Priest Lake Muleys?

[NW Diehard]

So it's obvious the area is more known for whitetails but is there any good muley areas around? Going to be staying at a house off Priest Lake the weekend of November 10th. Don't get me wrong I would gladly take a nice whitetail if I saw one but I kind of have a thing for muleys.... lol 

[bearpaw]

There are up high. 

[Hoythunter]

One of the biggest mulie bucks I’ve ever seen dead was shot on Nov 10...at Priest Lake.

[boneaddict]

Tough country, tough Hunting.   Need to be patient. Rewarding if you are lucky or good. 

[WAcoyotehunter]

Tough country, tough Hunting.   Need to be patient. Rewarding if you are lucky or good. 

Yep.  It's tough.  I would probably get up high on the east side

[NW Diehard]

I'm sure it will be weather dependent, considering how much snow is up high or not at that time..? I've always liked to hunt the snow line or just above the snow line.... Just realized it's only a month away! 

[NW Diehard]

One of the biggest mulie bucks I’ve ever seen dead was shot on Nov 10...at Priest Lake.

I've heard there are big muleys around, just always hear about all the whitetail. Was this in the lower elevation or up high in the surrounding peaks? Looks like good area up high with decent visibility to open areas if I can make it up there depending on the snow...

[boneaddict]

Bare in mind you aren’t alone out there.  I was “talking to” a moose, heard a snap of a twig. I turned and there was a grizz at about 25 feet.   That is serious grizz country.   Be prepared

[elkinrutdrivemenuts]

It will take some work to find a spot that you are hunting alone.  Unit 1 is a popular area come November. 

[NW Diehard]

Bare in mind you aren’t alone out there.  I was “talking to” a moose, heard a snap of a twig. I turned and there was a grizz at about 25 feet.   That is serious grizz country.   Be prepared

Yikes! But yeah I am aware they are around and I will be prepared! I've been going up there for a few years now but finally decided I had a free place to stay and needed to get a damn tag while I'm up there because we always go up there in the middle or late Novmeber...

[MerriamMagician]

Here's a solid muley from Unit 1 last year. As everyone else said, they are up high.

[JM]

That's a nice buck, but if it were me I'd send things like that in a PM. There's only so much huntable high country up there and even less that is accessible come mid to late November. You're ringing the dinner bell to all the people who have not filled their Idaho general deer tags and are looking for a place to go. That's just my opinion though. Congrats on the buck and good luck to the original poster

[Bigshooter]

Here's a solid muley from Unit 1 last year. As everyone else said, they are up high.

Nice buck.  Do you remember the date that you killed it?

[idaho guy]

That's a nice buck, but if it were me I'd send things like that in a PM. There's only so much huntable high country up there and even less that is accessible come mid to late November. You're ringing the dinner bell to all the people who have not filled their Idaho general deer tags and are looking for a place to go. That's just my opinion though. Congrats on the buck and good luck to the original poster

I understand where you are coming from but I disagree-there is already a ton of traffic up there looking for muleys. In my opinion this post did nothing to make that worse. In my experience if you want a decent buck you have to work for it and there is not a ton of mule deer to find anyways. There is a lot of high country in unit 1. If the  picture was a 200 incher I might feel differently!   Thanks for posting. I will be up there in november and will be away from the crowds!

[Jimmy33]

I usually fill or come close to filling both of my Idaho tags in unit 1 during November on mule deer. It is the most difficult muley hunt pound for pound most people experience and the unit is huge. The reason most people don’t do well is that they have no idea how or where to hunt timber muleys. Plus, they usually get tired of looking for them and shoot whitetails. Bears are usually bit too much if a problem in November but they are there and i wear bear spray. I am over here right now chasing elk and have not seen a muley yet. I will tell you that i do not see many people and where i do see most people i dont see many mule deer. Ive never seen a 200 inch deer there but i do see many in the 170” range. Good luck!


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[NW Diehard]

Thanks for the replies guys. No intentions of blowing up the unit or trying to narrow in on someones honey hole. Just looking to see if it was worth my time to hunt muleys within a reasonable distance from the lake. Wasn't sure how far of a drive I'd have in the morning to get into some decent higher country....Hoping I can reach areas within an hr at the very most an hr in a half. If a drive were longer than that I would just stay lower and hunt whiteys...

[idaho guy]

Thanks for the replies guys. No intentions of blowing up the unit or trying to narrow in on someones honey hole. Just looking to see if it was worth my time to hunt muleys within a reasonable distance from the lake. Wasn't sure how far of a drive I'd have in the morning to get into some decent higher country....Hoping I can reach areas within an hr at the very most an hr in a half. If a drive were longer than that I would just stay lower and hunt whiteys...

 :tup:you are not going to blow up the unit ha ha-unit 1 is huge and the high country is endless. you can get there in the time you mentioned

[fishngamereaper]

Whacked a big muley few years ago..... walking in the middle of a river following a doe... it's was a cold retrieve.  It's the rut, they will be where you find them.

[boneaddict]

Thanks for the replies guys. No intentions of blowing up the unit or trying to narrow in on someones honey hole. Just looking to see if it was worth my time to hunt muleys within a reasonable distance from the lake. Wasn't sure how far of a drive I'd have in the morning to get into some decent higher country....Hoping I can reach areas within an hr at the very most an hr in a half. If a drive were longer than that I would just stay lower and hunt whiteys...

Most will take one look and go, I think I’ll stay in the truck.   Those with a little more grit will try to climb the hill, and end up back at the truck in 10.   It is very serious unforgiving country....and in November.

[PlateauNDN]

Oh man, now I'm going to unit 1 to chase muleys! Thanks for blowing it up and posting a pic.

I don't think it's a secret.

[lewy]

There are much better units in Idaho for md

[coop2424]

Thanks for the replies guys. No intentions of blowing up the unit or trying to narrow in on someones honey hole. Just looking to see if it was worth my time to hunt muleys within a reasonable distance from the lake. Wasn't sure how far of a drive I'd have in the morning to get into some decent higher country....Hoping I can reach areas within an hr at the very most an hr in a half. If a drive were longer than that I would just stay lower and hunt whiteys...

Most will take one look and go, I think I’ll stay in the truck.   Those with a little more grit will try to climb the hill, and end up back at the truck in 10.   It is very serious unforgiving country....and in November.

This is so the trueth.  The best part or not so best part is driving down the roads after some fresh snow and seeing grizzly and many many wolf tracks with no other animal tracks.  It gets ugly weather and snow wise fast up there and is not forgiving that's for sure.

[NW Diehard]

Thanks for the replies guys. No intentions of blowing up the unit or trying to narrow in on someones honey hole. Just looking to see if it was worth my time to hunt muleys within a reasonable distance from the lake. Wasn't sure how far of a drive I'd have in the morning to get into some decent higher country....Hoping I can reach areas within an hr at the very most an hr in a half. If a drive were longer than that I would just stay lower and hunt whiteys...

Most will take one look and go, I think I’ll stay in the truck.   Those with a little more grit will try to climb the hill, and end up back at the truck in 10.   It is very serious unforgiving country....and in November.

This is so the trueth.  The best part or not so best part is driving down the roads after some fresh snow and seeing grizzly and many many wolf tracks with no other animal tracks.  It gets ugly weather and snow wise fast up there and is not forgiving that's for sure.

Lol, not worried about steepness, I've hunted the breaks of the snake river for elk the past 3 years and hiking isn't an issue, although it is steep and deep. However add the thickness, November weather, wolves and grizzlies..... different ballgame! lol

[meatwhack]

If you're trophy hunting mule deer in the panhandle can be a humbling experience. The one good part is after a few days of not seeing any mule deer and busting your butt in the thick rugged mountains you can drop down and hunt whitetails in the lowlands.

[JM]

Oh man, now I'm going to unit 1 to chase muleys! Thanks for blowing it up and posting a pic.

I don't think it's a secret.

Why would you go to northern Idaho when you've got a Washington governers tag every year?

[buglebrush]

Northern Idaho is literally the last place in the state I would go for Mule-Deer, and I've been hunting there for over 20 years. 
Take this opportunity to chase some of the truly giant White-Tails in the area, and be prepared for serious Jungle conditions.
 I would also try some predator calling for Wolves / Cats.  Your non-resident deer tag can be used on either.