Idaho Unit 11 Mule Deer - River Access

[andersonjk4]

I got drawn for an early season (Oct. 10th - Nov. 3rd) Mule deer tag in Unit 11.  I am looking at options for accessing the unit and looking into the hunting from the Snake River.  I am thinking about using my 10 foot Livingston for accessing the stretch downstream of Heller Bar.  The boat with me maybe one other guy and very little gear has a very shallow draft.  I could power the boat with a 15hp short shaft outboard, an electric trolling motor or just good old fashioned oars.  Does anyone have any experience on this stretch of the Snake during the month of October who could offer any insight on river flow and depth?  I have been upstream from Heller bar during mid summer and also during mid december, but I know the river slows a little downstream of Heller.   

[buglebrush]

Tagging.  I put in for that tag on the second draw.  Have a 17' jet-sled. 

[andersonjk4]

Tagging.  I put in for that tag on the second draw.  Have a 17' jet-sled.

Good luck on the second draw.  Let me know if you get lucky. 

[cbond3318]

That is a common way of doing it. I’ve crossed through there a few times in January/February, I used my inflatable kayak. I know guys who have done it with a Jon boat and motor. The middle of the river is fine, there are some shallow rock bars on the Idaho side you’ll have to work around or bring waders and land on them....

All depends on where you’re wanting to hunt

Me personally, I’d be in my kayak so I wasn’t committed to launching at a launch, unless you’re humping the boat down the embankment.

[andersonjk4]

Thanks for the info Cbond.  I do have a pair of hard hulled whitewater style kayaks.  That might be an option for  easy crossing.  Might be a little dicey if I have to bring a deer back across.   

[cbond3318]

Thanks for the info Cbond.  I do have a pair of hard hulled whitewater style kayaks.  That might be an option for  easy crossing.  Might be a little dicey if I have to bring a deer back across.

I don’t think I’d do it in one of those! The inflatables have been hard to find since the Rona but they’re the bees knees. Oughta be able to pack the Jon down in most spots, just check land ownership, not all river shore is public on Washington or Idaho. There is only a few main canyons to hit from Hellers down, I’d have a plan to get across to a specific spot as quickly as possible, as early as possible.

[Snakeriver]

There are numerous boat launches available in that stretch of river. Your outboard should work just fine.

[andersonjk4]

There are numerous boat launches available in that stretch of river. Your outboard should work just fine.

  Good to hear.  Thanks.  I've driven that stretch of road many times, but I haven't been on that stretch of water. 

[huntnnw]

Biggest concern is going to be rocks, the river is about as low as it will be in October and November. There is heller bar launch and one more down river to where you could hunt and that one down river may be private property on the ID side which means you would need to be able to go up river. Lots of private along the WA side limiting you where you could drag a boat down to the shore.

[andersonjk4]

My plan would be to launch at Heller go down river to wherever I wanted to hunt. And when I was ready to head out go down river to that next launch. There looks to be a little bit of skinny water in a few places, but I can flip up the motor and use the oars as needed. My boat only drafts maybe 8-10”.

[time2hunt]

Isn’t most of down river on idaho side private?


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[huntnnw]

From heller bar down river is public to about a creek called capt john .. if I remember correctly

[cbond3318]

Public starts just downstream of  Redbird Cr. But there are some large blocks of private within the wildlife area with narrow public shoreline that block direct access to canyons.

[time2hunt]

👍 been years since we ran the lower river. Just as easy to drive around to Pittsburg landing and get away from rafters for us jet boaters. Use to see some good bucks just below the Salmon.
This buck swam the river from 11 to 13 a couple years ago.  The local fish guide took the pic.


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[jstone]

That’s huge

[Apples]

I might shoot that one on the first day!!

[andersonjk4]

Can anyone share what the road access is like up on top during the season?  The IDFG wildlife area map shows a few roads that are "open" to motorized travel, but the satellite images show quite a bit of two track type roads beyond the designated roads.  Is motorized travel (ATVs, Side by Sides, etc) beyond the designated roads pretty commonplace?  I hate it when I get back someplace a couple miles and end up getting passed by people on ATV's.   

[Apples]

With the exception of a few main roads, many are foot traffic only.

[huntnnw]

When I hunted the breaks side there was some gated roads and never saw signs of people going around them on atvs.

[andersonjk4]

Ok.  Thats good to know.  I know there are plenty of areas in both ID and WA that a lot of people see road closures and gates as suggestions, and not as rules.   

[bigbullshedhunter]

I'm on that section of river a couple times a week. Seen some good bucks in velvet during summer but now they've seen to move up the mountain. Alot of chukar hunters end up pressuring those animals this time of year.

[gutsnthegrass]

We've seen alot of bucks in the hay fields up on top this summer.  The only problem is that it is almost all private ground up where we are at.

[andersonjk4]

I'm on that section of river a couple times a week. Seen some good bucks in velvet during summer but now they've seen to move up the mountain. Alot of chukar hunters end up pressuring those animals this time of year.

Thanks for the info. Good to hear there are some bucks around. I’m excited to get down there and see what I can turn up.

[andersonjk4]

I am leaving tomorrow to spend the last 7 days of the season trying to find myself a mule deer buck.   

[meatwhack]

Did you make it off the river?

[andersonjk4]

Did you make it off the river?

I ended up camping and hunting from up on top, but ultimately hunted down low. I spent one morning up high then based on what I was seeing (very dry conditions and no animals) and talking with several people I decided to head down to the lower elevations. I did end up finding a few deer down lower.