Idaho Panhandle Controlled Hunt

[elkinrutdrivemenuts]

So I got drawn for this tag this year.  I can hunt the Panhandle Region from August 30th through December 1st.  I am extremely excited and I have often forgot that I still need to fill my elk tag as well.  I am at a bit of a crossroads on how to approach it.  I thought I had it all figured out when I focus my time on this tag, but with 5 days to the opener, I am itching to go mulie hunting! 
This tag gives me the opportunity to go chase some very nice bucks around early, but they are still in the velvet and I should probably focus on elk then.  It also gives me access to areas in November that are not otherwise open to rifle hunters during the peak of the rut for mule deer.  I was leaning towards waiting till November, when everyone else is out of the woods to go start chasing them around, but I don't know if I can hold out that long.  My big hang up is that I really like hard horned bucks.  That being said, I wont hesitate to drop a nice one in the velvet.

So question for everyone, when do the antlers stop growing?  Are they growing up until the point they rub them off or could they be done August 30th?

Either way its going to be a fun season and I am looking forward to seeing what is out there this year! 

[jjhunter]

I've drawn that tag.  The advantage to that tag is August 30th.   Pre-scout a buck, hope he doesn't rub and drop him August 30th.

I made the mistake of watching a GIANT rub on the 30th instead of getting after him.   He disappeared that night while all of his buddies stayed out in the open through mid-October.

[elkinrutdrivemenuts]

I've drawn that tag.  The advantage to that tag is August 30th.   Pre-scout a buck, hope he doesn't rub and drop him August 30th.

I made the mistake of watching a GIANT rub on the 30th instead of getting after him.   He disappeared that night while all of his buddies stayed out in the open through mid-October.

Thanks for your input, I haven't hunted mulies this early in a long time. 

[pd]

You live closer, so you have much more time to scout than I do.  But we very seldom see mule deer in that area (I did see a doe with two fawns last year, which was the first time in a long time).  I look forward to hearing of your success, of course!!

Good luck on August 30th.  I will wait for the report at 11.

[idaho guy]

I've drawn that tag.  The advantage to that tag is August 30th.   Pre-scout a buck, hope he doesn't rub and drop him August 30th.

I made the mistake of watching a GIANT rub on the 30th instead of getting after him.   He disappeared that night while all of his buddies stayed out in the open through mid-October.

  congrats on that tag I have often put in for it but have never drawn. Some of my buddies have and if its a nice mulie  that you are after you want to concentrate on the opener. You can find some really nice bucks early that disappear later. I have no idea where they go and believe me I have tried to figure it out! I have also noticed a lot of the big whitetails I see and watch all summer usually go nocturnal shortly after they go hard horned. 

[elkinrutdrivemenuts]

Thanks guys, I got the day off so Ill be out on the opener!  I missed a nice buck in the area a 2 years ago with my bow, so I am hoping he has grown and I find him Wednesday morning!

[Roperfive88]

Shoot one in the velvet and you can strip the velvet. A good Taxidermist can color them up to look natural.

[Jimmy33]

This is my dream hunt...I love north Idaho and there are some really nice mulies in that high country. The beautiful thing about that hunt is you can access all of the mulie country unlike the November hunt. Get high, and find something to shoot early. As was mentioned earlier, once that velvet comes off, they timber up pretty quick. Good luck and please post pics of your success.

[highside74]

Antlers are done growing weeks before they rub them.

[JM]

 You won't have the woods to yourself come November. I can go buy an OTC tag right now and hunt mule deer till the end of November. I'd focus on bucks right out of the gate, because once they rub you'll never see them again unless you're lucky.

That's a tag I've wanted for a while but never put in for. I'm curious to see how it goes. Good luck and watch out for grizzlies this early!

[meatwhack]

there are plenty of units this tag is good for that aren't otc for all of November for mule deer. Good luck on the hunt it can be a tough tag depending on how big your goal is.

[nwwanderer]

All done growing, hunt away

[boneaddict]

''Tis the day of reckoning.

[elkinrutdrivemenuts]

Hot this morning, jeez.  Did find my buck but he was able to sneak out without a shot below a cliff.    Same spot I found him before, I'll call it his mancave going forward. Back after him this weekend.

[elkinrutdrivemenuts]

there are plenty of units this tag is good for that aren't otc for all of November for mule deer. Good luck on the hunt it can be a tough tag depending on how big your goal is.

. Yep, that's what I like about it.  I can avoid the crowds up in 1

[jjhunter]

You won't have the woods to yourself come November. I can go buy an OTC tag right now and hunt mule deer till the end of November. I'd focus on bucks right out of the gate, because once they rub you'll never see them again unless you're lucky.

That's a tag I've wanted for a while but never put in for. I'm curious to see how it goes. Good luck and watch out for grizzlies this early!

I had a grizzly encounter at about 15 feet in the alders along a creek on my early panhandle hunt.   I was powering up to just below the alpine just before dark, looking for a place to bed down for the night.   He stood up and started popping his teeth at me.   I could only see the top of his head.  Scared the sh*t out of me.   I walked for a long time in the dark before I felt like sleeping.   I saw several grizzlies that fall.   This was in unit 1.

The next morning, I had a black bear charge me from 100 yards out in the wide open alpine.  He pulled up about 20 yards away, stood up, looked at me, and hauled ass in the other direction.   Craziest thing I've ever seen.   Lots and lots of bears where I was.

[elkinrutdrivemenuts]

You won't have the woods to yourself come November. I can go buy an OTC tag right now and hunt mule deer till the end of November. I'd focus on bucks right out of the gate, because once they rub you'll never see them again unless you're lucky.

That's a tag I've wanted for a while but never put in for. I'm curious to see how it goes. Good luck and watch out for grizzlies this early!

I typically avoid the crowds in unit 1.  4,7,9 don't have a rifle season from the 10th through the 1st and I spend a majority of my time in those units through out the year. 

[pd]

Hot this morning, jeez.  Did find my buck but he was able to sneak out without a shot below a cliff.    Same spot I found him before, I'll call it his mancave going forward. Back after him this weekend.

Your Washington brethren are rooting for you.  Good hunting to you.   

[JM]

For some reason I always thought that tag was only a unit 1 tag. I was way and I apologise. Good luck!

[elkinrutdrivemenuts]

For some reason I always thought that tag was only a unit 1 tag. I was way and I apologise. Good luck!

I get it, it says hunt area 1-1, which ins't very accurate to describe the whole area. Its the whole Panhandle!!!

[Jimmy33]

I have never seen another person while hunting in unit 1


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[pd]

And, and, and?

[meatwhack]

I'm guessing smoke played a large part of last weekends hunt.

[elkinrutdrivemenuts]

Yeah smoke is terrible right now, hopefully it clears out soon.  Im taking next week off so Ill give it a go then. 

[idaho guy]

I bet elkinrut goes elk hunting! ha ha good luck on the tag this smoke will be great cover scent!