What would you do? I need some help!

[mgriffith80]

So my company is offering me a week at one of our 3 vacation homes (Ketchum, Idaho, Bend, Oregon, Whistler, British Columbia) and I want to make a hunting trip out of it but I have no experience at any of these areas.

I have to apply for the house soon and want the best opportunity to capitalize on being out of state and getting some big game hunting in. Obviously there are many questions and factors that go into where and what I should do, so I'm asking you all...What would you do? What would you hunt?

If you had a place to stay for free this upcoming fall in Idaho, Oregon, or BC...how and what would you do?

 

[packmule]

So my company is offering me a week at one of our 3 vacation homes (Ketchum, Idaho, Bend, Oregon, Whistler, British Columbia) and I want to make a hunting trip out of it but I have no experience at any of these areas.

I have to apply for the house soon and want the best opportunity to capitalize on being out of state and getting some big game hunting in. Obviously there are many questions and factors that go into where and what I should do, so I'm asking you all...What would you do? What would you hunt?

If you had a place to stay for free this upcoming fall in Idaho, Oregon, or BC...how and what would you do?

I'd be researching that area of BC like crazy to see how many species I could hunt on 1 trip.

 

[mntnguide]

In BC as a non-res..you HAVE to have a guide, or a local friend who gets a permit to take you after any big game animal. . And as a friend of mine once said..BC stands for Bring Cash. . so if you have money to spend definitely look up there. otherwise if hunting is the point of the trip, you will probably want to stay in the states for opportunity. . Ketchum/Sun Valley has good hunting depending on what you go after. It is steep country and one must be willing to work hard for game, but it does hold good deer/elk/...wolves as well. I dont know anything about hunting around Bend, but im sure it has good opportunities as well.

 

[gonhunting247]

Bend would be tough to put in early for if you wanted to rifle hunt, since it's all draw and you don't get results until June. A guy could bow hunt with a general tag. The last week of general bow elk is best IMO if you chose to go that way. I think I'd choose ID, but I'm not sure if it's over the counter in that area though. Good Luck and have a blast.

 

[WapitiBob]

Lived in Bend for almost 60 years. You come to Bend to ski, not hunt.

 

[NVBird'n'Big]

Sounds like a dream dilemma for someone who loves to ski.

What time of year will you have the cabin?

 

[OregonJim]

Just not much available to you here in Oregon without some PPs unless you are a bow hunter.
One heck of a ski trip option though.

 

[bdan68]

I'd be figuring out something to hunt in Idaho!

 

[mgriffith80]

Thanks for all the input guys. Essentially they are all Ski Vacation homes through work. But I Figure its a good selling point to the Mrs. that we can all head to ______ and I can also hunt for a few days. PP points and being a Non-Res are obviously my biggest obstacles. I'm thinking my best case would be an OTC tag or an archery only tag if they are available in theses areas.

 

[mgriffith80]

Sounds like a dream dilemma for someone who loves to ski.

What time of year will you have the cabin?

They are available year round.

 

[Colorado Cowboy]

The only thing I could add is that IF you decide on the stay in Bend, bring your shotgun. there is some decent Chuker hunting in eastern Oregon.

 

[Timberstalker]

As far as big game hunting goes around Bend, its not that great. Deer and elk hunting is primarily draw only for rifle, but OTC for archery. Archery deer is ok near bend but elk hunting I would recommend traveling at least 2 hours away to hunt elk. If you want more detailed info shoot me a PM.

 

[mntnguide]

There are no PP in Idaho. The wood river valley is a draw area for Elk with rifle and an OTC for mule deer general tag in october. You can also bowhunt elk OTC but need to buy a tag before the quota is sold if i remember right. The 2 units that surround the valley are 48 &49...the problem is 49 is in what Idaho calls the Pioneer zone, and 48 is in the Smokey mnt zone. That means you have to choose which of those 2 units you would want to hunt before you buy an OTC tag, you will not be able to hunt both. 49 is basically everything east of the Bigwood river and 48 is west. Go to http://fishandgame.idaho.gov/public/hunt/rules/?getPage=63 to look up more info on everything.

 

[Calbuck]

I hunted in 49 for rifle elk. We bought an OTC deer tag also. We only saw 1 small buck and very few deer period in 49. I would go back for elk again (got a decent 8x7 on my first elk hunt) as we glassed up 13 different bulls. There are also OTC cow tags available. Not sure about 48.

 

[mgriffith80]

Thanks guys! I appreciate all the info.