Idaho Elk Deer and Wolf Hunt - Self Guided on Very Productive Ranch

[Rock Knocker]

Two rifle elk hunts available this fall (2013) on private grounds set aside for hunting only. About a square mile of huntable land with tent or cabin accomodations provided. The land is private land on an Indian reservation in northern Idaho an hours drive from Spokane Washington or 45 minutes from Coeur d'Alene Idaho. Flight to Spokane are on a regular basis. The property is around 4,000 to 4,900 feet above sea level with temperatures during the hunting season running about freezing or 32 degrees F at night to the 60-70's during the day.

Camp is primative but drinking water is available on lower 80 acres at well. Cover includes dark timber, mixed hardwood and evergreen cover and bottoms with creek. Rifles, 4x4, trailer and ATV available for rent. a walk in cooler to hang meet and processing facilities available nearby.

Moose are abundant but tags are gone for this year. Over the counter elk tags are available after purchasing non-resident hunting licence for $154.75 USD. Non-resident anterlered elk and deer cost $416.75 and 301.75 respectively. Bear and wolf tags are available and do frequent the property. Non-resident bear tags cost $186.00 and the wolf tags are $31.75. Grizzlys are known to frequent the mountain on the property in the heavy timber so if you are bear hunting make sure you can tell the difference as they are protected from hunting. Turkeys and ruffed grouse abound on the property with turkey tags available for another $80.00. There is also an opportunity to apply for any left over cow elk or doe deer tags after August 5th through 15th. This will be for area 5-1 and 5-2 (see the Idaho Fish and Game website).

The panhandle of Idaho has one of the largest elk herds in the states due to selective cutting of timber by the paper companies. This cutting of thick timber enables forage to develop that is not in the timber and with the seasonal rains, the succession vegetation grows very quick. the is a swath of such cutting area on a mountain part of the property where 3 elk were taken in the opening minutes of the season two years ago. While trophy racks are seen for elk, most of the mature bulls will be will average 5 points (each side). The deer, however, sport large racks because they are rarely hunted and the forage is excellent.

Game tags are available 20 miles away in the small town of St. Maries where a well equipped sportshop is located with everything that you might forget to bring. These can also be purchased by credit card at the Idaho Fish and Game site with a credit card. Idaho Fish and Game - Home Page Two supermarkets are also there in St. Maries for food and other supplies as are several hotels for the city folks.

There has been high success on elk and deer in past years. The property hasn't been hunted last year as owner was in Tanzania. The basic accomodation is a very large wall tent with wood burning stove that can sleep 6 comfortably and the hunting cabin holds 6 but is more comfortable with 4. Both come equipped with cots tables, chairs, water supplies, cooking stove and kitchenware. You will be expected to provide your own food, sleeping bags and hunting attire.

The camp will be limited to a single group of hunters per hunt to ensure a quality experience. The total cost for the hunt, including a $1000 refundable damage deposit is $12,500 plus your licenses for the tent camp or $15,000 for the cabin hunt. This is for the entire group up to six people (includes non-hunters). If your group of 6 or less would like both the cabin and tent (separate areas), the combination is available fo $20,000 hunt. The first season or hunt runs from Oct 10th through 22nd and the second season or separate hunt runs from Oct 25th to 29th when there is a better chance for snow on the ground and elk yarding up. While in actuality the first elk tag (A) lasts until the 24th, we believe in letting the property settle down a couple of days prior to the second hunt or elk tag (B). Deer season will run concurrently with both seasons but you may only hunt during the prescribed elk hunt on this property to be fair to the second party.

There are ground blinds, tree or elevated stands on the property in some of the better hunting locations. The owner or ranch hand will greet you and show you around the property when you arrive. There is a location on and off the property to sight in your guns. You can rent either scoped or non-scope rifles for $50 per day. This includes two boxes of ammo but you can get more in town. The 4x4 and trailer rents for $100/day with a negotiable damage deposit or proff of insurance. The ATV rents for $75 per day but you are encouraged only to use it to haul game to ensure a quality hunt for all.

A non-refundable deposit of 50% must be made to reserve either the A hunt or B hunt. Remember this is a self-guided hunt otherwise you would be paying 5 times this amount.

There are many other details that will be provided when you make an inquiry including pictures and maps. This is a unique opportunity to enjoy a quality hunt in country where you don't need to be in top physical condition to see and hopefully shoot quality game. Please call and leave a message at +1 208 582 0841 (PST) for Sean. :elch:

 

[gillettehunter]

My first question is how have the wolves impacted the deer and elk. In the Lolo area which is not far from your advertised hunt the elk herd is reported to be down by 70% due to wolf predation. Bad enough they have used helicopters to shoot some wolves. What was the success rate for elk 2 years ago when the property was last hunted? 1 square mile roughly. So about 640 acres of ground. Does it attach to National forest or is it surrounded by private property? How many elk commonly use that property during the hunting season? How much pressure is there on the surrounding property? Thanks Bruce

 

[Rock Knocker]

Thank you Bob for your questions. I have addressed each question in bold below.

My first question is how have the wolves impacted the deer and elk. In the Lolo area which is not far from your advertised hunt the elk herd is reported to be down by 70% due to wolf predation. Bad enough they have used helicopters to shoot some wolves.

The Benewah area herd where my ranch is located is about 10 times larger that what the herd used to be in the Lolo area. The worst elk predation proximal to Benewah is about 20 miles due east and southeast on the St. Joe National forest around the headwaters of the St. Joe. There have been observations of wolf packs taking down adult elk. Two years ago we observed two wolves on the property but no evidence of any kills. In the past two years our whitetail population has tripled suggesting to me that my neighboring ranchers are shooting any wolf they see. Fish and game reported a grizzly atop my mountain and generally the wolves and grizzlies are non-compatible. This is thought to be one of the reasons for the wolf migration from Yellowstone. But as we know, the range of wolf packs can be 10's of miles per year. In 2011, the number of tags one could buy for $35 (non-resident) is 5 per year. Idaho is on a quest for complete eradication of the wolves which is fine by me. In short we have seen no impacts according to my ranch hand from any wolf predation. He must know as he grazes many horses on the property during the summer months.

What was the success rate for elk 2 years ago when the property was last hunted?

In 2011, my ranch hand, myself and two others all took our elk in a few days of hunting. Last year my ranch hand was the only hunter on the property and he shot one near his horse barn.

1 square mile roughly. So about 640 acres of ground. Does it attach to National forest or is it surrounded by private property?

This land is patented in fee land on the south end of the Coeur d' Alene Indian Reservation. I have never seen and Indian hunt in this part of the reservation although they do monitor cutthroat trout on Alder Creek that flows on the lower part of my property. In actuality surrounding my property is Potlach Paper land that had been clear cut several years ago that the elk frequent. This only borders a corner of my property. On two sides are very thick timber that are basically impossible to traverse without difficulty. The elk use this protective cover to bed down. About 200 acres of my property had be logged almost 50 years ago. Many mature spruce and balsam were left and except for scattered skid roads, the area filled in with deciduous trees and evergreens. The reason the elk like my property is this is where they feed when they come out of the dark timber. if there is any pressure on the Potash ground where the herds also cross, they generally come right onto my property.

How many elk commonly use that property during the hunting season?

Its been my experience during rifle season that on a typical day you will see 15-20 elk. However this number varies as a function of weather and the timing of the rut. There is a resident herd of 30 to 50 elk that hang on the property all year as this is where they calve. With the wet bottoms, the good cover and ample browse they will definitely stick around during your hunt unless you chase elk like many poor hunters do. We have 5 strategically placed blinds or tree stands on the property where we have game cameras. If the moon is out, there will be a lot of activity at night and early morning but we see elk through the day. Two things that we recommend is no target shooting in the hunting areas and no fires at the upper cabin during hunting season. However, it is not unusual to see elk while chain-sawing or even when my ranch hand runs his generator or tractor down below the prime hunting area for elk. The whitetails on the other hand tend to favor the overgrown pasture along the creek down below the mountain. Normally the moose are found there as well but this year I see that they are wandering all over the property. Unfortunately there are no moose tags left for Area 5, but there may be leftover cow tags that went on sale on August 5th. Bull tags and whitetail tags can be bought anytime on the internet or in St. Maries about 12 miles from the property.

How much pressure is there on the surrounding property?

Our best hunting area or about 200 acres is well posted. If I am hunting there or have other hunters, the only pressure that occurs is from the occasional road hunter driving across the Potach clear cut. If one stations them selves on this strip of about 1000 feet on part of the property, any hunters drive the elk right to you. My ranch hand said that a hunter last year shot a five point that wandered on the property and asked permission to access my locked gates. We are not so sure that the elk fled to the property after being shot or the hunter crossed my posted fence as no one was hunting on the property at that time. Any of the hunters who hunt the Potash track are locals and I do not allow anyone else on the property until we fill our tags. I will be there during archery season this year and will have a much better perspective as to the elk movement prior to the first rifle season. I did not hunt it last year as I was in Tanzania at during the Idaho season

I am getting a fair amount of interest in both of the hunts so if you are truly interested in a quality self guided hunt with the amenities of the best guided hunts, you might consider booking soon.

All the best,

Sean aka "Rock Knocker" :huntingrifle: :elch:

 

[gillettehunter]

I was a little suspecious of your offer. That was my main reason for the questions. I will admit that I liked your answers. They were forthright and well explained. Sounds like someone actually hunting should readily have an opportunity to kill an elk. Best of luck on selling this hunt. Bruce