Idaho whitetail rut tips

[Dwrecknfish]

Kicking around the idea of buying a whitetail tag over in Idaho and if I go it’ll be a solo trip November 22nd to around the 29th. Going to be hunting unit 8a. Not looking for spots but info on how you guys might hunt them. Are you guys just walking and glassing clear cuts trying to catch a buck chasing a doe or are you guys getting down on game trails and rattling/grunting? If rattling looking to see what a typical set up would look like and a rattle sequence. Thanks for your help

[G-S]

90% of people that hunt that unit just ride their atvs around but if you can hike in and glass some clear cuts before people ride thru you should do some good

[Dwrecknfish]

No atv for me all hiking. Are there many closed gates around there or basically all open?

[G-S]

Its mostly all open 

[meatwhack]

Closed gates won’t keep people out on 4-wheelers in Idaho.

[grundy53]

Closed gates won’t keep people out on 4-wheelers in Idaho.

the area I hunt in Idaho most of the closed gates have signs saying atvs are okay to take behind the gate.

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[meatwhack]

Yeah a lot of roads with gates allow 4-wheelers but not all. It depends on forest service, state land, or private timber company. They all have their own road use rules. An issue I run into a lot is even if it’s gated and closed to all vehicles people still think they can ride a 4-wheeler in because someone cut a trail around the gate.

[elkboy]

Like Meatwhack is saying, it can be difficult to find places away from the omnipresent ATVs.  That said, a little bit of hiking can get you away from them.  When I scout Idaho, I scout as much for areas away from ATV trails and roads as I do for actual deer.  Come the rut, bucks will be moving, and a strategy of rattle/grunt can pay off.  I like to rattle and grunt for 45 minutes or an hour in a place with a good view, then move at least 300 yards and repeat.  3nails has written a lot on here about successful strategies for rattle and grunt, and he has hunted Idaho a lot.

Good luck!

[Dwrecknfish]

Like Meatwhack is saying, it can be difficult to find places away from the omnipresent ATVs.  That said, a little bit of hiking can get you away from them.  When I scout Idaho, I scout as much for areas away from ATV trails and roads as I do for actual deer.  Come the rut, bucks will be moving, and a strategy of rattle/grunt can pay off.  I like to rattle and grunt for 45 minutes or an hour in a place with a good view, then move at least 300 yards and repeat.  3nails has written a lot on here about successful strategies for rattle and grunt, and he has hunted Idaho a lot.

Good luck!

Thanks I’ll see if I can find any of his old posts

[robescc]

Tagging as I will be there during the week of Thanksgiving.

[Old Mule]

Spend a couple days scouting scrape lines, find one you like follow it and you'll find where the buck comes to the edge of the timber just before dark and stands back in the timber to look for does in the clearcuts, set up downwind and dont move a muscle just your eye's, If he isn't holed up somewhere with a Doe He'll come sneaking up,

[Dwrecknfish]

Spend a couple days scouting scrape lines, find one you like follow it and you'll find where the buck comes to the edge of the timber just before dark and stands back in the timber to look for does in the clearcuts, set up downwind and dont move a muscle just your eye's, If he isn't holed up somewhere with a Doe He'll come sneaking up,

Good tip Old Mule. Never hunted whitetails and definitely don’t have em here on the west side so never spent much time in WT country. Will definitely look for some