Idaho Elk, Mule Deer and Black Bear Blog

Official Opener of 2026 Idaho Spring Bear Season

Wed, 01 Apr 2026 13:46:36 GMT

April 1 is not only a Fool’s Day, but it is the day us hunters actually get to get out in the woods and hunt. Wait a minute…

Seriously, though, it’s that time again; time to get out in the woods! With this super mild winter we had this year, the ungulate population survival rate should be through the roof. The downside of that is there will be lots of babies for our Ursus Americanus, aka the American Black Bear, and they will be out on the prowl hunting those precious young fawns and calves. We need to be out amongst them and preempt their carnivorous ways with a well-placed bullet or arrow.

If you have never tried spring bear hunting or at least in Idaho, maybe this should be your year to give it a try. Whether with us, another outfitter, or on your own, spring bear hunting is simply a great reason to get off the couch, shake off those winter cobwebs and get outside doing your part to preserve the wildlife we love to pursue in the fall.

April 1 is the official opener for Idaho’s 2026 spring bear season, so get out and enjoy your public lands…and remember to take a kid hunting with you!

Happy (spring bear) Hunting!

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

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!

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

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!

Last minute cancellation: Idaho Mountain Lion, Wolf, Bobcat and Coyote Hunt

Fri, 22 Jan 2021 22:30:00 GMT

With all that has been going on this last little while, we find one of our regular hunters in need of a last-minute cancellation. We thought, no problem, there must be someone out there ready to go “off the grid” on an Idaho backcountry predator hunt to escape some of this madness for a little while.

With all that is happening in the world these days, it just may be what the doctor ordered for a little mental break from the world, so we are offering an amazing deal for up to 2 hunters wanting to take part in a last-minute cancellation on a mountain lion hunt February 1-7…yes, in a little over a week.

Because this hunt is last minute, we are offering a lower base price with a trophy fee per species. During this hunt, you will be able to pursue mountain lion, wolf, bobcat, and coyote. Seems to me this may be the ultimate predator hunt. That puts the onus on us to perform, so even if you harvested 2 or 3 animals you would be less than the “average” western mountain lion hunt these days that carries no guarantees. Contact us for more info.

Dates can fluctuate a little but guides and dogs are lined up for those dates and they are ready to show you an amazing Idaho back country adventure.

Check out this video of some of the dogs who will be guiding you on this hunt and then contact us for more info about this Idaho backcountry mountain lion hunt!

Happy Hunting,

George

P.S. If this hunt doesn’t work with your schedule but you still want to do a hunt like this before March 31 contact us for availability.

Post Season Trail Cam Pics Still Plenty of Bears Left for Next Year

Mon, 27 Jul 2020 10:00:00 GMT

We had a successful spring bear season this year, taking several nice bears, half of which were color phase. Game cameras show there are still plenty of bears left in our area to hunt this fall or next spring. For example, bear season closes on the June 30^th and on the evening of June 26^th a hunter sat on a bait until approximately 9:45 pm, by 10:37 pm a nice sized cinnamon bear was chowing down on the bait. The bear had us figured out and was only coming out at night, you say? Presumably, the same cinnamon bear was back for more chow by 7:43 the next morning. After that, the bait was quiet for a while, then presumably the same bear came back again on July 5^th at 1:30 in the afternoon with another adult cinnamon, and a cub appears on a few frames. A client had shot a cinnamon on this same bait early in June, which was the only bear we took off it this spring

Another camera showed 4-5 black bears and 1 cinnamon visited a bait site during the same time frame; only one bear was taken off this bait this spring. Nearly all our baits were literally licked clean by July 7^th, after being rebaited the last week of June. I can’t imagine how many bears inhabit the mountains of Central Idaho, and I don’t believe for a second that anyone knows. Though, I speculate that sport hunting isn’t putting the slightest dent in the population.

Good hunting,

Joe Cavanaugh

Positive Attitudes and Hunting Success

Mon, 20 Jul 2020 10:00:00 GMT

When I met my bear-hunting client a few of weeks ago, one of the first things he told me is that he usually has “pretty good luck on hunting trips like this”. As we all know, luck is a good thing to have on one’s side, but it’s difficult to obtain on-demand. Later the hunter informed me that what he really wanted was a nice cinnamon-phase bear, as he had already taken several other color phases of black bear. I told him he had chosen the right area, which he had because Unit 28 produces a high percentage of color-phase bears; though I what I was thinking is, he better pray for a dose of exceptionally good luck. The first evening on bait he shot an absolutely beautiful cinnamon bear with chocolate feet. Positive attitude or just plain luck—you decide which one was the winning factor. Having either one can’t hurt your odds of success and having both is better yet.

Good hunting,

Joe Cavanaugh

Idaho Controlled-Hunt Application Period for Elk, Deer, Antelope, and Fall Bear Opens May 1st

Fri, 01 May 2020 04:01:00 GMT

The tag application period for Idaho controlled-hunt elk, deer, pronghorn, and fall bear tags opens May 1 and runs to June 5. Idaho does not use a bonus/preference point system for controlled hunts. As a result, hunters have the same odds of drawing a tag the first year they apply as they do any other year.

To apply, residents and nonresidents must have a general hunting license, and pay an application fee of $6.25 for residents and $14.75 for nonresidents—per species. Unlike many other states, the cost of the tag is not paid for upfront in Idaho, instead they are purchased after the applicant has drawn. Successful applicants are notified by July 10, and tags must be purchased by August 1. Any tags that are not purchased by August 1 will be forfeited to a second application period, which runs from August 5 to August 15. Hunters who have already applied for a moose, bighorn sheep or mountain goat controlled hunt this year may not apply for any other controlled hunt (during the same year).

Castle Creek Outfitters operates in Unit 28, where there is an excellent, late-season, controlled-hunt for mule deer, which runs from October 10, all the way through the rut, to November 30 (Hunt 1018). This hunt has produced some outstanding bucks in the past. There are only 5 tags available however, and competition is fierce. (In controlled hunts with 10 or fewer tags, not more than one nonresident tag is issued). Castle Creek Outfitters also receives 1 “outfitter allocation tag” for this hunt, which is in high demand. There are no controlled-hunt, elk tags or bear tags for Unit 28, as they are all sold over the counter. Nonresident deer and elk tags are also valid to take black bear, mountain lion, or gray wolf instead of a deer or elk, if a general season is open for that species.

For detailed information and statistics on Idaho controlled hunts click on this link: https://idfg.idaho.gov/rules/big-game

The Wyoming deer and pronghorn tag application period closes June 1 and results come out June 18. The state of Wyoming allows you to purchase preference points only for deer, pronghorn, elk, moose and sheep from July 1 to November 2.

Good hunting,

Joe Cavanaugh