Idaho Hunting Details | Idaho Elk | Idaho Moose | Idaho Mule Deer

Idaho is a well known for it’s quality Cougar hunting and Bearpaw Outfitters cougar hunts in Southeast Idaho are no exception. Success has been 75% to 100% nearly every year on these Idaho cougar hunts. Bearpaw Outfitters have been outfitting and guiding cougar hunters more than 30 years and have caught hundreds of cougar. Cougar hunting is not just a sideline, it’s a passion for Bearpaw Outfitters.

A very important factor to consider when choosing a Mt. Lion outfitter is what size cat you will be told to shoot. Bearpaw Outfitters do not tell anyone they have to shoot any animal. The decision of which cat you want to chase and which cat you want to shoot is completely your choice. 

Bearpaw Outfitters can usually tell you within 20 pounds what a cat will weigh and tell you it’s sex just by looking at the tracks. Male cougar feet look much different than female cougar feet. The size and shape of the track, and the width and length between steps help determine the sex and weight of a cat. This is important because there's no sense wasting time on an animal that you have no interest in taking. The time can be much more wisely spent trying to locate a cat of the size that you really want.

Location & Terrain

The Southeast Idaho hunting area is in F&G Units 73, 74, 75, 77, & 78, an area over 50 miles wide. Elevations range from 5,000 to 9,000 feet. There are rugged mountains and canyons and there's mountain basins and benches with easier terrain.

Licenses, Hunter Ed, & Hunting Season

The Cougar Tag and Hunting License is available over the counter for $293.25 in advance or when you arrive. Hunters born after Jan 1, 1975 are required to have Hunter Education. Cougar Hound Hunting Season runs December 1 to March. The best hunting usually occurs during the first two weeks of December before the snow gets too deep for easy access.

Trophy Quality & Hunting Methods

Cougar which are also known as Mountain Lions usually weigh from 75 to 150 pounds and skin out between 7 to 9 feet in length. Several cats even larger than that have been taken by Bearpaw Outfitters including a cat that weighed 205 pounds, was over 9 1/2 feet long, and became the P&Y world record. Bearpaw Outfitters clients have actually taken many record book cats, but don’t assume it’s easy to find a record sized cat. It’s best to go into your hunt expecting an average cat, then when a big old tom is found, you can figure you have beaten the odds of the average hunter.

The most successful hunting method is to travel mountain roads in 4x4 trucks watching for fresh cougar tracks. Bearpaw Outfitters may even use a snowmobile, ATV, or hike into remote areas looking for cougar tracks. Once a good set of fresh tracks is located the dogs are released and the chase is on. Because the hounds can quickly cover so much country, Bearpaw Outfitters will keep you with the vehicle until the cat is bayed up, then Bearpaw Outfitters will get you as close as possible with the vehicle before hiking in to get to the cat.

Shot Opportunity & Additional Game

Shot opportunity has been 75% to 100% nearly every year on these cougar hunts. Most shots range from 10 to 40 yards. Bearpaw Outfitters can’t guarantee success, quantity, or the size of cats that will be seen because this is a wild hunt, but they'll work hard to give you the very best hunt possible. Coyote, Cow Elk, Bobcat, or forest grouse can also be hunted if scheduled in advance. If you finish hunting early, local waters also offer excellent fishing.

Guiding, Accommodations, & Meals

Idaho Cougar hunts are guided 1x1. Since the cougar hunts occur during cold wintery conditions, hunters are kept indoors at the local motel or at Bearpaw Outfitters old farm house. It's your choice to stay at the farm house or at the motel in.

Farm House: The old farm house is one mile from town, it's not fancy at all but it's warm and dry. If you choose to stay at the farm house your meals will be provided at the house or at restaurants in town. Bring your sleeping bag for the bed.

Motel “Town Hunt”:  Stay at a comfortable motel in town. BPO will provide your room and will pick up & return you daily. Restaurant meals are not included, budget about $30 per day.

Travel, Itinerary, Trophy Care

Drive to Southeast Idaho or fly into the Salt Lake City Airport and get a rental car, it’s only about a 3 hour drive from SLC to meet Bearpaw Outfitters in Southeast Idaho. You will want to arrive the evening before your hunt begins. Plan to hunt the duration of the hunt if needed and depart in the evening after your hunt ends. Reserve a motel room near the airport for your last evening so you can clean up for your trip home and easily make it to the airport on time in the morning.

After you harvest your Mt Lion, your guide will skin the cat and can remove the meat which is actually very good eating, you can take it home or donate it. Bearpaw outfitters can deliver your trophy to a taxidermist or you can take it home.

Go to the nearest Wal-Mart or Grocery Store and get a 24 to 48 quart cooler, a roll of wide shipping tape, a black marker pen, and 5 pounds of dry ice. Put the dry ice inside the cooler on top of the meat and hide to quick freeze everything on your way to the airport. Before you go into the airport, remove the dry ice, tape the cooler, and mark it with your contact details.

What’s Not Included

Your personal gear, sleeping bag, meat processing and/or shipping, taxidermy, licenses, state sales tax, gratuities, and any other items not listed as being included.

Info and Questions

Check all the hunts in Idaho, Montana, Utah, or Washington to find the hunt that's best for you. Watch the online Hunting Videos, view the Hunting Photos, and see the Hunt Details. Feel free to Email or use the Questionnaire to get a list of references or to ask any question you have.

Booking A Hunt

Book your hunt by sending the Hunt Application with a hunt deposit or call Dale, Tara, or Anthony and book your hunt over the phone.