How many deer tags?

[vandeman17]

My old man and I are hunting Idaho in late September this year. Our main target is elk and that is what I plan to focus on. With that said, we know that there is always a chance that a good buck shows itself so we are going to buy at least one deer tag. My question is, do you guys think we both should have one? Between licenses, elk tags, packing costs etc I will already be into the trip a few pennies so just trying to decide where to allocate my funds.

[RadSav]

Every time I've hunted Idaho without a deer tag I've been 30 yards from a freak nasty.  Every time I've hunted Idaho with a deer tag in my pocket I've only seen 3's and miniature 4s.  So my experience says you're damned if you do - damned if you don't.   After the last buck I saw without a tag being so crazy huge freak hog monster elkish...I never go there now without a tag in my pocket now.

[kentrek]

Have two tags...there relatively cheap

[vandeman17]

Have two tags...there relatively cheap

I agree but I am already dropping coin to get packed in and dropped for both my dad and I so the bill is already up there. That one tag money could be used to pay for all our food, gas etc... I just don't know if the second is worth it.

[Karl Blanchard]

You're going there for elk, focus on elk.  Can you stumble upon a good buck?  Sure.  But odds are, elk will be where elk like to be and mature bucks will like to be where they like to be.  Those aren't always in the same place.  If 300 is gonna bust the budget then stick to elk.  Plus, with no deer tag then you're sure to see a huge mule deer which will be neat

[vandeman17]

You're going there for elk, focus on elk.  Can you stumble upon a good buck?  Sure.  But odds are, elk will be where elk like to be and mature bucks will like to be where they like to be.  Those aren't always in the same place.  If 300 is gonna bust the budget then stick to elk.  Plus, with no deer tag then you're sure to see a huge mule deer which will be neat

It would pretty much guarantee that we saw a huge mulie. I do know that he would have to be something I would hang on my wall before I considered going after him. Just my luck I would go after an ok buck, shoot him and he would die in a hell hole.

[RadSav]

Plus, with no deer tag then you're sure to see a huge mule deer which will be neat

Neat!?    I had nightmares for years after having to pass up that buck!

Now that I can calmly talk about it without crying or having heart palpitations...I guess it was sort of neat.

[Karl Blanchard]

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[RadSav]

Hi, I'm Matt Foley.  And I think nature is neat!  Much better than what I can see from my van down by the river!

[whacker1]

Every time I've hunted Idaho without a deer tag I've been 30 yards from a freak nasty.  Every time I've hunted Idaho with a deer tag in my pocket I've only seen 3's and miniature 4s.  So my experience says you're damned if you do - damned if you don't.   After the last buck I saw without a tag being so crazy huge freak hog monster elkish...I never go there now without a tag in my pocket now.

my experience as well.  I watched a 160 class mule deer the only year I didn't have a deer tag.

[kentrek]

Plus, with no deer tag then you're sure to see a huge mule deer which will be neat

Neat!?    I had nightmares for years after having to pass up that buck!

Now that I can calmly talk about it without crying or having heart palpitations...I guess it was sort of neat.

I too suffer from these nightmares....It costs much much more then 300 $$ to help relieve the haunted memories of "that one buck" talking to a shrink

[RadSav]

I'm afraid to see a shrink.  I fear they would have me committed after the first session.  I'm not a very stable person when talking about misses and empty tag pockets when that big buck walks by.  And if we start talking about the last year I hunted the eastside for elk and couldn't shoot branched bulls...they would throw away the key!