Anybody out there have experience with Idaho States non-resident over the counter elk hunts. The Elk City area in particular. Is this a worthwhile venture or am I wasting my time?

I have black bear hunted in the Elk city area 4 different times.
I have seen some nice elk horns in the back of some pickup trucks, and some pictures if good horns at Carrol and Vals in Elk City.
If you would like to use a outfitter for a horseback drop camp contact http://www.elkcityadventures.com
Stitch and Joannie are great people.
I will be hunting black bear with them next June, again.

Its an excellent area, lots of big bulls but a short season and LOTS of hunters. I would look ito the Panhandle area in the northern part of the state along the Idaho/Montana border.....

IV

Do not do it you will probable shoot a nice bull and never go hunting anywhere else. I have been through there a few times great country. I believe it can get crowded during rifle season but muzzle and archery very light pressure. I have not hunted anything but turkey a little east of there. Lots of elk, some nice bulls.

I have been hunting the Sawtooths when I can and have seen some really nice elk. It is a draw tag but it only took a couple years to get one. We ( my friend and I) backpacked into the area and have had some great opprutunities. My friend took one of the nicest bucks I've personally seen. Last lear I messed up a chance at a phenominal bull. Horses would make this a much easier hunt. Nate

If you do some research on Idaho’s F&G web site, you will find that the Elk City unit has only a 20% success rate for each hunter that spends an average of 7 days in the field during the season. I have killed a number of elk in the Red River and Elk City area over the past 25 years, but that country does not even come close to the quality of elk hunting that I have enjoyed on Forest Service ground in other states. It is OK and a decent area for a do it your self hunt, but generally you have to work long and hard to get some shooting. But that is OK too and why it is called elk hunting. Incidentally, with the logging shut down and the wolf raising hell with the elk, it is going to get tougher over time to get some shooting in these central Idaho units. CP.

CP is right, except the Elk City mill is still running and there is very heavy hunting in that region with the Wolves making a huge difference from years ago.Everthing has changed since the good ole years and I live here and hunt the Elk City Zone units 14/15 and 16..There still is alot of Elk though, if you know where to go with it changeing from year to year because of the Wolves.The Elk seem to be lower than ever because of them.

Good luck...Jayco

I was one of four folks hunting out of a spike camp several years ago out of Elk City. We got a 6 X 6 for the four of us. I never fired a shot.

The outfitter was working hard to keep us in the right area. We rode horses every day to new places.

Are horses a must for this area? I am highly allergic to horses and if this is actually a must have it would pretty much rule it out. Also this would have to be unguided. I can't afford it. This would be a do it yourself camp with four or five guys. I looked into the Idaho "controlled hunt" option but the way I read the regs non residents pay a rather hefty non refundable fee. Also not an option. Is it possible I misread the regs?

My buddy and I have not had any luck in the Council area. Lot of nice bulls, just not shot by us.

I believe you have to buy a license to enter the controlled hunt draw -$250ish---other than that it's like under $10 to actually put in--if you get drawn then you just pay the non-res elk tag fee--I know cuz I drew this year and will be backpacking in--chris

Let's see if I it straight then. You put in for the controlled hunt $250ish. Then if you don't draw, you can still buy an over the counter tag with the license already in possession?

quote:

Let's see if I it straight then. You put in for the controlled hunt $250ish. Then if you don't draw, you can still buy an over the counter tag with the license already in possession?

Yes, you can. Although it is wise to check the regulations as a few zones, even in the General Elk Hunt, will have quotas, first come, first served.

L.W.

quote:

Originally posted by IdahoVandal:
Its an excellent area, lots of big bulls but a short season and LOTS of hunters. I would look ito the Panhandle area in the northern part of the state along the Idaho/Montana border.....

IV

Stay away from the Idaho/Montana border. That's where I hunt dammit!! Hunting is tough, normally steep and heavily treed. I am not BSing either. I grew up in that area and was just hunting it the last few days with no success. The potential is there if you work for them.

Another nice thing about Idaho is that residents can buy non-resident tags (if they are available) and keep hunting after they get an elk on a resident tag.

Actually I'm a resident of eastern Washington and Idaho got my attention because (A) it's pretty close to home and (B) non-residents can buy tags over the counter but the numbers are limited. I spoke with an Idaho G&F warden I know and this was the unit he reccomended for a do it yourself group without horses. But he was pushing the muzzleloader hunt which has a good success rate but it's spike and cow only. Oh well, can't eat them horns and my freezer is void of elk meat.

Migra

Migra-Actually,Elk City is in unit 15 and the Muzzleloader hunts are in units 14 and 16,North and to the Southwest.
Unit 16 has Deer also(either sex Whitetails) along with Spikes or Cow Elk.Unit 14 is Spike or Cow Elk only with no Deer muzzleloading.

Jayco

If your after meat you may want to consider a Palouse "A" Tag for next year (which has come and gone already) it runs from August 1 to September 15, is any weapon, cow only and you must be within 1 mile of a cultivated field and outside of National forest. Access is only a matter of asking many of the wheat farmers as they would love it if we killed all the "nibblers" as they call em'. We took 3 cows in only 5 trips-- (its about a half hour from home)and they are tasty!

IV

Idaho Vandal is right..Go to Northern Idaho for Elk. It is alot flatter especially on the Palouse and them corn fed Elk are yummie.Elk City is tough hunting.Very steep and there a pain to get out if you get one.
It isn't fun packing them out of places like this..But,there there.


Getting there is fun, though.


Good luck on your hunt...Jayco