Hello,
I put in for Idaho last year but didn't draw the controlled hunt and was forced to miss the general hunt due to family health issues.
For the next two years I'm going come hell or high water so I've been researching all I can - Idaho F&G has a great website and I've done all I can with it but could really use some opinions from those that have hunted for mature mule deer in Idaho.
I have absolutely no interest in elk hunting or shooting a meat buck - I can do that at home.
This trip will be ONLY for a mature mule deer buck - 160+. I plan on giving the unit 2 years and am ready to eat both tags if necessary. Simply getting out is fulfilling enough, I have zero desire to shoot your 3 points.
These are the units I'm considering but about the time I feel good about a unit I read something that makes me think I'm way off base. So I could really use some real world advice! So,
Unit 66 - southern portion looks like great terrain with good access. Good genetics but everything I read says it's good elk hunting. Can't find much on mule deer bucks.
Unit 48 - some good deer reports but the country looks steep and tougher to access which concerns me due to not being able to pre-scout the area.
Unit 49 - the BLM in the southern portion makes me drool. In MT I hunt mule deer in big sagebrush canyons where I can use a spotting scope to cover lots of ground. I'm concerned the foothills won't have mature bucks during the general season with it being mid October. I don't know.
So.... Am I close to finding a general unit where a person could expect to see a 160 class Muley?
I have the gear to back pack hunt but without a honey hole I feel my best chance would be an area with decent access that would allow me to find some deer then move into that area and stick with it
Every deer I've shot has been during the rut so hunting bucks in October is all new to me. I'm thinking I would arrive 2 days before season and hunt the first four days.
Do you Idaho hunters feel the first few days is best for bucks or wait till the last 4-6 days?
Any and all opinions on my plan are appreciated, pm's work too - this is all new to me.
Thanks for the help!
I put in for Idaho last year but didn't draw the controlled hunt and was forced to miss the general hunt due to family health issues.
For the next two years I'm going come hell or high water so I've been researching all I can - Idaho F&G has a great website and I've done all I can with it but could really use some opinions from those that have hunted for mature mule deer in Idaho.
I have absolutely no interest in elk hunting or shooting a meat buck - I can do that at home.
This trip will be ONLY for a mature mule deer buck - 160+. I plan on giving the unit 2 years and am ready to eat both tags if necessary. Simply getting out is fulfilling enough, I have zero desire to shoot your 3 points.
These are the units I'm considering but about the time I feel good about a unit I read something that makes me think I'm way off base. So I could really use some real world advice! So,
Unit 66 - southern portion looks like great terrain with good access. Good genetics but everything I read says it's good elk hunting. Can't find much on mule deer bucks.
Unit 48 - some good deer reports but the country looks steep and tougher to access which concerns me due to not being able to pre-scout the area.
Unit 49 - the BLM in the southern portion makes me drool. In MT I hunt mule deer in big sagebrush canyons where I can use a spotting scope to cover lots of ground. I'm concerned the foothills won't have mature bucks during the general season with it being mid October. I don't know.
So.... Am I close to finding a general unit where a person could expect to see a 160 class Muley?
I have the gear to back pack hunt but without a honey hole I feel my best chance would be an area with decent access that would allow me to find some deer then move into that area and stick with it
Every deer I've shot has been during the rut so hunting bucks in October is all new to me. I'm thinking I would arrive 2 days before season and hunt the first four days.
Do you Idaho hunters feel the first few days is best for bucks or wait till the last 4-6 days?
Any and all opinions on my plan are appreciated, pm's work too - this is all new to me.
Thanks for the help!
