Idaho unit 19 Early Hunt

[Hokkaido]

LAST EDITED ON Aug-18-14 AT 08:35PM (MST)[p]Howdy Guys..

I will be hunting unit 19 on the opener of Sep 15th this year. I live in Japan and will not have any chances to do any scouting. I kindly ask if perhaps anyone here could give me some useful information about the unit.

We are thinking of coming in from the top at Square mountain. Could someone tell me if it gets pretty crowded up that way? We were going to hunt the east side of Wind River and basically stay on the west/mid side of the unit, probably not getting further south than Marble butte. Could anyone tell me if this will be a crowded area? Will it be pretty warm up there or not? Do most folks come in from the river and the non-wilderness east side?

I see on the IF&G page that 311 guys hunted it last year, which seems like a lot for such a small unit. Deer tag numbers were about the same. Do most guys hunt this in November or September? I have been hammering google earth hard and have found a couple horse camps off of trails. What kind of terrain will the elk and deer be in that time of year?

Do a lot of guys take the road into Hump Lake and hike from there? Does that road get locked off? Would a stock Chevy Tahoe make it in there? I see a fellow named SpringBear had some helpful info but hasn't been around the site in a couple years, anyone know how to get ahold of him? I've PMed him but perhaps he's not using the site anymore.

Anybody have any success stories from 19 in September?

So many questions.. My apologies. Don't worry about answering them all, just any sort of useful info would be great.
Great hunting to you!

 

[Axman280]

Boy.. your sure coming a long was to hunt. I have been in this unit quite a bit over the years. I can help you answer some of your questions.

Square mountain is pretty well known. There is lots of people there in the early hunt, not to sure way any more though. This used to be a great unit to hunt about 20 years ago. Now not so much anymore, do to the wolves have pretty much cleaned it out.

Ya hard to believe 311 people hunted it, but there is a few outfitters and several ways to hunt this unit. This used to be good hunting all the way through Sept- Nov.. Be very careful hunting Square mountian and the hump in Nov.. could very well get snowed in. 9000+ feet elevation

Taking a Tahoe to the hump can be done, but might not be the best choice, very rugged road, with lots of big boulders in it. There is a section of raod that is called the stairsteps.. and it is called that for a reason. Your have to climb up over boulders.

All and all.. There is still some elk in this unit, just alot harder to hunt and find them.. The wolves keep them running all year round... so you have to just find them, but dont think they will still be there the next day.

Good luck!

 

[Hokkaido]

Thanks much for the reply. It is a long way for sure, but the experience Idaho offers is truly unique with so much to hunt at the same time, with otc tags, and we are surely appreciative of the chance to hunt there.

I've kinda been thinking about hunting the north end of the unit and staying where it's wet and dense. Would that be a good plan for the early rut or does it really matter?

Another question, there are some big burns there from about 2006 with lots of deadfall, is that stuff worth hunting now or would it be overgrown?

It would be most exciting to call in a wolf as well as I won't mind screwing up an elk stalk to zip a wolf and do my share. We will have all five tags and don't really need to kill an elk, just would like to have an honest crack at something rather than this being a real expensive camping adventure. We will be packed up for seven days in the woods, although we are hoping we have to make a trip back to the rig before that with meat on our packs.

We are planning on camping about five miles from Sqaure Mtn lookout in long meadow. I'm a bit worried that there will be guys all over in there as I have found numerous campsites on google earth. Most every pond close to a trail is being used as a stock camp, some with makeshift corrals made from deadfall. With campsites, do guys kinda claim the same ones year after year or is it first come first served? It wouldn't be a good situation if a group tried to push us out of our camp on public ground.

 

[Axman280]

ya.. I would try to stick to the wet and dense timber if all possible, but like I mentioned before... hard to try and plan.. becuase the wolves keep the elk runnin all the time. The elk never really stay in one place very long, nor do they bugle as much as they used to as well.

Yes there is still alot of windfalls in places, and not much off it has over grown, still pretty easy to see in places, just not very easy to hunt in.(loud and hard walking)

BOY!!!.. long meadows is a zoo in the early hunt.. I would shy away from there... There is several places to camp, but like you said.. its first come first serve.. Most of the people come in before season even starts and claims there spot.. usual everyone is pretty good about leaving everyone along once a spot has been choosen, but dont be suprised if someone will camp right on top of you.. That has happened many times to me.

 

[Hokkaido]

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