Selway Bitteroot?

[razorback]

Still weighing my options and looking for a state. Talked to my cousin today, he had written off 2014. I think he may be interested in going this year. If so he wants to get out of CO. Too late to for anything but OTC. I had been considering Selway just because it looks like you can get away from hunters. My question is are there a decent amount of elk in that area? Any advice for planning a DIY in that region?

[BrentLaBere]

Many people on here have talked about getting away from pressure in CO. A few things I have picked up on lurking from their threads.
1. You dont have to back pack in to get away from people.
2. Do not park on trail heads. Find access in hard to get to pockets and you will find less pressure.
3. You dont have to look WAY up top for elk. There plenty down low.

This is for starters.

[Backcountry]

The Selway-Bitterroot is a gorgeous place but does not offer much in the way of elk hunting. The country is deep and brutal. Unless you have horses it could end up being quite a chore to pull an elk out. Along with that, the populations are just not that high in comparison to a few years ago. Take in mind, these have been my observations of the Montana side. Personally, I would look elsewhere.

If you do end up there take a Bear tag!

[Indian Summer]

Are you considering hunting the Montana side of the wilderness or the Idaho side? As you know I have lots of info on Montana. But the Selway is one place where I have some in Idaho too since it's just "over the hill" from us.

Backcountry is right with his post but there are still a few in there and you only need one right? But I will tell you this: I sold a Montana hunt plan to a hunter who had some experience over there. He even killed an elk over there. He also knew his way around the Montana side some but still knew the value of a good plan to start with. You can still get licenses in both Montana and Idaho. You can start gun hunting in Idaho on September 15th too which is nice. But honestly... I'd pass on the Selway. You can find better.

[razorback]

Thanks for the advice against the Selway, did some reading on other website and about talked myself out of it. Any other areas in Idaho anybody would recommend? The Southeast portion appears to still have decent numbers and possibly the west side of the state.

[Indian Summer]

You know you can still get Montana licenses right? I don't personally know any other places in Idaho. Good luck with your search.

[Ghost]

I used to hunt the Selway/Frank Church wilderness'es. I dont anymore, that should tell you something. From my perspective, while there still are elk there, there are a heck of alot easy, less demanding places with alot more elk. Last time I hunted it in 2006 I hunted 8 days, covered 6-8 miles a day and saw exactly 3 fresh sets of elk tracks (2 calves and a cow), I did see fresh wolf sign everywhere, in fact ran into 5 of them. Now Im not saying you cant kill elk there, but like another poster said, its downright brutal sometimes to get them out. My friends that hunted the selway for over 30 years stopped hunting there in 2009, and that is where they "elk" hunted, their words, we dont even bother, and they have horses.

[BrentLaBere]

that should teach me a lesson on not paying attention......sorry about that.
Read it really quick, only to see CO...