Idaho General Season

[SeatoSummit88]

Hey Everyone,

My hunting partner and I are thinking about heading out to Idaho for general season (white tails) this fall. I saw that the general season runs from Oct.10th through Nov.9th in the unit we are considering.  To the best of anyone's knowledge, does it truly matter the time of the season that we head out?  Obviously, scouting pre-season and showing up opening day could produce a better outcome; however, for the range of dates they allow for hunting; does it matter when we would show up?  Any tips would be appreciated. 

Thanks,
Matt

[jackelope]

Obviously the rut would be the best time to go. Based on that time frame, you won't be there late enough in the season to hunt the rut. In that case I'd want to be there opening day before all the pressure hits. Outside of that I'd pick a different unit where you can hunt the rut.

[SeatoSummit88]

Thanks Jackelope!  So this unit is broken up from Oct.10-Oct.31st then it has a line splitting the next row below it, and it says Nov.1-Dec.1.  Where as other units flow from one month to another on the same line. i.e. : Oct 10-Nov 9.  Does this mean that the unit will be open for an early and late season, and you have to choose which one you will hunt? Or is that just how F&W broke it up on their reg book?  Does the rut typically start early/mid November for panhandle/north ID? (for whitetail)...

thanks

[mburrows]

Youll see more rutting action towards the end of November.

[SeatoSummit88]

Ok thanks Mburrows!  I appreciate the information. 
We arent going out there to bag a whopper whitetail, we both just need to fill our freezers, and hopefully have the opportunity to bag a quality buck.  I know that there are guys, like everywhere else, that go and search high and low, and wait until the big one comes in sight.  We are burning out there from Seattle, dedicating up to 6 days, tagging out asap and making it back to Seattle in one piece.  We also have to be back in time for Modern Elk. 

[fly4fish]

Peak whitetail rut seems to be Nov. 18-28, give or take.  I would find a unit where you can hunt those dates; there are plenty of them.  If I were to hunt from prior to Nov. 9, I would hunt the last week and plan to do some calling. The bucks will be ready, but most of the does wont.

[SeatoSummit88]

Ok great. Thanks for the advice fly4fish!  How can you describe some of ID's northern / panhandle units to WA's hunting units?  Is it polar opposite?  Obviously, Whitetail hunting is way different than Blacktail "hunting".  Does the terrain go from plains/range to rocky mountains pretty drastically?

[Grizman]

Totally agree with Fly4fish on prime dates for N ID late hunting.  I have hunted that area for years. (Sandpoint north to BC border). Terrain is mostly very heavy timber, very steep, late season weather can be mild to very wintery.  Old and new logging sites are good bets.  Some private valley lands offer great hunting but tough getting entry if you are a stranger.  Hunting is great on huge public areas, but be prepared for tough hunting but well worth the effort.  The term northern Idah represents a HUGE mountainous area.  Start looking at it from the ground and you will see what I mean.
Best of luck on your adventures.

[jackelope]

Ok great. Thanks for the advice fly4fish!  How can you describe some of ID's northern / panhandle units to WA's hunting units?  Is it polar opposite?  Obviously, Whitetail hunting is way different than Blacktail "hunting".  Does the terrain go from plains/range to rocky mountains pretty drastically?

We were in the north Panhandle. It was very thick with scattered clearcuts. I'd go during the rut and plan to rattle/grunt/call them in. I don't think you'd do too well trying to still hunt it where we were. Too thick. No way you'd get through it quietly.

[SeatoSummit88]

Thanks guys. Great advice and input!  We are looking forward to finally changing up our routine and getting out of WA to try and bag some game.  WA is a great place to hunt and fish, but man, there are a lot of places (where we hunt especially- haha) becoming more and more crowded throughout the years.  I am sure that can be related in other states.  I am already looking at places to stay, and areas to go and scout late summer, and get a feel for the land. 

How many days do you normally spend, or how many days have you spent out there in past seasons?  We have spoke with other hunters in person, and friends of ours, who say that after the first couple of seasons, they start to plan a 5-7 day trip, so they can locate bigger bucks.  However, from the way they were hyping up the area; you can expect to see shooter bucks first day? ...does that sound accurate

[Todd_ID]

Expect to see a shooter daily, maybe. I tell people not to hunt with me unless you've got more than 10 days to commit. Those who hunt with only 8 days wish they had 12. There's a reason I ask for the month off from work. 5 days is a tough hunt, daylight to dark every day, and they're spent. 8 days, they're ready to sleep in 3 of those after the daylight to dark routine. Neither are a good experience. Hunting is supposed to be fun. At 10 days, you're ok with the fact that you slept in 3 days. At 15 days you know the pocket you're hunting well enough to be able to sleep in, and that's close to vacation. At 20 days you feel good about your effort. At 30 days you've forgotten how to do your job, and that's the point of hunting trips. I'll give it up if I feel I have to hunt less than 70 days a year.

[Todd_ID]

The point of my post was to say that you're hunting from that mindset of "burn out there from Seattle", kill 2 bucks, and burn back home. (The Seattle part had nothing to do with it, other than those were your words.)

Learn to enjoy an area and a hunt. See what there is to learn from the woods there, instead of hunting Idaho in order to kill and run, i.e., take and not give back.

Plan a 2 week hunt, shoot the first doe or buck that makes you happy, and then stay until the trip is over. Filling tags shouldn't ever end a hunt.

That being said, fly4fish was good on his info to you. Hunt whatever unit you choose for whitetail Nov 8-25, and you'll be happy with the result. Stay patient, move darn slow, rattle away, call plenty, and shoot straight.

[SeatoSummit88]

Thanks guys.  We will make sure to try and slow down and enjoy it.  We always are stressed out about filling our freezers, we never get a chance to soak in the scenery and remember where we are at. This will  be something new to us, so we will make the most of it.  As it should be.  I appreciate everyone's advice and knowledge!

great people on here!

[Grizman]

Be careful not to get your hopes to high because the fall will hurt more than it needs to!  I have spent 46 years in N ID hunting both Mule Deer and Whitetails.  I know all the bad spots and quit going there years ago.  Now I just hunt the good spots but I have yet to find a spot where you see "shooters" running around everyday.  Like I said earlier,  you would do yourself a favor taking a scouting trip and seeing that North Idaho is not some little wood lot with bucks running all over.  It is huge country with so many areas, a lifetime of hunting it can only expose you to a small portion of it.