Idaho or Colorado

M

mathewsman

Guest
I'm looking for some feedback on which state I should hunt in; Idaho, or Colorado? I'm a Utah resident, so I would be hunting as a non resident. Both states offer over-the-counter tags, a long archery season (which runs pretty much all through september-main reason for hunting out of Utah), a much larger Elk herd in general, and better over-the-counter management (personel opinion). I was fortunate enough to draw a Utah, San Juan archery permit 3 years ago with 10 points and had an awesome hunt despite coming home with nothing more than the awesome memories of that hunt, and a good helping of tag soup. I was just too darn selective, which I've come to terms with (took 3 years)! But the reality is I'll be lucky to ever have that opportunity again in Utah or I'll be too old and wore down to really do the hunt justice. I hunted my arse off in San Juan! This leads me to my question of which state I should hunt in with a bow, general tag; Idaho or Colorado? I don't want to be resricted to hunting spikes. I'm willing to hit the steep and get in deep (matter of fact that's what I would prefer). I don't have an endless amount of money to pull off this hunt. Cheap as possible is my motto with todays economy! I've never harvested an elk with my bow and this isn't a premium limited entry hunt (like San Juan) so my standards just got lowered big time, but I'm not interested in shooting a cow, and if I manage to get an opportunity at a branch antlered bull I want to be able to take it. I would be thrilled at the opportunity to take a 3 year old bull or older. Don't get me wrong, I'd love to take a pope and young bull, but I have to be realistic. So which state should I hunt that offers over the counter tags, and real opportunity at a 3 year old, or older bull? I was thinking Colorado, or Idaho. I think Utahs general season closes a week too early (among other things). I've never elk hunted either of these states, so I have no real in field experience with either of them. I've done some research into Idaho, but it seems the buzz up there is the wolves are eating themselves out of house and home. Colorado seems like elk hunting central and draws a huge crowd. I could sure use some direction! Any help would be great. No secret spots or honey-holes, just speaking generally. I haven't elk hunted since that hunt in San Juan, and I'm missing it badly. It taught me a new respect and admiration for elk and elk hunting especially with a bow. I'm hooked for life, but I need to get on the score board so any help would be appreciated.
 
I know Colorado inflates their elk herd numbers to catch everyones eye I don't know about Idaho. I see lots of elk every year archery hunting but I take a lot of time off to hunt also. In the last 4 years I have seen at least 300 elk each year during the archery season. All of this is on public OTC areas. Every year I get in on some nice herd bulls (320) just haven't closed the deal myself. PM me if you'd like some general areas to start looking in the area I hunt.
 
I'm a resident of Idaho. Despite what alot of people may say the IDFG has done a good job on elk numbers, I'd give them a B+. On quality of bulls they would be more like a C- there is some good opportunity for a nice bull expecially in archery seasons. One thing to keep in mind is the wolf problem. In some areas, especially the central part of the state, numbers are being dramatically affected downward. The other units where the wolves are being found the numbers have started to decrease, but the problem with hunting in those units is the elk are continually being chased, which makes it extremely difficult to continually relocate elk.

If you're looking for deer, well Idaho right now I'd have to give it a D- and it looks to be getting worse. Colorado has to be way, way better.
 
Frontier,
How can you say Idaho is doing a good job on elk? Elk numbers are near half what they were 15 years ago. Quality is so-so. They are WAY behind the curve on elk hunters. IF&G should have went to control draw state wide for rifle elk hunting, and eliminate the rifle elk hunting in the rut, except in wilderness areas. Deer are killed every year that are eye poppers, but are not even close to what they were in early 90s. Look at SE IDAHO for example. Just my two cents!
 
I have never hunted Idaho ,but have hunted Colorado several times.I like the NW part of the state .Good amount of animals and lots of public land.A trophy may be hard to find ,but you should find good numbers of elk.
 
As a Idaho resident I would say go to Colorado. Idaho is way down. If you like to see wolves and wolf tracks come and donate your 450 to the state. Deer hunting is even worse. I know of a lot of out of staters that will not come back to this state until something is done. IDFG has done a horrible job managing the elk population. Like a local Loman resident said about the five different packs of wolves living locally, SOS, shoot on site.
 
For OTC - If you want to hunt smaller mature bulls with more opportunity go CO. If you're willing to work harder, see fewer elk but have opportunity on larger bulls go ID.

Also ? don't forget NM, WY, and MT with a bow lots of good hunts with just a point or two in the bank.
 
Go to the Idaho Fish and Game home page and look at the report of elk mortality by zone. This report was posted today, and contains the best estimates of collared cow elk killed by hunting and predators (wolves and lions). Many areas aren't even maintaining their recovery goals. Read it carefully then decide where you want to invest your hunting funds. Pretty sobering info.
 
>Frontier,
>How can you say Idaho is
>doing a good job on
>elk? Elk numbers are near
>half what they were 15
>years ago.

BMA, how I can say it is, I'm obviously older than you. When I was a kid I went several hunting seasons without seeing an elk, yes the 80's and 90's were better than it is now for numbers, but it is not all the IDFG fault. Number one the wolf problem the IDFG did not create, number decrease there due to wolves is not their fault. Another reason elk numbers are down is the IDFG is now responsible for depredation costs, in order to keep from having a disaster to their budget they have had to decrease numbers in some areas.

I will do some checking as to your claim that numbers are at half compared to 15 years ago, I'm sure they have went down, but I question half. I do believe we are headed there thanks to the wolves though.
 
>Go to the Idaho Fish and
>Game home page and look
>at the report of elk
>mortality by zone. This
>report was posted today, and
>contains the best estimates of
>collared cow elk killed by
>hunting and predators (wolves and
>lions). Many areas aren't
>even maintaining their recovery goals.
> Read it carefully then
>decide where you want to
>invest your hunting funds.
>Pretty sobering info.


Can you post a link I can't find it? Thanks Ron
 
I'm not smart enough to put just the link, but the link to the detailed study is in this news release.

IDAHO FISH AND GAME
HEADQUARTERS NEWS RELEASE
Boise, ID

Date: December 22, 2008
Contact: Ed Mitchell
(208) 334-3700



elk survival study update released


Ongoing work by Idaho Fish and Game research biologists on the survival of radio-collared female elk in Idaho shows the role of predators varies across the state.

An update of the ongoing-research recently was presented to the Idaho Fish and Game Commission.

In summary, the research showed that four elk management zones have above 85 percent or better survival, with harvest the primary cause of mortality, and low or medium wolf density. Three zones have 83 to 87 percent survival, with predation the primary cause of mortality, and high wolf density. Two zones have below 82 percent survival, with wolf predation the primary cause of mortality, but one has high wolf density and one very high density.

In the Lolo Elk Management Zone in the Clearwater Region, however, predation, including that by wolves, is responsible for most of the deaths of adult female elk and more than half of the deaths of six-month-old calves. Female elk survival is 75 percent, while normal is 85 to 95 percent, and calf survival from December through the following June is about 73 percent - normal is about 90 percent or better survival.

An overview of the results now is available on the Fish and Game Web site at: http://fishandgame.idaho.gov/cms/wildlife/manage_issues/ung/elkupdate.cfm.

The ongoing deer and elk survival research project began in January 2005, when Fish and Game biologists captured and put radio collars on more than 400 elk, more than 450 deer and 35 moose to learn how they live and how they die. More animals have been captured and collared since then for a total of more than 670 elk by 2008.

The goal is to learn how changing habitats and expanding wolf populations affect big game animals.

Weed invasion, fire suppression and human development have altered the many habitats that Idaho's deer, elk and moose depend on. And since they were introduced in 1995, wolves in Idaho have expanded to more than 700 individuals statewide.

The research is being conducted in areas where the densities of predators, including black bear, mountain lions and wolves, vary. The results also show that the role of wolves in elk survival varies. In southwestern and eastern parts of Idaho, wolves are responsible for a small part of overall mortality.

They play a larger part in central Idaho.
 
I agree that for an OTC tag price is somthing to look at. I was going to buy an OTC deer tag in Idaho. I called on the phone when they went on sale, gave all my info and thought i was good. I was then told that I would have to pay a 20% " convience fee" and said bs to that. I don't know what Col charges but for a OTC tag in Idaho it was to much. From what I have been told the OTC areas in Idaho are like hunting the general around Straberry, lot's of people. Don't look past Wyoming.
 
For elk I vote Colorado. If it's gonna be a one time thing you'll have to go OTC. What I recommend is to apply for a point first and then statewide archery second. Build a couple of points while learning an OTC area.
 
Mathewsman,

I for one have never hunted Colo. But do hunt Idaho. The biggest thing about Idaho is if you have general knowledge on how to hunt elk you will find them. They are here and huntable but will have to put in work for them. Just work for them and you will have a great experience. Area's I have been in we have found them.

Helped my brother get a cow and have not been in that unit for years and he killed one the afternoon we where there. Just went up for the afternoon and right in the canyon I told him they where there.

The other thing is hunt and judge for yourself. Cost you a year or some scouting time.

Good luck and keep us posted on how you do.
 
Yes elk are on the same ares as always I guess, but in areas with wolves they are not going to be in one place very long. Don't count on putting them to bed, and expecting them to be there in the morning. This year I found elk some would say a lot of them, close to 80 head in several herds. The problem was no good bulls, and the herds were on the run ALL the time. You find them with spotting scopes, and start to move in on them, and the wolves have them pushed out of the drainage before you can get to them. My hunting buddies watched this happen to me a couple of times. I finally said to he11 wiith it and went to another spot. If NR's want to pay large amounts of money to chase wolf tracks instead of elk, I say go for it. Ron
 
LAST EDITED ON Dec-26-08 AT 05:34PM (MST)[p]>I'm not smart enough to put
>just the link, but the
>link to the detailed study
>is in this news release.
>
>
>IDAHO FISH AND GAME
>HEADQUARTERS NEWS RELEASE
>Boise, ID
>
>Date: December 22, 2008
>Contact: Ed Mitchell
>(208) 334-3700
>
>
>
>elk survival study update released
>
>
>Ongoing work by Idaho Fish and
>Game research biologists on the
>survival of radio-collared female elk
>in Idaho shows the role
>of predators varies across the
>state.
>
>An update of the ongoing-research recently
>was presented to the Idaho
>Fish and Game Commission.
>
>In summary, the research showed that
>four elk management zones have
>above 85 percent or better
>survival, with harvest the primary
>cause of mortality, and low
>or medium wolf density. Three
>zones have 83 to 87
>percent survival, with predation the
>primary cause of mortality, and
>high wolf density. Two zones
>have below 82 percent survival,
>with wolf predation the primary
>cause of mortality, but one
>has high wolf density and
>one very high density.
>
>In the Lolo Elk Management Zone
>in the Clearwater Region, however,
>predation, including that by wolves,
>is responsible for most of
>the deaths of adult female
>elk and more than half
>of the deaths of six-month-old
>calves. Female elk survival is
>75 percent, while normal is
>85 to 95 percent, and
>calf survival from December through
>the following June is about
>73 percent - normal is
>about 90 percent or better
>survival.
>
>An overview of the results now
>is available on the Fish
>and Game Web site at:
>http://fishandgame.idaho.gov/cms/wildlife/manage_issues/ung/elkupdate.cfm.
>
>The ongoing deer and elk survival
>research project began in January
>2005, when Fish and Game
>biologists captured and put radio
>collars on more than 400
>elk, more than 450 deer
>and 35 moose to learn
>how they live and how
>they die. More animals have
>been captured and collared since
>then for a total of
>more than 670 elk by
>2008.
>
>The goal is to learn how
>changing habitats and expanding wolf
>populations affect big game animals.
>
>
>Weed invasion, fire suppression and human
>development have altered the many
>habitats that Idaho's deer, elk
>and moose depend on. And
>since they were introduced in
>1995, wolves in Idaho have
>expanded to more than 700
>individuals statewide.
>
>The research is being conducted in
>areas where the densities of
>predators, including black bear, mountain
>lions and wolves, vary. The
>results also show that the
>role of wolves in elk
>survival varies. In southwestern and
>eastern parts of Idaho, wolves
>are responsible for a small
>part of overall mortality.
>
>They play a larger part in
>central Idaho.



Thanks for the cut and paste. I found the location on the F&G web page. it was not easy to find.
Well now I feel better knowing it is cheat grass that is killing all the Moose and Elk not the wolves. maybe it is like that movie "Lady in the water". Anybody see that one, the grass becomes some kind of wolf. That would explain it! Ron
http://ladyinthewater.warnerbros.com/
 
>Frontier,
>How can you say Idaho is
>doing a good job on
>elk? Elk numbers are near
>half what they were 15
>years ago. Quality is so-so.
>They are WAY behind the
>curve on elk hunters. IF&G
>should have went to control
>draw state wide for rifle
>elk hunting, and eliminate the
>rifle elk hunting in the
>rut, except in wilderness areas.
>Deer are killed every year
>that are eye poppers, but
>are not even close to
>what they were in early
>90s. Look at SE IDAHO
>for example. Just my two
>cents!


Not this $hit again.........Statewide draw......keep that stinking pile of shite in Oregon.
 
I have hunted idaho. was very disappointed. Idaho should have stuck with wyo an said they [wolves] are predator once they leave the park.if all 3 states would of stuck together maybe something would of happened. an yes the wolf problem is some of idaho fault. they put up with them.they should not waste time on wolf kills talked to people from idaho they gut shoot them pack will kill them when they smell blood.had a warden say yup gut shoot pack will kill them.he didnt care for wolves. wastes a lot of warden time looking at wolf problems. takes away from there other work.i spent alot of money in idaho when i hunted there i will not go back.get rid of wolves an i would.
 

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