Where in the Idaho Panhandle?

[Chris]

Hi guys,

I have posted a few times on the site, but have been a daily reader for years. I live in SW Washington and have hunted here my whole life. Last year was my first experience hunting out of state. My two cousins and I were drawn in the Wenaha Unit in eastern Oregon after 3 years of trying. The three of us each got a buck, but they were small. Most importantly we had a great time. Because Oregon is so expensive, they do not refund your license fee ($140) if you are not drawn and the hunting was not fantastic we have decided to go elsewhere this year. We are looking seriously at the Idaho panhandle. I have been reading the Idaho regs the last few days and researching this site and other places on-line. My neighbor has gone over each of the last three years and killed a decent white tail each year. I am not sure about where he goes yet. After reading the regs I am confused about if it is a lottery drawing or over the counter. I do like the fact that I could go the week of Thanksgiving and only have to miss two days of work and hunt the whole week. Any information about where to hunt, when the bucks are rutting, which units, weather, seasons or anything else would be greatly appreciated. I am learning anything and everything that I can. I am planning a scouting trip in the late summer. Thank you for the help. I have included a picture of my 2nd grader with her first blacktail.
Thank you

[coachcw]

If I was hunting Idaho the only unit I'd pick is 45 for mullies , then if you want a whitey hunt the general season.

[bearpaw]

Chris you can go most anywhere in the Idaho panhandle and find good areas to hunt. Try to avoid the Lolo and upper N Fork Clearwater, upper St Joe, wolves have hurt those areas badly.

[turkeyfeather]

You don't need to put in for a lottery. You can buy over the counter tags. They are expensive, but anyone can get them. Bearpaw is right though I would stay to the north of the panhandle to avoid the wolf areas. The animals are getting scarce in that area.

[boneaddict]

The farther you go north the thicker and rougher it is.  Not what most would think of as traditional whitetail hunting.  the further south you go, the more it opens up, but as mentioned get into the wolves.   I'm thinking you have to choose whether you are hunting whitetail or muedeer, but I'm not sure about that.  Seems like they made that change.

[grundy53]

If you want to hunt over the counter thanksgiving week it will be for Whitetail. There are a lot of deer and you can by a second tag. I hunt 10A thanksgiving week every year.

[Chris]

Thank you for the information guys.

Isn't 10 and 10A in the more heavily populated wolf areas? Have the wolves made such an impact that there are few deer and not worth hunting there?

We will definitely be hunting Thanksgiving week. It looks like it is only open for whitetails then. From units 10 and north is all you see are whitetails, or do you see a few muledeer? I have never killed a whitetail and would like to hunt them. The Idaho hunting regs map indicates mostly whitetails in those units.

How is the weather that time of year? Every year is different, but is there typically snow? I have a quad. It appears that quads can be used in the panhandle units. Does anyone know if that is the case? I don't want to lug it all the way over and not be able to use it.

Are the over the counter tags more expensive than getting a tag through the lottery, or does a lottery system not exist in Idaho?

My last question is when are the whitetails in the panhandle typically rutting?

Thanks again for the help.  

[Todd_ID]

Thank you for the information guys.

Isn't 10 and 10A in the more heavily populated wolf areas? Have the wolves made such an impact that there are few deer and not worth hunting there? 10 is infested with wolves and holds few whitetail overall, mostly muleys.  10A holds mostly wolves but tons of whitetail (wolves hurt elk populations more than deer at present).

We will definitely be hunting Thanksgiving week. It looks like it is only open for whitetails then. From units 10 and north is all you see are whitetails, or do you see a few muledeer? I have never killed a whitetail and would like to hunt them. The Idaho hunting regs map indicates mostly whitetails in those units. 10 and north is mixed whitetail and muleys.  Lower country around the rivers and lakes is whitetail; high country is muleys.  Think of 3500' as a general guess for the division between them with exceptions either way.  With you wanting to hunt whitetails, then the WHITETAIL tag is for you because it gives your desired Turkey Day season for bucks.  Don't shoot a muley while only holding the whitetail tag, though.

How is the weather that time of year? Every year is different, but is there typically snow? I have a quad. It appears that quads can be used in the panhandle units. Does anyone know if that is the case? I don't want to lug it all the way over and not be able to use it. Weather will be snow that week with temps from cold to holy crap.  You'll be able to find places the 4 wheeler will go, and you'll find spots you wish you had a snowmobile.  You'll be able to use your 4 wheeler everywhere unless you're on private land that the owner says no.

Are the over the counter tags more expensive than getting a tag through the lottery, or does a lottery system not exist in Idaho? Tags are the same price in draw or over the counter.  The only thing the draw is used for is to limit the number of tags for certain hunts: same as WA.  The OTC tag is the one you want until you've hunted there long enough to recognize an opportunity in one of the draw tags.  One tip is to decide if you're going to hunt there and then buy your tags early; the non-resident tags CAN sell out since they have a 10,000/12,500 elk/deer tag sales cap to non-residents, and both non-residents and residents can buy second tags from the non-resident quota after Aug. 28.  If you wait until Thanksgiving to buy the tag, then you'll have an 80% chance the quota is sold out.

My last question is when are the whitetails in the panhandle typically rutting? Typical rut is same as anywhere except deep south: Nov. 10 to Dec. 1.  Turkey Day is a good week to be there. 

Thanks again for the help.   You're welcome.

[kglacken]

it is over the counter. I have been over there 3 years in a row now and we have killed bucks each year. We usually go the week you are thinking of going and usually we catch the tail end of the rut but the snow made it difficult this year. our biggest buck scored 145 and the terrain varies depending where you go. in my opinion quads are the way to go. you can get to more area and cover more in a day. We hunt a little ways off the st joe river and we see deer everyday and usually bucks everyday also. good luck! Idaho is the way to go!

[deerslyr]

I hunted 10A over thanksgiving week in 09 for whitetails, not a huge amount of deer but everytime we went out we saw bucks and some real nice ones at that. It was nice bein able to drive the quad everywhere and we never saw another person while we were hunting. One of the most fun and feasable diy hunt ive been on.

[runningboard]

on many gated roads owned by timber companies, there is a sign on the gate itself that says if your rig is less 36" wide, take it around the end of the gate and continue on your way.
another thing to keep in mind for that 2nd grader is Idaho has great non-resident youth tags as long as with an adult, my daughter's elk tag and license were like $30 total

[Chris]

Thank you for all the information guys. It is very helpful. THis may be my last question. When I buy my tag, do I have to declare a unit, or can I go wherever I want?

Thanks

[Todd_ID]

A tag is good anywhere in the state that there is a season for that tag.  Plus, it's good for any of the weapon-style seasons listed in the regs for that type of tag (general or whitetail) provided you have the appropriate stamps to go with it: archery or muzzleloader validations.

[Chris]

Thank you for all the information guys. You were hugely helpful!

[boneaddict]

Todd got you handled.  All good answers.