31 January Today Is the Last Day of Phase 1 in Planning Your 2020 Hunts January 31, 2020By George McQuiston (blog) Announcements, General Information Elk Hunts, Idaho wilderness hunts, Mule Deer Hunts 0 The application deadline for Wyoming controlled-hunt elk tags is at the end of today, January 31st. I’m sure at least some of you remember the days when the only planning you did for an elk tag was stopping by the hardware store to buy it on the way to camp. Sadly, those days are fading fast. Now, just the process of attempting to obtain tags starts in January and lasts into June. Most big game tags in all of our western states have to be applied for and drawn through one system or another. It’s complicated, lengthy, and expensive; but look at the bright side—our country has the game animals to hunt, and there’s a process set up to ensure that we continue to hunt them in the future. After the January 31 deadline for Wyoming elk, we have the following deadlines to watch for: February 28 for Wyoming sheep/moose/goat April 30 for Idaho sheep/moose/goat May 31 for Wyoming deer/antelope June 5 for Idaho elk/deer/antelope And, that’s just 2 states! If you apply in other states, you really must be o high alert for application deadlines. Don’t let any of your deadlines slip by, or you’ll be twiddling your thumbs come fall. Check back periodically throughout the tag-application season for more updates and information on planning your 2020 hunts. Or... you can skip all that application nonsense and come hunting with an OTC tag in Idaho. Some of those OTC tags are already sold out, but most outfitters have guaranteed elk tags and set-aside OTC deer tags, but each year they are selling out faster and faster. So, hedge your hunting bets by putting in for your draw tags in other states and seriously consider obtaining an Idaho OTC tag. I can hear it now, "What if I buy an Idaho OTC tag and draw in another state?" Well, that one is easy... go hunting twice. Good hunting, Joe Cavanaugh Related Posts To Celebrate our 15th Anniversary we are offering 15% off 2020 Hunts! As I came off the mountain from our final hunt this year, I began reflecting on the past 15 seasons here in Idaho and realized a few things: 1) this was by far our most successful season to date, and 2) we have been outfitting here now for 15 seasons! That must be some sort of celebratory milestone, right? As I hit the “reality zone” where I get to see the mail that has piled up, the emails I have missed for the past 2 months and that fuel jumped 50 cents per gallon, I got to see all the ways you and I get to pay more for so many things next year including Idaho nonresident hunting licenses and tags, property taxes, fuel, etc. I thought to myself, “Something has to give and maybe it can start with me.” 2020 Idaho Spring Bear Season Means Bear Baiting Season as Well! With the official opener of Idaho’s 2020 backcountry spring bear seasons just about 1 month away, now is the time to get prepared by getting your bear bait at an affordable price while supplies last. There are a lot of places to get bear bait, but only one place that can sell it as affordably priced as this. All our baits are priced at 20 cents per pound and are packaged in manageable sized packing from 35-pound buckets of peanut butter to 30 pound boxes of jellied candies. Happy New Year 2020 As we say goodbye to 2019, we hope that your year is ending on a positive note. Ours is because of the new friends we made and the old friends we got to see again in hunting camps, and we look forward to seeing again come spring or fall 2020. We hope that your holidays have been blessed with good times, good friends, good food and making good memories. “Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to Me” or “Preseason Hunt Planning Part 1!” Even though this sounds directed to me and possibly self-serving, it is anything but that. If it were about me, I would be posing on this rig taking a big smiling selfie to tell the world how wonderful I am. Well, I assure you, there ain’t nothin’ sexy about a 54 year old chubby guy climbing up on his new elliptical trying to shed a few of those post hunting, pre- and post-Holiday calories, so all you get to see is an empty elliptical as a symbol of potential for memories to be made. Just like our public lands stand as a symbol to that same ideal. It is honestly directed towards all of us who find ourselves somewhat vertically challenged and girth blessed with each New Year’s Day that passes and wonder if we are alone in this journey from “healthy” holiday sofa surfer to healthy mountain man/explorer looking to scale that peak ahead to look for a trophy animal on the other side. 10 Reasons Why Idaho is THE Best Place to Hunt in the West in 2014 1. Tags…Idaho has tags 2. Game…Idaho has always, and is doing even more so now, producing good QUALITY elk, deer and bear, and now we can even hunt wolves. Time to put in for some Idaho Spring Controlled Hunts Most people know my passion for Idaho is the fact we have over the counter (OTC) tags, but in certain areas and with certain species controlled hunts are needed for better control of wildlife management. Now is the time to put in for Idaho spring bear controlled hunts…that is if you are not choosing to hunt a general season area. Comment (0) Comments are closed.