Idaho unit 44 early rifle

[Mallard_militia]

Good afternoon everyone, I drew an Idaho unit 44 early season rifle Bull elk tag. I’ve been doing a lot of E scouting and found some trail heads I want to check out. My season opens October 1st. Anyone else hunt this unit with this tag since the season date change? Are the bulls still bugling? Any advice on what not to do? I’ll be focusing on the north side of the unit.

Repl

 

[brymoore]

I won’t give you any areas to hunt.

Son helped his best friend hunt the 10/1 bull tag recently. They called bulls all day and killed the biggest they saw in the afternoon. College kids with minimal time to hunt. Killed in one day.

Lots of elk. If you know how to hunt elk, you won’t have any problems. If you’re learning to hunt elk, you should be able to make a bunch of mistakes and still have a good chance of killing a bull over a week hunt.

The what not to do advice is to treat elk like whitetail deer hunting if you’re coming from the east. Get high in the dark and glass a big area. If you’re not seeing elk, move.

You have a great tag.

 

[Mallard_militia]

Coming from the west. Second time hunting elk. First time was in Utah. Spent most my time glassing. Found some the last morning but couldn’t close the gap before dark.

 

[brymoore]

Don’t overthink the hunt. It’s a good tag with lots of elk.

If possible, scout the unit this summer and find a few points/areas to hunt. If time isn’t available, scout a few days before the hunt.

Come to think about it, my oldest son helped his buddy kill a cow elk on opening morning too. One cow in a herd of bulls. Shot a first light.

Both my son’s truck camped and hiked in to hunt in the morning.

 

[Mallard_militia]

Thank you!
I’ll be going for a couple days in early September scouting. Going 3 days before season as well.

 

[Potsie]

With 3 days of scouting right before season starts you should have no issues finding a good bull to sit on until opening day.

Don’t get overly aggressive in those 3 preseason days though. Find glassing points to cover lots of ground, let your glass do the work. Find, document, then move on.

 

[Mallard_militia]

With 3 days of scouting right before season starts you should have no issues finding a good bull to sit on until opening day.

Don’t get overly aggressive in those 3 preseason days though. Find glassing points to cover lots of ground, let your glass do the work. Find, document, then move on.

I was thinking using a locating bugle and keeping my distance with glass. Would that be a good tactic with a rifle?

 

[Baerman]

Learn access/roads. glass, listen and move. Don't scout the same area twice. you'll be in great shape with a few days of scouting before the season. Elk will be bugling really well, you'll have a blast. Take an ATV/UTV if you have one, but not required.

 

[Baerman]

I was thinking using a locating bugle and keeping my distance with glass. Would that be a good tactic with a rifle?

yes, but like @Potsie said, don't get aggressive. Meaning don't get in too close to the heard and don't call to bring the bull in. You could push the elk into private if you get aggressive too. The elk know the game so don't give them any more pressure than they are already getting from archery elk and rifle deer hunters that will be hunting upto your season. My 12 y.o. daughter has the 2nd rifle tag this year too. Just try to save one for her. I'm confident you'll find a good bull with the time you are committing to it before hand.

 

[Wally Dog]

I'd do the same as with Turkeys, leave your calls in the truck. Listen and look. No need to edjumacate them!

 

[fowladdict]

Fun hunt...very jealous.

 

[Mallard_militia]

Thank you everyone for the advice! I will post the outcome for sure!

 

[Hntandfsh]

I will second what Brymoore said. There are lots of elk and there is a very good chance that they will be vocal into October. I drew a tag over there and watched a rut fest October 10th a few years ago. It was unbelievable.

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[TinBrick]

Heard through the grapevine @Mallard_militia had a great and successful hunt! Good going !

 

[Mallard_militia]

Got this warrior opening morning. Found a muzzy broad head high in his right side that had healed over but a nasty abscess under his shoulder!

 

[Mallard_militia]

Here is the broad head.

 

[ashersdad]

Very nice! Looks like he was a fighter for sure. Congrats on your success!

 

[Duck-Slayer]

Looks like a fighter, congrats
Matt

 

[kansasdad]

Here is the broad head.

Appears to be a SlickTrick

 

[Mallard_militia]

Appears to be a SlickTrick

I think you are correct! I would love to find the owner to hear when this bull was shot. I have to think it was from early archery. Maybe it was in there from last season?