Idaho Elk Archery Hunting Information Needed

Hello everyone,

We will be bow hunting in southeast Idaho, area 66A, for Elk in September and I have a lot of questions as this is my first Elk hunt. This will be a complete do-it-yourself trip and I need as much help from this group as I can get. I have never been Elk hunting, nor have I ever been to Idaho, nor have I ever packed up into the mountains on a hunt. So, as you can guess I'm going at this pretty much blind. I've included some questions I have below. I would greatly appreciate any suggestions/comments that people are willing to share with me. Please email me back if possible.

1) We will be hunting the first two weeks of September (this was the only time we could go) and I am wondering if the Elk will be bugling then or not? If not, what is the best technique to hunt them with a bow? Are the two of us best staying together, with one guy calling and the other planning to shoot?

2) What are some good model calls to use? As I mentioned above, this is my first Elk hunt, so I'd like to get the calls and start practicing as soon as possible.

3) What can we expect for weather conditions?

4) What will we need (there are two of us) to be able to pack up the mountains and pitch a spike camp? I need specifics since I will have to purchase or borrow many of these items. My understanding is that where we are hunting ATVs are not allowed, so we will have to carry everything. (Both of us are in our mid to late thirties and in pretty good physical condition)

5) What is the best way to quarter an Elk out? What tools are needed? Are a good hunting/skinning knife sufficient, or do we need to carry a saw or hatchet?

6) Anything else this group can come up with for a couple of novice Elk hunters.

Thank you for all your help.

Jim Willson NRA, NAHC Life Member

Jim - I'm breaking one of my rules because of one of the messages above - well, I'll get that off my chest first.

HH mentions he takes the quarters and leaves the rest. As a hunter, a previous guide and one that loves the outdoors, his mentality infuriates me. Years ago, a guide/outfitter/game warden would break their rear-ends to find someone that wastes game as HH does. Frankly, he is not welcome in Idaho, Wyoming or anywhere else!

Because of the warmer temperatures during the archery season is THE reason that I no longer hunt with the bow - and I always had horses with me. The problem, when you get something down, it is difficult to get it out to a cold storage before it spoils - even with the horses. As someone mentioned, get the skin off as soon as possible and get it in game bags - to keep the flies off the meat. Be sure to cut the neck up to where you bleed the animal and pull the windpipe out - a major location for spoilage. Get the animal out as soon as possible and hung in a cold storage facility.

Be cautious as there are quite a few, and growing number of mountain lions in the area. There are some good sized cats and I have seen cow and calf elk legs and hooves along with cat tracks and dung in several locations. In fact, the game population is decreasing in 66A because, I think, of the cat population. As someone mentioned, elk can and do cover a lot of ground - and elk and deer don't like cats!!!

Hello everyone,

We will be bow hunting in southeast Idaho, area 66A, for Elk in September and I have a lot of questions as this is my first Elk hunt. This will be a complete do-it-yourself trip and I need as much help from this group as I can get. I have never been Elk hunting, nor have I ever been to Idaho, nor have I ever packed up into the mountains on a hunt. So, as you can guess I'm going at this pretty much blind. I've included some questions I have below. I would greatly appreciate any suggestions/comments that people are willing to share with me. Please email me back if possible.

1) We will be hunting the first two weeks of September (this was the only time we could go) and I am wondering if the Elk will be bugling then or not? If not, what is the best technique to hunt them with a bow? Are the two of us best staying together, with one guy calling and the other planning to shoot?>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>

The last couple years it has been very hot this time of year the first couple weeks of September and the bulls have been mostley rutting at night. Calling will work but I would not be afraid to try different tactics. If you can find a water hole or a wallow a tree stand can be deadly on elk. If you are going to call do a lot more cow calling than bugling.

<<<<<<<<<<2) What are some good model calls to use? As I mentioned above, this is my first Elk hunt, so I'd like to get the calls and start practicing as soon as possible.>>>>>>>>>

They are hard to get the hang of but I like a diaphram call. They are hard to master but you can make lots of different sounds with them.

It has been hot the last couple years but I have seen it snow on Labor day (heck I got snowed once on the 4th of July in Wyoming). Be prepared for anything.

mountains and pitch a spike camp? I need specifics since I will have to purchase or borrow many of these items. My understanding is that where we are hunting ATVs are not allowed, so we will have to carry everything. (Both of us are in our mid to late thirties and in pretty good physical condition)>>>>>

Bring normal backpacking equipment. A backpacking stove is better than relying on a fire. There are lots of lightweight packs and sleeping bags out there. Just remember that every little thing adds weight and only take what you will need. I would try to make a couple trips this summer to a local spot and this will teach you what you need and what you can leave in the truck.

Being in shape is probably the most important thing, try to climb as much as you can over the summer. Even running stairs at the local football stadium will work wonders. Those mountains get steeper and steeper every year.

a good hunting/skinning knife sufficient, or do we need to carry a saw or hatchet?>>>>

Forget quartering, if you are backpacking boning the meat out is the only way to go. Get some good meat sacks (pillow cases work great) and get that hide off as soon as possible. If you are prepared when you shoot an elk you don't even need to gut it. Just skin it, quarter it, then remove the meat from the bones.

hunters.>>>>

Have fun and be willing to move. If there are no elk in your area keep moving tell you find them. Good luck!!!

Darn! The ambassaodr to the west has Un-Welcomed me. That's too bad. Guess I'll just go sell all those guns and buy a mini-van. It was nice meeting you folks in the woods, but I'm no longer welcome...see ya.

Because of the warmer temperatures during the archery season is THE reason that I no longer hunt with the bow - and I always had horses with me. The problem, when you get something down, it is difficult to get it out to a cold storage before it spoils - even with the horses. As someone mentioned, get the skin off as soon as possible and get it in game bags - to keep the flies off the meat. Be sure to cut the neck up to where you bleed the animal and pull the windpipe out - a major location for spoilage. Get the animal out as soon as possible and hung in a cold storage facility.>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

I agree that it is best to get that meat into cold storage as soon as possible, but it is possible to care for a deer or elk in warm weather and not loose the meat.

Get that hide off and the meat away from the bones as soon as possible. Don't waste time gutting, bleeding the animal, or trying to drag it anyware. Take your photos, get your knife out and get to work. Place the meat in meat sacks (always hunt with them in your pack) and get the bags hung up in the shade while you work on the rest of the carcass.

Once you get the filled meat sacks back to camp hang them in the shade till it gets dark then leave them there overnight. In the morning take them down and place the sacks on a clean tarp then wrap the meat with a sleeping bag or two and keep them there during the day. Hang them up again at night. The sleeping bags will insulate the meat and keep the cold from the air overnight in the meat.

I bow hunted mule deer in the middle of August and have kept a deer this way in spike camp for four days. When I dropped the meat off at the processors it was in great shape and not spoiled at all. The butcher commented on how suprised he was after four days on the mountain how good of shape my meat was. He said he has seen worse meat come in during the general season the end of October from people that will not take the time to take care of there kill.