Tex creek elk hunt

So I need some help. I want to do an archery elk hunt in Idaho and am going to be doing it in unit 69. Because my family has property in that unit and I've always dreamed about harvesting an elk up there. What I'm looking for is info on how to hunt that unit. I've seen info on tex creek being more of a wintering ground and not a summering location. I need to do the early hunt that goes from August 30- September 30 due to time constraints. All I am looking for are things specific to the herd habits for that time frame. When they normally start rutting, is it a hard rut, does calling work or are they call shy. I am in no way looking for hunting locations. If I can't harvest an elk on my family's property it's going to go I filled and where I'm from out of state and they don't give tags away I want to up my chances.

Thanks everyone

You get 66 and 69 for the Tex Creek Zone. Plenty of elk, plenty of ruff/tuff country besides the ag ground in the western part of unit 69. There are lots of mts, black holes, and good elk numbers away from the Tex Creek WMA. You should be fine, if you are looking in the Sept. 15-25th range. Good luck.

Thank you.

Do you have an area that I should start to look in Oct timeframe as a starting point? I am taking several disabled veterans out for an elk trip and want them to bag a bull of any size just more of them harvesting a nice meat bull. Anything would be appreciated and very helpful.
James Hamilton
Freedom Hunter?s
Outreach Coordinator (West Coast)
(775)233-7322
[email protected]
www.freedomhunters.org

Because of the 65K acre Henry fire last year, a large portion of the Tex Creek area burned. It is coming back well, but now there are huge grassy areas where a lot of the sage and quakie pockets used to be. Elk and deer will be pushed back out of these areas until they come to winter. On the Sept and Oct hunts, I would look more towards the Hell, Lava, Brockman Creek areas of Unit 69 or any of the Unit 66 drainages east of Skyline Road (077).

Some of those areas are open to ATV use for your disabled vets to make it easier. Several roads are open to full size pickups also. Make sure to read the IDFG regs about hunting and firearms restrictions. Get a travel plan from the Idaho Falls FS/BLM Visitor Center downtown on A Street.

Check into the current ACCESS YES properties around those areas. There is a lot of private land enrolled in the program, and typically allows walk-in or horseback access. Maybe contacting the landowner can get you special accommodations for vehicle use for game retrieval.

Good luck.

Thank you very much for the info. I knew the fire was big but thought it was mostly in the WMA I guess I was wrong. And the hunt will be in Oct 15th-21st 2017 and we do have access to horses and quads if need be as well as special permits for the disabled hunters to shoot from a vehicle and also allow us to dispatch the animal if necessary if hunter is unable to make it to the animal.
I have been looking at unit 66 a lot for a scouting trip to see what the terrain looks like and where some potential camp site locations would be. Looking at going about 5 miles back to ensure these veterans harvest and have a great time while doing so. Not looking for monster bulls just meat bulls for these guys so I think anything they have an opportunity for will be taken.
Also I'll get some good maps before and also a chip for GPS to ensure we're not on private property I don't want to be that guy and don't want the locals and ranchers to get upset I don't want to be a road hunter but we do have a triple amputee that might have to shoot from a quad depending on how he can move. I'll surely contact some land owners when I come up to scout as well just to inform them we'll be in the area and that we have a special needs hunter were helping out with and that he has permission to hunt from a vehicle just in case. Don't want to cause any problems which I don't foresee.
And thank you again if you have anything else helpful please feel free to contact me.

James Hamilton
Outreach Coordinator (West Coast)
775-233-7322
WWW.freedomhunters.org

Sounds like you have a lot of this down already. I will have a bunch of my own hunts and helping others too, but if you do come up early I would love to help you out in your scouting efforts. Send a Pm for some contact info.

Blank

Hey Blank Thank you very much and I don't have everything down lol but I try to be prepared for these veterans to harvest a bull. And good luck to you on your season as well and yeah I will definitely contact you and let you know when I come up to go scouting the area.

James,
You offered to help me with the Nevada 072-075 late cow, I would like to return your favor. Please pm me.

Hey Idaho75,
Thank you very much and here's my info

James Hamilton
Freedom Hunter?s
Outreach Coordinator (West Coast)
(775)233-7322
[email protected]
www.freedomhunters.org