Going back to Idaho again and Have a newbie question

[MITCHMO]

So we went to Idaho last year(salmon zone) and deer and elk hunted. The deer hunting was pretty bad but there appeared to be some elk around and we managed to get a spike after a lot of effort. However, the area we got the spike appeared to have a lot of elk in it, and there were a lot of trails and rubs that made it appear like they were there all season long. I also found multiple wallows and had several bulls bugle at me even though it was October rifle and I had never cow called before. There were also plenty of wolf tracks the couple days we had fresh snow. I'm going to go back this fall and try again, but was wondering what you guys think the odds are the same area holds elk for multiple seasons. Perhaps there are certain things you look for to tell you they live there every year? There is water, food, and cover. It's everything from old burn that got logged, to stuff so thick you can't see your feet or the sky. Its also somewhat difficult to access. Walk in area. I have to fly out, so scouting is probably out. I will have barely enough vacation to go hunt, but not going somewhere just isn't an option. I'm just trying to gain some confidence that I can go back to the same canyon and have reasonable odds elk will be there. It was amazing how much ground we covered before finding this pocket of elk. Lots of country with few critters!

 

[Duck-Slayer]

They will most likely be there at some point..... wolves, fires, drought, etc. all are factors that will have elk moving. Also elk are grazer's they tend to move alot. But usually in my experience they will use the same canyon's year after year for the rut from the 2nd week of Sept. till the middle of Oct. unless one of the above mentioned factors move them.
Matt

 

[MITCHMO]

10/4 on that. It was really interesting how there was almost zero elk sign on each ridge on either side. Then in this ridge, it was just tore up. Crazy how they find a spot and stick with it. Between us and other guys, they got booted off the mountain almost everyday and then next day, they were always back. It's just too bad I don't know how to hunt elk and didn't wrap my tag on one, but it was very tough country and quite thick.

 

[Ben Long]

Never leave elk to find elk. I'd say if habitat elements remain the same (same cover, water, food, security) your odds are good the elk will be there or not far. But I could be wrong. Elk will make a liar out of anyone.

 

[Southern Elk]

Never leave elk to find elk.

That's signature worthy, Ben.

 

[Ben Long]

It's good advice. I wish I had followed it this year...

 

[MITCHMO]

I just want to add my excitement is at such a level I may have a heart attack just thinking about getting one. The added confidence(even though an educated guess) of your advice just adds that much more. This is gonna be a long summer.

 

[elkhnter]

“Somewhat difficult to access”, now that’s funny. That’s Idaho! Go where you REALLY don’t want to go, and you’ll find elk.

 

[ccc23454]

I would bet its a dam fine place to start looking, barring major changes (fire/logging etc.) And if for no other reason, confidence. Elk can move some amazing distances over night but there are some spots that are true honey holes and always seem to hold elk.

 

[Badger_55]

Fresh sign and bugling during the same time of year you plan to be out there this year would be the first place I would key on. I ran into a really nice bull out in Montana during the last week of October and he was sounding off two nights and in a row. He was clearly comfortable, I had plenty of time to see that through the spotter. i ended up getting close enough to get him to respond to a cow call before my brother got a shot at him but it ended in a clean miss. I had no intentions of using that call that trip either. I think the fact we were 6 miles or so in and that bull being comfortable made that situation a great possibility to take a really nice bull. I would say if you were close to elk and you were hearing bugles than they may feel pretty comfortable in the area they were at that time of year.
I think if we don't pull our elk or deer tags in wyoming we will be close to that area for a Otc archery elk hunt.

 

[MITCHMO]

Elkhntr you crack me up. So true! At the start of the trip I saw hillsides I thought were impossible to climb and thought that is crazy, who would ever do that....a couple days later I would find myself on those same hillsides lol. It is the steepest terrain I have seen. I have never been so tired and happy in my life.