Idaho 2009 elk season thoughts

ID_Paul · Mar 9, 2009

For the past few years I have been hunting Idaho's Sawtooth Zone during the muzzleloader antlerless season.

I see that the IDFG is proposing capping the Sawtooth general hunt to 1500 hunters and reducing the muzz hunt from unlimited down to just 50 tags, due to poor elk numbers in the area.

Since hearing that news I have been trying to decide what to do this year. Given what I saw last year in the area, the move to severely cut elk hunting there doesn't surprise me much. I saw fewer elk than ever, and wolf tracks everywhere I went.

So, now I am trying to decide if I want to keep hunting the same zone, or try to find somewhere the elk herds are in better shape.

On one hand, the Sawtooth zone is fairly close to home, so I am more likely to be able to scout more and make more than 1 hunting trip if needed. I wonder how bad the elk counts are. Would my extra time be wasted?

If there is a unit still remaining with good elk numbers, I wonder if it would be enough better to make up for having to learn a new area and possibly drive longer?

What are you guys thinking for this season?

Idahoron · Mar 9, 2009

Wolf hunting! Everyone needs to do their part. Ron

BucksBullsandBroncs · Mar 9, 2009

If I don't draw a tag in my unit, I am going to get a wolf tag or serveral depending on how the tag system works, and hunt wolves in my elk unit.
I'll try hardest to fill my deer tag so we have meat in the freezer. I heard they are opening up some units for controlled doe tags for adults.

ID_Paul · Mar 10, 2009

Do you really think we'll get to hunt wolves this year?

kicker · Mar 10, 2009

I think they don't know what they are doing. Proof is in the freezer and the freezer is empty....

Kicker

Frontier · Mar 10, 2009

I know if they get a wolf season going it can only help. Instead of the wolves always chasing the elk out of the country, maybe the hunters can now chase the wolves out of the areas. I think they really need to open the season on wolves year round.

madmoose · Mar 10, 2009

if they reduce it to fifty, nothing is saying your going to be one of the fifty.give it a shot to be one of the 50. i would stick with what you know. and if you are unable to get a tag there, then thats your answer to explore another area. even if there is fewer elk, there would be alot fewer hunters going after them. chances might be better. just my 2 cents..

plus if they happen to do a wolf season... consider it a combo hunt

gemstatejake · Mar 10, 2009

LAST EDITED ON Mar-10-09 AT 09:24PM (MST)[p]Hunt the sawtooth zone. It's good. kill a wolf if you get the chance.........

just to explain a bit........If my experiences mean anything, there are certainly wolves up there, but also plenty of elk.......thus far anyway. did i mention kill a wolf if you get the chance?

ID_Paul · Mar 11, 2009

Thanks for the replies.

I'll make it a wolf/elk combo hunt if by some miracle Idaho is allowed to issue tags.

madmoose, that seems logical.

nezzy · Mar 17, 2009

I here the FG are proposing to limit the tages for archery in the Soda Springs area by 200. Over the counter tag, but 200 less tags, and a harvest rate of about 13%. I understand the Wolves are not in that part of Idaho yet. I know they are all over our area in the Clearwater region.

John

RaghornHS · Mar 30, 2009

I was thinking about hunting in 44 this year. A discussion with and IDFG biologist revealed that they have over-harvested bulls in that unit over the last few years. My guess is that's why you're seeing the reduced tags.

I know an outfitter in 10 that has been pretty successful over the past few years, even with the wolf problem. I hunted there in 2007 and saw a lot of elk. That area might be worth looking into if you don't mind traveling.

Raghorn Hunting Services
www.raghornhuntingservices.com
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