(13 customer reviews)

Idaho Elk Hunting Trips

Our Idaho outfitters offers a wide variety of backcountry and wilderness elk hunts, as well as lodge-based hunts on private land. Most Idaho elk hunting trips are combos for mule deer, black bear, mountain lions, whitetail deer and wolves.

Why you should consider elk hunting in Idaho:

  • Idaho is blessed with lots of good units with over-the-counter tags, and we have access to outfitter allocated tags that can guarantee you a great tag in controlled units without drawing.
  • Did you know that in Idaho your deer tag can be used for a mountain lion or black bear?
  • Elk hunting in Idaho has the potential for solid, mature bulls. A good expectation is 200-280 inch 5×5’s and 6×6’s, with the occasional 300+ inch bull.
  • Seasons range from over-the-counter September archery and October rifle hunts during the rut, as well as some great late season hunts.
  • Our outfitters even have some solid drop hunt options in Idaho as well.
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Idaho has some spectacular elk hunting opportunities, and our hunters continue to have great success year after year with our Idaho elk hunting outfitters. If you’re after a 350+ inch bull, you’ll probably be disappointed in Idaho elk hunting, but it does hold a good number of solid mature bulls, and every season a few lucky hunters take a Boone and Crockett bulls.

Idaho has wilderness rifle elk hunts during the rut in September!

Not only can you hunt with your bow, but our Idaho Wilderness outfitters offer rifle elk hunts during the rut. That’s right, for those not interested in the challenge of trying to harvest the great wapiti with stick and string can still hunt during the rut in September with their rifle!

Get in shape for a better experience.

Idaho has earned a reputation for being steep and rugged, these hunts should be taken seriously as any mountain hunt, and can be physically difficult so it would be in your best interest to be in elk shape! However, our outfitters have still been able to accommodate most hunters as their guides are experts in their crafts and the horses are gentle and well broke.

Typical daily schedule on our Idaho elk hunting trips.

On the guided elk hunts, you can expect to wake up early to a hearty camp style breakfast prepared by your camp cook. After breakfast hunters and guides will prepare for departure for the day on horseback or on foot, season and camp location dependent. Be prepared to hike here and there as well as ride the horses to and from hunting areas every day.

Hunting tactics vary across the entire season, as the earliest archery hunt starts at the end of August, and the last hunt going till mid November. Tactics are adjusted accordingly to most effectively harvest intended game.

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Frank Church Wilderness Elk Hunting

This is a great traditional, horseback wilderness elk hunt with plenty of game and very few people. Success rates for 5-6 point bulls are high on this Frank Church wilderness elk hunting trip. You won’t see many other hunters on this Frank Church wilderness elk hunting trip, because it’s remote country to say the least. You’ll fly into a backcountry airstrip where you will be picked up by the outfitter on horseback. From there you will ride into base camp to begin your Idaho wilderness elk hunt.

  • Hunt elk with your rifle during the rut!
  • Hunts are  on a 7-day schedule with 5 full days of hunting.
  • Harvesting 5 and 6-point bulls ranging from 200-300-inches, and often 300+
  • This is a traditional “mountain man” style, horseback elk hunt.
  • This is not a long-range shooting affair. Expect shots of 300 yds or less.
  • Elk tags are over the counter!
  • Be sure to get a deer tag, because you’ll also have a decent chance at a good mule deer. Later in the season, the mule deer hunting gets better, so it also makes for a fun combo hunt.

You should see lots of wild game in The Frank Church Wilderness

We can almost guarantee that you will see game on this hunt. Here the wildlife has rarely before seen man, it feels as though you have stepped back in time. You could see bighorn sheep, black bear, mountain lion, mule deer, and be sure to have a wolf tag in your pocket! Most likely you will get a shot at a bull, and as you can see from the pictures, these outfitters take some nice 300+ inch bulls every year.

Get ready for a true “Mountain Man Experience” on our Wilderness Idaho elk hunting trips.

This traditional, horseback style hunt in the beautiful Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness in Idaho has been considered by many of our hunters as the hunt of their lifetime. This camp is VERY REMOTE, and our outfitter does an amazing job of running it. You will be staying in very comfortable wall tents with wood stoves. There are two hunters to one tent so there will be plenty of space. Sometimes you might hunt out of spike camps, or camps away from the main camp. It’s as luxury as it gets for this type of backcountry hunt.

The Frank Church Wilderness in Idaho is one of the few places left where you can leave civilization behind.

There are no roads in the Frank Church. No cars, no power lines and not many people. Since it’s so remote, this is one of the rare areas where you can hunt elk during the rut with your rifle and have a decent chance at a mule deer. Later in the season, the mule deer hunting gets better, so it also makes for a fun combo hunt.

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Archery Elk Hunting in Idaho

If you want a traditional, run and gun style archery elk hunt, it doesn’t get much better than archery elk hunting in Idaho. Unpressured bulls, over-the-counter tags, lots of backcountry and wilderness, and a good number of mature bulls…Idaho’s where it’s at, but be in shape. Idaho has (justifiably) earned a reputation for being steep and rugged, these hunts should be taken seriously as any mountain hunt, and can be physically difficult.

  • Archery elk hunting in Idaho takes place during the month of September.
  • Guaranteed tags (when applied for by application deadlines)
  • A few DIY drop camps for archery elk are also available.
  • 200-280 inch 5×5’s and 6×6’s, with the occasional 300+ inch bull can be expected.
  • Comfortable wall tent camps
  • All hunts are 7 days. 5 full hunt days with 2 days for pack in/out.

Run-and-Gun Style Bowhunting is Fun!

Usually you will be hunting the “run and gun” style ,where you’ll be covering country and calling to bulls. Sometimes, if you’re in more open country, ambush hunting works well. Also, because of pre-scouting, outfitters can sometimes set you up over wallows in a treestand, if conditions merit that.

Access into the hunting area is most often by horseback, but some hunts are from ATV’s.

A typical hunt day starts around 4 am with breakfast, while guides catch and saddle horses. With a short 45 min to 1 hour horse ride, you’ll arrive where you’ll be hunting for the day just before daylight. At that point you’ll  start covering country on foot, putting out some bugles to locate a bull to set up on. You’ll typically utilize horses as much as possible, but will have some hiking to do along the way.

Our clients who have gone archery elk hunting in Idaho with this outfitter have had great success. Contact us if you’re interested.

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Idaho elk hunting

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13 reviews for Idaho Elk Hunting Trips

  1. Bren Hasslen

    This was three days of exhausting, exciting, and intense hunting. Just what the doctor ordered!!! This is hunting at its truest. By foot and horseback. Couldn’t get any better.

  2. Jeff Holman

    A true wilderness adventure. I couldn’t believe there was such a remote area left. The Frank Church Wilderness has beautiful scenery,

  3. Danny Torrell

    Normally I skip over these reports because I’m not a writer. But after working with Outdoors International, Kyle deserves my time. I couldn’t have asked for more. I’ll be using him again. So that’s as good as it gets for you guys lol

  4. Kyle Hanson

    This outfitter knows his area well. Guides and staff were top notch. One of the guides was even born and raised in this area on an old homestead ranch, he knew it like the back of his hand.

  5. Ron Hicks

    He is extremely knowledgeable of the hunting area and able/willing to adapt to changing conditions. Impact to elk numbers by wolf depredation in the Idaho Wilderness is significant, down by 85% by some estimates.

  6. John Hampey

    This trip was exactly what my dad and I were looking for in an elk hunt. Having a consultant helped my dad and I to find the outfitter that fit what we wanted in a trip. With previous experience with the outfitter and the location Kyle was able to speak very knowledgeably about the trip and what to expect.

  7. Randal Sebastian

    We didn’t see many elk, saw just one bull in seven days. The gray wolves have decimated the area. Good outfitter

  8. Gary March

    My hunting trip in Idaho was very memorable, and I would love to do it again someday. The Frank Church is beautiful country and everything on trip went as planned.

  9. James Rogers

    We had an epic trip from start to finish. This operation is first class and the outfitter makes you feel very important as a client with several special touches throughout the week. A gift bag from the time you walk into the tent to hot chocolate on the mountain and excellent meals that his wife personally prepared are all part of the experience. His stock was excellent, his organization was flawless, and his accommodations are very comfortable for a wilderness hunting camp. The success of harvesting a mule deer was icing on the cake.

  10. Scott Wathen

    It was a great elk hunt. I was the only hunter in camp. We saw four bulls In the 1st two days and I shot my bull the 2nd day. The better shape you’re in, the better your elk hunting experience will be. I could not have asked for a better guide. Adam was great And Rob worked hard around camp and with the horses.

  11. Chris Cantler

    This is an awesome combo hunt! Outfitter, guide, horses, mules, tents and country are all top notch! My brother who had cancer, shot a 170” buck. I missed, because of my own stupidity, a chance at a 190”-200” beast 😩 One of my best hunts ever!!

  12. Jim Toth

    What an amazing elk hunting experience! CHECK MARKS ACROSS THE BOARD!

  13. Lee Albright

    I had an awesome elk hunt in Idaho. It was arguably the best hunting experience I’ve had so far.

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Idaho ELK HUNTING Drop Camps

Our Idaho elk hunting guides also offer some solid, backcountry drop camp hunts.

If you’re an experienced elk hunter, this is a great opportunity.When you’re ready to start planning your hunt, just contact us. Be sure to let us know exactly what you have in mind, and we’ll do our best to help you find the perfect outfitter and get it booked.

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Outdoors International has a team of hand-selected hunting experts to help you book your next hunt. Our job it is to help you in researching, booking and planning a great hunting trip with one of our amazing outfitter partners around the world.

My hunt was absolutely top notch.

The outfitter is a fantastic man and incredibly hard working and knowledgeable, there is no doubt he will do everything within his power to make peoples hunts successful and enjoyable. I plan to do it again with him next year for sure.

Wade Zuver

Our hunt was excellent.

We saw bucks every day along with all other sorts of wildlife. Mountain goats, bears, and foxes were common sights. Fishing and crabbing was special bonus. The food was excellent, the crew was amazing. Outdoors International did a great job of finding exactly what we were looking for.

Jesse Neveau

What an amazing experience!

The hunting lodge was out of this world!, Rooms, food and the scenery were all A+. Our guide was exceptional and had us on Shiras moose all five days. We saw over 30 total with at least 10 bulls. They had a plan for everything including taxidermy and game processing.

Kayla Redmon

Outdoors International