For a first-time elk hunter, rifle hunting would probably be your best bet, or possibly a muzzleloader hunt. Idaho Fish and Game offers a variety of elk hunts, and if you have your heart set on getting a bull, good for you, but it will be a challenge. Overall success rates for elk hunters statewide is typically around 20 percent, and success rates for bull hunters tend to be lower.
For a first-time elk hunter, you would have a higher chance of success with an antlerless hunt. Cow elk hunts typically have a higher success rate for the simple reason there are more cows than bulls. We suggest a controlled hunt, which you could apply for in May. You can find a long list of antlerless hunts available in the Idaho Big Game Seasons and Rules brochure. There will be a new brochure out in the spring for 2023-24 prior to the controlled hunt application period. In the meantime, don’t hesitate to look at the 2022 version, which will give you a pretty good idea of what will be available for antlerless elk hunts. There will be some changes for 2023, but probably not dramatic ones.
We also mentioned muzzleloader hunts because there’s often antlerless hunts available for general tags in many elk zones. You don’t have to apply for a general tag, and you can see which ones are available in the rules and seasons brochure. It may be a little confusing at first, but here’s a quick explanation. Idaho has 28 elk zones, most of which offer general season hunting opportunities. You can only hunt in one zone, and most zones offer A and B tags for different types of hunts. You can only have one tag (A or B), but you get to all hunt all hunts available for that specific tag in that zone.
A good way to learn more about elk hunts and choosing a hunt is to look at Idaho Fish and Game’s “Hunt Planner” on the website, which provides more details on hunts, as well as harvest estimates by hunting unit and weapon types for both general and controlled hunts. You can also see what last year’s drawing odds were for controlled hunts to decide which tag you want to apply for.
This may all sound complicated, but it’s really not, and the large variety of hunts available lets you tailor where and how you want to hunt, and hopefully, get a tag for that. Fortunately, you will have numerous options whether you want to hunt bulls, cows, general or controlled hunts, and if you don’t draw a controlled hunt, there will still be general hunts available. Good luck, and good hunting.