Embark on your ultimate hunting expedition in Idaho's Selway-Bitterroot Forest and Frank Church Wilderness with expert outfitter Cameron Outfitters. Chase elk, deer, bear, mountain lion, and wolf through pristine landscapes in Idaho’s Unit 17. This experienced guide ensures an unforgettable adventure tailored to various skills and preferences. Book your wilderness hunting experience today and embrace the thrill of the chase in one of America's most iconic regions.
Idaho’s Unit 17 offers some of the finest elk hunting anywhere in the Rocky Mountains. It is one of the few remaining places where you are allowed to rifle hunt for bugling elk in the early season. During the Idaho elk hunting season it’s also open season for wolf, mountain lion and black bear. Cameron Outfitters has guaranteed outfitter tags. You don’t have to hassle with drawings, or lotteries.
Cameron Outfitters exclusive operating area is one of the largest in Idaho and is located inside the largest wilderness area in the lower 48. It is some of the most beautiful, remote, rugged country you will ever experience. The team provides great mountain stock and guides that will do whatever it takes, but you need to be able to cover the country to be successful.
You will start the day early, have a great breakfast and ride out from camp on horses and mules, then go on foot to get to the best hunting spots. When that big bull bugles Cameron Outfitters will do what it takes to put you in the right spot! The average shot distance for elk is typically less than 100 yards with Cameron Outfitters expert guides by your side.
After your trophy is down, the field processing, caping and trophy preparation will be taken care of by your guide. After hunting each day you will arrive back at camp for a great dinner and relaxation where you can share your stories of the day with the other hunters. This is true western wilderness hunting at its finest.
Cameron Outfitters offers one hunter per guide (1 on 1 hunts), or two hunters per guide (2 on 1 hunts). 2 on 1 hunts are always from the same party. The Cameron Outfitters team can accommodate non-hunters at an additional cost.
This is a combination hunt and once you have your elk and deer the team will go after anything else you have tags for. You can hunt for bears, and they especially like to call wolves and coyotes. There are no additional costs or trophy fees. The Cameron Outfitters team just loves to hunt.
Cameron Outfitters will pack you, your hunting buddies and your gear on horseback and mules to one of their remote backcountry camps. This is an outstanding hunt for the experienced backcountry hunter.
Their camps are well furnished with tents, cots, chairs, wood heating stoves, large propane cooking stove, a complete kitchen box and all the other gear to make you self-sufficient in the wilderness.
Guests arrive at the Cameron Outfitters base camp the evening before we pack you in. Once there, the team will go over maps and have a thorough orientation of the area and camps. They’ll pack up most of your gear that evening and then sit down to a great dinner. Breakfast is served first thing in the morning before they pack you in and they send lunch with you.
Once your trophy is on the ground, you are responsible for field dressing and caping the animal and getting the quarters to a location they can get the pack mules to. The Cameron Outfitter packers will take the meat and pack it back to base camp where it will be hung and ready for you when we pack you out.
Cameron Outfitters provide radios so you are in constant communication with base camp. You can call them to come pack your meat back to base camp or address any issues that may come up.
Drop camp hunts are not for everyone. If you are an experienced elk hunter and are comfortable in remote backcountry locations this hunt is a great choice and a lot of fun for a group of friends and family.
With Cameron Outfitters, you will be hunting in the Northern Rockies at elevations between 4000 ft. and 9000 ft. During this time of the year the weather can be anywhere from 80°F hot, sunny and dry to 10°F windy and snowing, or in between and wet and that may be on the same day.
You could be riding a horse or hiking up steep hills, therefore layering is essential. Your most important item is a very good pair of hunting / hiking boots. Much of our ground is steep and you might be side hilling. A broken in, well fitting pair of boots is essential. Avoid bringing a brand new pair of boots to camp.
You will be sleeping in a cabin tent heated by a wood stove. The tent can get quite warm when the stove is first loaded and not stoked down sufficiently but often in the early morning hours if no one tends the fire it may go out and the tent can get cold.
A medium-warm sleeping bag with a blanket that can be added or subtracted as required is recommended (again layering). Cotton base and outer layers might be okay in the summer, but cotton does not work well in hunting camp. An old adage from winter survival training is “Cotton Kills”. There are many wonderful synthetics for both base and outer layers today so it is easy to pick an alternative to cotton. Wool is still hard to beat and is a good choice also.
Idaho does not require Hunter Orange. Our camps are very remote and the chance of seeing other hunters is small. If you have camouflage hunting clothing bring it, but it is more important to be quiet than camouflaged.
CLOTHES
PERSONAL ITEMS
HUNTING PACK
This is a basic list for getting started on clothing and hunting equipment for Idaho elk hunting. It is intended for reference only. Feel free to add or subtract as you prefer. The important thing is to dress in layered clothing that is not cotton and that is quiet. Try and keep your hunting pack to a minimum as it will be heavy enough at the end of the day, however this hunt is in very remote areas and you should have enough equipment to be self-sufficient in the wilderness. For guided hunters your guide will have all the necessary equipment to care for your game.
Experience premier hunting adventures in Idaho's Unit 17 with full-service outfitter Cameron Outfitters. Elk, deer, mountain lion, bear, and wolf.
