Good unit for a backpack mule deer hunt Idaho

Idahoslayer · Mar 7, 2017

Hey I am looking at doing a backpack hunt this year and was thinking possibly unit 18 for a antlerless mule deer hunt where is your thoughts on where to possibly consider.

idhikker · Mar 7, 2017

If you're interested in a doe, then I'm guessing you don't care about trophys at all. Go to 18 or just pick nice scenery you want to hike in. It shouldn't be very hard, unless you get into a unit that has low densities.

Cool places include the sawtooths, frank church, seven devils, gospel hump, the white clouds if you like backcountry. Go in one of those and find yourself a deer. Glass from high points, focus on nice sagebrush areas, and I like your chances. I would take a peak at the harvest rates and talk to some guys here to find areas with more deer. A nice option about the selway zone, and gospel hump, is extremely liberal season dates and either-sex hunting.

Idahoslayer · Mar 7, 2017

Thank you and I've been to both hells canyon and sawtooth areas and seen decent amounts of deer. Just really interested in doing some backpack hunting this year for sure. Probably will go antler less for me and a buck for my girlfriend all one trip

N_Corey · Mar 7, 2017

I'm sure you're aware that 18 is limited draw for both buck and doe tags for mule deer.

Idahoslayer · Mar 7, 2017

Yes I have seen that. Last year I put in for a doe tag there but didn't win it unfortunately

N_Corey · Mar 7, 2017

If the regs don't change you can hunt the selway with a general tag and shoot either sex and there'd be plenty of backcountry potential.

kickerbuck · Mar 7, 2017

Don't shoot a Mule Deer doe man! Let the ladies of the forest live! Just my 2cents

Idahoslayer · Mar 8, 2017

Thank you guys for the good advice

carterj16 · Mar 14, 2017

go into the white clouds

BPKHunter · Mar 16, 2017

Not the best year to kill reproductive does, after this winter.

But, any place you will wish to backpack in Idaho will have the ability to fill a tag if you are a decent hunter. If you are asking about trophy opportunity, that's a different matter.

Might consider central Idaho, and consider Whitetail. Frankly, they eat a bit better, though I love to eat mule deer as well. Anything N of McCall is good and both species would be an option up to Rigging for sure.

Good luck.

HalfAce · Mar 16, 2017

>Not the best year to kill
>reproductive does, after this winter.
>
>
>But, any place you will wish
>to backpack in Idaho will
>have the ability to fill
>a tag if you are
>a decent hunter. If
>you are asking about trophy
>opportunity, that's a different matter.
>
>
>Might consider central Idaho, and consider
>Whitetail. Frankly, they eat
>a bit better, though I
>love to eat mule deer
>as well. Anything N
>of McCall is good and
>both species would be an
>option up to Rigging for
>sure.
>
>Good luck.

+1 Shoot a whitetail doe! They taste much better and the Mule deer could use a break. The Whitetails are slowly moving into Mule deer country and displacing them, so it would be doing the mulies a favor!