Five reasons to hunt big game in Idaho

Now is the time when hunters, outfitters and state Fish and Game officials are flocking to sportsmen's shows around the United States, and hunters are making decisions about where to hunt in 2013. We want hunters to know about the advantages of hunting in Idaho ... Here's our list of 5 reasons to hunt big game in Idaho:

1. Go with a Pro. Idaho outfitters and guides know the country, they know where the big game animals are, and they’ll take great care of you in elk camp.
2. Solitude. Guided hunts in Idaho have a lot of elbow room in wilderness and roadless areas … no worries about getting buzzed by an ATV or seeing hundreds of other hunters while you’re out hunting. Go find your private Idaho.
3. Big game bonanza. On a fall backcountry hunt, you can buy tags for and potentially harvest a mule deer, white-tailed deer, elk, wolf, black bear and mountain lion during a week-long hunt. How much room do you have in your freezer?
4. Best drawing odds for trophy species. No preference points or bonus points are needed to draw prized tags for bighorn sheep, mountain goat or moose. Central Idaho is a premium destination for these highly sought-after species.
5. Introduce your kids to big game hunting for $1.75. Idaho has a new program for junior mentor tags. Adults with a big game license can buy a hunting passport for kids 8 and over for $1.75. No hunter education classes are required, either. The program also is open to adults who have never hunter before.

Here are some other benefits that Idaho outfitters and guides bring to the table ...      We need to underscore Point #2 ... Idaho outfitters and guides are licensed with the state of Idaho. They must go through a rigorous process with a state licensing board to receive a license to outfit and guide hunters in Idaho. A number of states do not have this process, and unwitting hunters sometimes end up booking a trip with a fly-by-night outfitter who doesn't have the skills, equipment and know-how to lead a quality successful hunt. That won't happen to you in Idaho because of the licensing process. Idaho's outfitters and guides are high-quality people who truly know the mountains and wildlife in their territory,  and they can be counted on to take care of your health, safety and welfare. Here's a video that shows what a guided elk hunt in Idaho is all about:watch?v=FKXjntnJliY Here's another top list from the Idaho Department of Fish and Game ...Top 5 Reasons To Hunt in Idaho ... 1. Buying big game tags is simple. Hunters can buy big game tags through their outfitter and go hunting. Idaho Fish and Game reserves a number of deer and elk set-aside and allocated big game elk tags for the outfitted public. A key advantage is that those tags can be purchased through Idaho outfitters long after other states have sold out. 2. We give you variety. Go elk hunting and bring steelhead home, too. We call it "cast and blast." Combination fishing and bird-hunting trips are available, too. 3. Wide open spaces. Vast public lands provide variety, opportunity and fair chase. 4. We are always open. Hunt and fish 365 days a year. 5. Easy on the pocket book. Tap into the discount for a nonresident junior license and tags to mentor a young hunter. Never heard of Idaho? Or just heard of it because of our famous potatoes? Well, former Idaho Gov. Cecil Andrus, a lifelong hunter, puts it this way: "Idaho is what America was." Enjoy this video titled "Dreaming of Idaho" and you'll see that we're about ...watch?v=EYMxW-5_390 Come hunt with us in Idaho. To select a hunting outfitter in Idaho, visit our web site for a full listing of outfitters and guides ... Thanks for visiting. - IOGA