Spring Scouting for Elk Hunting Success Spring is one of the best times of year to get out in the mountains and scout new areas for the upcoming elk season, which won’t arrive yet for another 5 – 6 months. The air is fresh and invigorating, and as the snow melts it exposes game sign from the previous fall that has been preserved in a deep freeze all winter. Game trails, wallows, rubs, and even some tracks still appear fresh. April 22, 2020By Joe Cavanaugh Announcements, General Information Black Bear Hunts, Drop Camps, Elk Hunts, Guided Hunts, Idaho Hunts, Idaho wilderness hunts, Mule Deer Hunts, Youth Hunts 0 0 Comment Read More »
Wild Idaho Outfitters Welcomes Joe Cavanaugh: Our New Blog Writer If you hadn’t already noticed, Joe’s been writing our blogs since the January 31st post. Cavanaugh comes to us with a wide range of experience in the outdoors, and he’s also a graduate of Boise State University, with a BA in English/writing. He worked professionally as a copywriter for Bass Pro Shops before joining us, and his book “The Jungle Hunter” was published by Safari Press in 2000 (now out of print). Cavanaugh started guiding for Wild Idaho Outfitters in 2013, and he will be guiding for us again this year, full time. April 8, 2020By Monica Oliver Announcements, General Information Black Bear Hunts, Drop Camps, Elk Hunts, Guided Hunts, Idaho Hunts, Idaho wilderness hunts, Mule Deer Hunts, OTC Tags, Over-the-counter Tags, River of No Return, Spring Bear Season, Youth Hunts 0 0 Comment Read More »
Bear Rifles Conversations about bear rifles, or any species-specific rifle, seem to start and end with cartridge selection. There is much more to a rifle however, than the chamber. March 23, 2020By Joe Cavanaugh Fall Bear Season, General Information, Guided Hunts, Spring Fall Black Bear Bear Hunts, Black Bear Hunts, Guided Hunts, Idaho Hunts, Idaho wilderness hunts 0 0 Comment Read More »
The Value of Drop Camps There are three basic strategies for setting up a hunt out West: hunt from an outfitter’s fully-equipped camp with a guide; hunt from an outfitter’s drop camp without a guide; or, organize a full DIY hunt, using your own camp equipment. Drop camps sit smugly between the other two set-ups as far as pros and cons are concerned, and they just might provide you the best overall value of the three. Cost is the primary consideration for most people who choose to hunt from a drop camp. March 1, 2020By Joe Cavanaugh Announcements, Drop Camps, General Information, Guided Hunts Drop Camps, Guided Hunts, Idaho Hunts 0 0 Comment Read More »
Not too soon to start thinking about next year Well, it appears that Idaho has been rediscovered. That can be a good or a bad thing, depending which side of the fence you are standing on. This year’s nonresident tags in the units we guide, Area 27 and 28, sold out in record time and according to the fish and game commission, they seem pretty bent on reducing the amount of nonresident tags available in the future further exacerbating the tag acquisition process. Thankfully and gratefully, we as a licensed Idaho hunting outfitter are allotted a certain amount of guaranteed elk tags and outfitters in general have access to deer tag set asides. July 15, 2019By George McQuiston Announcements, Elk In Rut, Fall Bear Season, General Information, Guided Hunts, Mule Deer, Spring bear season, Wolf Black Bear Hunts, Elk Hunts, Guided Hunts, Idaho Hunts, Mule Deer Hunts 0 0 Comment Read More »
Non-Resident Licenses and Tags Went on Sale December 1st 2016 The word is out and Idaho has been rediscovered as an amazing big game hunting destination as nonresident deer tags and many elk zone tags sold out this year for the first time in about the last 8 years. Hunters are finally realizing that hunting out west does NOT need to be complicated: simply come to Idaho and buy your tags over the counter and go hunting… December 3, 2015By George McQuiston General Information, Guided Hunts Black Bear Hunts, Elk Hunts, Guided Hunts, Mule Deer Hunts 0 0 Comment Read More »
April is the Time to Apply for Trophy Species Bighorn Sheep, Moose and Mountain Goat Beginning April 1 you can apply for what Idaho terms as “trophy species” including bighorn sheep, mountain goat and moose. As much as I disdain having to draw for any hunting opportunity, these 3 species are rare enough that it is impossible to maintain a healthy herd AND offer an over the counter opportunity, so they regulate through a drawing process. The beauty, and yes I did say beauty, of Idaho’s draw...... April 3, 2015By George McQuiston Announcements, General Information, Guided Hunts Guided Hunts 0 0 Comment Read More »
Idaho’s Spring Bear Season Officially Opens Today! Although it has been a mild winter, it still seems like it has been a long one waiting for spring bear season to finally arrive here in Idaho! April 1 is the “official” opener for many of the backcountry units, but in normal years the bears are still comfortably snuggled in their winter beds under feet of snow. April 1, 2015By George McQuiston Announcements, General Information, Guided Hunts, Spring Fall Black Bear Black Bear Hunts, Guided Hunts 0 0 Comment Read More »
Why Hunt Idaho? Short answer. Because you can! Yup, that is the answer, because you can. As a sportsman/hunter first and an outfitter second, I cherish my opportunities to hunt out west and based on what I have discovered in my travels, reading the news and talking to hunters from all over the globe about hunting in “their” states, once again Idaho simply rises to the top as THE best place for an opportunity to hunt…bar none! December 5, 2014By George McQuiston Announcements, Elk In Rut, General Information, Guided Hunts, Mule Deer, Spring Fall Black Bear, Wolf Black Bear Hunts, Elk Hunts, Guided Hunts, Mule Deer Hunts, Wolf Hunts 1 1 Comment Read More »