Idaho Salmon Region

campmorgan · Apr 27, 2004

I'm planning a elk hunt to the Salmon Region.
Should I get a deer tag?
What unit would you recommend for elk or deer?
What part of the season for elk early or late?
Is that a very good area?

Niels · Apr 27, 2004

I'm going to the Salmon river region this fall in October, one of the guys I'm going with has been there 3 times and they have always got all their deer, he has seen some whoppers, that they couldn't get to also, he said the area produces alot of big nontypicals too. Our primary purpose of the trip is to get some good bulls between the 4 of us, all of us, got deer tags as well. You will need the clearwater deer tag and it cost 235.00 dollars. I look at it this way, if I don't kill a muley 235.00 dollars won't kill me, and I sure would hate to not have a deer tag with a monster muley looking at me broadside from 50 yards. The elk tag we all got was the Selway A tag, we tried to get the Selway B tag which is the September rut/November migration tag, but they were sold out already for this year, the A tag season runs from October 1st through the 31st.

kilowatt · Apr 27, 2004

The later, the better. For Elk and possible deer go over to Haystack Mtn.
This was a good place when I hunted there back in 1985, but if it snows it might want to head to lower elavation or you could get snowed in there.

Brian

Hornseeker · Apr 27, 2004

The Salmon has nothing to do with the "selway" tag, you wont need a Clearwater tag unless you are hunting like 19 at the mouth of the Salmon. I suspect you are talking more upriver like up by Salmon or Challis.

Are you planning on hunting from a truck camp or packing in or what? Bow or rifle. Let us know some more of your plans so we can help.

ElmerFudd · Apr 28, 2004

The last week or so of thr rifle deer season overlaps the first week or so of the elk season. If you go rifle and want to hunt both, you kind of have to hunt that week. If you have more time, you could slant it either way.

Niels · Apr 28, 2004

I stand corrected, however as you may already know there are alot of units other than 19 that you need a clearwater deer tag for.

campmorgan · Apr 29, 2004

Thanks to all of you for responding.
I just started using this site and it seem like a good one.
We are hunting with rifles and have elk B Tags for 21A.
Two guys already purchased deer tags.
We all want to hunt deer, bear, and elk if practical.
We plan to set a base camp at the vehicle and some want to hike to a spike camp.
Are there many elk and deer and what about bear?
The hunting regulations leave a lot of questions that I hope you can answer for us.
Thanks

Hornseeker · Apr 29, 2004

LAST EDITED ON Apr-29-04 AT 11:35AM (MST)[p]Yeah Niels, I definitely wasn't trying to be snotty or anything and yeah, there are a ton of Clearwater Tag units, but they are not on the Salmon in most cases, except for 19, 20, 14 and 18.

21A is a sweet unit, same with 21. There are plenty of places to get away from the 4 wheelers and such and you can easily hunt it from a truck based camp. There are decent numbers of deer, but the elk is the primary critter in there. 21 may have more deer than 20....?

Good Luck

Hey Niels, I sent ya a PM.

kilowatt · Apr 29, 2004

LAST EDITED ON Apr-29-04 AT 02:00PM (MST)[p]Unless things have changed since 1985, I saw a lot of hunters in 21A. Between North Fork and Gibbonsville and over to the Montana border it was crowded.
Haven't been back there since then. I spent most of my time on the east side of Panther Creek Road and up into the high country.

Brian

campmorgan · Apr 29, 2004

Would you have a recomendation for the Salmon Region or a suggestion for another area in driving distance if we get crowded out of 21A?

Niels · Apr 29, 2004

no problem hornseeker, I didn't get your PM, it didn't come in my email or anything, how do I go about getting the PM you sent me? I sent a guy a PM the other day, and I really wanted to hear back from him, but never did, but then again he could of replied back to me, I just don't know how to retrieve PM's
Thanks, I do know that PM's stand for private messages.

Bozeman · May 1, 2004

I was raised basically in unit 21a. My dad was friends with an old sheep herder who ran that area in the early 1900's We know lots of trails and other cool things he showed us. I live in Montana now so I haven't been back for a while. Before Idaho changed to choosing your area 21A became a mini state of California. They were everywhere I sure hope it has changed for the better. There used to be monster mulies back in the day now they are few and far between.

Hornseeker · May 2, 2004

I have NO idea how to pick up your PM? I know how to send them though! I just sent myself one to see what he deal is and I sure cant figure it out. Hmmm. I"ll send ya an email I guess?

Did you like hunting that Panther Creek country Kilowatt? I've been scanning the map for Haystack, but dont see it. I"m not hunting elk in ID this year anyhow.

Hey Bozeman, is it really so crowded that you cant get away from other hunters? It looks like there is lots of roadless country and as we all know there aren't that many guys that get off the roads.

All that country along the state line from Carmen Creek up to Sheep Creek looks tasty!

HS

campmorgan · May 3, 2004

You guys sure have been helpful with your thoughts and suggestions. Thanks!!
What's the bag limit on them Californians anyway.
What is the country like around units 21 and 28??

kilowatt · May 3, 2004

HS, Do you have a Atlas of Idaho or a Forest Map of the Salmon Nat. Forest??
Look s/w of North Fork for a very small place called Leesburg. Just north of there is Haystack Mtn at 8,800' EL.
Back in 1985 I was told go there before the heavy snows start and there were good numbers of Elk and DEER in that area.
I can not say that it is like that now, but back then it was suppose to be good, but it all depended on the weather.
I was not able to get there because of the previous weeks heavy snow fall.
The area east, probably west too is very steep and ruggied but the bucks like that.
In 21A, that too catches a lot of snow later in the season and makes the hunting tuff.
Oh, by the way, I am a Californian so don't shoot me. Not all CA hunters are the same, some can be idiots just like others from other states as well.

Brian

Hornseeker · May 3, 2004

Right on Kilo! Found it, cool.

campmorgan · May 4, 2004

Brian,
Just kiddin. I have never hunted around California hunters. We have plenty of special people that hunt in Texas also.
I noticed there are no requirements for hunter orange. There isn't here either but we hunt on private leases. I think I will wear a little orange in Idaho until I see what's up.
I found Haystack and marked it. I will put that on my list of places to checkout.
21A looks like it is straight up and very rough. That's going to be intesting for us low landers.
We're working on getting in shape but I know we are going to suffer.
We just finished Spring Turkey in April. Second weekend my son and I both got a nice Tom. I called a coyote up with a turkey box call. While calling turkey my son hid in the brush next to a nice rattler about 3 1/2' long. We ended up with a coyote, rattlesnake, and two turkey.

kilowatt · May 4, 2004

Hornseeker,
Have you figured out how to read your PM yet??
When you login, the next page that comes up is the main page for all forums.
You will have a small "red flag" at the top left edge of forums stating you have Inbox Mail. NOW, just look over to the right side above these forums and look for the words "INBOX MAIL" click on it and read your Personal Message. Nothing to it after that, when you finish reading it you can either delete the message or click in the box at bottom and type your reply and then send it back to whoever sent it to you. I will send you a note now.

Brian