Idaho help

[creepingdeath]

Hello, I'm a washington res and am hoping to hunt Idaho for big mulie bucks. Idaho also has a great price to get my 14 year old son involved on a qulity hunt!!! I have no idea where to start looking???? Where are the best big buck units? Also beside a draw unit is there any quality areas I can hunt with the kid and have a shot at a big buck with mass with an over the counter tag? Please help!! Thanks, Chuck

 

[Bushcraft]

LAST EDITED ON Feb-19-07 AT 08:31PM (MST)[p]Chuck,

Aside from outfitters, most people aren't terribly interested in giving up good information they've earned the hard way.

I'd recommend starting with some good books...namely "Public Land Mulies" by David Long. He's got some pretty decent chapters specifically related to research.

Best of luck,

Allen

________________________________________________
Liberalism is the philosophy of Western suicide.

 

[BrianID]

You might have your expectations set to high. There are a few nice bucks killed in the OTC tag units but most of the bucks killed in these units still have milk on their lips. I sent you a PM with some more information.

 

[gb22]

I live here and have hunted in Idaho my entire life. I've done farily well, including a real nice buck last year (over 180); my daughter and son-in-law got good ones as well. "All you have to do is": get a couple of miles (4 or more is better) from other people. H unt just like Mike Eastman or Mr. Long suggest. A "secret place"? Try Hell's Canyon, the 7 devils; the top of units around Salmon; immediately below Palisades or around the Sawtooth wilderness; Whiteclouds, too. None of that is "news". Little deer are easily found. Mature bucks are physically tough to get. I enjoy hunting new places. I talk to every F&G officer in the area, read maps and check with anyone who might know. When I choose my place, I get good maps, scout a little and pack in (llamas), stay all week and hunt ALL day EVERY day. It works; better than most draws. If you want physically less demanding, the size of the headgear seems to reduce, too.

 

[boomhand]

Hey GB on looking for a mature buck during general season in the mountains would you hunt as high as you could go or stick to the timber in lightly hunted country?

 

[gemstatejake]

Get high and remote. Fact is you cannot hunt too high in most general units that i'm aware of. Everything GB said is the truth. There are indeed a few good bucks in some of those areas mentioned. They will be tough to get and in all likelyhood, you'll spend a few seasons figuring out where and how to get at 'em. I've killed my best bucks in general units simply because i get the oppurtunity to hunt them regulary. Not the case with controlled units, of which some of the best in Idaho are 45,44,40,41. Last time i pulled a tag for a controlled unit was '97 unit 44. Been applying every year since.

 

[grloban]

The 40 units are all good early or very late, nothing new there, after the shooting starts they wise up which means the toughest hunting in the west save the Pecos in New Mexico.