Idaho Elk, Mule Deer and Black Bear Blog

Spring Bear Hunt Drop Camps Available

Thu, 05 Feb 2026 01:51:00 GMT

We are only 2 short months away from the “official” opening day of most of Idaho’s spring bear hunting seasons. I say “official” because in normal years, our area, although open to hunt, is normally not accessible yet due to deep snow conditions. Obviously, this year is shaping up to be different and even though it has been a mild winter, I still bet that cabin fever has set in for many.

This year you may want to consider a spring bear hunt drop camp for your cure to cabin fever. You can shake out those cobwebs by hunting at your own pace, pursue (almost) every predator Idaho has to offer using your preferred method of hunting including calls, bait (we will preset for you), or spot and stalk for bear, coyote, fox, mountain lion and wolf.

Our spring bear hunt drop camps consist of packing you and your gear into a preset camp with tent, cots, pads, wood burning stove, cooking and eating utensils and packing out of you and your game from camp. We will preset some baits within walking distance of your specific camp site and show you where they are when we pack you in.

All you need to bring is your personal gear, food and the desire to do your part to protect elk and deer numbers in Idaho! Contact us for more info or questions on the possibility of a spring bear hunt drop camp and best of luck in the other draws!

Happy hunting!

George

Time to Apply for Formerly OTC Tags this Year in Idaho

Thu, 11 Dec 2025 02:08:26 GMT

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!

Beginning 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.

Now that we are 5 days into this process, what have we learned? One thing to remind you of is that these are only for formerly OTC tags and this draw is not about any trophy species (Moose, Sheep, or Mountain Goats), nor does it involve controlled hunts for elk, deer, bear, or antelope. These applications and draws will still take place in the spring.

Second thing we learned is that Idaho is NOT a “techy” state and do seem to make what you think would be easy, as challenging as they can. So, to apply it appears to be a three-step process.

1. Review the regs supplemental section to learn the number of the hunt you want you apply for.

2. Purchase your license online.

3. Then and only then do you need to click on (from your own personal account of course) the “Submit An Application” button and with the knowledge you gained from step one, you can now apply for a tag.

You can apply for up to 5 hunt choices on each application so it would seem that you are more than likely to get a tag, it simply may be your last-choice hunt if you apply for more than one.

We apologize for the repeated emails in this period to remind you. Not to be a pain, but because we often get busy and say, “I’ll apply tomorrow”, then the 16th shows up and now you are stuck hunting with an outfitter who still has tags instead of being able to hunt on your own. So, think of these emails as simply “gentle reminders” to stop procrastinating and apply for those tags you think you want to be able to continue your tradition of hunting in some of the lower 48’s most amazing country…Idaho!

Finally, if you want help, advice or just to vent about the drawing process, please contact us and we will be happy to assist or simply listen.

Best of luck in the draw and most importantly, always remember to take a kid hunting with you!

George

Idaho’s Hunting Season 2025 is Wrapping Up, Time to Get Serious About Predator Hunting

Fri, 05 Dec 2025 21:25:32 GMT

The image above is of the first Idaho mountain lion of the 2025/2026 winter season.

Finally! We got all this deer and elk hunting out of the way and now it is time to get serious about what really matters…Predator Hunting!

As much as we truly love to pursue big elk and big deer, it seems our interests have morphed over the years to truly enjoying the pursuit of large predators: Mountain lions, Wolves, Bears and Bobcats. Throw in a few foxes and coyotes during your winter hunting and now it feels like you have really done something to actually help deer and elk populations prosper.

It is my opinion, and may be contrary to others, that Central Idaho is truly an anomaly in what actually affects ungulate populations the most. In most states, it is verifiably auto/wildlife conflicts that affect the population. It is sincerely my opinion that weather and predators are what negatively affect the wildlife populations in Central Idaho, therefore it is incumbent upon all sportsman to do there best to contribute to controlling predators. Weather is literally out of our control, but we can pursue predators!

So, if you find yourself with some spare time and desire this winter, contact us about the idea of pursuing predators in Central Idaho.

Happy Hunting!

Cancellation Hunt

Tue, 24 Jun 2025 20:09:22 GMT

Somebody must have drawn some lucky tag somewhere because we had a last-minute cancellation. We have room for 3 to 4 hunters opening week of our combo season. We have 3 elk and 4 deer tags available for October 14-20, 2025.

Combo hunting in Central Idaho is one of the coolest ways to be able to get out and pursue multiple big game animals including elk, deer, bear and wolf.

If you haven’t drawn a tag or made final plans for this fall yet contact us about this hunt during opening week in Central Idaho’s Salmon River Mountains. This is a horseback hunt. Our camp is a drive in, but after that getting around is done on horseback, so it is best to be comfortable on a horse.

With the last few mild winters and the sheer numbers of game animals we saw last year and antlers growing this spring, we have very high expectations for this fall’s hunts!

So, check on your friends draw results, and if you drew the same “unsuccessful” tag, you still have a chance to hunt this fall.

Good luck!

One Door Opens, Another One Closes

Tue, 03 Jun 2025 10:00:00 GMT

It’s that time of year again when most states big game draw results are out and, as usual, most people statistically draw the proverbial “lump of coal”. As mentioned in another blog, Idaho’s application season ends this week, so there is still one more chance to draw a coveted tag in some “trophy” areas.

Or you could reach out to an outfitter…an Idaho outfitter specifically, who has guaranteed tags, purchase a hunt with them and actually go hunting this year verses sitting on the couch another year, “waiting to draw” a tag.

To be clear, are these “trophy” areas? Possibly not in the realm of Fish and Game modeling, but any place you can actually get out and hunt in the west, A) can produce a trophy; B) hunting itself is the goal more so than a trophy; and C) beats the heck out of NOT hunting!

All that blather leads me up to the point of this conversation. We had a cancellation on one of our most popular hunts in Castle Creek Outfitters allowing for room for 4 hunters opening week of our combo hunt (deer, elk, and bear) in unit 28. The dates for this hunt are October 14 – 20, 2025.

This is a horseback hunt with a drive in camp, so typical weight restrictions on what to bring are negated because of the drive in aspect, but most all the hunting the week you are there is done from horseback. Now, most people believe that horseback hunts are less physically demanding and nothing could be further from the truth. If you don’t believe me, step up on a chair about 20 times today and see if you can still walk tomorrow.

Horseback hunts are physically demanding, but also very rewarding in the shear tradition of a horseback hunt from wall tent camp. It is the essence of elk hunting in the west in my mind.

So, if you haven’t drawn that coveted tag, and still have 1 to 3 additional guys (hunts are 2 hunters:1 guide ratio) that are willing to spend a week with you in the back country, contact us and see if a horseback combo hunt may be right for you this year!

Happy hunting, and as always, remember to take a kid hunting with you!

Idaho’s 2025 Spring Black Bear Season is Officially Open

Thu, 03 Apr 2025 21:22:02 GMT

It’s officially official; Idaho’s 2025 Spring Bear Hunting season is finally open…just in time for a spring snowstorm of course, but hopes are still high for an amazing season this year. It has been a fairly mild winter, and the hills are showing more dirt every day. We are already heading out to get the baits set and camps ready.

If you haven’t made plans for your spring bear season yet, or you simply have a bad case of cabin fever, why don’t you give an Idaho spring hunt a try this year? We are offering fully guided over bait, behind hounds or spring bear hunt drop camps this year. There should be an option for anyone interested in getting out and chasing these Idaho bruins.

Happy hunting! Get out and enjoy YOUR public lands! And, as always, take a kid along!

Spring Bear Hunt Drop Camp

Wed, 05 Mar 2025 12:00:00 GMT

If I haven’t made it clear that I think Idaho is THE best place to hunt, then I suppose you haven’t read enough of our blogs. Predator hunting in Idaho tops them all!

In Idaho, you can hunt wolves, bears, mountain lions, coyotes and foxes all at the same time by either spot and stalk or electronic calls method clear up until June 30 each year. To increase your odds for bear, you can even hunt them over bait. Idaho is becoming one of the last places left where you can legally hunt bears over bait. It has been proven repeatedly that it is the best way to hunt bears AND protect their young. Spring sows almost always, when showing up at a bait, have this year’s cubs in such close contact with them that it is very hard to mistake her for a dry sow.

All that to say, that if you are an avid predator hunter or simply want your chance at a wolf, maybe an Idaho spring bear hunt drop camp may be your best option. You can hunt at your own pace during the day then sit a preset bear bait in the evening to increase your odds of success.

Our Idaho spring bear hunt drop camps consist of us packing you and your gear into a preset backcountry wall tent camp. It has cots with pads, woodburning stove and all cooking and eating utensils. We will preset some bear bait sites that we have used for years and show them to you before we ride back to the trailhead. We pick you, your gear and your game up on a predetermined date and take you back to the trailhead.

All this is available in the months of May and June. For the truly adventurous, you may consider a late April approach. It is up to you. All tags are over the counter (OTC) so obtaining a tag is no problem. If this sounds like the perfect adventure for curing that cabin fever brought on by winter turning to spring, contact us for your back country Idaho spring bear drop camp today!

With Idaho’s large percentage of color phase black bears, open wolf and mountain lion season, ability to hunt spot and stalk, using electronic calls and bait for bears, what are you waiting for? Get out and enjoy YOUR public lands and remember to take a kid with you!

Idaho’s 2025 Spring Black Bear Season is Just Around the Corner

Wed, 15 Jan 2025 10:00:00 GMT

I know, I know, the holidays just got over and it is still cold and white outside, but what a perfect time to begin thinking about what is truly important, where are you going to hunt spring bear this season?

Idaho’s 2025 spring bear season, I predict, is going to be one for the record books. Why? I am so glad you asked.

1. First, last fall’s berry crop was non-existent. Bears were out late scrounging for whatever they could find to eat and probably even cheering on would be deer and elk hunters, so that they could take a turn at a gut pile for some pre-winter calories.

2. Because of such a lackluster berry crop last fall, I predict that the bears will exit their dens far earlier than “normal” this year seeking to pick up on some lost calories from last fall.

3. This winter has started slow and continued so far to be very mild. What does that have to do with bears you ask? Now I am no biologist, but without heavy snow, big game survival (deer, elk, and antelope) will hopefully be much greater than usual leaving not that many carcasses for bears exiting their winter slumber hideouts to eat, so they head out on a journey for food that they will certainly find in abundance at our bait sites.

4. We will have lots of those bait sites loaded heavily with some of the best tasting (yes, of course we taste our bear bait) icings and sugar laden goodies you can imagine. A hungry bear will not be able to resist them, and we will keep the baits full, so the bears always have goodies to come back to!

5. If, on the off chance we get one of those sneaky nocturnal type bears, we will have dogs on hand as back up in case the need arises to get the job done.

6. Oftentimes, bear baiting gets a bad rap from the nonhunting world, but studies have proven that bear baiting is the best way to protect females with their young as new babies are almost always right at their momma’s side as she fills her belly at our bait sites. These females with cubs are protected and add an additional level of enjoyment in just enjoying watching “the show” as the cubs learn to navigate the woods with their mothers.

So, as you find yourself getting back to “normal” life after the holidays, why don’t you break up the daily doldrums by asking one of your coworkers, friends, relatives or best of all one of your own kids, nieces or nephews if they would like to join you out in Idaho for an opportunity at one of Idaho’s famous color phase black bears and Contact Us to book your hunt.

Hope to see you in the woods! And, as always, remember to take a kid hunting!

Happy 4th of July

Wed, 03 Jul 2024 23:14:07 GMT

It is my opinion that the only thing (possibly) better than sharing a hunting camp with good family and friends could be a good old-fashioned family gathering and it seems like the 4th is one of the best times for such an event.

We hope you celebrate this 4th with family and friends safely and always remember why we celebrate this day.

America is still good in spite of much of the nonsense that is going on in our political climate.

The most incredible thing (again in my opinion) is our public lands system. Public access to literally millions of acres in this country is what makes me look out the window and smile and have the gratitude that it exists.

So, celebrate with family and enjoy your day and/or long weekend. If you get to do it on public lands, it is even better!

Happy 4th!

George

Idaho Big Game Application Season 2024

Thu, 14 Mar 2024 10:00:00 GMT

Let the games begin! This year it seems as though it took almost missing the application deadline and then finding out 2 short weeks later that I drew an Idaho spring turkey tag, to realize, oh, yeah, it is “application season” in the western states and Idaho is not exempt from this seasonal activity.

I guess I am showing my age when I can say, “I remember when you just bought a tag and went hunting”. But sadly, those days are indeed behind us now. Here in Idaho though, while we are still blessed enough to have over the counter or “OTC” tags available, some zones do require even residents to plan ahead and purchase as soon as they come available.

Although we do still have many OTC opportunities, there is indeed still a need to draw for the “trophy” species as Idaho labels them. Some states refer to them as “OIL” or “once in a lifetime tags” and that is the reason for this gentle reminder.

Coming up in April is the time to apply for sheep, mountain goat and moose here in Idaho and this year we are offering guided sheep and moose hunts for anyone lucky enough to draw a bighorn sheep or moose in one of our outfitting areas.

Oddly enough, although we seem to see mountain goats each year, we operate in one of the areas where no goat tags are issued, so we don’t have the opportunity to pursue that species, but if you have interest in one of the others, either moose or sheep and are not sure where to apply, where we operate or even just want to talk hunting, contact us and we will happily discuss which hunts we believe will work for you!

As always, happy hunting and be sure to take a kid along with you!

Winter 23-24 Predator Hunting (Mt. Lion/Wolf/Bobcat)

Thu, 30 Nov 2023 00:05:00 GMT

It’s winter again here in Idaho and that can only mean one thing! Wyley can’t function without thinking about chasing mountain lions! I swear the boy was born for this and simply wants to do it as often as possible.

What does that mean for you? It is time to book that Idaho predator hunt you have always been talking or thinking about but haven’t pulled the trigger on. We have openings for 2 more hunters this winter (2023-2024) between now and when the snow quits flying.

Speaking of snow. Lion hunts are always a bit more successful right behind fresh snow, so this year we are offering “last minute” hunts to those who are close enough or have the freedom enough, to “jump and run” when the forecast says there will be snow. We will be conducting these hunts from late February through April. Our pre-scheduled hunts will be in January and early February as it seems that those are the most consistent snow months here in central Idaho.

For the “last minute” hunts there is no commitment required on your part other than to put your name on a list. We will start contacting people first come first served to see who might be available when the weather seems that it wants to cooperate.

If this sounds like something you may be interested in or you already know you want to hunt an Idaho mountain lion this winter for sure, please contact us and let’s get you on the schedule or the list asap!

Cure Cabin Fever with an Idaho Spring Bear Hunt

Mon, 20 Mar 2023 22:49:22 GMT

The first day of spring is officially here! It has been a long time coming and it can mean only 1 thing: Idaho Spring bear hunting season 2023 is literally only days away!

With this winter feeling like it has been the longest winter in the history of all mankind…at least here in Challis, Idaho, cabin fever is running rampant, and we are ready to get out, start setting bear baits, shoeing horses and mules, riding colts, setting camps and simply enjoying watching mother nature come back to life after a long winter’s siesta.

If you haven’t made plans for your Idaho spring bear hunt yet, you are in luck! We still have a few openings for this spring, and they are indeed a sure cure for cabin fever. We offer hunts from Sunday through Friday beginning early May and can accommodate groups up to 4, 6 if it is all in one party. We love seeing kids and women in camp and can reserve a full camp for your family outing. Non hunting observers are always welcome with hunters in our camps as well.

If you have already made plans and find yourself in need of quality affordable bear bait, check out our inventory of affordable bulk bear bait. If you are simply heading out to the woods to hunt bears spot and stalk or have already engaged the services of another outfitter, then best of luck to you! Take lots of pictures, take time to soak it all in and most of all, take a kid hunting with you if you can! Remember, someone once took you hunting for the first time!

Contact us today about scheduling you for your 2023 Idaho spring bear hunt with Castle Creek Outfitters or Wild Idaho Outfitters, your bulk bear bait needs, bear baiting tactics or to simply talk Idaho hunting. It is certainly one of our favorite subjects!

Happy Hunting,

George

It’s Easier to Find Your Favorite When There’s Lots of Choices

Fri, 17 Mar 2023 22:30:00 GMT

Hi, my name is Tia Hansen (daughter of Kelly Swingruber and George McQuiston). Mom is the head packer and George is the owner of Wild Idaho Outfitters and Castle Creek Outfitters. Mom and I ride about 2,000 miles a year from packing bear bait to taking people for a joy ride and to getting people with their gear to drop camps and back plus packing dead animals.

Being an outfitter’s kid can mean a lot of things. One of them means you not only get to ride a certain horse, but you also have a lot of options. Starting with an old and wise quarter horse mare named Annie (still my favorite horse to this day), next a thoroughbred mare named Blesser who could out travel everything we had when we long trotted, then a stubborn mule named Foster (still my favorite mule to this day). Another favorite is Annie’s daughter Shadow, I was leading pack strings off her when she was only 4! Now I also ride a little young mule named Hermosa which is Spanish for beautiful. I am currently starting a filly named Tornado (and no she is not a bronc she just has a strip on her face that looks like a tornado) who is also out of Annie. I love to ride our stallion also, he is laid back and mellow.

Annie is 27 this year and is carrying another baby, she is still my favorite horse because all my siblings and I learned to ride on her, and she took great care of us. She knows the difference between a beginner and an advanced person, she knows steep country, how to work cows, and I think my family (except George, he likes his horse named Diesel) could all agree that Annie is still the favorite! On the other hand Foster (the mule) recently passed in November of 2021. He is what we called one of our A team mules. I rode him miles and miles and miles in the back country, and even tried to show him in 4-h but he didn’t want any part of it so I just decided to ride him in the mountains. Sometimes Foster wouldn’t let anyone but me catch him because he knew where all the treats came from! Or if we were on a trip and his favorite horse wasn’t there (George’s horse Diesel) Foster would travel all the way home to be with him. He also threw me off a few times. I know you are probably thinking why did you like him so much? Well, it’s because he took care of me and in return, I did the same, and eventually he quit doing most of those bad things. I also remember one time we were on a really steep narrow trail, and everyone got off to walk but me. Before I came along he did his fair share of packing, Foster was George’s mule at first but then I started riding him and stole him fair and square!

People often ask me do you remember your first ride? Was it scary? How old were you when you first started riding? The truth is I don’t remember my first ride! I don’t remember being scared. Because I started riding horses in my mother’s womb!

So, if you want to ride 2,000 miles a year, I would suggest you have at least a few good animals that you love and cherish!

Contributed by Tia (Assistant Wrangler for Wild Idaho Outfitters and Castle Creek Outfitters)

How Long You Been Doin This?

Wed, 15 Mar 2023 10:30:00 GMT

I frequently get asked the question, “How long have you been doing this?”. By this, I take it to mean packing a multiplicity of goods on mules and horses in the wilderness and back country. Or do they mean throwing a leg over a horse/mule and riding?

My “ending up as a packer” has a long history of knowledge bumps & bruises, joys & happiness, extreme heat & cold, a plethora of scenic beauty and of course a stream of cuss words over the years.

I first “threw a leg over a horse” at 4 years of age. It wasn’t exactly a horse, and it wasn’t exactly broke either! Apparently my first word after the regular Momma and Daddy was HORSE. And from what I understand that word was incessantly used until a Shetland Pony was purchased for me when I was 4. Now my well-meaning parents, knowing not much about equines, bought a yearling un-broke stallion Shetland pony for a 4-year-old to learn to ride. Turns out, I was more stubborn and un-broke than that pony and learn to ride, I did – no saddle, no formal lessons. In fact, this pony stayed a stallion til he was 9 years old. I started dragging mares home and getting him gelded was a necessity to say the least.

After and during Shetland pony time, I convinced Dad I needed something bigger to ride and he bought a couple of $100 “shitters” for me. Turns out that for that kind of money you don’t get broke or well-trained horses of good breeding but I rode them anyway. Sometimes I rode them as fast as they could run away with me through fences and bogs. Some were too crazy to keep. Some turned out pretty good.

Dad used to take me to live horse racing as a kid and I loved watching the speed and beauty of running horses. We watched thoroughbreds and quarter horses as well as catching a few sulky races back east. At 17 I went away to college and ended up with my first registered quarter horse, she was a big running bred filly, the type I still love to this day. I spent hours a horseback riding hills, plains & mountains. To this day, I never have bought a broke, trained horse, I’ve made them myself.

After college I started cowboying “cowgirling” and with that started packing salt to cows on mountain allotments. Now packing salt is pretty simple. Just throw 2 blocks in bags, aka panniers, on each side of a horse and go. Simple, but….. I was riding colts packing on broncs – not simple. A bronc throwing salt blocks around, hitting the young horse you are riding, wrapping the rope under the tail of your horse on the side of a mountain –potential disaster!

Then in 2014, my kids (Wyley & Tia) and I moved to Challis, Idaho to be with George McQuiston, owner of Wild Idaho Outfitters. Naturally I would be riding with George helping him pack. Packing for outfitting is a little more complicated than packing salt. Of course, George was lucky, haha, in the fact I moved my herd of horses to Challis also. So, we had broke mules of Georges and colts I brought to pack on. The green colts get lots of packing in the spring of bear bait. Simple like packing salt. Even weight in panniers on each side of the animal. They can buck bait out, run it into trees, break piggin strings, lay down, tip over backwards, break open buckets of frosting, etc and no loss!

Come fall, things get serious. We run on timelines and can’t ruin clients’ belongings. We are packing guns, cameras, optics, sleep apnea machines, eggs, whiskey, sleeping bags, boots, etc. We pack heavy even loads on each side plus top pack soft goods. Items must be kept safe from weather and branches snagging & tearing things. We use tarps and lash cinches and lots of fancy knots and hitches like diamonds, double diamonds, basket, basket with crows’ foot, and box hitch, just to name a few. Loads must be meticulously weighed and balanced. A string of preferably mules is put together and down or up the trail we go. I started out helping George and as Wild Idaho Outfitters evolved and Castle Creek Outfitters got purchased and farms got leased to grow more certified hay, everyone got busier. Every year, the kids and I took over more packing. George got busier running businesses and of course guiding. Packing wasn’t always smooth at first. I had unbalanced loads that tipped. I spent a lot of time it seemed getting off, pulling loads back into place and putting rocks in the “lighter” side. I sored a few animals too. One thing I detest the most in the outfitting world is soring animals. Not only does it mean a saddle doesn’t fit correctly or a load is not on properly, but it also means the animal is out of commission.

Through the years Wyley and Tia also have become good packers, they didn’t have a choice!! Wyley has moved on to guiding and being part owner in Castle Creek Outfitters (even though he still helps pack occasionally) and Tia has become my right-hand girl. There are times when George packs still and it’s always enjoyable for both of us. Every year, I enjoy packing more and more. Every year I yearn to lose myself into the wilderness more and more. So, to circle around to the question, “How long have I been doing this?”, the answer is a lifetime and the Good Lord willing, I hope I’ll continue packing for a long long time!

Contributed by Kelly Swingruber (Wrangler for Wild Idaho Outfitters and Castle Creek Outfitters)

Spring Means Babies

Fri, 10 Mar 2023 22:44:27 GMT

Ten days. Only ten days until spring officially starts. The start of spring means different things to different people. Some celebrate with a Spring Equinox party, some start seeds in the house for the garden, some go shopping for a new wardrobe, some just crab about winter never ending. Me? I start writing foaling dates on the calendar and dreaming of the kind of foals we are going to have!

Here at Darling Creek, the first foal could come as early as April first. That’s only 21 days away! I always say foaling is like Christmas only better. You can look and imagine what’s going to come out but it's always a surprise. A surprise in color, size, sex, personality, and amazing every single time that all of that could fit in the mare.

I’m feeding every day watching the mares get bigger and slower and more miserable. We were originally going to have 25 foals in 2023. Two of the older mares didn’t conceive. They will go for a vet visit next week to see what needs to be done for them to conceive later this spring. Another mare had a foal way too early and another just doesn’t look bred anymore.

For the foals coming, there is a lot of excitement on my part for different reasons. We have 2 mule babies coming, one out of a new mare we purchased last winter that turned into a great horse for hauling outfitting clients and one out of a tried and true mare. My old faithful mare Annie, that is 27 , is foaling once again with a horse foal. Her foals are always the best and it is amazing she can carry a foal once again! Her oldest “foal” is 19 and her youngest – on the way! Then there are all the new mares we bought last year coming with babies. Will they be fillies or colts? Will they be bay or black or buckskin or gray? Hopefully everything will go smooth and there will be no rushing a mare to the vet or rushing the vet out to Darling Creek. I’m praying now that winter will break and spring will truly arrive so mares aren’t foaling in the cold. The mares and babies will be fine if it does have to happen in a snow storm, but I’ll feel better if it’s warmer and more spring like!

Our mares “foal out”, which means they have their babies outside and the babies jump up right away, grab a suck of milk and follow their Mommas on gangly legs. The babies from the minute they drop are developing feet and legs, bone and muscle, brain and coordination by being able to jump up and go. I’ve read that horses raised this way are called the “special forces” in the horse world. By the time they are starting to be ridden, they already know how to climb up and come down a mountain, cross a creek or a bog, step over logs and run on uneven ground. This is good training for making great mountain horses- ¾ of the battle is over before you even throw a leg over them. If you don’t think this is important, try riding a stall raised horse in the rugged mountains like The Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness. It is a wreck in the making. BTW, Darling Creek Livestock supplies all of the livestock for Wild Idaho Outfitters and Castle Creek Outfitters.

We put a lot of time and care into our stock from picking and raising the mares, stallions, and jacks to training them so they are safe and reliable mounts. This is of utmost importance and something we don’t take lightly. That horse you ride to your drop camp and you are frustrated with because you don’t have the skills is taking care of you. Unbeknownst to you, she saved a little boys life the season before when he jumped off too fast and hung his foot in the stirrup and was laying under her. She kept her footing and her wits about her when Camas Creek was raging in the spring. She is smart enough not to fall off that narrow crumbling trail. These are the kind of babies I am anxiously awaiting. These are the kind of babies that I have ridded their Mommas and Grandmas and Daddies for miles and miles through all kinds of weather and conditions. These are the kinds of babies, I put my kids and grandkids and outfitting clients on and never look back, because I know they are safe! These are the babies come this time of the year, I can hardly wait for them to arrive! These are the mares I am watching their beautiful swollen bellies, anxiously awaiting the arrival of spring and their Christmas packages! To me spring means horse and mule babies at Darling Creek!

Contributed by Kelly Swingruber (Wrangler for Wild Idaho Outfitters and Castle Creek Outfitters)

Working for Idaho Wildlife

Tue, 01 Mar 2022 11:00:00 GMT

Heath’s Triple Crown

What we hoped to accomplish in 1 week took almost 13 months and 3 trips to Idaho, but it finally happened. Heath F. is an avid hunter and wanted to pursue predators and wanted to get what we would deem the “Triple Crown” of lower 48 predators in the form of a wolf, black bear, and mountain lion.

He sought us out and in early January 2021 he came out on a predator hunt for all three and we were successful in getting him a wolf. Fast forward to August 2021. He calls up and says he has some vacation to burn, and do we have room for a bear hunter in fall bear camp? Well, of course we did, and he wanted to take advantage of the fact that he already had his hunting license from earlier in the year and this time he was successful on a respectable color phase black bear.

After the bear, we knew we had to have him back to try for the third leg of the “Triple Crown” and after a few scheduling challenges, we finally connected in late January 2022, and he scored on a nice specimen of a Mountain Lion completing his goal.

In Idaho, central Idaho specifically, where the landscape lends itself very well to wildlife and predation is a true threat to healthy ungulate populations, hunting these predators is a true benefit and much needed management tool to grow healthy populations of elk, deer, mountain goats, and sheep in our little slice of heaven!

Heath did his part to help with the population and we thank him and congratulate him on 3 very well-placed shots and some very serious effort!

Maybe it’s time for you to get out and enjoy your public lands and do a little predator hunting while you are there?

Happy hunting!

Ultimate Hunt Combo Possibilities

Tue, 25 May 2021 05:00:00 GMT

This year, for the first time ever, we are offering what I would consider an ultimate hunting combo.

In our Castle Creek Outfitters area, we have a very unique opportunity to hunt more species at one time than I am aware of anywhere, especially considering most hunts are closed by this time and most people are relegated to sofa surfing, watching hunting channels and patiently waiting for next season.

December, in area 28 of central Idaho only, one can hunt (provided they have the proper tags) elk AND deer with archery equipment. This time frame allows for harvest of either sex of both species, increasing your odds of success with a bow.

Big deal you say? We can already do that in September in most states. Stay with me. This is where it gets good. By December, the snow has begun to fly making tracking of mountain lions possible, add to that some wolf and coyote hunting opportunity and if late enough in December (after December 15th), you can even add bobcat to your wish list making this an amazing combo (in my opinion of course).

All over the counter elk and deer tags sold out within hours this year, but due to special outfitter set aside we are in possession of exactly 2 elk and 2 deer tags, and we want to share them with someone willing to “play in the snow” and chase as many animals at one time as possible.

We would intend to conduct this hunt (obviously) in December, and have you hunt deer and elk on your own during the day while your guide takes off before daylight to seek out fresh lion tracks that he can turn the dogs loose on and get after. When he finds a set to turn the dogs loose on, he would come find you and get after a cat. This would alleviate a lot of the boring down time usually associated with predator hunts and add to the affordability factor we are aiming for with this hunt.

Elk and deer would need to be harvested with archery equipment, but any predator hunting could be done with a firearm allowing better opportunity at wolves and coyotes.

This is our idea, and we are certainly open to others, but keep in mind that there are only 2 elk and 2 deer tags available.

A Couple Spots Still Left for this Spring Bear Season

Mon, 24 May 2021 21:48:33 GMT

The weather has been unseasonably warm and dry this year and the water level on the creek has been pretty steady helping us avoid the radical highs of a “normal” spring runoff, bears are active, and we got ‘em on camera.

We are looking forward to a productive spring bear season and have just a couple spots still available for June. So, if you don’t have any concrete spring hunting or fishing plans and can get away on short notice, contact us about dates and times for an Idaho spring bear hunt with us!

Happy hunting!

Trophy Species Application Season Opens Up Today April 1st

Thu, 01 Apr 2021 08:00:00 GMT

April 1st is one of my favorite times of year because it signifies the “official” opener of Idaho’s spring bear season. It is one our favorite seasons as we are forced to “get off the couch” and into the saddle of some very fine Darling Creek Livestock.

We are incredibly proud of the horses and mules we use and raise. We really look forward to getting out and using them and baiting for spring bears is a very good excuse to do that as well as a way to start our young stock by packing.

Although April 1 is the official opener, it is still a bit early in our country as the creeks are just now beginning to open up to be able to cross them and there is still quite a bit of snow in the backcountry at the 5600-6000 foot range which is where we hunt.

April 1st also is also the official opener of one of my least favorite seasons, hunt application season. Now, I am the first to recognize that some species NEED to be a draw hunt and trophy species like moose, sheep and mountain goats are indeed in limited enough supply that draws are a necessary evil.

So, if you have any desire to hunting a trophy species in our great state of Idaho, be sure to get your application in during the month of April. Click here to be to begin your application for an Idaho moose, goat or sheep hunt chance.

Best of luck in the draws and most importantly, in the woods this year!

Spring Bear Drop Camps

Wed, 31 Mar 2021 22:34:39 GMT

With Idaho’s 2021 spring bear season beginning this week, we are grateful that we are pretty much booked up on our guided hunts, but new for 2021, we are offering spring bear drop camps for those DIY hunters who to prefer the challenge of hunting on their own and more of the spot and stalk element of bear hunting.

This is a more affordable option over guiding, puts you in charge of your own schedule and may just be the ticket for that pent up wintertime cabin fever!

We will pack you into a back country camp, drop you off, show you a couple of pre-baited sites you can sit in the evenings and leave you to your own hunting experience. We will then come pick you up at a predetermined time and hope to hear tall tales of faraway places and hopefully be able to congratulate on a well-placed shot on an Idaho bear!

For more info on this new option from Wild Idaho outfitters and Castle Creek Outfitters this year, contact us!

Best of luck with spring bear hunts this year and remember to get out and enjoy YOUR public lands!