Idaho deer hunting

armybrat · Nov 2, 2007

I just wanted to give the Idaho fish and game a big thumbs up. Got back a few weeks ago from hunting deer in southern Idaho. I see people bashing Idaho all the time, and just wanted to say I had a great hunt. I decided to buy a general season deer tag and give it a try. The unit I hunted was a four point or better unit, and only a 7 day hunt. There was a lot of deer and I saw legal deer everyday. I wore my shoes off every day and ended up talking a 23" 3x4 not the biggest deer I shot at and have to admit to getting buck fever on a 170 class deer at 200 yards. I have hunted southern, central, northern utah and some lesser units in Colorado and I would have to say that for opertunity and quantity/quality Idaho is the best state I have been in. Hunt wasn't overcrowded and the people were friendly. Anyways just thought I would share a good experience that I had, Still wish I had enough time to make it to colorado for the 3rd season.

BBB · Nov 2, 2007

That's great you had a memorable experience. My experience has gone down-hill in the past decade. More hunters, more ATV's, less deer. It is still a fun hunt with good deer numbers in certain areas, but nothing like it was before I started hunting there. I just got done reading "Idaho's Greatest Mule Deer"...Wow, there were so toads that came out of the "Gem State" back decades ago...Still are, if you can draw one of the coveted tags.

supersider34 · Nov 2, 2007

Armybrat Idaho does have some good hunting. Even the over the counter tags are still good. just got to change your routine from year to year on hunting deer. Some people think it will be the same every year. But it is not. deer get smarter. Weather plays a part. Some people do not want to change how they hunt. I talk to many old timers and from there first experiences to now they tell if you read between the lines with them that deer change as do hunters.
Glad to hear you had a good experience and hope future hunts here are as memorable. My friend had a couple friends from back east come out and they had horrible experience with some hunters. Glad to hear the good things.
Post some pics of your buck.

overton · Nov 2, 2007

Armybrat

Congrats. Sounds like a real good experience. Don't tell anyone here what unit if you want the same type of hunt next year. Congrats again.

Ransom

gb22 · Nov 2, 2007

Good for you armybrat. Hey, BBB, don't want to "pile on", but I'm almost old enough to be one of those old timers that often get mentioned.

You're right we have WAY too many cats and not enough deer. We have WAY too many lazy ATV hunters and so forth. However, I got a big one last year, saw another big one, son-in-law got a mature buck and so did my daughter. Got a real "toad" again this year.

Hunt harder. I promise the deer are still out there. I live in Pocatello and shot a big one within 5 miles of town and a good one on the desert within a couple of miles of American Falls (not the last 2), within the last 6 years. They get more nocturnal every year and they pick great hidey holes. They ARE out there.

Good luck next year.

Huntnfever · Nov 3, 2007

didnt you hear ransom, dont tell where you are ha ha, GB i am from idaho falls and shot my first deer down in inkom, all the big bucks up in there and i had to shoot a doe...anyways there is alot of lions down there too, hopefully i am able to get me a lion and a bear this coming year, havnt been around for the last ten years a whole lot. Good luck all

overton · Nov 3, 2007

Hunt

If you got a deer period, you did better than me. Still shouldn't tell anyone or the invation will happen.
Glad to see someone else is still up and awake tonight as I'm over in Hawaii and it's still early here.
All the really good BSers seem to be asleep already.

Ransom