Elk Status Area 61, Idaho

[OneMile]

I drew a tag this year for any weapon elk in Area 61, Idaho. I had a decent knowledge of the area when I lived there '99-'01. At that time, the placed seemed full of Elk. However, I have read some recent posts that do not reflect this, and attribute that to wolves. I know wolves are having an impact on some of these areas, but I'm not sure to what extent, or how much can truly be attributed to the wolf. I remember several elk falling through Henry's Lake the winter following my draw there in 2001, but rarely hear hunters talking about those impacts. I remember that because I was a little bitter I wasn't among those called to fill my tag, but was also worried about the impact because the number of elk that drowned was quite significant. Is there someone that has some decent knowledge of the area and has an accurate idea of the elk status in the area and ALL of the factors that may play into that status? Would appreciate any info anyone is willing to provide. I'm stuck in Utah as a resident now and will only have one weekend to get up there to check the area out. I figured any controlled hunt in Idaho would beat the Utah general hunt until I can accrue enough points to do any decent elk hunting in UT.

 

[tworivers]

Hunted it three years ago, elk would only vocalize near the developed areas. Elk are there numbers wise just a hard tough hunt unless you can find water they are using. I personally won't hunt again up there but Try Sawtelle, bring your pepper spray, have fun not seeing one of the really big brown bears in those parts.
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[bowhunt]

Sent you a PM

 

[manny15]

LAST EDITED ON Jul-10-08 AT 10:11AM (MST)[p]I hunted the muzz season late nov, didn't see an elk but there was alot of snow, so I tried going west over by the Yale Kilgore road I drove out by the Sheridan ranch they migrate through there, i found a small 6'er with a bunch a spike's.......

 

[ARROWHNTR]

I havent noticed much of a decline over the past few years, i have bowhunted in there several times and always had luck finding elk and a few good bulls. My suggestion is to find the furthest place from a road you can and go there the elk get hunted really hard by the bowhunters and pushed back into the deep county.

And watch for the bears there is starting to be a lot of the big brown ones in that area.