Why not to hunt Idaho....

You are exactly right about PA. I hunt in Potter co and I can see in the last 20 years 75% of non residents are not there. I think the ones that can afford it are going west to hunt. The western residents are hunting adjasent states that allow oc tags.
Thats about the time frame that ended the hay day for Potter Co. Deer numbers down to the point they were no longer visable in large numbers at the usual locations. Normal tactics weren't working like they had, so whats left? Move on or give up and no doubt many did both. By and large it never was a county that attracted many serious long range hunters, due to lack of steep ridges found In surrounding counties. Groundhogs were a different issue, and for decades many of those hunters were attracted to the numerous field locations offering long shots at those.
Ditto for turkeys, higher numbers there and easier hunting as compared to surrounding more mountainous areas. To the point of many being trapped with large nets and moved to other areas.
Today the opposite is true, the mountainous regions are providing more opportunity especially for trophy bucks, but the modern day hunters don't seem to be up for the challenge.
 
I didn't even hunt elk this year. Been hunting them every year since I can remember. I spiked 5 days hunting deer, of which I never saw a single one, and glassed a couple cow elk being pushed by 3 hunters who never saw them. A friend who I used to hunt with, hunted the Wilderness Area further north and never saw or heard an elk and this was during the rut. I think I'm gonna have to go to one of those elk farms, put a marshmallow on the end of my barrel and sit real still for 10 minutes.
 
Around 05 and for a few years I hunted the Panhandle area.You mostly have to pack them out of deep holes.First time no outfitter area,buddy had 8 bulls he called, I was on way down and actually got my jeep air born on a water dip in road I was so excited.Hunting was great,fast forward handful of years.Call the same basin wolfs howl back,some elk there but pushed so remote almost un obtainable.And it went down from there,havent been back.Ya we spent money,spent alot getting my kid all over MT this year,never saw a bull I wanted with rifle in hand 40 hard days
 
I live in NY, but go to Idaho on an Elk hunt every two years, been doing that for 12 years now. Been guided and been self-guided. 3 were gun (3 for 2 bulls), 3 were bow (2 for 3). Sawtooth & Smoky-Bennett Zones (#39,43,44,48 and 49)

Local knowledge is pretty key and I have the luck of being friends with local outfitters. Guided: 2 for 2 on a bull for Rifle, 1 for 2 on Bow (but they did get me within 20yards of a 6x7 day one and a 6x6 on day 2 two - which I passed on)

self guided 1 for 1 on rifle, and 0 for 1 on bow.

True guided is pricier, but with a good outfitter it's well worth it. Find one that has high success rate (those are/can be verified), interview them, make sure they are asking the right questions - like what are your physical limits/demands. Can they get you in front of elk without being a billy goat... Of course hunting is hunting there are no guarantees..

Not trying to fan any flames, but I look forward to and love my Idaho 6-day hunts.

... All I'm trying to say I have found that hunting in Idaho has been some of my favorite hunts in the US...


PS -IF you are going the guided route I hunt with and highly recommend to check in with Bryant @ Sun Valley Outfitters.
https://sunvalleyoutfitters.com/hunting
 
What would be the consensus opinion regarding the lack of elk? Encroachment, disease, predators killing calves, sterility or did they just move on? I recall that there used to be real problems with wolf huggers and Obama's imported wolves from Canada. There's been pretty awful fires in the past few years would that be a factor? Could it be weather related? Or to be nefarious could the govt be poisoning the herds? I don't put anything past the govt, Obama's Dept of Interior was all about making hunting go away and most of the same folks are there. As one poster said, he watched some possibly inexperienced hunters chasing elk away, so could it be hunting practices & lack of skill by wannabe hunters with more money than patience? I was just wondering why this is happening. Thanks
 
The lack of elk is same as Mt region 1 wolfs and other predators.They held there own til the wolf was added.Was just at big meeting with F&G present and according to their numbers 850 wolf in Mt and times that by x game per animal and it was like double or elk herd numbers what they eat without any thing else in mix.Probably 400 people at meeting.Ive hunted ID use to shoot a 6x there and at home .I use to shoot a 6x6 for 15+ years in a row,until wolf .Flat out the elk arent there in reg. one.I still hunt the border area.
 
Did F&G offer a response or resolution? I have suspected for years that the introduction of an invasive species into the northwest biosystems from Canada by Obama & Disney brained snowflakes has caused the reduction of the elk herds. It's been noted Canadian wolves not only hunt for food, they also hunt in packs just to kill. I would have hoped some sort of eradication or control program would have been implemented by now with RMEF endorsement. If the wolf is the problem for elk, deer, antelope herd decimation why isnti something being done?
Thanks
 
That was the big question RMEF was there also.No solution but many said ID,AK,and Canada do aerial preditor control
 
Did F&G offer a response or resolution? I have suspected for years that the introduction of an invasive species into the northwest biosystems from Canada by Obama & Disney brained snowflakes has caused the reduction of the elk herds. It's been noted Canadian wolves not only hunt for food, they also hunt in packs just to kill. I would have hoped some sort of eradication or control program would have been implemented by now with RMEF endorsement. If the wolf is the problem for elk, deer, antelope herd decimation why isnti something being done?
Thanks
What the Hell did Obama have to do with re-introducing wolves? mtmuley
 
Does anyone have an opinion on Idaho's selway zone, unit 17? Me and a couple of buddies are trying to plan a hunt for there this year and were thinking about flying in. Would it be better to get horses?
 
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