Unit 39 idaho

[Deerelk37]

Hey everyone. Going to unit 39 this year. Didn’t know how lottery would go with our group of 3 being thousands apart in line so we chose the safest unit we could all get a tag for. I understand this unit had 11k hunters in it, but also looks huge. Should we just try to get as far way from Boise as possible? Meat hunters-not picky. Usually do day hunts. Do certain areas/elevations hold mostly elk or are deer and elk mixed in pockets in all places. I have hunted units 21 and 50 last couple years. Could offer info for info if interested. Thanks

[Limhangerslayer]

You bought the tag, go learn it and hunt and enjoy yourself.  There are Honey holes in the unit, but we’ve spent time learning and will not give it out.  That’s the easiest and nicest way I can explain it.

[bkaech]

I don't know the entire unit, but from the parts of the unit that I am familiar I would say that the deer are everywhere, but bucks tend to stay out of sight(like most places). Elk could be everywhere, but like certain pockets and move from pocket to pocket. Why they like these, who knows? For elevation I say it is similar to anywhere else, seasonal changes move both animals up or down. There is plenty of public land and lots of places to camp on that land. There is also lots of horse trails, and dirt-bike trails in certain areas that can get you in further from roads. It a big unit, the game are throughout, just go find them.

[Deerelk37]

I apologize if I seemed to be asking for honey holes. I was just trying to ask general information without a divulgence of anybodies areas or spots. Thank you for the replies. For example in unit 21 I found that deer tended to be around 6k feet, but closer to the pass (8k) was mostly elk with fewer deer mixed in. It was completely different from the high alpine basin hunting I experienced in unit 50 the following year-everything was vertical with no roads throughout the top of the unit. Was all glassing vs covering country.   That’s all I meant

[Caveman123]

Last year was my first year hunting it, there’s a saying out there that it’s harder to find a camping spot than deer. Lots of guys on dirt scooters don’t have one but wish I did. Rained the whole time. Saw a few deer pulled out met a lot of guys and saw 2 albino turkeys. Don’t drive in on a Sunday afternoon lots of rigs coming out and it got a little sketchy. It’s a huge area and difficult to pick a spot, with all the road traffic road hunting would not be at all my strategy, pick a spot and walk. Pm me if you want hear how the hunt went. Best of luck!

[ThurstonCokid]

I’ve hunted it a few days. Northwest portion of the unit. Saw a few decent bucks that were extremely spooked and wasn’t able to get shots. Saw a few nice bulls around(i had a deer tag)


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[jstone]

Purchase a wolf tag

[Deerelk37]

Purchase a wolf tag

Already done!

Thanks for the replies y’all. Ready for season to be here!

[de0827]

Are you hunting deer or elk (or both)?  I seem to remember the seasons don't overlap in that unit but elk starts the day after deer ends.

[Deerelk37]

Deer

[de0827]

I have only hunted elk there, but have some relatives that have hunted deer.  Plenty of deer around, and yes plenty of people too (a lot of road hunters).  Best to get away from the roads as much as you can.  Good luck and have fun!

[boneaddict]

A lot of game, but very popular unit to hunt.    I suppose kinda similiar to what the Methow used to be.

[Deerelk37]

Truck hunting will be ok you think? I consider my strength covering ground, but it’s also a detriment as I can’t sit and glass for hours without getting antsy.

I hunted the methow a few years before my dad got Alzheimer’s. Thompson ridge area and chewuck. Saw a million 2 pts and does but growing a third point was difficult. I look at stats although I know not very accurate but success has def plummeted. I want to go back because I like the area but haven’t due to all the things I’ve read and heard. I hope it changes trajectory before all is lost.

[Taco280AI]

If you truck hunt you'll have plenty of company.

If you can't sit for hours, don't. Hike, glass, hike glass.

[Ironhead]

Get as far off the roads as possible, find yourself some good canyons with water nearby and glass. After the suns up glass the shadows. There are a lot of Deer in 39 and lots of hunters.

[bkaech]

There are plenty of fire roads that are gated you can walk into and walk all day. There is a LOT of country between drive-able roads, but you can easily walk the trails and fire roads to see quite a bit of it.

[Deerelk37]

Cheers. Thanks everyone. Can’t wait to get after it

[spin05]

we are leaving next Friday for unit 39.   good luck too you

[Deerelk37]

Good luck to you also. We went 2/3. Young 3x2 and a nice mature 4x3. Other buddy missed a bruiser and young buck. Get up high if weather is still warm. Pm me and I can give you insight. Was only there four days but it was a pick up and move type of adventure

[spin05]

Good luck to you also. We went 2/3. Young 3x2 and a nice mature 4x3. Other buddy missed a bruiser and young buck. Get up high if weather is still warm. Pm me and I can give you insight. Was only there four days but it was a pick up and move type of adventure

sent ya a PM

[Taco280AI]

77 degrees where I was yesterday and dry. Only saw 9 does and fawns, one forkie. This incoming weather and cooler temps should help out a lot.

[crabcreekhunter]

Just drove down today, will be here till the end of the season.  Cooler temps should help!

[Deerelk37]

Good luck!

[greenhead_killer]

my buddy is headed down there today. this weather front should get some stuff moving, good luck!

[andrew_in_idaho]

How did you all do? I’ve got a good guess, saw lots of does, spikes and forkys . Any of you guys drive a black dodge? there was one with WA plates parked in the same place Thursday when we headed in and Sunday headed out on the middle fork road. Wondered if the owner was into any big deer because I suspect I know where he was hunting and it isn’t easy country.


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[spin05]

How did you all do? I’ve got a good guess, saw lots of does, spikes and forkys . Any of you guys drive a black dodge? there was one with WA plates parked in the same place Thursday when we headed in and Sunday headed out on the middle fork road. Wondered if the owner was into any big deer because I suspect I know where he was hunting and it isn’t easy country.


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We struck out. Almost shot a fork horn on last day but not quite fast enough. Saw maybe 15 deer hanging. Only heard or saw 3 maybe 4 that where nice bucks. We found em up high finally but still all small deer. Forgot chains to get any higher.

[andrew_in_idaho]

How did you all do? I’ve got a good guess, saw lots of does, spikes and forkys . Any of you guys drive a black dodge? there was one with WA plates parked in the same place Thursday when we headed in and Sunday headed out on the middle fork road. Wondered if the owner was into any big deer because I suspect I know where he was hunting and it isn’t easy country.


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We struck out. Almost shot a fork horn on last day but not quite fast enough. Saw maybe 15 deer hanging. Only heard or saw 3 maybe 4 that where nice bucks. We found em up high finally but still all small deer. Forgot chains to get any higher.

Sounds about right from my own and other friends experiences in there this year


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[Taco280AI]

Got a decent 2-point in my deer area, lots of deer around but spread out so far. Could have held out but didn't have much time off.

My elk areas in my seeing a lot of deer, and so far no elk. Still super high despite some snow. What's surprising is the lack of bucks trailing the does. Have only seen one spike following a doe so far.



A separate issue: headlamps going in. Yesterday had a 4Runner pulling up next to me before light at a trailhead. No problem. We're all out here after the same thing on public land. Had no idea where they were headed so grabbed my stuff and headed up early. It's a little over an hour before sunrise so still pretty dark, and as I'm going up the trail I see light lighting up the hillside in front and to my right. I turn to look back and they're probably a quarter mile behind me, but this guys headlamp is so damn bright it's lighting the valley up.

As I'm going up I keep stopping to see if they're going to continue or break off, and keep moving to stay in front. All I see is this spotlight on his head, dual sided, lighting EVERYTHING up. The second guy had a bright lamp, but not obnoxiously bright. I'm not using a light at all, I can clearly see the trail, snow, and previous boot prints.

I keep stopping, hoping they do too because we're getting to areas I've seen elk, and I don't want to potentially push any off in the dark. At one point there's a big bend in the trail, but straight line distance between us is maybe 60-70 yards. This sunbeam isn't just lighting up the trail in front of him, but all the hillsides he keeps looking up at.

"Is that thing bright enough?" They stop, look around, and he said something I couldn't understand. "Are you trying to spotlight the elk?" My headlamp - he asks. "You could drive with that thing."

Your light only needs to be bright enough to see the trail in front of you, that's it!



Stayed out in front of them, they stopped in what I'd say was a dumb spot, but that works for me. Didn't see anything down low so went up high. After getting up high had a great vantage point of several hills and mountains for miles. Not a single elk. Off to another area this afternoon to stay a few days.

[dilleytech]

People don’t think. You want to be as stealthy as possible in the dark yes the animals can see you coming and spook of. But that’s hunting sometimes other people will ruin your hunt.

[boneaddict]

People are afraid of the dark.   Their damn shadow might get them.   Probably have 15 porch lights on as well with Mercury halides lighting up the night sky.   

[Apples]

We also found much the same thing as everybody else when we were there the last week of October, beautiful time to be in the woods had one day hunting in blizzard type conditions, we saw lots of does and small bucks, and a couple glimpses of larger bucks. The only deer we saw hanging were spikes and 2 points with most of them being whole.

[jstone]

How far away from the roads were the hunters

[Apples]

Our group hunted hard every day we usually logged between 6 and 10 miles per day and were not on trails for very much of it, that was my point that the deer were hanging whole.

[jstone]

We’re you in the far northern part of the unit? I was in there about 3 years ago and the deeper I drove to the trail head the less camps that I saw. Back in the early 2000’s lots of camps by the road

[Taco280AI]

Got a spike bull today up in the snow, only bull in that particular herd. I'd guess 200 yards max, didn't even bother to range him since they were close enough.

[andrew_in_idaho]

Got a spike bull today up in the snow, only bull in that particular herd. I'd guess 200 yards max, didn't even bother to range him since they were close enough.

Nice, I hear the elk hunting has been tough.


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[Taco280AI]

I didn't see any elk in areas I'd usually see them. Had to go farther back and higher up this year.