Author Topic: Idaho whitetail (Read 8300 times)

Rufenit · « **on:** November 19, 2019, 06:26:02 PM »

Heading to Idaho around st Marie’s on Thursday. Can Anyone give an update on the rut. Being it’s a week later this year and thanksgiving is on the fourth week. I’m hoping the rut is in full swing.

TVHunts · « **Reply #1 on:** November 19, 2019, 06:36:44 PM »

My boys live nearby, their friends have told them to get out in the woods last couple of days, that it is on. You should still be good. My youngest has got his buck 3 years in a row on the 23rd. Good luck!

HillHound · « **Reply #2 on:** November 19, 2019, 06:40:58 PM »

Awesome we are headed south of Bonner’s ferry Thursday morning.

B4noon · « **Reply #3 on:** November 19, 2019, 06:55:20 PM »

Hunted Potlatch to bovil/elk river area last week definitely wasn't on few little bucks running but not much daytime activity i think later this week through next could be the ticket i don't think you've missed anything yet good luck

Naches Sportsman · « **Reply #4 on:** November 19, 2019, 07:00:08 PM »

The rut was canceled according to a few buddies who were up there this weekend

. Heard the same thing down here in 8 and 8A from another buddy

.

elkhunter00 · « **Reply #5 on:** November 19, 2019, 07:08:21 PM »

I'm in St. Maries. I haven't seen any evidence of rut yet

idahohuntr · « **Reply #6 on:** November 19, 2019, 07:54:50 PM »

I hunted with my dad last weekend in N Central ID - saw 13 bucks in 1.5 days and tons of rutting activity...on private land though.

huntnnw · « **Reply #7 on:** November 20, 2019, 04:11:29 AM »

A week later? The peak rut you can always bank on is nov 19-25th every year. I live straight west of st Marie’s on the Idaho line. Older bucks in last 2 days have been out and about in daylight looking for does and chasing

HillHound · « **Reply #8 on:** November 20, 2019, 04:25:23 AM »

Awesome I can’t wait to get there tomorrow.

Rutnbuxnbulls · « **Reply #9 on:** November 20, 2019, 04:35:02 AM »

From what I’ve gathered the rut timing is all determined by the amount of daylight entering a mature does pupils, therefore, the rut timing at a particular latitude should occur during the same time frame every year. Sound correct? I know I’ve always had great action from Nov 25-30. Good luck out there!

TriggerMike · « **Reply #10 on:** November 20, 2019, 09:12:34 AM »

I'm headed over tomorrow as well for 5 days

Fl0und3rz · « **Reply #11 on:** November 20, 2019, 10:30:31 AM »

Good luck. Tagging along.

elkboy · « **Reply #12 on:** November 20, 2019, 10:30:42 AM »

I rattled in a mature buck this last Saturday, which a buddy of mine shot (my friend was 300 yards away on a parallel ridge, and intercepted not one but two bucks coming in to the rattle). It should be even better this weekend.

Jimmy33 · « **Reply #13 on:** November 20, 2019, 09:19:30 PM »

I have been up in north idaho last few days...hunted muleys until I couldnt get in to my spot. Yesterday, there were whitetails with their noses to the ground everywhere. Shot a buck yesterday evening. The rut is booming

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Naches Sportsman · « **Reply #14 on:** November 20, 2019, 10:20:24 PM »

Going to head out for a few hours in the morning and Friday before spending time with family this next week. If I don't get anything, I'll bust out the smoke pole and whack a doe in December. It sucks to live over here and deer hunt for almost 3.5 months.

Skyvalhunter · « **Reply #15 on:** November 21, 2019, 05:06:35 AM »

Naches why don't you see if you cant finally get something on the ground this year. You are way overdue!!

Naches Sportsman · « **Reply #16 on:** November 21, 2019, 07:06:38 AM »

Quote from: Skyvalhunter on November 21, 2019, 05:06:35 AM

Naches why don't you see if you cant finally get something on the ground this year. You are way overdue!!

Already have a freezer full from the last few years.

hard hunter · « **Reply #17 on:** November 23, 2019, 11:54:31 PM »

I wish I was still living over there. We usually hunted bucks until Thanksgiving. The farmers in the area have always told me that Thanksgiving is rut time in north Idaho. I would be over there now but ended up getting lucky on a buck in October.

TriggerMike · « **Reply #18 on:** November 24, 2019, 12:49:23 PM »

Anyone having any luck yet? Day 3 for me today and I've seen more moose than deer. Hunting units 5 and 6 out of St Marie's.

cem3434 · « **Reply #19 on:** November 24, 2019, 02:34:21 PM »

Quote from: TriggerMike on November 24, 2019, 12:49:23 PM

Anyone having any luck yet? Day 3 for me today and I've seen more moose than deer. Hunting units 5 and 6 out of St Marie's.

Same for us on deer/moose and we've hunted several spots up along the St Joe's river drainage. Im heading home tonight to work for a couple days before heading back over on Thanksgiving to try and fill our tags.

HillHound · « **Reply #20 on:** November 24, 2019, 04:09:50 PM »

We started out north of Bonners ferry four days ago. We hunted quite a few different spots and started heading south the last two days. Saw grizzly tracks, tons of wolf tracks, cougar tracks, and a few deer tracks. We did not see hardly any deer. Not even driving at night crossing the roads, none -hit on the roads, and only turned up three small one and a half year-old bucks only one of which was where we could’ve even shot it. Very few does also. We did see a few cow moose and 7 mulies. We tried just about all of it sitting and watching hiking 10+ miles in a day, rattling and just driving around. Didn’t seem to matter what we didOverall it was very disappointing and really Hope We Draw Montana next year because I’m not looking forward to trying to fill it in with something else again like we did this year.

idaho guy · « **Reply #21 on:** November 24, 2019, 07:52:25 PM »

Strange ruts been going strong for a week around where I hunt.Was checking traps and this dummy posed for me this morning he was way preoccupied with some does. We already filled all our tags or he might have been in trouble

nwmein199 · « **Reply #22 on:** November 25, 2019, 05:27:35 AM »

Quote from: TriggerMike on November 24, 2019, 12:49:23 PM

Anyone having any luck yet? Day 3 for me today and I've seen more moose than deer. Hunting units 5 and 6 out of St Marie's.

Check your inbox

Machias · « **Reply #23 on:** November 25, 2019, 12:29:03 PM »

Passed on 6 bucks so far, all dinks. Finally had a really nice buck in at 33 yards on Saturday, but I was unable to seal the deal and he caught a whiff of me and left without a shot opportunity. I could hear a buck grunting on the bench below me towards sunset, but could not get him or the doe he was chasing to come any closer. Had a big doe ghost past me last night at 45 yards, but even though I still had 4 minutes of legal shooting time left I could not clearly see my front sight so I did not pull the trigger. Got 4 more days starting on Thursday to fill two tags.

bigdub257 · « **Reply #24 on:** November 25, 2019, 06:22:45 PM »

Headed over Weds. evening to hunt Thursday and Friday. Really hoping the rut is still going. First two days of actual hunting for me this season between having Washington and Idaho deer and elk tags. As they say....stuff happens. Just looking to put some meat in the freezer so if anybody has intel I'd certainly be all ears. At this point I'm planning on hunting the St. Maries and St. Joe River general area to the east, but certainly open to suggestions.
May also try the late muzzleloader season for elk the following week in unit 5. Anybody ever have any luck on that hunt?