How not to suck...

BikerBro · Oct 19, 2015

Ok, I'm new here, and I always feel kind of jerky when I jump onto a forum and start asking questions without any contribution, but here goes anyways...

Currently I am holding 3 Idaho hunt tags; a cow elk tag for unit 39-2 (Hunt 2101), a general deer tag, and a beer tag. Hadn't really ever considered bear, but a friend of mine mentioned that I should get one just in case I saw one. He said that he had tried the meat and it was actually pretty good. I had always heard that bear meat was not good and so I never would have considered it. He said that he had heard the same but tried some and it was pretty good, so I got a tag, just in case I saw one.

So my cow elk hunt started on Oct. 5th. I went camping up past Placerville for 3 days. We hiked, drove, sat and tried to spot something, but my friend that got the same tag with me, and I, had absolutely no luck. There were tracks everywhere up there, So I have no doubt that they were around.

Then, once deer season had started, I drove up to the top past Hulls Gulch and hike around in there in search of game to take. I swear I walked real slow and quiet as can be. No luck.

Yesterday I got up real early and drove up through Idaho City and took the road that goes to New Centerville quite a few miles in, until I found some ATV trails, and hiked them until about noon, it was a little foggy at some points, but I saw nothing there. Then I jumped back into the truck, drove over to Blacks Creek and hiked up and over the motorcycle trail hill that starts at that parking area that has the toilet/outhouse, on the north side of the peak. I realize that they were probably bedded down by the time I got to BC.

Anyhow, I have been hunting for 5 years now, and have only taken a single deer, out towards Mountain Home area.

I will admit, I wasn't out there opening day and haven't done any scouting. This may very well be the cause of my disappointment. But I am not sure.

My friend that told me about the bear has been telling me that I need to go beyond the first mountain, and to climb a second one, beyond where most people would go, and that is where I will find game to take. To me that means 4-5 hours of hiking, and I don't have horses or an ATV, so then getting the game out would be horrendous.

Is that what I am missing with this deal? Do I need to hike 3K-5K ft. up and down mountains in order to really find game to take? I am really at a loss. Any suggestions will be totally appreciated.

BTW: I am just an average-Joe and have a family and whatnot, and thus don't have an ATV, nor do I have a spotting scope. I do have a Winchester Model 70, 30-06, from the 1970's. It shoots great, and I have a Vortex CrossFire II 6-18x44 on it. I have a pair of Vortex Talon HD 10x42 Binoculars. I just bought a Bushnell The Truth Rangefinder, seems pretty low end for rifle hunting, but seems to do OK. Sometimes I wear camo, sometimes I wear a pair of jeans and a tee-shirt. I have a backpack that I carry with a fairly extensive first-aid/survival kit (Just in case sh..).

I would really like to be a successful hunter, what am I not doing? Or, what am I doing wrong? At this point I feel like I am really sucking at this. Please help!

RedPostBullSlayer · Oct 19, 2015

Don't get discouraged, you're hunting one of the most heavily pressured units in the state. You're going to have to put the miles on your boots in that country to find some animals. Although if we get some early snow that could change things and get them moving. It's all about learning the country and the overlooked areas people aren't hunting, which is tough in that area. As far as your gear, you don't need thousands of dollars worth of camo or packs to harvest deer, you've got a reliable rifle and hopefully the skills it takes to make a clean shot and that's all that is needed to harvest an animal. Well that and a good knife to take care of it once it's on the ground. Being a successful hunter is all about studying your target species as much as possible and learning their behaviors and patterns. Scouting early in the summer will pay off when hunting season rolls around. Good luck on the rest of your season, and don't get discouraged. Keep poundin ground!

BikerBro · Oct 19, 2015

Thank you for the tips BullSlayer! So, I believe you are right, I am hunting the most pressured areas, and I can see how that can be a problem. As far as shooting, I learned to shoot in the USMC, so that part I think I got. I do have a good knife, and even a packframe. I like your advice, I'll keep putting the miles on my boots. Thanks for the tips.

go4steelhd · Oct 19, 2015

If you choose not to scout, use your time in the field as scouting for the next hunt or the next year. By this I mean look down, look for tracks, look for scat, look at how old it is, look for beds. Then when you see each of these things pay attention to what it looks like, as in the terrain, forage, cover around it. You will get an eye for what area will carry game. When you see animals in an area go back there is a reason they are there.
Some of my best spots I found by seeing a nice buck on a corner in a draw from the road a couple times over the years then I go back and hike It out and boom I have a new honey hole.
In my experience deer can be anywhere, but if you start hunting the top third of ridges, and the bottoms of draws I bet you will find more bucks.
With elk, find water, the start of creeks is great. Look on a map and walk out to the head of four or five creeks. Go to the top where it shows the creek beginning . You will soon find elk!

Good Luck

BikerBro · Oct 19, 2015

Thanks SteelHead! Those are great tips. All things I have heard before, but since I did't grow up hunting, am going it alone, I have researched a lot of information, and have read and heard so many things that I probably have input overload. I will definitely keep these tips in mind next time I go. I would really love to get a cow elk this year.

ID_Elkmagnet · Oct 19, 2015

Ill add that I feel you would be better off if you avoid all human trails especially motorized trails.
Justin

willybbig · Oct 19, 2015

Find a good high point lookout where you can glass a lot of area.
Be there before sun up and the last light of day. Look for the white rump patch and if you see other hunters out walking, look ahead of them as they might spook something.

Pre64 · Oct 19, 2015

Go high and get there early. They are there.

BikerBro · Oct 19, 2015

LAST EDITED ON Oct-19-15 AT 08:44PM (MST)[p]I think you are right, I will start avoiding them from now on. I do know of a few treacherous hiking trails up towards Idaho City, maybe I should go try them again. But then again, you say to avoid all human trails. In the forest it can be pretty tough trudging through the terrain. Should I just drive up to the forest and start heading up the mountain? Thanks for all of the advice. While I am at it, how do you guys feel about scent laundry detergent and scent sprays? I know that the bow hunters use it quite a bit, but should I be uing it every time I go out?

missalot · Oct 19, 2015

I know good bowhunters who have spent a month in the woods and not seen or heard an elk, so you're not alone. Plus, with the heat this year it will be tough, then all of a sudden, you will be in the middle of a bunch of elk. Lots of joy riders ride those motorcycle trails just for fun. I ran into guys with maps who said they were going to ride every one of them in the area. All I can add is keep after it, get high and glass more than you walk. Stay on the ridges til you find elk. You don't have to move slow or quiet until you find elk. They make alot of noise when they move as well. Carry a cow call and use it if you get busted so the elk will think you are another cow.

smitty · Oct 19, 2015

Keep it simple. Find an area that you can see a lot of country. Meaning, timber with open areas.

Find a vantage point where you can glass and cover all the open area that you can see.

Sit down and glass. Even without a spotting scope you'll be able to find animals. I'm guessing being a rookie that you aren't too worried about trophy class animals. As you shouldn't.

I'm not familiar with the areas you've mentioned, but even in highly pressured areas, you should still be able to find some critters. Animals are where you find them, that doesn't always mean they are the furthest point from a road. Lots of guys walk right by good hunting, just so they can get to the top.

Scent control is way overrated. Unless you're a whitetail guy hunting a tree stand that was 200 yards from your truck, you won't be able to control scent once you start hiking.

Like I said earlier, keep it simple. Wear what clothes you can, use what gear you have, don't over think it. Get on a ridge and put your binoculars to work.

deerhuntr4885 · Oct 19, 2015

^

Find a spot that looks good and can see a lot of country. Sit down, glass, take a nap, eat lunch, glass, take another nap then glass til dark. They are there. Do not hike all over. Sit in the shade so you are not so obvious. I usually find a small tree and slide under the bows. Stay there all day.

Mike Henne

BikerBro · Oct 19, 2015

OK, I have tried these methods in the past, but I get impatient and start hiking around. I see that I need to just pack food and stay in one good place all day. I think my hunting buddy, less experienced than me, and I are going out Wednesday, So I think I will try to map out a spot where we can go and just sit. Thanks for all of the wonderful tips, fellows! If you have anything else, I am open to all the suggestions that you all have.

lip_curl · Oct 19, 2015

sent you a pm.

BikerBro · Oct 20, 2015

Thank you, Lip_Curl.

kzkammo · Oct 20, 2015

LAST EDITED ON Oct-20-15 AT 09:24AM (MST)[p]Right now is a great time to find deer. They are moving a lot more with this weather that rolled through.

PM sent

BikerBro · Oct 20, 2015

Thanks, kzkammo! Sent you a message back.

Deerlove · Oct 20, 2015

I'm a hiker also, but hike where you have vantage points, hike with your head up. Stop and glass every few feet etc. Look for rumps, ears, tails, antlers. If you see other hunters moving through a area, let them spook them.

BikerBro · Oct 20, 2015

Great advice. I am sure that I have been the spooker many many times. Thanks, Deerlove!

dz · Oct 20, 2015

PM sent

BikerBro · Mar 26, 2016

Well, it's been months... And although hunting is on my mind all of the time, it is not so much in the forefront. I wanted to jump back in here to at least give a quick update on my hunt this last year. I ended up out near Mountain Home on the 31st of October (2015) to try to fill my deer tag. I just hiked out to a place that I knew would be down wind and got a little guy, a 2x2 that did put some meat in the freezer. Didn't fill my Cow Elk tag. Maybe I'll try again this year. Elk are definitely a different type of animal to find.

So, thanks for all of the wonderful advice that you have all given me. I appreciate it.

BikerBro · Mar 26, 2016

The only picture that I got that evening.

http://www.monstermuleys.info/photos/user_photos3/9922img20151101083131.jpg

Deerlove · Mar 26, 2016

Nice job you have to start somewhere.

missalot · Mar 27, 2016

Pm sent

blacktailBC · Mar 27, 2016

Watch Randy Newberg's "Fresh Tracks" episodes on youtube. You will see Randy employ many different techniques most successful hunters use to be successful.