What type of areas to look for Idaho elk

[kvw4x4]

So i feel i have a couple good units picked for mid September, being from north west Washington it hard to just quick drive 12 hours to scout, in these areas i have chosen, what type of terrain should i be looking for? creeks, lakes, ponds, thick timber, meadows, basins?? what elevation? what would be to high or to low? how far from roads? hiking trails?
also if a certain area i pick ends up not showing any sign of elk, how far do you move to a new location,
Thanks for any help in advance
you can pm if you prefer

Kevin

 

[kidoggy]

lol. that is the question isn't it. elk are pretty easy to kill once you find them.

they can thrive at pretty much most elevations they may be high may be low. often see them from the road but wouldn't expect it.they live pretty much all terrain you mentioned.
there are herds that live on the deserts all year and some that stay in the mtns through winter .from dec through winter I would say focus on 5000 and below, though some will be higher.

 

[Gr8bawana]

Elk are where you find them. If there is no sign then there are no elk. Keep moving until you find fresh elk sign.

 

[Fullfan]

Elk are where you find them. If there is no sign then there are no elk. Keep moving until you find fresh elk sign.

Bingo the elk are where you find them.. And when you find them most times the wolves will have bothered them and tomorrow they will be gone.

 

[kidoggy]

Bingo the elk are where you find them.. And when you find them most times the wolves will have bothered them and tomorrow they will be gone.

that may be true on occasion . it certainly is not a fact.

 

[tttoadman]

Speaking for the Frank anyway, If you hear the wolves at night, there is likely decent elk in the area. If there are no wolves, it's because they are where the elk are. Fullfan also hit it on the head. They may be in and out of an area just from getting pushed around by wolves.

 

[Ikeepitcold]

What part of Idaho are you considering?

 

[Joe Schmo]

Bingo the elk are where you find them.. And when you find them most times the wolves will have bothered them and tomorrow they will be gone.

That's a ridiculously absurd blanket statement

 

[kvw4x4]

What part of Idaho are you considering?

Either 36b or 48

 

[Gr8bawana]

Speaking for the Frank anyway, If you hear the wolves at night, there is likely decent elk in the area. If there are no wolves, it's because they are where the elk are. Fullfan also hit it on the head. They may be in and out of an area just from getting pushed around by wolves.

Two years ago when my brother had an unit 1 archery tag in AZ we were sneaking through some really thick black timber towards some bugles just as it was getting light and we heard a wolf howl nearby and the elk immediately shut down. We didn't hear any more bugling in that drainage the rest of the day.

 

[Micah S]

Find cover water and feed. Then look for elk. Be in good shape the units you mentioned are steep.

 

[kvw4x4]

Find cover water and feed. Then look for elk. Be in good shape the units you mentioned are steep.

Or 30a. If your had to pick one of these? Which would you pick?

 

[kidoggy]

this is merely a suggestion but it seems you don't have much experience hunting elk, so..... why not pick a unit a bit closer to home and get a bit of experience before expanding out? it will save a bit of coin and you can always travel to new areas later after you learn how to hunt them.
there are many great units to hunt for elk closer to home. 25,26,27, 33,34,35, 39. not trying to tell you where to go just saying there are better options ,IMO , and closer to home,then those you listed.

many opportunities in the panhandle ,also, I merely listed a few units I have a bit of knowledge in.


like I said , not trying to tell you what to do, just trying to help you out.

it might help others do the same if you told us a bit more about what you are looking for in your hunt. things like weapon of choice, time of year , backpacking in or just day hikes , camping or motels?? such decisions can make a pretty big impact on units to choose.

 

[Joe Schmo]

Worry less about your unit and more about how you’ll go about your hunt. You will want to find a bunch of areas that you can hunt/look for elk. Sounds dumb maybe but from my limited Idaho hunting experience and my time spent driving through it for work...the elk are there, you just gotta have a plan to find em in this basin, that basin, that hillside, etc. Like say I’m gonna hunt unit X, I’m gonna hike into Y drainage and hunt day 1, if they’re not there I’m gonna hike into here and camp for a night so that’s 1.5 days of hunting/looking for elk, then I’m gonna...etc, etc

 

[gbbrogan]

Elk can often move around, find some water in a good drainage with some sign and you will find the elk eventually there. Most of the canyons I hunt have the chance to have elk in them on any given day if there is water. If not today maybe in a couple of days.

 

[kvw4x4]

ill be hunting with a bow thinking mid September, we will probably drive in and do a wall tent
i picked 48 or 36b because of info i heard from others and gohunt.com, 36b is my favorite cause i have talked to a local in that area, the deer hunting is also good at the same time and its farther away from the bigger cities then 48