Expect a nice 5 point bull in these zones.

Salmon is an area I have the least experience in, but have talked with a guy that hunts it. He does good and it sounds similar to Sawtooth and Mccall in quality and maybe a little less pressure. If you want to see that part of the state don't hesitate to elk hunt it.

As a nonres I would stay away from the Middlefork zone, the OTC early rifle hunt is attractive but the Elk population is struggling. You will spend more time and go through a lot more boot leather for a raghorn or 5 point than you will in the zones you drive through to get there.

 

[bz_711]

Izzy , it was 2867 miles door to tent. Both ways I took two short naps in the drivers seat and banged it out in 46 hours each way. It's a heck of a drive for sure but it's what it takes. I did it in a '99 Ford Ranger last year and unless I win a lotto it will have to go again.

Shrek - please tell me you have cruise control! Nobody can question your determination - impressive!

Its looking that way...am thinking why not just take a trip as you stated...been researching more areas and I keep flip flopping based on what I find...am focusing on the Diamond Creek Zone now Units 66A and 76...

Izzy - they are right - make a go of it - you'll never regret it and most likely hooked for life. Good Luck! (and take some pictures to share with us)