Idaho unit 56

kicker · May 31, 2004

Hey guy's just wondering if anybody could point me in the right direction to start my scouting in 56. Seen the country several times driving through and always loved it. But i never have hunted it. I was looking at the quaking asp mtn. area. Is that too high?

Any help would be great. If you have any southwest idaho or any area other than southeast idaho, i can help you out.

HGHCOUNTRY · Jun 1, 2004

I am looking at that unit as well. Have been through there a few times. It could be crazy depending on the turn out. We are headed down there to get a more in depth idea of the area in a few weeks. Good luck, at this point that area looks like a 2nd or 3rd option for us this year. Happy Huntin!

-Hghcountry

IdahoMuley · Jun 1, 2004

which hunt you doing general or late?
Muley Man!

kicker · Jun 2, 2004

If anybody has any info on the hunt i would really appreciate it. Like i mentioned, i would love to get my dad a nice big four point. No B&C bucks required. Just something to make my dad proud and happy.

idhunters · Jun 3, 2004

Lots of brush and lots of roads. There is a motorized vehicle restriction in place. That means you have to keep your 4 wheeler on "established roads capable of carrying 1500# GVW". Simply put, a two-track road without vegatation growing in the tracks that is wide enough for a pickup counts as an "established roads" and there are alot of them in unit 56.

Although I wouldn't consider access to be an issue, there is private ground at the bottom of all the mountain range, which does limit some access to productive areas.

I think I know why there is suddenly such interest in unit 56....but let me tell you there is not big bucks lurking behind every tree. In fact, several people I know who have drawn the late tag in the unit have been very disappointed with the quality of buck. Don't get me wrong, there are big bucks there, I just think its going to be very crowded and there are going to be some disappointed people when they don't find a mature buck in every draw.

They has been fairly heavy pressure there in the last few years and rumors of some poaching of mature bucks also.

I grew up in American Falls and now live in Pocatello. Several of my friends own property in that unit. I am not an expert there, as the last time I hunted it was for elk but I am somewhat familiar with the area. I don't know your fathers health or abilities, but there are lots of roads if you just want to spend some time driving around. There is some fairly rugged country if you get away from the roads but overall, it is tough to get too far from a road.

Good luck
Lance

kicker · Jun 3, 2004

Thanks Lance, i appreciate the input. Dad is doing pretty good and can hike some. Would you recommend 56 over 73 in my situation?

idhunters · Jun 4, 2004

Kicker:
I am not as familiar with unit 73 as with 56, but from looking at it, my first impression is that there is "more" to that unit than 56, i.e. bigger mtns and more types of habitat. I understand that access can be an issue in some parts of unit 73. Overall, I think there may be a few less roads in the unit also.

I think finding a good mature 4 point on a general tag in Idaho is a challenge. I would suggest that you first drive a couple of the units you are interested to get a "feel" for them. Look at the type of country and see how it fits with your father's abilities and desires. Then spend some time glassing, find some bucks and be right on top of them opening morning because once the shooting starts all bets are off as to where the deer may be. I think there will be plenty of pressure in either unit.

Where do you live? You might pick the unit closest to you so you can spend as much time there as possible prior to the hunt. What type of terrain do you like to hunt? Have you hunted deer in SE Idaho before?

Lance

kicker · Jun 4, 2004

I'm "stuck" here in meridian, id. I have never hunted southeast idaho for muleys, but have driven through there several times and loved the country. I like to hunt anything from high rocky peaks to quakie groves to sagebrush flats. If muleys live there, i like it. Dad is working hard to get back to health and i think by october he will be ready for about a 2 mile hike in any terrain. I will do the packing out of course. Thanks for any advice.

300Winnie · Jun 10, 2004

Kicker,

Not to rain on your enthusiasm but everybody I know that used to hunt 56 when it was a general hunt years ago is chomping at the bit to get back in there. I gave it a little thought because one of my work buddies put his kids in on the youth tag that was available last year and took a real nice 5x5 but after hearing all the oldtime 56 hunters talking about going back I think it is going to be one busy place opening morning.

My .02

oneshotonekill · Aug 26, 2004

Wow...nice flippin' job here Idaho Fish and Game Department. You deserve a steak dinner for yur decision here. Jacka$$es....what a bunch of dipsh$ts..all they seen was dollar signs when they had this option. They know what kind of money this hunt will generate in out of state tag sales. I want to know how many Utahians are headed there?? I know you guys and everyone in Idaho know what kinda of bucks that Unit has produced in the past. I sure do, we have 4 hanging in our basement of 28 inches plus, one that misses the books by 6 points. This unit was a trophy unit, that will be destroyed. They took more then 15 years to built it back up, to produce bucks we all dream about, now it will disappear off the map in a mear 5 days of war. Hell..you'll probably be better off to be in Iraq, then in the mountains of unit 56 it will be that dangerous. But best of luck to anyone that goes up to the small village. You want to see a ghost town, drive through Rupert, Burley, Declo, Albion, Malta, and everywhere else with in 200 miles of Sublett, and you'll see ghost towns. I'll bet the lights will be sooo bright from all the campfires that you'll be able to see them light a flash light from the satelites in the sky.

one shot