Discover the expert in you.
Discover the expert in you.
Located in northeastern Idaho near Yellowstone National Park, the Velvet Ranch provides food and lodging for people interested in outdoor activities. Elk hunting is one of the activities available at the Velvet Ranch.
The elk (Cervus canadensis) is a species of large deer widely found in forest regions of North America, especially in Western states such as Idaho. Many elk live in Idaho's large wilderness areas.
The elk (Cervus canadensis) is a species of large deer widely found in forest regions of North America, especially in western states such as Idaho. Many elk live in Idaho's large swathes of national forest as well as other big game such as white tail deer, antelope and bear. Idaho is a good destination for hunting with firearms as well as bow-hunting from September through December. Good preparations can make your Idaho elk hunting trip a success.
Idaho offers varied terrain for elk that includes national forests and wilderness areas. These public areas cover about two-thirds of the state, but some can be difficult to access by foot. Hiring an outfitter for a drop camp, however, can help you access these less-pressured areas of Idaho in search of trophy elk. Drop camps typically will include a horseback ride into the wilderness for a semi-guided or self-guided hunt while staying in wall tents.
More than 150,000 of America's 13 million hunters are Idahoans, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Hayden, Idaho, is located in Idaho's Panhandle in the northern part of the state among thousands of acres of forested land for hunting. Many of the areas known for elk hunting are only accessible on foot or by four-wheeler, according to the North Idaho and Sandpoint Hunting Guide.
Idaho has large quantities of public land that are home to elk herds. The introduction of wolves has impacted herds in different parts of the state, but the areas are isolated and will only affect a small portion of the state. Idaho has a large amount of Wilderness, National Forest and Bureau of Land Management lands that have road and foot access.
Elk hunting with archery equipment is the pinnacle of western big-game hunting. Idaho, with an estimated elk population of 107,000, provides archery elk hunters an excellent opportunity at harvesting a trophy bull. The rough, mountainous terrain ensures a physically challenging hunt making a successful hunt for elk an amazing achievement.
With an estimated elk population of 107,000, hunters make the journey to Idaho every fall in search of one of the most popular big-game animals. Idaho's rough, wide-open terrain is excellent habitat for elk. Bull elk can weigh up to 800 lbs., making the hunt physically and mentally demanding in the rough country. When you consider the number of elk, abundance of hunting land and its generous permit system, Idaho is an excellent state for elk hunting.
Idaho sees thousands of elk hunters every fall, but the difficulty of the hunt leaves many hunters unsuccessful. With elk tags over $400 and poor success, many hunters look into hunting in an elk preserve. In 2007 there were 78 elk ranches and hunting preserves spread throughout the state of Idaho. Hunting elk on a preserve can increase your odds for success while harvesting a trophy bull.
Bow hunters have plenty of room to roam Idaho in search of elk. The Gem State covers more than 83,000 square miles and two-thirds of that is public land. The state also has its Access Yes! program, giving hunters access to and through private property. In 2009, the program opened more than 400,000 acres of private land for sportsmen and provided access to an additional 470,000 acres of public land that is surrounded by private property.
Every winter, deer bucks and elk bulls shed their antlers. Gathering these trophies from the ground is known as "shed hunting." Shed hunting offers outdoorsmen a winter or spring opportunity to take to the field. Most shed hunters use the antlers in craft or home décor projects or sell them to craftsmen for similar projects.
