I need more personal info. i can help each.

[id. painter]

I thought about the questions you all had last night and realized that for me to give good advice i will need to know more about each person. (how old ,what kind of shape your in, what is the most important to you about your hunt) How important is it to be alone , how important is it to get a big boy. Do you want high country or timber? Roadless or hunt from a 4wheeler ect.....
I first need to give you a bit of my history.
I started working in the woods as a 17 year old . We were mostly doing what is known as rodent control. We hiked the mountains and poisoned pocket gophers. The more ground you covered the more you could make .Iive been extreemly active all my life, walking all day, 6 days a week, all summer, for my entire life. So my idea of hunting my be on the extreme side. Part of my success has been because of my physical conditioning and the ability to out hike almost anyone.Ive never had stock so my legs had to do it. I have a great need to be alone when i hunt and i like a great view. I took a Mountain goat at age 13. If someone wants the hunt of a life time ,,, Go try and get a good Goat. Any way I really do know most of this state very well ,( ive worked,hunted and walked most of it.) Ill start giving specific advice ,, One at a time as you answer. You need to tell me what your looking for in your hunt, and who you are. id. p.

[Dave Smith]

ever heard of Jerry Sonnen?

[tailchaser]

I'll go first I guess, I'm 27 and am in great physical condition. I'm an ex-college/pro athlete that will hunt elk until I drop. I'm a bowhunter and hunt with two other guys who are from the exact mold I'm from. We kill a lot of bulls (10 personally w/ a bow), and I killed my first high scoring book bull this year. However, I've called in multiple book bulls for other people. We all have a lot of experience in the woods and we're looking for somewhere to find some high scoring bulls. We've all grown tired of shooting 5 points and small 6's. I want to chase one that makes my blood freeze when I see him. All I'm looking for is the chance at the monster, the rest is up to us.

I love backcountry hunting, but I'm like yourself in doing it with my legs. I despise road hunting but have a 4wheeler to help get to hard to reach places if it can be used. Otherwise it's a pack show for all of us. I love the thought that it takes some effort to get to one of these places so it cuts out 85% of the lazy people. I respect every hunter I see in the backwoods because they're working hard like I am and you have to tip your hat to that. Our most common hunt is packing in 5-8 miles, setting up a good camp and hunting from there.

I'd appreciate any information that you can give me, I lived in Boise for a short time and didn't get the chance to explore the state much. Feel free to email me and I'll try to return the favor the next time you're over this way. Thanks again.

tc

[id. painter]

I dont know Jerry. This state Id. has a every large variety of hunting experiences , I just need to know more about what your looking for . I will give very specific info. What creek or drainage to hunt, exactly. id. p.

[Lepper]

Hey tailchaser, why didn't ya ask me? :smile: I know some great spots on the eastern side of the state with some little bulls for ya to kill. If you might be interested drop me an email i'll even call up some private land owners and see if they will let us on..
Dave

[id. painter]

O.K. Tail c. How important is the view. If you really want a big bull. They are shot all over the state. But the very best ive seen come from the units near Ashton Id . I know a guy who has killed several P.&Y. Bull(the best being 375) in that unit. But its not much of a back country hunt. 350 and better are rare anywhere. I like to be able to see a long way. Im partial to unit 50. There are not many extreemly big bulls killed in that unit but the country is fantastic. The Elk are like goats . They litterly live at tree line and above. Muldoon canyon is a real good one . You have to hike in several miles to get to the back of the canyon. Last year a student had a tag (Rifle) and killed a 330 opening morning. I saw a 400 class bull in that canyon about three years ago. On average the bulls arnt that big ,lots of average bulls, but , I have seen several thru the years that were out standing. I would either hunt Cabin Creek or Muldoon . Both have good herds. And you shouldnt have much comp. The canyon floor is around 7-8ooo ft. so the ridges are at 10,000 +. I know bow hunting is getting more popular each year, but having that kind of elevation can help get rid of the crowds.
If you are not worried about the view, stay in North Id. The timber is thick, and endless. It gives the impression that you are alone always. The Gospel Hump Wilderness is awsome and roadless. You could easly get away from anyone and chase bulls till you drop. The big boys are a wonderous beast and you can get one any where ,,, with some hard work and luck.
My father killed a 365 bull in unit 69. My brother killed #16(unit 16) in the world with a muzz. loader in the late hunt near the Selway , and i killed my 7pt. with 59 inch beams 345score near Boville Id. A friend killed a 365 bull near Deary Id. On and on, They just show up where they be. I hope im helping... id. p.

[K16]

Hi, I.D.

I'm 32 Y.O.

Physically, I Run, MT bike, Hike, moutaineering, Participate in 85 mile adventure races, hunt steep country. I stay in good shape for these year around.

Most important to me for an Idaho hunt would be to get into some animals and have some opportunities.

As far as being alone, I would like an area that it is harder for people to get into. I know that being completely alone in this day and age during a hunt season is almost impossible.

It's not that important for me to get a trophy animal. For archery elk a trophy would be a bull. For mule deer a large 3x3 or average 4x4 is a trophy and the same with whitetail.

High country or timber is not that important, however, I do like to glass then stalk. but again not important.

I am definately looking for roadless areas. I Mt bike and can pack my entire camp in and then can pack my animal out. I like to get off the trail and road.

Thanks again, K16
Let me know when your coming out this way, we'll see if we can hook up for some fishing or at least I can let ou know where the salmon are. OR if you duck hunt I have a pretty cool duck boat and a neat hunt!

[id. painter]

O.K. k16. You also are a bow hunter. If size isnt as important as the experience, i would look into the Southern Units. There is a much better chance at a good buck in the Southern part of state. It sounds like what i wrote for Tail c. would be very good for you. The unit is not famous for the trophy class animals. (50) My brother killed a buck with a 33" spreadand scored 195. I took one that went 180, and another that went 175 with broken tines and a 29" spread. Most of the bucks in that unit are average but a gig boy shows up every few years.The most big bucks are taken in the south, Franklin basin (unit77, 75?) unit 69 near Idaho falls is famous for big bucks. but mostly late rifle hunts. The areas around Palasade Res. has big animals and you can get some good packing into areas. Look at units 36, 36-A,and 59, 50. I must warn you about the deer hunting. These last few years have been very tough on them and there just isnt the numbers that we had in the past. But the Elk is getting better.
Ya , i think i would look at 50, 59 ,36, 36-A, I bet you would have the hunt of your life. In Unit 50, Alder creek, Just south of Mackey. Cabin creek , near the Copper Basin loop Rd. Lake creek, Muldoon creek, or back by the Big Black Dome elevation 10800 ft. It has gotten some pretty heavy bow pressure in the last few years but if you pack in you will be fine and alone.

[id. painter]

K16. If roadless is important look at the units North west of Challis Id. Panther creek area,is good and then look at the middle fork of the salmon, but you may want stock there.It a long way in and up. You must remember that with elevations at 10,00 there are no roads..So there are lots of places to get away. not just wildreness ... id. p.

[id. painter]

I dont have the net at my home yet ,,, i do this at work, shhhhh. Any way i hope im giving you all some food for thought. Ill be back on Monday.....

[K16]

Hey, id.p. that is excellent, thank you, that is exactly what I have needed a place to start.

[id. painter]

Correction for k16.. The Unit that i called 36-A was actually 30-A. Several of my friends hunt it with good luck. They always see other bow hunters , but they dont have much comp. on the mountain from them .. If you want spot and stalk hunting stay in the middle of the state .
A note for Tailc. If you want a big bull stay in the Northern half and hunt the timber. you wont see that many Elk(its just too thick) but you have a pretty good chance of getting a big boy in close.Lots of big brush bulls . Around Clarkia, or Idaho co.I saw one of the two best bulls of my life in unit 15. We were hunting Reed MT. it sits across the S. Fork of the Clearwater River from the Gospel Hump Wilderness.It is right up the mountain from Golden Id. This bull had 9 on one side and 7 on the other and we still refer to him as Snaggle Horn. He had about 25 cows and there were no other bow hunters around. This is all in the Newsome Creek drainage. id.p.

[K16]

Thanks ID.P. K16

[RogueFishr]

ID Painter,
this is great info you are giving out. Here's my story: 34 years old, pretty good physical shape, looking basically for good opportunity at a decent bull. Don't have to put one in the books, but I am tired of hunting spike-only in Oregon. I want an area with decent populations and good bull-cow ratios. I prefer not to hunt in brushy areas. I have hunted Eastern Oregon (La Grande area) for 20 years and like that type of terrain. The area I am considering is the McCall area. I would like an area with fewer roads than Oregon has (a road-a-mile it seems like). It would be nice to be in an area where i can get away from the crowds also. I do not have stock, but do have a 4-wheeler. Also have a well worn pack frame. Any advice would be appreciated. If you get to Southern Oregon and want to fish, just let me know.

thanks

RF

[id. painter]

Roguefisher. The Mcall area is good country. But , its not the best. If you want a good hunt with out much comp. not too brushy. The guides hunt the pack-in units harder than most. I think you could have a great hunt without the guides and no stock. Many of the units that had at one time complete access have been turned into no motorized units. They have roads built but you cant drive them. So, consider those units around Idaho City. Also the units East , and south east of Salmon. No guides , lots of elk. unit 30-A is a good hunt. A good friend hunts it every year. He has a cabin in Tendoy Id. Last fall he and his two brothers all killed good bulls in that unit, with a bow. If you get a rifle permit, you will have an awsome hunt with almost no comp. id. p.

[Mtn Man]

I agree with id.p the Newsome creek area is very good. We hunted their years ago, before we started hunting off of Dworshak Reservoir.

Dworshak is a really good area that gets very little pressure. You have to go in by boat and their is very little access from the top of the drainage.

The fishing is also pretty good

MM

[K16]

Hey Id.P. Just wondering if you ever got the email I sent you? If you don't have that email any longer let me know and I'll send it to you private message K16