LESSONS LEARNED: Bowhunting Elk In Idaho (Backcountry Bulls)

[@josephberndt6907]

Can't get enough of this content. It's refreshing seeing hunting videos that cover the entire experience. These videos are entertaining and have more educational value than a dozen others combined. Too many shows these days only showcase success rather than all the planning that goes into it.

[@Huntnlady7]

Excellent breakdown of the hunt. Thank you for the instruction. Patience is a virtue for the hunter.

[@Fresh_Tracks]

Glad it was helpful

[@brandoncolglazier1492]

Great content Randy, you have helped more people than you could imagine in your approach to hunting and public access. Thank you on behalf of all of us, your career is an inspiration.

[@andytillack6998]

Great video Randy. It's great seeing guys like you put forth the effort with these types of topics that others may not be willing to show the human side of hunting with learning from mistakes.

[@stevencroon]

Good morning all hope the day is great for all! Always good info Randy.

[@Fresh_Tracks]

Thanks 👍

[@Mtpumpkinsman]

Love these episodes, we can all learn new things. Thanks for keeping them going and looking forward to see what this year holds!

[@magnumarrowarchery155]

I love all your content, but these are my favorite. You have helped me become a better hunter and public land advocate. Thanks Newberg 💪🏽🇺🇸

[@Fresh_Tracks]

Glad you like them!

[@killswitchoutdoors2483]

Our success in Wyoming this year was based in the same struggles you experienced all year. We saw the same in the odd behavior. Our winning formula was, like you said, mobility. Though, our mobility included more than 1000 miles of driving/moving to different spots within the state. As in, we didn’t move down the road, or over to the next drainage, we moved to a completely different part of the state. It took digging deep into the grizzly country of Wyoming to find bugling bulls and the rut activity that should have been western state wide. With a moon phase/equinox combo that SHOULD have produced a banner year but didn’t, we found that pressure, smoke, and elevation were our recipes for putting meat on our backs this year. So in short I guess, be willing to COMPLETELY relocate based on those factors. The out of state hunters we saw on horseback refused to get off their horses out of fear for grizzly encounters. We used that and went in on foot and dove off the horse trails and we’re immediately in elk ultimately resulting in arrowing a good 6. We did have a 28 yard grizzly meetup with a bigger boar but we did what we were supposed to do and he wanted nothing to do with us. If you hunt smart you’ll ensure your safety. That being said - as elk hunters we know the formula will change this year and we’ll adjust. But the key is, adjusting. Happy hunting everyone! Good luck this year :)

[@brentcarter8006]

Thanks so much for the lessons Randy

[@jeffmorrow1957]

You’re a great teacher Randy👍 thanks

[@Fresh_Tracks]

Thanks for watching

[@cjberan]

Thanks for sharing this Randy. We had success finding bulls but trouble getting them in close enough for a shot most of the time. We had other hunters, wind and sometimes they just wouldn’t commit to coming in to us. We did get 2 bulls to come in close and took home the rewards from one. Was early archery Colorado had a blast being on bulls most every day

[@richardadams1910]

Love these videos! the term i'd use is "gamefilm". especially when you broke down your setup that didn't go well. thanks for the education and great work!

[@stitchotis]

Thanks for sharing! I hunted an OTC tag in Idaho (first time doing so), I thought we had a good plan going in but we had no back up plans, only heard two bugles (first morning in the area) and a lack of elk hunting experience. Hearing your lessons learned helps knowing that from my lack of success I can continue to narrow down failures and hopefully find success this coming season

[@mjones6115mj]

Randy Newberg aka SilverFox ! President 2024

[@reddogleader1968]

Thanks for an informative and helpful post. The allotment tip was especially useful.

[@leepearce7770]

I pay attention to the summer months ahead of the hunt. 2020 in Idaho was extremely hot and dry with little storm activity. These types of summers delay the bulls in some areas. A week or two makes the difference. That said, your situation is different as you have little wiggle room to adjust with all your planned hunts. Thanks for all you do Randy!

[@huntnnw]

all relative to where in ID, North ID was not hot and dry and was very cool year with lots of rain. Almost 0 fires or anything of any magnitude. I was rained and snowed on in September

[@trentpriest5612]

Good info. Taught me something. I need many more videos like this. Thanks for sharing

[@rgonzalez817]

Appreciate the video Mr. Newburg, thank you sir 👍

[@overthecounterbounty7197]

I hunted here in Idaho from August 30th tell October 14th. I hunted the archery hunt for myself then my daughter had a rifle draw tag for the same area that opened oct 1st. Seen over 200 head of elk during this time. Not one showed any signs of rutt activity until about October 1st. I strongly believe it was a combination or all the summer activities Due to COVID and it being a leap yr. are calendar was off at least a week early from a normal calendar year.

[@WankumLaw]

On your 5 day vs 7 days...in Your earlier stuff back on fresh tracks, you were always talking about more scouting vs hunting. So yeah, longer is gonna be better bud! Besides, with the luck I have, you need more time to stumble across a success. LOL. Keep up the great content Randy!

[@taraferrell5520]

awesome video thanks for the information randy.

[@ronaldd.sisseck3301]

In Washington, the season starts on the 8 of Sept. the best time is the 15 - 22. The bulls ARE WITH THE COWS and you can use the cow/bull call with good success

[@cynic6964]

Good lessons and instruction Randy. You should be a Professor at Corey's University. Positivity in the sense of perseverance is a necessity to maintenance of the aim. Negativity is sometimes also necessary for one to be able to recognize a not so great result and correct for next time. After all, for there to be a positive there also needs to be a negative against which to compare.

[@herdbull365]

I saw Corey didn’t pick your comment as a winner on destination elk. Better luck to you next year 😜 He didn’t pick me either so you need to put in a good word for me 😊 I agree that 5 days is short. It only takes one opportunity but the more days you get the more opportunity’s you can get.

[@toddcarter717]

The Rut was late by almost 2 weeks. Rutting 1st week of October to mid October. 6 point killed

[@sheerwillsurvival2064]

Idaho’s a whole different beast. But first tip ya gotta get a tag 😁 .very good tip stay till the last day last hour of the season for your tag

[@acmund]

A friend had a unique take on why he wasn't seeing bulls. He figured it was due to more people in the woods due to Covid.

[@tommurphy6972]

Good info

[@chriscolwell2691]

I remember that episode and especially the distinction between the grazed and non grazed areas. I know it is a touchy subject for some but would be interesting to hear how we can support cattle grazing on land that is public. In NE Oregon during archery I can count on cattle being in the areas I hunt on public nearly every year...there is sure no every other year and they have been a constant in some areas the last 5 years in a row. It is a shame imo that it is so overlooked...the AUM is usually around $2 a month...is that what our public land is worth??? Would love to hear your opinion Randy!

[@bobalvarez2577]

always good stuff! thx

[@user-no9qb6lj7c]

Hey randy not sure if you reply to comments but I graduate high school this year and I’ve been saving up for a guided hunt for aoudad, elk, pronghorn or black bear..... I have no idea to start but just curious if you or any of your viewers recommend any certain outfitters

[@kevinweinner4910]

I saw the same thing in 2020, bulls not ready to fight for cows until later in the season.

[@lukecoppersammy]

I was lucky enough to get a bull with a bow in 2020. Probably only because it was a weird year though, I'll come up short again when it gets back to normal.

[@michaeld1770]

northern utah - archery hunted a week in sept not one bugle could have taken a spike one day and saw a huge bull the next day hanging out with a cow and calf moose but couldnt get around behind him. october rifle i couldnt go my usual opening week, typically 2-3 bulls taken out of there. nobody even saw an elk. i did get one the next week. have a friend who is a taxidermist says it was a real slow year. warm year - the sept hunt felt like august and the oct hunt felt like sept. never even wore a heavy coat or insulated boots ???????

[@42N8_1]

Generally Idaho is crawling with hunters. I've seen them 10 to 15 miles off the road.

[@WantingWilderness]

I observed the same behaviors in elk in WY. I found that I always had to start the party. I think they had social distancing mandates as well.

[@Fresh_Tracks]

Haha maybe!

[@travischabo1475]

Great video, wonder about having one of your videos show the reality of switching midway to Cow elk hunting since there are no balls around showing viewers the reality of harvesting any elk with an either sex tag. I think when there’s a goal to get an elk or especially a big bull when you travel two to three days to go hunting and come up empty-handed may be able to leave with some success. I experienced the same thing with the bulls in SE ID last year.

[@mojomike3913]

Rut was weird in 2020. I killed a cow in a controlled hunt in Idaho unit 30. There were bulls with cows still bugling first week of December.

[@redwade7803]

Did you learn any lessons on cooking wolf yet?

[@mojomike3913]

@Randy Newberg, Hunter is that Hawley Cr, 30A?

[@mojomike3913]

Randy Newberg your silence is telling. I'm right aren't I? I'm certain beyond any doubt that at the 1:18 mark you are standing in Leadore at the little store at the Railroad Canyon turnoff. That sure looks like Hawley Cr road to me!

[@frankspataro9714]

Always learning good or bad

[@garyhammond.greatinfo.9225]

As an Idaho resident,I’ve found archery hunting better mid to late September, from my experience, just saying.

[@jackgavin7428]

What area of Idaho was this hunt in? Not looking for any specifics, just the general region.

[@mikewiginton7948]

I gave the echo audio in room about 30 secs before I had to turn off...

[@TheHuntingSpot]

Maybe the bull to cow ratio is super bad up there?

[@idahoelkslayer6299]

the bulls are eaten first by the wolves because they stay higher than the cows most wolf kills I've found are bulls. and they tend to be alone or in smaller groups during the winter equalling easier prey.

[@brianjohnson8918]

Lesbian elk? Sometimes you just never get an answer, you just try again next year!

[@williamwolf3248]

The bulls were social distancing

[@normankaster917]

Lol video permit, how much did that cost.... Didn't even know of such a permit existed I guess I better delete the videos on my phone then, don't want to get caught operating a camera without a permit.

[@huntnnw]

permits are for people making money on content posted online from public lands