Idaho - Since your close

[SEwalleye]

Since there is no Idaho forum, here goes. It looks like I will be spending June 08 - June 09 in Boise & I am looking for some information to get me started in a new state. I would love to take advantage of all the Idaho has to offer for fishing & hunting, especially for the opportunities that I don't have here in MN (Elk, etc). If anyone has some good info to get me started it would be much appreciated - I am starting to plan as much as possible already & I am especially intrested in Elk (Bull or Cow) as this could be my one chance to do such a hunt, but I am overwhelmed and don't even know if it a possibility or where to begin planning.

Thanks in advance!!

[hotrod1]

Hunting elk in June?

[SEwalleye]

No - I'll be in Idaho for a full year & am looking to partake in all of the outdoor activities it has to offer.

[hotrod1]

Oh. lol. I didn't see the "09"

I hunted elk in Idaho about 5 or 6 years ago. We hunted in the Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness...Very beautiful country. We were unsuccessful that year which we blame on the major wildfire they had not long before our season. We also tried around Elk City for a couple days.

Not sure if they still have licenses the same but you use to be able to get a bear and a mountain lion tag for $35 each after you had hunting license and elk tag which i thought was great.

I have been hunting elk in Colorado since then but if i do hunt again in Idaho, i would try for the early season (mid sept.) Lots of bugling bulls that time of year.

If you want to hunt that season and figure an area to hunt, i believe licences used to be available first come first serve after Dec 1 so you may want to call soon and check on availability.

Your lucky to be able to spend that much time out there. Them mountains are amazing.

Oh yeah...most important...get in shape...you will be climbing mountains in Idaho.

Not much info but i hope it helps some.

[hotrod1]

By the way...where abouts in Idaho are you going to be?

I also here the Salmon river offers some good fishing.

[SEwalleye]

Thanks for the advice - I am definitely looking into the earlier hunts. I will be in Boise for the year. Thanks again!

[mjhowe]

Idaho....Boise....a guy could do much worse. You are in the southern end of the state...so like northern Utah and Nevada...open ground...hi desert forest in places...mountains around you within easy distance. Mountain bike heaven!!! Yeah you could do worse.

Try "Fishing and Hunting News", Rocky mountain edition. A good place for up to date reports and maps. Not the greatest news/mag but it will help you get started.

Cant help much with licenses, but out west, all the fish and game offices, especialy in the more remote/smaller town regions are extremely helpful. I think our FWP officials/wardens/info officers are an under utilized resource. Guess what? They work for US as in you and me, us. Call them, stop in and visit for an afternoon at a fish and game office. Get to know the local elk, deer, and other biologists. Bring em a cold drink on a hot day. They know the herds, numbers, areas etc.

Go to the meetings when they set dates/seasons. Usually in early spring. Learn where they are offering special hunts, increased tags etc. and WHY? Use this knowledge and info to narrow your chances down.

Idaho, I am certain, has over the counter tags and liberal draws in some areas. Most of the liberal tag areas are going to be places with limited or tough access. Plan and prepare for this immediately. You may have to backpack, float, rent horses or do a drop trip. All of those are viable options.

You will have liberal access to some of the most spectacular wilderness areas, remote country that has not yet been discovered. Start off where I have suggested and watch where it can take you. But most importantly, use the resources that our tax dollars provide to all of us.

Oh, and maybe you should email Rick here about starting an Idaho forum...or maybe I will ask him about combining this one with Idaho, maybe Wyoming too!!!

Thats really not a bad idea.....

[Wallydog]

June will be here before you know it, we better start making plans!!!Marble eyes are a little tougher to get on in this area. Only one choice in S Idaho. Columbia River is 5 hours away!

Bird mecca, big game mecca tho.

WD

[SEwalleye]

Thanks everyone!! Wallydog - I didn't even think of the Columbia.. Being that you're in Boise, any suggestions for Elk? I was looking at the F&G HSOforum and see that licenses went on sale on Dec. 1st and are limited. I am feeling the pressure to pick an area and buy a tag, but I would really like some insight of someone experienced. Do you have an email address that I could contact you at to discuss a few options that I am considering? Thanks again for your help!

[Wallydog]

email sent to you

wd

[Sully20]

I moved out to Idaho three years ago from Rochester after I graduated college, and let me tell you, get ready to be in paradise! I can't even begin to tell you of all of the opportunities that there are out here for the outdoorsperson. Every weekend I have to make the tough decision of what activity I am going to partake in. From steelhead and salmon fishing, to world class trout fishing, upland or waterfowl bird hunting, 9 species of big game to hunt, antler hunting, rafting, biking, snowboarding, I could go on and on. It is a miracle I get anything done out here there is so much to do. You are going to absolutely love it.

Sadly, I have to leave this wonderful place for the next year and a half to go to grad school in Nebraska. Hopefully I can find something to do over there to keep me busy when I am not in school. If I were going to be here I would be more than happy to show you around, but honestly you may never leave once you get here so we could hook up a year or so down the road.

As far as the elk hunts go, don't worry about the licenses. If you are going to do a general season hunt, 90% of the time the nonresident "no quota" tags never even sell out. You can check the number of tags that are left for the season on the Fish and Game HSOforum under nonresident deer and elk tag quotas. The tags that do sell out are the wilderness area hunts which are very limited, but trust me, you will get into plenty of animals on the general season tags too.

I wish I could be of more help to you here, feel free to e-mail me if you have questions about the area or good places to start scouting for the upcoming seasons.

By the way, do you need a house to rent while you're out here? I am going to be renting mine out for the year and a half I am gone. It is in south Boise in a great location, let me know if that is a need of yours.

-Chris

[email protected]

[SEwalleye]

Thanks - email sent