Help/advice please???!!

Me and my wife are new to hunting. I have been around hunting all my life, but once i was of age to hunt my dad quit going. So i just started hunting with my brother inlaw about 4 years ago amd have only shot 2 small bucks my whole life and that was when my brother inlaw would take me. He works in the oil field though and will be missing out this season. I am wanting to go on my own and my wife is wanting to hunt also. We are going to hunt units 60-66 most likely amd i would like any advice, tips possible.. not looking for peoples secret spots. But just want to have good luck this year and actually be able to get into hunting and enjoy it. Any help is greatly appreciated

Here are some tips:

1. Get loaded in the truck and spend a week
2. Go to an area with at least a 35% success rate ... you can find stats on the idaho f&g page for harvest statistics
3. Take a backpack and dont be afraid to get off the road and spend a night.
4. We spend the week in the back country off the road...but if you want to you can stay close to the road there will be more pressure but if you are in a good area you will still see bucks.
5. Get a spotting scope....starters you will need vortex or leopold...swarovski is best. Use it...most road hunters just keep driving....stop and look
6. Get a good pair of binos...at least $300
7. Make sure you are up early...get into the area you want to see before light. Hunt the last 3 hours of the day as well.
8. Find a mountain range where people are getting deer. Spend the week there. Find it by driving there. Talk with people. If you tell them you are new to this they will help.
9. To go with the spotting scope get a tripod.


The units you mentioned are not that great. Look at the harvest rates. You would be better off in the 70's or 40's.

Get out there....figure it out by putting dirt on the boots.

"The penalty good men pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men." - Plato

Don't pass a legal deer hoping for a better one until you have built confidence in doing so.

Walk softly and carry a big stick -just trying to keep it simple. You don't really need a bunch of expensive gear to get started. Go higher up and farther back, have fun and be safe.

Great advice, AspenAdventures! I am looking for threads on finding something better than a 2x2. But I am going to look around before I post. Your advice about the success rates on the F&G site is great, I'm looking at that now. And, if I had the $$$ right now, I would totally love to have a good spotting scope. I think they are can make a hunt 100X more efficient and fun.

The biggest thing is have fun..... Just get out with a smile on your face. Talk with other hunters...they will help. Get to know an area really well. When you find a promising area.....get to know it better....and you will start to find bucks. GET OUT AND GO!

"The penalty good men pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men." - Plato