Advice for Idaho Elk Hunt?

hunterofelk · Mar 6, 2007

If anyone could steer me in the right direction as to what units they would recommend for a self-guided camp at the end of the road bull hunt in Idaho I would appreciate the feedback. I have the harvest data by unit and am not afraid of a little hiking in rough country but would have to be in an area that offers over the counter bull tags to out of state residents. Thanks.

spotnstalkID · Mar 6, 2007

Is there a reason it has to be over the counter? Idaho doesn't draw for controlled hunts for a couple more months. Still plenty of time. Do a little research on draw odds, harvest reports, etc. in areas that are of interest to you and apply for them if you know you are coming to Idaho. If not drawn then you can go back to the drawing board for OTC tags. Just a suggestion as there are units with pretty good odds of drawing that would be a better choice than most OTC tags. About the only option in Idaho that is out of the question for you (if you are non-res anyways) are most of the limited quota tags as most of them are gone.

Jaxon

Silentstalker · Mar 6, 2007

Good advice, I agree with you. If you know you are going, apply for a good hunt. You have a reasonable shot at drawing. If not, then go over the counter. Either way, most units will produce if you are willing to hike and get away from the crowds. Good luck to you.

Chad

springbear · Mar 7, 2007

These guys got it right, I am a resident and that is what I do... I hate to say it, but if you bow hunt the OTC tags are pretty good. I think you will have to pick your OTC tag before you put in for the draw, but I am not positive on that, Just check it out before you put the money down.
Back to your question....
I am not telling you anything that is not obvious, but there is so much public land that is in an OTC tag zone a book could be written on it. Pick a unit/zone with good bull/cow ratio and higher overall winter counts. Get a Forest map and go hunting. If you hike into the steep dark holes you should find some elk. If you are early season bow hunting, you won't even have to go steep to find a bull. This all assumes you are a good elk hunter and a good bull is a 270" 5 or 6.

Califelkslayer · Mar 7, 2007

These guys are right on track. You either buy the OTC tag and then apply for Controlled hunt and turn in your OTC tag if you draw or apply and buy OTC if you are unsucessful. For rifle the controlled units are better unless you learn a great OTC spot by repeatedly hunting and learning it.

PleaseDear · Mar 7, 2007

Go ahead an buy the license for being able to apply for the controlled Hunts.

Do your unit/species of choice on the Controlled hunt and then when ya get the postcard in early July you either have drawn or have not and you can get on the phone and buy your OTC elk Zone tag...

I get my Idaho bow elk zone-tag as late as mid-August most years after all the states draws are done that I apply for...

Robb

jjwillie · Mar 9, 2007

Can someone please explain the difference between a controlled hunt and the OTC tags. Why are the controlled hunts so much better?

I've hunted in the Sawtooth zone for the past several years and always see a couple bulls (getting to them is the problem). I was wondering if I should apply for a controlled hunt for these areas if they were a better option.

spotnstalkID · Mar 9, 2007

jjwillie,

The regular, general season tags are open to the public to where anybody can go to a license vendor and ask for a license and elk tag for (say the sawtooth zone for example) as you do every year. There really is no limit on the # of tags given out in that zone specifically, and the dates are NOT what most would consider "prime" elk hunting dates. Granted, the elk are there as you have witnessed, but the dates are not ideal for say a rut hunt, etc. The controlled hunts are hunts that they set aside a certain # of tags for a certain area and you have to apply for those tags and hope you are drawn. For example, the general season in the sawtooth zone probably starts on October 15th and goes to the end of the month or something close to that. That is pretty close to the GENERAL season dates in most OTC hunt zones. Some of the units they will give a few tags (say for example, 20 tags) that you can apply for that allow the recipients of those tags to hunt from Sept. 15th through Sept. 30th or something like that. Obviously, most people would rather hunt elk the last couple weeks of September when they are in rut but they have to manage those tags and only give a select few away. Those are the controlled hunts you must apply for and draw. There may be hundreds of applicants for those 20 tags, but if you draw one, you're hunting elk at a prime time to be hunting them. It is setup though so you can apply for the controlled hunts and if not successful, still obtain an OTC tag for your unit of choice.

Hope that helps. Not sure if I made myself clear but I'm sure you can get the picture from that.

Jaxon

jjwillie · Mar 9, 2007

Thanks or clearing that up.

It doesn't look like they offer a controlled hunt for units 34/35, which are the ones I hunt. That's a shame becuase it doesn't get alot of pressure and has good elk numbers....but the terrain will kill a man.

Oh well, I'll still be goin out for the opener. the last few years, bulls were still bugling the first couple days.

Thanks again-