Idaho Controlled Hunts

[Peskadot]

Good Morning everyone,

Since I found out that I'll be moving to Spokane in December, I have started looking into hunting elk in Idaho. I've been knee deep in Idaho's regs and management plan for the past week, however I have some questions that im hoping someone on here could answer...and maybe keep this an ongoing thread that i (or anyone else) could refer back to in the future.

1st Question.
What is the significance of the Controlled Elk Hunts from a bowhunters perspective? Are these hunts geared more towards rifle/muzzy hunters?

2nd Question.
From a bowhunters perspective, is it better to just buy OTC tags so you can be in the woods during the month of sept?

3rd Question.
With an OTC you are allowed to hunt every unit within the Elk zone in which your tag is designated for, but with a Controlled hunt tag you are confinded to a particular unit. Is this correct?

Also keep in mind, I am a non-res if that matters..

Thanks in advance..

[Rizzy]

1) not much, I think they are geared more towards rifle. You can archery hunt a lot of areas during the rut with OTC tags. The benefit of the controlled hunts is that they are in zones managed for better age class.

2) Yes, but I would still put my name in the hat for a hunt in one of the trophy units while I'm at it, unless you are putting in for a OIL hunt.

3)Correct

[Peskadot]

Okay, so if you have an OTC tag for an Elk zone, that doesnt mean that all the units within that elk zone are actually open. Some units within Elk zones are not open through the general season and only through controlled hunts. If they are open during the general season, then its usually for antlerless elk and the only way to get a bull tag is through the draw... is this correct?

[FemoralArchery]

Most OTC archery hunts for deer and elk are either sex.

[Duck-Slayer]

Most OTC archery hunts for deer and elk are either sex.

Adam.... your everywhere...... i'm still laughing about that video from last night.... hilarious.... and he is right, most OTC deer/elk are either sex... you can hunt any zone on your elk tag.... I think there is just as good or better hunting in the OTC elk units than the controlled hunts, maybe not trophy wise but definitely in numbers, I have only hunted OTC for elk and it's been great, i've hunted 3 different units and all had good elk hunting.... even with the wolves... just have too adapt and overcome....
Matt

[IdahoKel]

Hey Peskadot. Are you mainly looking at the panhandle, since that's closest to you? I'm familiar with the hunts in these parts, but not as much in the rest of the state.

1) Controlled hunts are rifle unless otherwise noted. So yes, you could say that they are more geared toward rifle hunters. Many controlled hunts are depredation hunts, which are antlerless only rifle hunts. We really only have one of those here in the panhandle, and the draw odds are not good, because it's basically a slam dunk hunt, and it contains a lot of public land. Everyone wants one. It seems to me like most depredation hunts in the rest of the state contain very little public land.

2) This is not really the case here. Most of the controlled hunts in the panhandle units have exactly the same dates and rules as the OTC tags, except that you get the full archery season that an OTC A-tag gets, and the full rifle season that an OTC B-tag gets, AND it's either-sex from start to finish -- whereas OTC tags are bulls only in the panhandle since 2012. The one and only drawback is that you are restricted to whichever unit you apply for.

3) Correct.

If you get to know one of these units very well, and you're ok with harvesting a cow, I'd seriously consider applying for one of these tags. The drawing odds are also very good. Unless you have access to private land, I would not recommend applying for units 2 or 5. 5 does hold a lot of elk but is all private, save for a few isolated, small tracts of state land. 2 is actually not a great unit in general; I would only hunt there if I knew someone with land that I knew for a fact consistently had a lot of elk on it.

Okay, so if you have an OTC tag for an Elk zone, that doesnt mean that all the units within that elk zone are actually open. Some units within Elk zones are not open through the general season and only through controlled hunts.

This is true in some zones. The regs will say which units are open for what.

If they are open during the general season, then its usually for antlerless elk and the only way to get a bull tag is through the draw... is this correct?

It seems to me like it's actually the other way around. Usually a unit is either-sex, or it's bulls only, and the only way to get an antlerless is through a draw. In the panhandle we have no OTC cow season anymore.

[Peskadot]

Thanks for the insight.. I plan on hunting throughout Idaho, even though I am closer to Units 1 & 2.

I may even take up residence in CDA. Although that will be a good drive to Fairchild AFB ever morning.
Im still doing research on Idaho regs, as well as the different hunts and units..So im unsure as to where i'll be hunting..