Idaho or Colorado

[TurkeyBowMaster]

My preference is to hunt Montana again but I am not sure if there are any leftover licenses there. Southern Colorado is another option and is a lot closer drive and I am considering idaho as another option. Wondering what you guys thin?

[Brendan]

Big game combos and Elk combos are currently still available in Montana.

[NorthIDTLH]

What are you looking to hunt? Where are you coming from?

[TurkeyBowMaster]

I am hunting elk and coming from Alabama. Southern Colorado would be a day closer drive, but I should have around 17 days off work do driving an extra day to get into better hunting would not be an issue. Already having hunted Montana and having killed there it will be hard not to go back to b e same area, which could be a mistake. I did not hear but 2 elk bugle and did not see many when hunting there before. I know from years of turkey hunting that getting hung up hunting a poor spot is not nearly as productive as shopping around and finding better areas. With elk I have not learned the difference in a bad spot and a good one.

What is an acceptable amount of bulging you would need to hear before settling in on an area. This if for diy public.

[Indian Summer]

Steve, you know there are elk in all of the Rocky Mountain states just like there are turkeys all over the place. A lot of it comes down to where you prefer to hunt. Some people take into consideration how far the drive is. I don't. Lots of people have heard me say "The longest drive is the one home with no elk in the coolers" The best one is the one with a rack in the rear view.

There is a lot to be said for having experience in an area. So my advice would be to go back where you hunted before and pick up where you left off. There are elk there. You have confirmed that. A word of wisdom would be to not walk away from elk once you find them. That bull you killed has a dad you know. Go try to kill him. I've been in areas I know for sure were good spots and for whatever reason had really quiet weeks. So I wouldn't let that stop me. Go learn the area in more detail and I bet you will gain more confidence in it and then become more successful there.

But also pick out some nearby spots in advance and at some point go hunt them and see what happens. To go with the flow when it comes to elk it is always good to have options and be mobile. That's why a lot of guys don't pack in but instead base camp in a wall tent. You can jump in the truck and bail off the road in other inconspicuous spots and have new fresh country to hunt. So one thing I would do is to expand on my area while I was there.

[TurkeyBowMaster]

That sounds like some solid advice Indian Summer and if license are available as Brendan says then I will just hit Montana again. The one way elk are much different than turkey is in a 2 week hunt I would cover 3 or 4 states which gives me the feeling of accomplishing more in terms of finding great areas. Sometimes I wish there were 2 or 3 of me...one to scout, one to hunt, and one to go after the big ones.