Me and a couple of friends want go on a do it yourself ELk hunt in Idaho. Can some one give us a general area or unit to try that non residents can buy tags over the counter. We would be going next fall.

DAKOR, how about a little more info? Where do you live? Do you want to hunt elk with centerfire rifles, archery, or black powder??



Generally, how old are you and your partners, and in what physical condition are you?? Idaho has mainly a lot of rugged, steep elk country and you'd better be prepared for it.



Have either you or your partners hunted elk before?



Will you be hunting from a tent or camper/trailer camp? Or, are you going to back pack to the high country?



How much time do you have to hunt?



I suggest you also go to the Idaho Fish and Game site and look at the regulations and seasons. They will not be too much different in 2005, so it'll give you a general idea about regs and Zones and Units within those zones.



http://www2.state.id.us/fishgame/



Good luck. L.W.

LeanWolf I live in North Dakota and we would be hunting with rifles. I am 27 years old the other two guys one is 28 and the other is 30. The guy that is 30 has hunted Elk a couple of times the other guy and I have not. As for physical condition I have been working out hard for the last 6 months and plan on keeping it that way. I have been mostly running and lifting weights but after X-mas I will be walking with my pack. I hope to be up to a 100lbs pack by spring. If you have any work out tips I am listening. I have this feeling no matter how hard I train the Mountain is still going to hand me my ass. As for the other two I will be hunting with I dont think they are going to take a lot of time to get into shape. We would be open to hiking in and camping out or camping some where and hiking in for the day. I do have a four Wheeler but from what I have heard you are better off hunting areas that are walking access only so unless that is not true the four wheeler will be staying home. We would have about 7 or 8 days to hunt and we are not really looking for the monster bulls infact I would shoot a cow because Elk is damn tasty. I have done some research on the Idaho Fish and Game website so I do know the season dates and most of the regs. I will be reading a lot more about the regs over the weeks to come.

I agree that the Panhandle might be the best selection for you. Unless F&G has changed the rules, a Non-Resident can buy over the counter an elk tag for those Panhandle Units for bull or cow. That way you're not restricted to only a bull so you might take home some good meat.

Sounds like you are keeping in good shape. I don't run anymore as I'm older and my knees won't take the pounding. I do walk three miles each day and carry a 35 pound pack, which kinda simulates my rifle, day pack, boots, clothes and all the odds and ends one takes when going out from camp.

Keep check on the F&G rules. The new rules will not be out until about April 1st, 2005. The F&G will send you a booklet of regs, if you ask them. Either call or email them.

Good luck. L.W.

Thanks for the info guys.

Just a sugestion on the training-take it weasy with the pack! You are headed to worn out joints at a rapid rate. I whoelheartedly endorse running, cycling, weight trianing year round. But packing is a little different. It greatly accelerates the wear on your joints-primarily the knees and hips. And you really increase the odds of a stress-related injury that will cancel your hunt if you train too heavy, too early.

I run a lot, but when getting ready for a backpack sheep hunt, I mixed in light packs a few months ahead of time. Started with about 25# and did this maybe once or twice aweek. My normal exercise is to run about six nights a week. I would not run on nights I packed. Then I bumped it up to where I was packing 3 nights a weeka dn runng three. THen packing six nights and still running three, but just short runs. A key thing is ot pack on as steep terrain as you can find at least one day a week. I topped out with about 65# in the pack. I tried more a few tiems, but again, it just adds to the wear and increases the chance of a hunt canelling injury. If you can regularly pack 65#, then coming out with 100#+ in the mountains is no problem. If you are elk hunting in November, exercising normally until the middle of August and then ease into the packing will have you in great shape and reduce the chances of hurting yourself to the point where you can't go hunting this year.

Just a sugestion on the training-take it weasy with the pack! You are headed to worn out joints at a rapid rate. I whoelheartedly endorse running, cycling, weight trianing year round. But packing is a little different. It greatly accelerates the wear on your joints-primarily the knees and hips. And you really increase the odds of a stress-related injury that will cancel your hunt if you train too heavy, too early.

I run a lot, but when getting ready for a backpack sheep hunt, I mixed in light packs a few months ahead of time. Started with about 25# and did this maybe once or twice aweek. My normal exercise is to run about six nights a week. I would not run on nights I packed. Then I bumped it up to where I was packing 3 nights a weeka dn runng three. THen packing six nights and still running three, but just short runs. A key thing is ot pack on as steep terrain as you can find at least one day a week. I topped out with about 65# in the pack. I tried more a few tiems, but again, it just adds to the wear and increases the chance of a hunt canelling injury. If you can regularly pack 65#, then coming out with 100#+ in the mountains is no problem. If you are elk hunting in November, exercising normally until the middle of August and then ease into the packing will have you in great shape and reduce the chances of hurting yourself to the point where you can't go hunting this year.

And a good diet is so important to good health and being in "sheep shape". Talk to some serious backpack sheep hunters. about how they train. Sheep hunters make the most physically demanding hunts.

As for elk, I know several folks from Lewiston, and I was going north of there a couple of years ago and just never made it out there. Too many other things to shoot at. Lots of elk and open land to hunt. No drawing necessary

And no, I don't expect the mountain to kick your ass at all. This stuff is between your ears, not on your back. Well, within reason anyway. Of course you must be in shape, but the main thing is just be determined to do it. I can tell you that packing 100#+ of sheep, tent, rifle, etc through steep mountains is not that tough. I am 5' 10" tall and weigh maybe 140-145# right after a BIG meal. But I am determined.

Just curious dakor , any particular reason you picked Idaho ?

I don't by any means know it all , but it seems to me like that state has some of the most difficult hunting , due to the terrain and heavy timber.

I think you will find that states like Wyoming and Colorado in some areas have a higher success ratio . And the country is likely to be a little easier to deal with .

A party of locals has hit the Craig Colorado area a couple of years lately , during the late season migration hunt . And they have shot the hell out of them , and literally seen thousands of elk .

Just a suggestion , and at any rate , good luck to ya.

Marc you bring up a good point about the pack I guess I never really thought about how tuff it is on the body. sdgunslinger the reason why I went with Idaho is the ease of getting a tag and hunting on public land. In Wyoming its tuff to draw a tag and in most places that have left over tags they tell you to have permission for the zone before you even buy it. As for Colorado I guess I never really thought about going there.

I agree, I would not go to the panhandle either... Thats some steep, thick stuff up there, with limited elk numbers. For a couple greenhorns you'll most likely go home discourged and dissapointed... you could come out hero's too... but I doubt it. I know of a couple greenhorns that went up to the panhandle and came home with nothing, TWICE... One time they went they saw ONE elk in 10 days. They were on a guided hunt too.

I would suggest any place around Yellowstone park (within about 100 miles or so) if you can, in either ID, MT, or WY... Lots of elk and decent access. WY is probably the hardest draw but, ID is OTC and MT has decent draw odds.

If you want to just get your feet wet, have a good time, and have a very decent chance at getting an elk. I would suggest CO. The success ratio is probably the highest in the west in CO just due to the fact that the state has about as many elk as MT, ID, and WY combined... Lots and lots of elk, farily easy access most places, OTC tags. Bull tags run you about $450, and cow tags (on lottery) will run $250. The hard part is decideing on where you want to go.

If Colorado interests you at all , check out the game commision's website. They have a pretty neat section of maps and overlays showing elk herds location and densities , summer range , winter range , migration routes , the whole nine yards.

Just a thought , and it could help narrow things down for do-it- yourselvers,,,,,,,

Myself..I wouldn't hunt the panhandle for Elk.To many people and they had like four hunter shootings this year near Avery which is the best place up there on the St. Joe river for Elk in my opinion.I spent the last four years up there and went elsewhere for my hunting.

There are a few good places to go depending on the tag or draw you want.One good one and I think it is a draw is the Council area.But general season it is Central Idaho and a long walk or horse trip.Many locals still score in the McCall area and Elk City..But it's a crap shoot if you don't know the area.

Cow tags in late season is what alot of guys do with great success but I assume you want a Bull.Orofino-Pierce gets alot of Bulls but then again its knowing the area.Good luck on your hunt and if you pick an area in Idaho I'll try and fill ya in if I can.Haven't hunted or worked much in eastern Idaho but have most of the rest of the State.

Jayco