Unit 44 Idaho Mule Deer

Kegger33 · Oct 27, 2016

Does anybody know deer patterns in unit 44 Idaho in October?

Cooper · Oct 27, 2016

I'd say a lot of them eat and bed down

Kegger33 · Oct 27, 2016

I am meaning their migration patterns. Where I have seen deer the months of August and September, there are no deer to be found in October in the same areas. A little bit of snow has hit in the last couple of weeks, along with a couple of elk hunts that have opened. Was curious if they move East towards Fairfield area? Or West towards Hill City/ Little Camas area?

jhawksd · Oct 27, 2016

Don't they go south across the highway into unit 45?

Kegger33 · Oct 27, 2016

I have heard that as well and I'm sure they do. I was curious if anyone had any insight on places they might hold up before eventually crossing the highway into 45. There isn't much snow up there yet, but lots of hunts going on for elk. My best bet this last weekend is probably to catch them moving would be my guess.

idahohillboy · Oct 27, 2016

I would say foothills. Look in the areas next to the fields check where the sage meets the cultivation. Foothills with a lot of cover at the base of the bigger mountains. I hunt the nieghboring unit and there are bucks coming down out of that country to winter and rut. Try south of Fairfield on the 44 48 border.

Kegger33 · Oct 27, 2016

Thank you for the info! South of Fairfield would be exactly 45, do you mean East of Fairfield in the lower foothills? Willow Creek area? There looks to be quite a bit of private on that side according to OnX Maps. Is it accessible? I missed a dandy up here first week of the season and then my twin boys were born so I've struggled to get back up and hunt. Leaving it all up to the last weekend!

Cooper · Oct 27, 2016

See I brought you some action?

Kegger33 · Oct 27, 2016

HaHa appreciate it Cooper!

idahohillboy · Oct 28, 2016

Yes I meant Willow. The road goes out Rock Creek and 44 is the left side and the right is 48. The Rancher that owns that property there at there begining of the road on in lives right off the main road out Willow a few miles in where it goes left and dips into the canyon. He live down there in the bottom on the rt side I had permision to hunt doves off the rt side of the road all the way in from the highway so the guy is hunter friendly. Again this was 14 yrs ago but my buddies still hunt it for dove.

idahohillboy · Oct 28, 2016

N yes we have seen big bucks there bedding in the ditches on the edge of the cultivated.

wyohighcountry · Oct 28, 2016

Try closer to Hill City. Lots of deer move through right in that area.

runamuk · Oct 31, 2016

Kegger, how'd your hunt turn out?

Kegger33 · Oct 31, 2016

I was able to seal the deal with a decent 4-point. Will post a picture when I figure out how to do it on here!

runamuk · Oct 31, 2016

Nice, congratulations, I had a 44 tag this year also experienced the same thing you did, went from seeing dozens of bucks on a daily basis then went on an 10 day elk hunt just to come back to seeing very few.
lookin' forward to pics.

idahohillboy · Oct 31, 2016

What part of the unit, what terrain just curious?

Kegger33 · Oct 31, 2016

Kegger33 · Oct 31, 2016

Not sure how the pictures got turned counter-clockwise but they did! I caught him chasing a doe in one of the lower draws before the flats near Hill City!