Which week for Idaho elk?

[jjwillie]

Ok, Im gonna try and pick the brains of some of the Idaho hunters.

I have 10 days this fall for elk in Central Idaho. Which week is best during rifle season. I assume the first week will have more hunters and the last week will have a greater chance of snow.

Anyway, just trying to get some opinions that will help me, because I have never hunted Idaho before

[elknut1]

Is this a DIY hunt? Are you going with a guide? Where at in ID? I could be of more assistance!

As far as what week, here in Central ID the bulls are still talking pretty good come opening morning OCT-15th. If I was rifle hunting that's the day I'd be here putting one down. Of course you would need to be here a few days early for some scouting if it's a DIY hunt.

The later you wait the more pressure the elk have seen, early is best. If you wait too late the elk will migrate out if a stretch of cold snowy weather hits for a period of time.

ElkNut1

[idahoelkinstructor]

I agree with elknut, plus with snow you never know if it will be good or bad. Sometimes a big early snow storm at the end of Oct or in November will move them out of their late summer/fall range into their winter range. That could be bad if you don't know the migration routes and if they move out of your unit. Thats exactly what happened here in east Idaho last year. The hunters who had tags for the unit with the winter range in it did very very well. But the surrounding units were empty of elk and many many hunters hunting draw hunts that opened in mid November didn't see an elk.

[jjwillie]

Thanks for the reply guys....

I will be hunting Unit 36, but we haven't bought our tags yet, so if you have a better suggestion ......Im all ears.

This is a DIY hunt. There's four of us that do this every year. I just find it more rewarding to bag an elk on your own. This is my first hunt in Idaho, so any suggestions you have will help greatly.

I assume we will locate elk a couple days before.....if not, is walking the ridgelines at first light a good idea?

The most important thing to me is to have an enjoyable hunt and that usually means not seeing other hunters.....what are my chances of that?

Any info shed on this area(s) would be a big help.

[elkaholicid]

jj,
Unit 36 is in the Sawtooth Zone. I also hunt the Sawtooth zone in 33. 36 has wolves up around Stanley and that can play into the factor of where you hunt. Fish and Game will tell you the numbers are fine. I haven't been up there for a while but I will be this summer. Thats about all the info I can give for now. Good luck
elkaholicid
Michael