BigGameHunt.net Hunting Forums

[elkpig]

This year I drew Idaho's unit 27-1 for the second time. The first time was in 2003 and although it was an awesome adventure I came home without a ram. This time I'm trying the horses and pack string approach. Any help or feedback is welcome.

[hunter777]

I hope you get your ram! Good luck.

[Hiker]

elkpig, Welcome to BGH. :) I hope you have another great hunt hunt and are blessed with a nice ram.

[AKBound]

The only people that I have heard taking rams in there float the river and hike up and down. good Luck. I'll be lookin for my ram over in 26L.

[elkpig]

Thanks for the support and encouragement. I am really looking forward to getting back in there. My first trip was extremely challenging , but just as enjoyable. I am hoping for a trip just like it with a ram on the pack horse on the way out this time.

[Hambone]

I hunted 27-2 last year - tough country! Was not successful either. Tried both along the river and up on top. Never did find them even going in 15 miles with horses. We just ran out of time and the weather turned snowy on us and my buddy with the horses said we had to go. Good luck with your hunt. The biologist for that area told me to hunt halfway up the mountain and that was the zone I never really penetrated so that is probably where they were.

[elkpig]

Thanks Hambone. To bad you didn't get one, but if you look at it the way I do at least you got to go instead of just dreaming of a tag. It sounds like you spent the time and got in there just didn't come together for you. I'll try the mid way up suggestion.

[Serious Hunter]

elkpig, report in ... how'd the hunt in 27-1 go?

[elkpig]

As you may or may not know, Idaho had considerable fire problems in the Middle Fork area this year. As a result all access was closed off to Unit 27-1 for the majority of the hunt. If it had remained closed for the entire hunt the fish and game was going to honor my tag next year. However, the closures were lifted with 3 weeks left in the hunt. My plans to pack in had all been set for early September and now my friend who was providing the pack animals and spotter role was about to have a new baby at his house. Anyway, the hunt did get thrown together in a hurry, but turned out to be just a 10 day adventure more than anything. The cloud cover never got above 7800 feet the entire time we were in there. Tough Spotting. We also roled a pack horse off the mountain on the second day so we ended up with packs on our backs and leading horses rather than riding. Ended up with a total of 62 miles logged with the pack on. My buddy did shoot an elk on his middle fork tag while we were in there and we saw a black bear with a broken back that was a sight you don't see very often. The adventure I would call a success, but the sheep hunting was pretty poor. However, in just three more years I can try it all over again.

[Serious Hunter]

Sheep are no easy thing in 27-1 as you (double) know. Very good hunters get skunked in there. And some people (the minority) happen into sheep. But sounds like you had quite an adventure! Thanks for reporting in. Congrats on the elk!!!