Idaho Wilderness Area Mule Deer

[ian_padron]

Looking to talk with anyone who's done a Mule Deer hunt in the wilderness areas of Idaho.

I'm looking at the Sawtooth and White Cloud Wilderness areas and would love to ask a few questions before deciding which area to scout this summer.

PM me, thanks!

-Ian

[BUTTER]

I hunted in the sawtooth for elk last season. Honestly didn't see to many deer out hunting. I'd look more towards the Frank church

[2MANY]

Go to Atlanta Idaho.
Head out a trail NE/East.
Go high.

But remember this is prime winter-kill area this year.

[lord grizzly]

all the best mule deer hunting is in Washington wilderness. don't waste your time over here

[Skyvalhunter]

Wa sold off its Wilderness areas to the feds

[ian_padron]

Going to put all my eggs in one basket for the high hunt here in WA and give Idaho a shot for the general season. Came out West to hunt in the Wilderness, so the more trips I can swing...the merrier

I've thought about the Frank Church but it looks like you need stock to do any real damage in there due to the sheer size of the area.

[ian_padron]

all the best mule deer hunting is in Washington wilderness. don't waste your time over here

heehee

[ian_padron]

I hunted in the sawtooth for elk last season. Honestly didn't see to many deer out hunting. I'd look more towards the Frank church

What elevation were you hunting at?

Most guys have said that you tend to find the elk and deer in different spots over there (deer up as high as you can get, elk lower).

[ian_padron]

Go to Atlanta Idaho.
Head out a trail NE/East.
Go high.

But remember this is prime winter-kill area this year.

They're getting bombed with snow pretty bad this year huh?

PM sent

[Pathfinder101]

Just lurking.  Kind of looking at the same areas to hunt next season...  Been Google-earthing the ^&$% out of the Atlanta area...

[lord grizzly]

Just lurking.  Kind of looking at the same areas to hunt next season...  Been Google-earthing the ^&$% out of the Atlanta area...

You and thousands of other guys...

[lord grizzly]

And yes the snow is terrible this year. Almost tied for the worst winter on record at this point. And I think the prairie dog at the boise zoo saw his shawdow this morning

[vandeman17]

Another vote for frank church. Killed the buck in my avatar there this past season.

[BUTTER]

I hunted from all sorts of elevations from 7 to 11 thousand feet. Elk were definitely around a d so we're some deer. I'm not saying g you can t kill a deer there because you definitely can. I'm saying g I think there is some better deer areas in Idaho just my two cents. Good luck in which ever route you go

[Badhabit]

High peaks around featherville.

[andrew_in_idaho]

Sawtooth is going to have a bad winter kill as well, pretty much any place in SW and S central Idaho is going to see large amounts of winterkill this winter


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[MtnMuley]

Sawtooth is going to have a bad winter kill as well, pretty much any place in SW and S central Idaho is going to see large amounts of winterkill this winter


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Sad but true. I think it's worse than many people are wanting to believe.

[brocka]

Just lurking.  Kind of looking at the same areas to hunt next season...  Been Google-earthing the ^&$% out of the Atlanta area...

You and thousands of other guys...

Haha. Pretty much. It's absolutely crazy how many CA and WA plates you see there.

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[ian_padron]

I hunted from all sorts of elevations from 7 to 11 thousand feet. Elk were definitely around a d so we're some deer. I'm not saying g you can t kill a deer there because you definitely can. I'm saying g I think there is some better deer areas in Idaho just my two cents. Good luck in which ever route you go

Thanks man I appreciate you chiming in.

[Magnum_Willys]

Idaho deer could be a real cr*pshoot this year I'm afraid.    They were just rebounding from wolves now smacked down with the Global Warming nasty winter.

[Karl Blanchard]

Just lurking.  Kind of looking at the same areas to hunt next season...  Been Google-earthing the ^&$% out of the Atlanta area...

You and thousands of other guys...

Haha. Pretty much. It's absolutely crazy how many CA and WA plates you see there.

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isn't it something crazy like more people hunt 39 and 43 than the whole state combined!?!   Boise out the back door doesn't help that

[TriggerMike]

Just lurking.  Kind of looking at the same areas to hunt next season...  Been Google-earthing the ^&$% out of the Atlanta area...

You and thousands of other guys...

Haha. Pretty much. It's absolutely crazy how many CA and WA plates you see there.

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isn't it something crazy like more people hunt 39 and 43 than the whole state combined!?!   Boise out the back door doesn't help that

But how many of those people get 2 or 3+ miles into the backcountry?

[Mr Mykiss]

98% of people don't get more than 400 yds off a road while hunting idaho...BLR makes up the other 2%. He gets 40,000 yards off'n the road

[Mr Mykiss]

Ian have you already checked out the multitude of threads about this very topic on OYOA, rokslide, here, and ifish??

[Harbor_hunter]

What's OYOA?

[jackelope]

What's OYOA?

www.onyourownadventures.com

[ian_padron]

Ian have you already checked out the multitude of threads about this very topic on OYOA, rokslide, here, and ifish??

I have done the bulk of my research on Rokslide, not part of the other forums though!

Most of what led me to the areas I'm looking at was encountered over on Rokslide on the mule deer thread. I know there are a couple HuntWA guys that know Idaho inside and out so I figured I'd drop a line here as well.

So far the feedback and advice has been AWESOME.

[Mr Mykiss]

Copy that. Idaho is awesome, next year maybe not so much but it will still be a good experience for you!!

[go4steelhd]

I guess I'm hunting in more popular areas. Why I say this I hiked in three hours In The dark opening day. No trails. There was several other guys that showed up in the same area. The next day was worse. I'm impressed how hard guys will work in Idaho to find a big buck. I also feel Idaho guys are the least friendly to nonresidents. Which is sad because I lived there for 10 years
If you are comparing pressure with Wyoming high country there is less In Idaho. But there is less deer as well.

[Mtnwalker]

Instead of focusing on getting away from other guys try focusing on areas that you know will hold deer, and learning how they react to pressure. The last couple years I've quit wasting half of my hunt hiking away from guys and instead am learning to use other hunters to my advantage, I feel I'm having better success and now I don't get all bummed out every time somebody else is in one of "my" spots. 

[WAcoueshunter]

I think go4steelhd's approach worked out okay for him. 

[Harbor_hunter]

Thanks Jackalope, hadn't heard of that before and was curious. 

[idaho guy]

I guess I'm hunting in more popular areas. Why I say this I hiked in three hours In The dark opening day. No trials. There was several other guys that showed up in the same area. The next day was worse. I'm impressed how hard guys will work in Idaho to find a big buck. I also feel Idaho guys are the least friendly to nonresidents. Which is sad because I lived there for 10 years
If you are comparing pressure with Wyoming high country there is less In Idaho. But there is less deer as well.

I agree. I hike way back in on some hunts only to find almost as many guys there as right off the road. Plenty of guys riding 4 wheelers but a lot of Idaho  hunters hit the back country hard and I find it hard to get away from the crowds no matter how far in. I guess I need to scout out some new areas where everybody just rides 4 wheelers! would be a big advantage to a guy that likes to hike where are these areas you speak of

[actionshooter]

This is a dead horse, but I have never seen so many people as I have in 43, reminded me of Vail in its heyday.

[TriggerMike]

This is a dead horse, but I have never seen so many people as I have in 43, reminded me of Vail in its heyday.

During rifle or archery?

[Mr Mykiss]

Idaho sucks. Nobody should go hunting there.

[jackelope]

Copy that. Idaho is awesome, next year maybe not so much but it will still be a good experience for you!!

Idaho sucks. Nobody should go hunting there.

Having one of those bipolar days?

[Karl Blanchard]

Copy that. Idaho is awesome, next year maybe not so much but it will still be a good experience for you!!

Idaho sucks. Nobody should go hunting there.

Having one of those bipolar days?

Pretty sure he is still on pain killers from losing his manhood Josh

[fishngamereaper]

Copy that. Idaho is awesome, next year maybe not so much but it will still be a good experience for you!!

Idaho sucks. Nobody should go hunting there.

Having one of those bipolar days?

Pretty sure he is still on pain killers from losing his manhood Josh

Low blow.....

 

[Karl Blanchard]

Copy that. Idaho is awesome, next year maybe not so much but it will still be a good experience for you!!

Idaho sucks. Nobody should go hunting there.

Having one of those bipolar days?

Pretty sure he is still on pain killers from losing his manhood Josh

Low blow.....

 

  His text messages have not been inspiring me to make my appointment

[Jonathan_S]

Makes me want to buy frozen peas just thinking about it

[Mr Mykiss]

Maybe it's just mood swings...I heard those will happen more often now.

and most days are of the bipolar variety, I just roll with it.

[lord grizzly]

Idaho sucks. Nobody should go hunting there.

I agree. way over rated. hit the trails out of Leavenworth for your guys high hunt. way better hunting with way less people 

[fishngamereaper]

Copy that. Idaho is awesome, next year maybe not so much but it will still be a good experience for you!!

Idaho sucks. Nobody should go hunting there.

Having one of those bipolar days?

Pretty sure he is still on pain killers from losing his manhood Josh

Low blow.....

 

  His text messages have not been inspiring me to make my appointment

3 days on the couch watching hunting shows... Doesn't get much better.

[Mr Mykiss]

Not worth it.

Back on the subject...seriously buying tags and google scouting an area in da ho and hunting it, being prepared to move to plan B and plan C...it's a good time. Worst case scenario you end up learning something and go back the next year with a better starting point.

[7mmfan]

Not worth it.

Back on the subject...seriously buying tags and google scouting an area in da ho and hunting it, being prepared to move to plan B and plan C...it's a good time. Worst case scenario you end up learning something and go back the next year with a better starting point.

   this is what we did last year, had a great time. Got a little helping hand from some guys over there. Going back this year with a very different plan than what we started with last year. Going to be a good time.

[ian_padron]

Not worth it.

Back on the subject...seriously buying tags and google scouting an area in da ho and hunting it, being prepared to move to plan B and plan C...it's a good time. Worst case scenario you end up learning something and go back the next year with a better starting point.

I like that idea. I hunt for a lot of reasons, many of which  include getting the chance to see a lot of country in the West. Knocking down a deer is always on the list but exploring is always just as fun!

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