In regards to hunting options. Time you can spend in the woods etc. Seems like there is a lot of game but tags are minimal. You can shoot one deer in Idaho per year it looks; have to get drawn to hunt all over the place etc. Just looking for opinions.

thanks,

Kendall

In Idaho, you can hunt with your deer tag in most any unit-there are some with draw only, but a LOT of opportunity for deer.  For your elk tag, you have to specify your hunting area at the time of purchase.  Kind of a bummer, but there are excellent over the counter options for them; especially for bow hunting.  Most units for elk archery only season is August 30 to Sept 30 and rifle starts after that.

Also, you can be in the city working/living and into some really good hunting country in a pretty short amount of time.  Just my $.02

Jeremy

Eastern Washington has lots of open deer and elk units for archers.  Good hunting and lots of territory to do it in.

I vote for western montana.  I grew up there and I was too young to realize what I had.  Oh wait, I couldn't drive yet but it's a very diverse area.

All the above! Don't forget Oregon!!   :D

Outdoor Life just ran their best places to live for hunting, fishing, median cost for housing etc. If you do not have the issue (Ju/July) might still be on sale. It depends on what you like to hunt. Elk pop. are way down in areas where wolves populations are high. Probably best to do some research on that issue.

I'd second looking into oregon.

Any of the above would be great. I'm partial to Idaho myself.

Depends on what you like to do/hunt.  Pm me if you want more info/opinion on WA hunting, can't really speak for the other states.

Good luck with your choice,

Dan

I'd say Montana, as a resident you can draw the tougher tags there. Idaho and Washington have more over the counter tags so if you don't draw the premium tags in Montana go west young man (short drive to Idaho and eastern Washington). I think the bitterroot valley is beautiful and has a bit of a micro climate so it's not as cold as some of the more eastern parts. It also borders the Bitterroot wilderness that is accessed by foot or horse only and it is a giant!!!!

It won't be long here in the Bitterroot that the only thing you'll be able to hunt are wolves.  The outfitters in the West Fork are asking the Fish and Game to close elk hunting there due to lack of elk.  I regularly hear wolves from my house...6 miles from the center of town.

River bottom hunting is still okay, but it is all private land and access is tough.

Tree-hugging Judge Malloy is supposed to rule this week on wolves.  Hopefully, they will increase the quota, but stop and think about it, we can hunt, trap, and whatever coyotes, no limit, no season yet there is not any shortage.  Wolves are at least as smart, twice as fast and have a broader range of prey.  You could have open season on them year-round and not dent the population.

Of course, they are moving into Colorado, Washington and Oregon, so this pox will be on all of the Northwest eventually.

Myself and a few buddies got Idaho elk, bear and deer tags back in 86. Got a guide we had used the yr before to scout the area we were going into all summer. Sent him money to buy everything we'd need to stay a couple wks in the Sellway Bitteroot Wilderness. He bought everything to outfit an outfitter. Pack saddles, one big wall tent, two small ones, cots..everything. Then rented 10 horses somewhere in Montana. We drove up to Darby, Mt. drove to the trail head, got on our horses and rode into Idaho. Beautiful country, if I was going to move up there it would be somewhere in Mt. and hunt both states.