There is a reason why the SE tag hasn't been a high demand tag the last few years. The hunting just hasn't been as good. You can still kill a buck in the SE tag units but finding a buck as wide as its ears isn't very easy. There is too much hunting pressure for very many bucks to make it past one or two hunting seasons.
If I were you, I would choose an area to hunt by the type of country you like to hunt. There is a little of everything in the SE units (Junipers, aspens, pines, sage, CRP, maples). Some of it is fairly thick but most of it you can see at least 100 yards. Most of the leaves will be off or falling off the trees on October 10th. There is a lot of public land but the private land can offer some decent hunting if you can get permission. I think the areas that have more cover and are more difficult to access are the best places to find an older buck. Since you're a blacktail hunter you probably know how to hunt muleys in thicker cover. I would recommend you capitalize on your strengths. Every unit in the SE tag area has places with thick cover. If you would like to know what the cover and terrain is like in different places send me a PM. I could give you a general idea of what the country is like in different parts of the SE tag units.
I've been seriously hunting Eastern Idaho deer for about 8 years (I'm only 24 years old). Between hunting and scouting I probably spent 30+ days (mostly partial days) looking for deer last year. I can't even think of a scouting/hunting day that I haven't seen at least one deer. Some places have fairly low deer densities and I will only average 10 or less deer in a morning (or evening). Places with higher deer densities I expect to see 20+ deer in a half day. I would only consider my hunting skills about average. There are a lot of other hunters out there that see more and bigger deer than I do. If you are hunting most of the day and haven't seen a deer you are doing something wrong. Keep in mind that there will be plenty of other hunters out there that will affect when and where you see deer.
If your expecting a reasonable chance at a 30" buck you bought the wrong tag. Most of the 1 1/2 year old bucks are killed every year and very few bucks in this area live past their second hunting season. The F&G said there was only 6(?) bucks per 100 does in units 77 & 78 after hunting season closed in 2005. If you are a half way decent hunter, are willing to put in some time (5 days) and leg work you should have a chance to put your tag on a buck that will score 90"-140? (typical for 2 1/2 year old buck). IMO you would be very luck (and/or good) to kill a buck over 180". Bucks that have survived more than one or two season don't spend much time out in the open when the sun is up.
As of a couple weeks ago the deer being studied on the East side of Bear Lake were doing well with only 21%(?) of the collard fawns dying. Last winter was really rough on the deer that wintered close to Bear Lake. The Soda Hills Study area (north of Soda Springs) looks like it will have about average or slightly above average winterkill. Average winterkill is about 50% of the collard fawns dying.
Unit 76 has a quite a few elk even though the F&G have increased the number of cow tags there year after year. According to the F&G's winter counts this heard has continued to grow.
Units 75, 77 & 78 (Bear River Zone) have a decent sized elk heard but the F&G has continued to increase the cow hunting in this area. I don't have any numbers to back it up but IMO the Bear River Zone elk heard has declined the last few years. Same thing has happened to the elk in the Bannock Zone.
Anyways that is just my 2 cents, take it for what it is worth.
