Dworshak 10A Bulls ?

[waveone]

All,


I've recently procured tags for this unit and would greatly appreciate input and the favor of someone's experience in this area.

Tags- Elk , Deer.....& Wolf. It would be great to fill all three. Any time I can bring the pain to a predator like a wolf, I do it- legally of course.


What I 've read in various forums and heard from one of my friends who lives in Pocatello is that area is fantastic for big whitetail. That's awesome though we have no shortage of those here in Texas. The prospects of taking a trophy whitetail never gets old, yet my focus is really on Elk.

According to what I read ton that order, Elk are not as plentiful there and trophy bulls 320+ are very hard to come by in population and opportunity.

Does anyone have thoughts or experience in that region?

One more bit of info= we will be accessing by boat up the Dworshak Dam, glassing then camping up as far as we can get past pressure areas.

 

[waveone]

All,


I've recently procured tags for this unit and would greatly appreciate input and the favor of someone's experience in this area.

Tags- Elk , Deer.....& Wolf. It would be great to fill all three. Any time I can bring the pain to a predator like a wolf, I do it- legally of course.


What I 've read in various forums and heard from one of my friends who lives in Pocatello is that area is fantastic for big whitetail. That's awesome though we have no shortage of those here in Texas. The prospects of taking a trophy whitetail never gets old, yet my focus is really on Elk.

According to what I read ton that order, Elk are not as plentiful there and trophy bulls 320+ are very hard to come by in population and opportunity.

Does anyone have thoughts or experience in that region?

One more bit of info= we will be accessing by boat up the Dworshak Dam, glassing then camping up as far as we can get past pressure areas.

So, I'm guessing there aren't a lot of hunters who have done on OTC Elk hunt in this unit?

Or simply just not talking?

 

[Alabama]

I'm no help as I've never even stepped foot in Idaho, but I just wanted to say good luck and welcome to the forum.

I'm just curious why you would be targeting whitetails when you can hunt those at home, are there not any mule deer there?

 

[waveone]

I'm no help as I've never even stepped foot in Idaho, but I just wanted to say good luck and welcome to the forum.

I'm just curious why you would be targeting whitetails when you can hunt those at home, are there not any mule deer there?

Excellent question, you're correct. The truth is I did' nt know there were excellent WT opportunities until after I applied LOL. My friend from Pocatello told me.....

I was hooping to hunt mulies but that area is not a good unit for them. In fact the Elk may be a bit tough to hunt there too.

Looking forward to it though

 

[WapitiBob]

I used to hunt it for Elk. I wouldn't take the tag now if it was free.

 

[waveone]

I used to hunt it for Elk. I wouldn't take the tag now if it was free.

Well , that's encouraging .......

Other than the obvious , what are the contributing factors to your position on this ?

Thank you

 

[meathunter]

Saw some elk in 10A during a May black bear hunt. I believe the elk and deer are coming back in the area. Lots of bears, I would pick up a bear tag, if you're into that hunt. There were some fires in the area 2 years ago and the deer and elk are using those areas for the good feed. Also, saw quite a few deer and lots of turkeys. Give it a shot, great area, good fishing too.

 

[waveone]

Saw some elk in 10A during a May black bear hunt. I believe the elk and deer are coming back in the area. Lots of bears, I would pick up a bear tag, if you're into that hunt. There were some fires in the area 2 years ago and the deer and elk are using those areas for the good feed. Also, saw quite a few deer and lots of turkeys. Give it a shot, great area, good fishing too.

Thank you for the information meathunter- much appreciated. Your assessment seems to be the consensus of the limited information I've read, including the fire areas.

You're only the second person that has acknowledged hunting that area in the last few years too. Except for WBob- who may want the are to himself or simply just doesn't care for the area in general .... LOL.

I've got a friend who lives just south of there in Challis and another in Pocatello. Challis are is great but it was tough hunting in 08 as many places were there because of predation. Took a nice mulie though.

My friend from Pocatello was a guide in that area but that was 20+ years ago. He also encouraged me to get a bear tag too.

If you don't mind me asking - How big are the black bears there? I assume they are or will be color phased, which will be cool

Elk/deer- good to hear that you saw activity. Any idea about bull/buck trophy quality? I was surprised t hear that was a great are a for WT.

Wolves- see any sign?

Thank you again for the information. I'm still excited to be going....

 

[meathunter]

Bears seem to be small, different color phases. I heard a good blond was taken during the spring. I took a chocolate awhile back. If you can wait through the smaller ones, there are some larger ones. There should be some decent bulls/WT in the area. Very thick and somewhat rugged. Doesn't get hunted too hard, seen some hunting moose and bears. Seen some decent bulls in areas close by 10A. Wolves have definitely made an impact. Most places I've hunted, usually see quite a few wolf tracks, just a high population of bears.

It is an exciting hunt, wilderness type area, not a lot of hunters, just got to work at it. I'll be backpacking close by chasing moose, bear and wolves, Sept. & Oct. for a few weeks.

Good luck!

 

[waveone]

Bears seem to be small, different color phases. I heard a good blond was taken during the spring. I took a chocolate awhile back. If you can wait through the smaller ones, there are some larger ones. There should be some decent bulls/WT in the area. Very thick and somewhat rugged. Doesn't get hunted too hard, seen some hunting moose and bears. Seen some decent bulls in areas close by 10A. Wolves have definitely made an impact. Most places I've hunted, usually see quite a few wolf tracks, just a high population of bears.

It is an exciting hunt, wilderness type area, not a lot of hunters, just got to work at it. I'll be backpacking close by chasing moose, bear and wolves, Sept. & Oct. for a few weeks.

Good luck!

Meathunter, you made my day- Thank you sir! Now I'm really excited. Information except what you get off of the IDFG website, which isn't bad has been limited.

I've also read where that area burned somewhat a couple years ago which is probably a good thing and decent area to set up on.


In terms of rugged terrain, it is like that in parts of the Challis area. Big mountains, but awesome views too

This makes me feel a lot better. Thank you again

 

[meathunter]

Waveone, similar to Challis, much thicker forest in much of the area. I hunt the Challis area for deer & elk. F & G wants to reduce the number of bears and have a 2 bear limit, with a reduced fee for NR @ $42 plus bear baiting tree tags of $30 or so for 3. Save up a bunch of bacon grease, apples, donuts and they'll come in within 2 days, usually. Wolf tags are also a deal, although I believe you can also use a NR elk tag, maybe deer for those. Last May, I called in and harvested a turkey while in my bear blind. Fun

 

[waveone]

Waveone, similar to Challis, much thicker forest in much of the area. I hunt the Challis area for deer & elk. F & G wants to reduce the number of bears and have a 2 bear limit, with a reduced fee for NR @ $42 plus bear baiting tree tags of $30 or so for 3. Save up a bunch of bacon grease, apples, donuts and they'll come in within 2 days, usually. Wolf tags are also a deal, although I believe you can also use a NR elk tag, maybe deer for those. Last May, I called in and harvested a turkey while in my bear blind. Fun

I love the Challis area primarily and have friends there. The Persemeri is a rugged alpine type area and I've hunted that as well as the rest of the high desert around the area. Very tough hunting though around 2008-9.

At one time it was my understanding there were trophy mulies but that was before the infiltrators in the F&G turned the wolves loose......

Your comments give me more confidence. It would be great to take a nice color phase bear but if they are small I wouldn't waste the tag even though as you say you can use an Elk or Deer tag as alternate I believe

We will be accessing by boat up the Dam so hopefully we will get past any pressure.

Looking to fil both my deer and Elk tag. With any luck my wolf tag too...

 

[lang]

Double check the regs, but pretty sure it is just the NR deer tag can be used for any predator. Any of you looking at taking a wolf should sign up with Foundation for Wildlife Management before coming. They are reimbursing hunters taking wolves in Idaho. It started to help trappers (Dec-March), but are now paying for all wolves taken $250 September-November and $500 during later trapping season. foundationforwildlifemanagement.org

 

[waveone]

Double check the regs, but pretty sure it is just the NR deer tag can be used for any predator. Any of you looking at taking a wolf should sign up with Foundation for Wildlife Management before coming. They are reimbursing hunters taking wolves in Idaho. It started to help trappers (Dec-March), but are now paying for all wolves taken $250 September-November and $500 during later trapping season. foundationforwildlifemanagement.org

Excellent advice, thank you very much.

A bounty makes it that much more enjoyable- and motivating.

 

[blakecarson79]

Hey waveone, how did your hunt go? I am thinking of planning a trip to Idaho since i live so close in washington, and this unit is high on my list.