Elk Hunting in Idaho
ELK HUNTS: $5,800 or PACK IN $6500
Rifle - 7 Days: October 10 - October 24 These are 2-on-1 Hunts. If you would like a 1-on-1 guide service, add $1000.
Archery - 7 Days: August 31 - September 30 These are 2-on-1 Hunts. If you would like a 1-on-1 guide service, add $1000.
PLEASE NOTE ARCHERY HUNTERS: You will need to have previously bow hunted with proof of a previous tag/license, or you will need to take an online archery class before you can get a tag. You can get more info here: https://www.bowhunter-ed.com/idaho/
Bitterroot Mountain Outfitters, Inc was featured in an elk hunting film. Watch it below!
Idaho Elk Archery Hunts:
We will first start with Archery Elk Season. The season runs from August 31-September 30. To do this hunt in Idaho, you must have proof that you have bow hunted before. If you have already bow hunted in Idaho, it is not a problem. If you have not, you will need a copy of an old tag or license stating that you have been bow hunted in that state. Otherwise, you will need to take an Archery class in person or online. You will need to send us proof that you took the class and passed prior to us buying your hunting license and elk tag. https://www.bowhunter-ed.com/idaho/
Bow hunts out of our base camp.
We get up around 4 am, have breakfast, and then get our gear together to head out on foot with a guide. (A sack lunch will be provided for you to take on your hunt.) You will walk approximately 6 to 10 miles to a scouted area. You will walk through thick brush up in mountainous areas on and off the trails. The area is a steep climb up and a steep walk down. This is a challenging hunt in terms of terrain. You need to be in shape, and not just body-wise, but lung-wise. You will need to have your lungs in shape to hold your air climbing up and down the mountain. The elevation is anywhere from 3900 to 6900 feet, depending on where we take you. Having good lung strength will be such a plus on your hunt.
The guide(s) who take you out will use their bugling and cow-calling skills to call the elk in and get them to answer. One of the most essential parts of Archery Elk Hunting is that your bow is sighted into 30 yards, and practice, practice, practice!
Listen to your guide so he can direct you where he wants to go. Try to be as quiet as possible when walking through the forest. Try to make sure your clothing is as scent-free as possible.
If you get an elk, you can track it together with the guide. Once you find it, he will gut, skin, and quarter it to pack it out. It may take a few trips. Make sure you have elk bags and a cooler with you at camp. We can direct you to a place in town for cold storage until you are ready to go home. If, for some reason, you cannot find the elk, your trip is over. We have a one-and-done policy.
We do not process the meat or hide. We can, however, make some suggestions for local processors and taxidermists. How it gets there is up to you.
Idaho Elk Rifle Hunts:
Second is rifle season. We hunt in units 7, 9, and 10. It runs from October 10-24. We also get up early, at 4 or 5 am, with rifle hunts. We have breakfast and get our gear ready to head out on the horses. (A sack lunch will be provided for you to take on your hunt.) The wranglers prepare the horses by feeding and watering them first. They then saddle them and finish getting them ready. Our rifle hunts are mostly on horseback in the backcountry, but not every time, as this depends on where the elk are and their accessibility. It is up to a 12-mile ride in, and while we have good horses, listening to your guide wrangler about handling your horse will ensure a safe ride for everyone and our stock. The trails can be narrow, so doing what the wrangler/guide says is critical, both on and off your horse. Once you have reached the designated area, you will get off your horse and walk in.
The guides will bugle during the first 10 days or so with rifle hunting. Ensure your rifle is sighted in 300 to 600 yards—again, practice! Listen to your guide so he can direct you where he wants you to go. Try to be as quiet as possible when going through the woods, and make sure you are scent-free—clothing, body, etc.
As in Archery, being in shape is essential, and not just body-wise, but your lungs also need to be in shape. Practice walking uphill and downhill with a pack on your back until you can do it without a lot of huffing and puffing.
If you get an elk, you can track it together with the guide. Once you find it, he will gut, skin, and quarter it to pack it out. It may take a few trips. Make sure you have elk bags and a cooler with you at camp. We can direct you to a place in town for cold storage until you are ready to go home. If you plan on flying into either Missoula or the Spokane airport, you will have to make arrangements to either store your meat at the local butcher or make arrangements to fly the antlers and meat home. Be sure to check with your airline regarding their specific flight policies pertaining to flying those items to your hometown. If, for some reason, you cannot find the elk, deer, or bear, your trip is over. We have a one-and-done policy.
We do not process the meat or animal hide. We can, however, make some suggestions.
Embark on a thrilling 7-day elk hunting adventure (1 day traveling in, 5-day hunt, and then 1 day traveling out) with Bitterroot Mountain Outfitters, Inc. Whether you prefer rifle or archery hunts, our guided and unguided options ensure you have an unforgettable experience in the great outdoors. Book your elk hunt now and get ready for an adventure of a lifetime.
