26 May Are You Going Hunting this Year? May 26, 2014By George McQuiston General Information 1 By now most of you should have gotten that “lump of coal” we call the draw results for our western big game hunting adventures. That hope of drawing for that “special” tag we seem to continually wait for. If your results looked like mine and read “unsuccessful” for all species applied, don’t lose hope. I know I have said it a lot and am saying it again…Idaho is the best kept secret in the hunting world today. There are still over the counter tags available, large tracts of wilderness landscape allowing for complete solitude away from the crowds, liberal and lengthy seasons and to the best of my knowledge, one of the only states around where you can hunt a “combo” hunt. You can hunt elk, deer, bear and even wolf and lion all at the same time so you can really stretch that hunting dollar. Trophies you ask? Idaho has been producing big bucks, bulls and boars for years and will always continue to do so. They may require a long horseback ride or a backcountry flight to find, but they are there and each year some real trophies are harvested in this great state! So if you are tired of thinking “unsuccessful” is actually a hunting season, why don’t you slip on over to Idaho and let’s go hunting! Related Posts Are you going hunting this year? Most draws are out by now, I know that Idaho just came out with theirs and some people were lucky enough to draw that coveted controlled hunt tag, but as usual, most saw that ugly old “unsuccessful” word in their email or mail. If you were one of the unlucky ones and still want to hunt (hopefully that is everyone that reads this), there are still possibilities in Idaho. I know that we have just a few guided mule deer opportunities available along with some combo opportunities for elk, deer, bear and wolf on a DIY drop camp. Nonresidents Must Apply for Formerly OTC Tags this Year in Idaho Seems the only constant in life is change and that adage seems to hold especially true in the hunting world. It seems to me that meetings are held and changes made “just because” every year and this year is no different! Starting today, December 5, 2025, nonresidents who want to hunt elk and deer in formerly OTC units will need to apply for those tags. The application period runs from December 5 to 15, 2025 with results being posted in early January 2026. 2010 Idaho Hunting Season Comes to a Close Hunting season in Idaho’s backcountry unit 27 comes to an official close on November 18 and this year the snow began to roll in about then. So after 2 days of packing out camp it was time to chain up and haul livestock over the pass to winter quarters and begin the drying out of tents, tack and equipment. Riding in to pack camp after the last hunter leaves is always sort of a bitter sweet journey. “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. Hunting Application Season is in Full Swing It seems like hunting has evolved from planning an outdoor excursion with your family and friends that revolves around a hunting camp full of close friends and family to an exercise in becoming a Vegas odds statistician so you have the best chance at even drawing a tag. Gone are the “good old days” Bear Hunting with Our Next Generation I had an exceedingly refreshing hunting experience this past spring-bear season. In camp we had 2 youths; one was a 12-year-old boy, Austin, who was hunting with his father, the other was my 18-year-old daughter, Suzy, who was our camp cook. Comment (1) George,<br /><br />You hit the nail on the head! I went 0-4 here in Colorado. I have preference points and did not make any mistakes on my applications. No tag for bear, sheep, deer or elk. I am now conscripted to leftover tags for undesirable units. This fall should be fun.<br /><br />Dan 12 years ago Comments are closed.