Idaho Big Game Application Season 2024 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 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. March 14, 2024By Monica Oliver Announcements, General Information, Guided Hunts Idaho hunting, Idaho Hunts, Idaho wilderness hunts, Moose Hunts, Sheep Hunts 0 0 Comment Read More »
Winter 23-24 Predator Hunting (Mt. Lion/Wolf/Bobcat) 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. November 29, 2023By Monica Oliver Announcements, General Information, Guided Hunts Idaho hunting, Idaho Hunts, Idaho wilderness hunts, Lion Hunts, Predator Hunts, Wolf Hunts 0 0 Comment Read More »
It’s Easier to Find Your Favorite When There’s Lots of Choices 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. March 17, 2023By Monica Oliver Announcements, General Information Drop Camps, Idaho hunting, Idaho Hunts, Public Land, Wrangler 0 0 Comment Read More »
How Long You Been Doin This? 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. March 15, 2023By Monica Oliver Announcements, Camp Life, General Information Idaho hunting, Idaho Hunts, Wrangler 0 0 Comment Read More »
Ultimate Hunt Combo Possibilities 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. May 25, 2021By Monica Oliver Announcements, General Information, Guided Hunts Black Bear Hunts, Idaho Black Bear Hunts, Idaho hunting, Idaho Hunts, Idaho Mountain Lion Hunt, Idaho wilderness hunts, Wolf Hunts 0 0 Comment Read More »
Last minute cancellation: Idaho Mountain Lion, Wolf, Bobcat and Coyote Hunt 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. January 22, 2021By Monica Oliver Announcements, General Information, Guided Hunts Bobcat Hunt, Idaho Hunts, Idaho Mountain Lion Hunt, Idaho Wolf Hunt 0 0 Comment Read More »
Hunting with GPS/Map-Devices: Seeing Outside the Box Don’t get me wrong, modern GPS/map-devices, or map apps that make smartphones function like GPS/map-devices, are wonderful tools for the hunter. Being somewhat device challenged, I can only wish I knew how to use them. Some tech-savvy hunters I have run into recently manage to get around in the woods quite well with them. August 3, 2020By Joe Cavanaugh Announcements, General Information Black Bear Hunts, Elk Hunts, Guided Hunts, Guided-Hunts, Idaho Hunts, Mule Deer Hunts 0 0 Comment Read More »
Post Season Trail Cam Pics Still Plenty of Bears Left for Next Year 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. July 27, 2020By Joe Cavanaugh Announcements, Guided Hunts, Idaho Black Bear Hunts Bear Hunts, Guided Hunts, Guided-Hunts, Idaho Black Bear Hunts, Idaho hunting, Idaho Hunts, Idaho wilderness hunts 0 0 Comment Read More »
Positive Attitudes and Hunting Success 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. July 20, 2020By Joe Cavanaugh Announcements, General Information, Guided Hunts, Idaho Black Bear Hunts Bear Hunts, Guided Hunts, Guided-Hunts, Idaho Black Bear Hunts, Idaho hunting, Idaho Hunts, Idaho wilderness hunts 0 0 Comment Read More »
Last Chance for Idaho Controlled Hunt Tags Time is running out to apply for elk, deer, and pronghorn controlled hunts in Idaho—the deadline being June 5th. Idaho does not use a bonus/preference point system for controlled hunts, so you have just as good of a chance at drawing a tag as anyone else. May 29, 2020By Joe Cavanaugh Announcements, General Information Elk Hunts, Idaho Hunts, Mule Deer Hunts 0 0 Comment Read More »