2025 Idaho Moose and Elk scouting/hunting!

[OreIdaElk]

Moved to Idaho from Oregon 4 years ago started putting in for moose 3 years ago after having residency. Was shocked I actually drew. I will try and update regularly, this is new to me being on any forum I have lurked here for a couple years and thought I would share this as repayment for the enjoyment I have had read others. I have been archery hunting since 1999 starting at age 30 so the plan is to use my bow for September so I can elk hunt at the same time. Been starting my daily hike 1 mi 300 ft elevation up and down twice on weekends. Started the learning process on moose as no experience since Oregon doesn’t have a season. Add I might have an Oregon archery elk tag since I put in before drawing a moose tag lol. So I could end up needing to buy another freezer or completely wore out from chasing elk, moose, elk in 2 states I know horrible problem. Not sure about posting unit number. But will take any information about moose habits and preferred hang outs to aid the scouting. Here’s to a great year.

 

[Khunter]

Congrats! have hunted a couple east Idaho units for moose. DM with unit if want to see if I may have experience to share in your unit.

 

[Jverbeck1]

What unit did you draw? My wife drew and Eastern Idaho moose tag this year also

 

[OreIdaElk]

Well it’s official I received my tag in the mail today.

I did go drive around and get eyes on the unit yesterday and got a few areas to scout more in dept through the summer.

Really looking forward to something new as this moose journey gets underway, hope to accomplish this with a bow.

 

[Hawk Tuah]

I'm excited for you and seeing the progress of your hunt. Hope you get nice bulls.

 

[OreIdaElk]

Did some hiking in the unit today, saw one cow moose with a calf and 15 to 20 cow elk with calves scattered all over.

 

[OreIdaElk]

Made another trip, lots of cattle and morman cricketsthey are slippery and distracting lol. I have 2 cameras up to help verify I’m in right spots. I think I’m to honed in on elk as I keep finding lots of them. 2 more months to figure out where the moose are.

 

[gonhunting247]

Good luck, looking forward to reading this!

 

[Caseknife]

Quite the dilemma to have, going hunting today, may come back with an elk or a moose, or both. Have fun and start freezer shopping.

 

[OreIdaElk]

Checked the cameras this last weekend got a little bit of everything on one and mostly cow and calf elk on the other. There is a nice bull moose and a cow and calf moose.
Looks like I pick the right spot. Definitely go with a bear fence for the tent after the bear pic I got. Got a couple other areas to check but getting excited for Aug 30th to get here.

 

[Hntandfsh]

What unit did you draw? My wife drew and Eastern Idaho moose tag this year also

What unit. My family and I have been blessed to draw some tags over there. I love moose hunting. They are fun to hunt and they taste GREAT.

 

[Hntandfsh]

Well it’s official I received my tag in the mail today.

I did go drive around and get eyes on the unit yesterday and got a few areas to scout more in dept through the summer.

Really looking forward to something new as this moose journey gets underway, hope to accomplish this with a bow.

I hope you get it done with a bow. I shot my once in a lifetime bull when I was 15 with my bow. To this day its one of my favorite memories.

 

[Averbeck18]

What unit. My family and I have been blessed to draw some tags over there. I love moose hunting. They are fun to hunt and they taste GREAT.

66a

 

[OreIdaElk]

Finally getting around to closing this thread out. I realize after getting time out in the woods I'm not someone who needs to share my hunting with everyone. I suck at writing and don’t like it. But will share because I know others enjoy seeing and hearing about the adventures.

 

[OreIdaElk]

 

[OreIdaElk]

I will say no elk were harmed with my bow. I had a hard time focusing on moose with elk bugling and very little moose sightings. Most of my moose interactions were after dark or before daylight and it’s hard to distinguish moose tracks from cattle tracks on hard dry ground. I had lots of close calls with elk but always getting busted by the one cow that stayed a little ways off the main herd.

 

[OreIdaElk]

With 4 days of archery season left and a cow and bull moose playing hanky panky in the willows 100 yards form my tent for a couple hours making it hard to sleep I thought I would follow the direction they headed in the morning. I started up the draw they were in knowing it went through a saddle to another draw full of willows that I could maybe glass them up, I stopped about 200 yards before breaking over to wait for the thermals to change. It was a little chilly so I sat in the sun wide open to snack and warm up not expecting to see anything due to my scent going right down the draw. As I was sitting there without an arrow knocked which I usually do because sometimes something comes by. Then I saw movement coming up into the wallow I was sitting over, which turned out to be a young bull moose. He heard me digging my range finder out but couldn’t see me because he stopped behind a tree, I got a range and he was 45 yards he started walking and when was in the open I grunted and he stopped and looked right at me. So I thought if he let’s me grab my bow knock an arrow and draw back then I would get my chance at filling my moose tag with a bow.

 

[Rack Daniels]

Annddd dennnnnnnnn

 

[Dave N]

 

[OreIdaElk]

Honey do’s came up lol.
With him still standing there I settled my pin and shot didn’t flinch at all, I didn’t know how fast moose can move they can run faster than any elk or deer, he was out of sight in just a couple seconds about 100yds and heard what I thought might be a stumble. Since he was out of sight I got all my stuff gathered up and went to where he was standing at the shot saw just a little spot of blood, so started looking to see if my arrow passed through and found it 25ft the other side with good blood and 2 fletchings missing. I then started tracking and only had hoof prints to go off wasn’t seeing much blood so just took it slow. When I got to where I last saw him crest the ridge I kept scanning ahead. Just past where I lost sight I saw some rocks all smeared in blood where he must of fell and got back up. By this point it was close to 1/2 an hour after the shot. I followed the tracks another 20ft and saw him.