|
Idaho Elk
and
Mule Deer Hunts
Idaho offers some
of the best elk hunting in the country and Bearpaw Outfitters
have several excellent elk hunting options in
Southeast Idaho. Elk and Mule Deer
can be hunted together and best of all, Elk & Deer licenses
are sold over the counter with no draw needed.
In Idaho hunters
can purchase a 2nd elk and 2nd deer tag if the
quota doesn't sell out prior to Sept 1. Extra tags
are available most years. Hunters can also apply
for a moose permit and hunt moose on the same
hunt if they are drawn for the moose tag. Idaho even allows a deer tag
to be used on a cougar if
you see one. Bearpaw Outfitters do not charge an extra
fee for hunting these extra animals.
There are no
documented wolf packs in this entire area which
means there has been little or no wolf impact on
wildlife in these units.
Bearpaw Outfitters
have several proven elk hunting camps where both elk
and mule deer have been taken. Choose a guided
hunt or an unguided hunt in any of the elk camps
or the lodge. Whether you're a serious trophy
hunter or just meat hunting for the freezer, these hunts are a great choice.
Trophy Quality
Many trophy class elk
scoring 300+ and trophy mule deer with 30” or larger
racks have been taken in SE Idaho. Bearpaw
Outfitters recently took a 352 gross
bull elk and a 31 inch 6x8 trophy mule
deer. Game numbers are not as high in Idaho as
in some other
areas but there are better quality elk and deer
in this area than in many other areas with over
the counter tags. Obviously all hunters are
not going to get trophy animals, but
remember, in order to kill trophy class animals
you have to hunt an area that produces trophy class animals.
Hunting Areas
The hunt area is in F&G
Units 73, 74, 75, 77, & 78, an area over 50
miles wide. The
mountains are breathtakingly beautiful with most elevations ranging from 6000 to 8500 feet.
Hunting Methods
Hunting methods often
include glassing & spotting open hillsides, spot
& stalk hunting, watching water holes or elk
wallows, elk calling, or still hunting
trails and ridges.
Licenses, Hunter Ed,
Hunter Orange
License and Tags for Elk and Mule Deer are available over the counter.
Hunter Education is required if born
after Jan 1, 1975. Hunter orange is recommended
but is not required in Idaho.
Seasons & Best
Time
The general rifle
bull elk and deer hunts are Oct 15-24 and can be
good anytime during the season. There's also an early rifle bugle
elk season open Oct 1-10, apply for tags in the
limited-entry draw. Rifle Cow Elk is open Oct 25
to Nov 15 and Muzzleloader cow elk season is
open Nov 16 to Dec 31. Archery season for elk
and deer runs August 30 to September 30, archery
elk hunting is usually best the last two weeks
of September.
Shot Opportunity
& Physical Condition
Shooting
opportunity varies from hunt to hunt but usually
averages from 50% to 90% on deer
and 20% to 90% on elk, it's usually higher if
you are in good physical condition. Rifle shots are
usually 100 to 300 yards so flat shooting
calibers are best, sight dead on at 200 yards.
Archery shots often range from 10 yards up to 60
yards.
Temperature & Weather
Check the current
weather forecast with the weather link on the
Idaho
Home Page before you leave for the hunt.
Guiding Options
Guided Hunts:
Choose 1 to 3 hunters per guide. Hunts include
your guide, meals, lodging, game care and retrieval.
Semi-Guided:
Includes meals, lodging, hunting advice, and map.
Hunt on your own with help retrieving your game.
Unguided:
Includes your accommodations, hunting advice, and map.
Hunt on your own and retrieve you own game.
Accommodations Include
Mountain Lodge:
Enjoy
the comforts of indoor living in the mountains,
beds, bathrooms, phones, meals in the dining room,
all you need is your personal hunting gear. It's
only minutes to the hunt area, guides transport
the guided hunters, unguided hunters will need
4x4 transportation.
Base Tent Camp:
Camp is accessed by auto, usually 4 to 10
hunters in camp.
Includes tents, camp gear,
cots, portable
toilet, kitchen area, water, meals, and guides
for guided hunters. Bring your
personal gear, sleeping bag and pad, and
unguided hunters need 4x4 transportation.
Motel “Town
Hunts”: Stay
at a comfortable motel in town.
Bring your personal hunting gear, unguided
hunters also need 4x4 transportation, guides
transport the guided hunters. Motel room and restaurant meals are not
included so budget $60-$90 per day for these
expenses.
Drive-In Drop
Camp:
For 2 to 8 unguided hunters and is accessed by auto,
you do not have to ride horses
to get to camp. Includes tent, camping gear,
cots, heater, water,
portable toilet, firewood hand saw, and hunting
advice.
Bring personal gear,
4x4 transportation, sleeping bag and pad, food, drinking
water, and stay as long as desired.
Horseback Drop
Camp:
A
horseback-in drop camp for
groups of 2 to 6 physically fit hunters. You
are advised where to hunt on your own, stay as
long as you want. A
Satellite Phone
is
recommended but many cell phones will get
service from the ridge behind camp
in case you need to call out to get meat packed
or check on home or work.
On a pre-arranged
date you, your gear, and your game are packed out
from camp. Camps are usually 3 to 4 miles from
the parking area; far enough to get you away
from most hunters, but close enough to
walk to your auto and drive to town during the
hunt if needed.
Camp
includes
tent, camp gear, cots, heater, water, portable toilet,
firewood hand saw, and hunting advice.
Bring your personal gear, warm sleeping bag and
pad, food and drinking
water.
What’s Not Included
Your personal
gear, sleeping bag, meat processing and shipping fees,
taxidermy, licenses, 6% sales tax, gratuities, and any other
items not listed as being included in your hunt.
Contact Us Today
Call or
Email with any questions or to book a hunt.
If sending a deposit by postal mail, use the
Hunt Application
to verify your details. "We
look forward to meeting you and hunting with you
soon."
Best Regards,
Dale, Tara, and The Staff
|
 |
Ray Doppenberg,
Elk Hunting
