Idaho Panhandle

[hike2hunt]

Good Day All,

Quick background - my wife's wonderful niece has put her wedding right smack in the middle of WA Archery Elk Season (Sept 16). And the wedding will be up near Spokane, WA. I mostly hunt within two hours of my home in Camas, WA. I Spoke to the wife and was given the go ahead to hunt Idaho. I would hunt WA, but I don't want the Eastern Tag, as I prefer to come back and hunt the Wetside during late season.

My plan is to leave here the 5th and hunt until the 15th. I will purchase all tags I am allowed (including wolf), and I have some general questions.

I will hunting GMU 1 up above the Priest Lake area, on the western side of the lakes, unless someone throws out a better general area. I am map pornographer, really enjoy putting a plan together.

My questions are as follows:

1. Is there a large predator threat? Meaning more bears, wolves, etc then game to chase?

2. Doing a weather historical look, there is the possibility of snow that early in September. Any truth to this?

3. I will be going solo (as it stands). I have invited my hunting partner, and he will not commit as his work schedule is hectic. So if there is someone out there that would like to share a camp, your more then welcome to tag along. My camp is drug free (minus ibuprofen), an occasional celebratory beverage. My objectives are to hunt, enjoy beautiful scenery well being challenged by mother nature, tell tall stories, and recharge my battery, with the hopes of engaging a very large, tasty animal.

Quick background of me.

I am a retired Marine of 27 plus years, born and raised in Colorado, starting hunting everything at a very early age. I have hunted VA, OR, WA, CO, CA and NV and had success in all. My routine is to hike and hunt a couple of days, then tree stand a day or two (the USMC to a toll on my back and hips).

If you want to tag along from back east or such. I have enough gear and equipment to outfit small army, I have a wall tent, cots, stoves, sleeping systems, etc.

I do carry a satellite communication during (off the grid trips) and my wife can deal with about any crisis. So I won't bail out of camp early (unless there is a death in the family) and then it kinda of depends who it is. ...just kidding.

Also I was born the last year of the 60's.

Any way look forward to your replies, interests and such.

Semper Fi Eric
SgtMaj USMC Ret.

[NorthIDTLH]

Hey I live in the area you're talking about. I've done some exploring. My experience is there are a few grizzlies and some wolves in there. I wouldn't think you would see too much snow, and there are elk in the area. I'd suggest carrying a bear defense option of some kind, but being observant and giving them a wide area of travel will minimize your bear concerns.

My step son is currently in San Diego at basic, so I'm new to the Marines world. We're proud of him, just don't know much about it. I will send you my cell # so if you have any more questions or if I can help you out, just call or text.

[hike2hunt]

Thanks for the reply. I will certainly give you a call as my questions arise. The area looks phenomenal. Such great country to live in.

Congratulations on your son, and welcome to the Marine Corps family. If I can answer any questions please let me know.

[wawhitey]

Put in for multi elk in wa? If you draw that you dont have to choose east / west. Just a thought.

[WapitiTalk1]

Eric, your wife's niece's husband must not be a hunter. Who plans a wedding smack dab in the middle of elk archery season, lol . 5-15 SEP is a good time to be in the N ID elk woods (herding up action is going in earnest and its a great time to call a mud caked bull in). I'm not familiar with the area you speak of (I hunt a bit farther south in the handle) but have heard good things about GMU 1. Yep, there are bound to be big dogs there which can be pesky but I'm slowly realizing that they don't necessarily run elk out of the areas, perhaps make them a bit more reserved about sounding off though. I would imagine there may be some grizz there but couldn't say for sure. I grew up in NW MT and although I live in WA a few hours north of you, I still hunt either MT or ID each fall due to the less than stellar early elk archery season WA gives us and have never (knock on wood) had any unfortunate encounters with the big bears. I remember some SEP snow many years ago in MT in the elk woods but can't remember any accumulation over the past years I've hunted. The weather throughout SEP in N ID/NW MT is usually hot and dry (with some odd ball years that get rain/wind storms). Congrats on your retirement from Uncle Sam (I'm a retired Army 1SG myself). Best of luck in your planning, prep, and execution of your ID elk assault mission this SEP! RJ

[Texasgamehunter]

I am new to the western hunting and would jump at this chance of it wasn't so far a drive from Texas. But I'm not new to the Marine clan as those were some of the best years of my life. Semper Fi and good luck

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[hike2hunt]

Thanks for the replies. Work has me swamped.


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[bracer40]

Hike2,

I'd like to stay in touch with you as we get closer to The Summer. I've reached the point where I want to commit to chasing Bulls. I've had some nice success killing cows in E WA from tree stands.some that took an hour & a couple thousand feet of elevation to get to. I love pushing myself, but really want to have the thrill of challenging a bull in his stomping grounds.

I suspect I might need to break away from some of my hunting partners in WA who have different goals which might put me into a solo hunt situation. I haven't nailed down a zone or even a unit within Idaho yet, but want to keep my options open.

I also have the gear and fitness to do day hunts of 3-4 miles. Prefer to hunt from a base camp, but I'm open to carrying camp on my back with the right partner.. Born in 59....

[hike2hunt]

Sounds good bracer40


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