Mule Deer Rookie

jonc1438 · Jul 30, 2015

I am new to western hunting and planning a Idaho OTC hunt in October with my father. We have a guided Elk Hunt outfitters tag to use for Oct 15-19 but we would like to arrive early and mule deer hunt the 10th-14th.

We are staying the first part of the week in the Caribou Guard Station and later in Thayne.

We are hunting 66A and 76 for the Mule Deer. Is this a good area or should we plan on moving farther south. We are arriving a few days early to do some DIY spotting.

Any tips or starting places would be great.

Sorry for the newbie question but my Dad has dreamed of this and this might be his only trip out west.

Thanks in Advance

Jon

sageadvice · Jul 30, 2015

Welcome!

I know little of Idaho but no matter, Mulies are Mulies!

Look for them where others might not think to look, a hidden drainage out in a big sage flat for example, might get driven by by dozens yet easy could hold your dream bucks.

Using your binoculars is an acquired skill. It sounds easy enough but you want to see the deer before they see you. Glass, glass, and Glass some more, i can't stress enough just how important it is to check behind every little bush in all that you can see before you.

Lastly, don't measure the hunt on the expectations of others or the size of the bucks that you see or bring home. You'll know it immediately if/when a shooter shows himself. Passing on small young bucks is standard practice by most out here but it's your tags.

Joey

"It's all about knowing what your firearms practical limitations are and combining that with your own personal limitations!"

jonc1438 · Jul 30, 2015

Thanks.

We are very new and plan on several days of glassing before the hunt.

The tips are great. We are not stuck on monsters but a mature deer regardless of horn size is typically what we look for.

Thanks Again

Jon

sagebrush · Jul 31, 2015

Best $40 you will ever spend on mule deer.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0873415639/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A2AB9S6LSDWEKX

"You can fly a helicopter to the top of Everest and say you've been there. The problem with that is you were an a$$hole when you started and you're still an a$$hole when you get back.
Its the climb that makes you a different person". - Yvon Chouinard