Idaho Units 20A and 26 Mule Deer

[thefox]

I would like any helpful information for hunting these areas (20A and 26) next year for mule deer. I have horses and everything that I need to go into the back country. I am looking for a good mule deer area or any other units that open on September 15 for mule deer in Idaho.

Thanks.

 

[BrianID]

If you want to see what other units will likely have the Sept. 15th season in 2004 check out the 2003 regs at the link below.
http://www2.state.id.us/fishgame/common/regulations/bg/bigame.htm

If you are interested in hunting anywhere in the south half of the state I would recomend waiting for the 2004 regs because the Idaho F&G is making a number of changes to the deer season this year. We should know what changes the 2004 will have in about 3 or 4 weeks. One change that could happen that will affect you is seperate mule deer and whitetail tags.

 

[WAbohntr]

I hunted 20A last November and although I killed a nice buck as far as I was concerned (24 wide by 20 tall and good mass) we didn't see a lot of deer. We had good weather the first 3-4 days but couldn't get across the Salmon river because it had iced over. The first day we got across and into where we wanted to hunt I killed my buck, then the weather turned warm and the sunny with a full moon and the deer went nocturnal and the big bucks holed up. We were still seeing small bucks chasing does but the bigger bucks seemed to be chasing does at night (We were seeing some big tracks on the ridges every morning). We hunted 20A along the breaks. We had hoped for snow to help push some of the high country deer down but we just didn't get enough snow. There was only about 8 inches of snow on top. My brother-in-law hunted 26 and it sounded like they saw more deer but only 1 good buck.

Mark

 

[CDub]

I have hunted 20A for elk in September and bear in May and can't remember ever seeing a single deer. I mostly hunted close to the river, but got up on top as well. This was about ten years ago, and maybe I wasn't in the right areas, but for deer I would hunt elsewhere.