Idaho Whitetail Deer

[WBouldin]

Any Idaho guys have an explanation of the whitetails in the state? What general area of the state are they in and what are the genetics like? In the very very early stages of potentially planning a hunt so mainly just curious at this point.

 

[smarandr]

http://fishandgame.idaho.gov/public/docs/rules/bgDeer.pdf Page 8 shows the population distributions.

Couldn't tell you the first thing about genetics, but I know a guy who shot a 10 pointer in the river bottoms around Rexburg that would probably make any midwest or southern white tail hunter jealous.

 

[ERSS]

http://fishandgame.idaho.gov/public/docs/rules/bgDeer.pdf Page 8 shows the population distributions.

Couldn't tell you the first thing about genetics, but I know a guy who shot a 10 pointer in the river bottoms around Rexburg that would probably make any midwest or southern white tail hunter jealous.

I live very near the confluence of the Henrys and South Fork of the Snake River. There is a very healthy population of whitetails all along both forks. More so I believe on the Henrys Fork from Ashton on down to confluence. Lot of big deer in there, and the occasional hybrid as well. Past decade they seem to be pushing a little farther out from the river bottoms and adjacent farm land... now not uncommon to see them quite a ways out into the sage. Most of them reside on private land or limited access areas. However Deer Parks and Market Lake WMAs hold big numbers but can see a lot of pressure during the seasons.

 

[ric]

Be glad to talk to you about the best white tail hunting in Idaho, the Clearwater drainage, it doesn't get better. PM me to get started. We don't see many 10 pointers, but 5X5s are pretty common.

 

[idahofishnhunt]

be glad to talk to you about the best white tail hunting in idaho, the clearwater drainage, it doesn't get better. Pm me to get started. We don't see many 10 pointers, but 5x5s are pretty common.

lol.

 

[Ben Long]

I think Idaho's doesn't have the capacity to grow top B&C class bucks as the midwest or other lusher places with more agricultural food sources. My guess this has more to do with climate than genes. But I do love those classic North Woods bucks of the Clearwater and north in the panhandle. Idaho whitetails have a good chance of growing 5+ years, which they don't in other states. Good buck-to-doe ratios mean that deer behave like deer are supposed to behave. Lots of public land or amenable timber company lands with edges and early succession forest. Seasons that go through the rut. Snow. It's all good.

 

[Cammy]

I love the whitetail hunting in Idaho! Especially the OTC tags! I am 19 hours from where I have hunted the last 3 years and look forward to that drive (believe it or not) every year. Growing up in rural Michigan I have seen some big whitetails. 3 years ago my BIL shot a 6x6 up there that was on par with the biggest I have seen back home. He ran into some locals on the hike back to camp and asked if that was a good size deer for the area. The old man commented that it was a bit small and started laughing. Turned out that it was one of the biggest the old man had seen in years.

The deer got his revenge in the end. My brother-in-law caped the deer and was wearing the antlers on a rope around his neck saying "check out my bling!" following more than a couple of adult beverages. As he went to sit down by the fire, the G-2 stabbed him in the cheek. Still has a small scar.

 

[Elkchaser12]

Northern idaho is always a very safe bet being from southern idaho and having an archery mule deer tag burning a hole in my pocket won't be heading up north this year but maybe next year play it by what the draw brings, I hunt near grangeville and whitebird you can definately get a nice buck as long as your not too trigger happy but I do like the meat so I usually get trigger happy early