Mule Deer- Soda Springs unit 75/76

Ageewhy · Sep 19, 2017

Hi Folks,

I am chomping at the bit to go on my first Mule Deer hunt in SE Idaho in a few weeks! After doing a lot of research I ultimately settled on unit 75/76 and found a small cabin rental south of Soda Springs.

Curious to hear if any hunters have been out yet in the area? I know the area was hit hard last winter and looks like some colder/rainy temps going on now. Is that enough to push the deer down to lower elevations?

Im hunting opening week. but will have two full days of scouting before the Tuesday opener. I plan to get up high with my spotting scope and glass...and look for thick cover area that deer may get pushed to by all the pressure (thats what I often do for whitetails back east).

If anyone is willing, Id love other advice on how to scout or make the best use of our hunt. Wishing everyone luck this season!

-Excited first time Mule Deer hunter.

huntin50 · Sep 19, 2017

more deer in 75 than 76 IMO.

Onelegwonder · Sep 19, 2017

Sounds like you have a solid plan. You'll find deer that's for sure.

Muley_73 · Sep 19, 2017

I have been in 76 chasing moose a few weekends and will be back up the first week of Oct. I have not seen big numbers but a few deer around. I would agree with huntin50 that 75 is probably holding more deer currently. I'll let you know what we see in the next couple weeks. Good luck!!!

pushin_30 · Sep 20, 2017

76/75 both had record snow and cold temp this past winter. Deer numbers have been reduced a lot this season. There are still deer around but just not like it used to be. Good Luck to you!
I was planning on hunting this unit this year ( my old stomping grounds was born and raised in soda) I opted to purchase the tag and not hunt it and hopefully it can bounce back quickly. The last really bad winter took nearly 10 years to recoup the population. Both unit are huge so there is plenty of areas still holding good mature bucks. Just have to get out and give her hell.

Ageewhy · Oct 19, 2017

LAST EDITED ON Oct-19-17 AT 08:02AM (MST)[p]Well I am back from my trip to Idaho and wanted to give a report. We hunted unit 75, South of Soda Springs and gave em hell for 5 days but all 4 in my group (me included) came home empties handed. Thats ok, I'm not bitter- just humbled! It was our first western mule deer hunt, in what we thought were more 'moderate' mountains compared to the rest of Idaho, but it still proved challenging for us. We scouted for 2 days learning the area, and hunted for 5. Weather was FANTASTIC. blue bird sunny days, and cold crisp temps, with snow on our last day.

Overall, as many predicted, deer densities seemed low- likely due to the harsh winter. We mainly hunted higher elevations in the 7-8k range...and only saw a handful of bucks the whole trip...All of them far off when glassing early morning ridges. We tried low a few times also, but only saw 1 small buck- a fork horn on scout day. The elevation and mountains proved to be challenging. My iPhone tracker said we did 40 miles in 5 days and about 900 flights of stairs total. Not as many as some, but it felt like we were really trying to get off the roads and give a solid effort.

We did see some does, and yearlings, but almost exclusively on the private land when driving in and out of the unit at lower elevations. We decided to stay up high- but from our small cabin to the hunting area was 1 hour and 20 minute drive just to get there up a steep bumpy mountain road.

The few bucks we did see, were all nice shooters. When we tried to move in their areas we found great sign, but they just never showed themselves. Overall, we were amazed at the beauty of SE idaho and the variety of game. We saw Elk almost every day, 3 moose (2 bulls). Fresh mountain lion tracks, skunks, porcupines, coyotes, etc. I have a new respect for the mountains, and the hunters who can grind and grit it out to get the job done on a good buck.

Tag soup this year, but man did we learn a lot. I feel 10x more prepared to hunt mule deer again (no matter where we go) just in terms of how to glass, what type of terrain to look for, sign, access, etc. I wish we lived closer, or I would consider a second trip back before the season is over.

Thank you to the folks who were encouraging and commented on a few of my posts over the past few months. Cheers and good luck the rest of your season!

twsnow18 · Oct 19, 2017

Cool to see someone report back.

Contrary to archery elk hunting, in my opinion, I try to slow down a little, walk less and glass more. Binos on tripods.

The big thing with mule deer is to pick a unit, REALLY learn it over 3-5 years, and then you will find little holes where good bucks can be found closer to roads. Instead of having to kill yourself by covering 8+ miles a day. Don't get the grass is greener in the next unit over syndrome.

Glad you guys had a good time! Hopefully you make it back.

fullthrottle · Oct 19, 2017

Sounds like you had a good time. I agree stick with a unit and learn it and it will pay off. That being said, those are terrible deer units, they were coming back but last winter took care of that in a hurry. Much better units in Idaho to spend time learning for deer than those. Just my opinion.

BPKHunter · Oct 20, 2017

Great report. Definitely a "learning" experience. Shows the respect due to those who routinely kill mature bucks on public land.

wapiti99 · Oct 20, 2017

glad you had a enjoyable trip. sometimes we forget that there's a lot more to hunting then just the kill.
good job!

Soccerdude · Jan 24, 2018

Sounds like a fun trip. Keep after it and the rewad will come. Even if the real reward is spending time in awesome mountains with friends enjoying God's country. Good luck!

3404barrel · Mar 14, 2018

Well man sounds like a typical general season muley hunt. That said someone will come across a toad ever year and whack it.
Almost any county in ID could produce good deer..... Caribou has great history....to kill one just got to be that guy with a lot of time or lucky.

tylers72 · Jul 31, 2023

I know it has been a few years on this post but I am heading to unit 75 for the first time this fall. Looking forward to being in the unit

JPblind · Jul 31, 2023

Good luck

Deepcolor · Aug 5, 2023

Head in with super low expectations, any action will be a bonus.

HighCountryHill · Sep 21, 2023

tylers72 said:
I know it has been a few years on this post but I am heading to unit 75 for the first time this fall. Looking forward to being in the unit

I hunted in in 2020 and it was absolutely crawling with road hunters. Get away from any roads and gain as much elevation as you can. We filled our tags, but the bucks were tucked into little cannons and holes and we dern sure had to work to get them out and back to the truck.

huntindad4 · Sep 26, 2023

This must be the year of the revived old Idaho threads...

JHas · Sep 30, 2023

I have to say that I thoroughly enjoyed reading this thread again. Folks getting along, kind of nice.

fullthrottle · Oct 1, 2023

Just got back from there, honestly surprised they are even having a deer hunt in these units.

bchap05 · Oct 14, 2023

fullthrottle said:
Just got back from there, honestly surprised they are even having a deer hunt in these units.

Wasn't in those but 73 and my dad and I said the same. 3 of us never saw a buck in 5 days. We aren't road hunters and glass a lot.

Talked to multiple people who said the same. Only talked to one person who saw two forkies and let them go.

Was tons of shots though. Heard probably 20 this morning because there were a million weekend hunters. 3-7 or so the other days.

lundellhunting7 · Oct 17, 2023

I just got back from 76. To be honest I saw more deer this year than I did last year 300+ does and 20 or so bucks. I killed a buck and my brother also killed a buck. We had said before the season any deer 3+ was going to get shot.

JPickett · Oct 17, 2023

lundellhunting7 said:
We had said before the season any deer 3+ was going to get shot

lundellhunting7 · Oct 17, 2023

JPickett said:

Our family’s property that usually holds deer on the south end had none. So went up north. A lot more of those deer made it through the winter than around my family’s place.

JPickett · Oct 18, 2023

i just thought it was funny. guys on here talking about how down the unit is and then - bam! here comes and example of why!

"shoot the first deer slightly bigger then a forky boys!! we going deer huntin!!"

good stuff

Founder · Oct 18, 2023

JPickett said:
i just thought it was funny. guys on here talking about how down the unit is and then - bam! here comes and example of why!

"shoot the first deer slightly bigger then a forky boys!! we going deer huntin!!"

good stuff

Shooting 3 year old bucks has nothing to do with a unit being “down”.

huntindad4 · Oct 18, 2023

Founder said:
Shooting 3 year old bucks has nothing to do with a unit being “down”.

It isn't gonna help..

OLDHORNHUNTER · Oct 18, 2023

Once again Idaho Fish & NO GAME's management programs shinning !!!! Hunters all across different sites all commenting about lack of deer in the eastern units !! BUT remember F&NG said ONLY 80 % of the deer herds died off last year, that leaves around 20% man there should be bucks ALL OVER

lundellhunting7 · Oct 18, 2023

JPickett said:
i just thought it was funny. guys on here talking about how down the unit is and then - bam! here comes and example of why!

"shoot the first deer slightly bigger then a forky boys!! we going deer huntin!!"

good stuff

I would love to see all the bucks you have passed on this year in Idaho then! I shoot what gets my trigger finger itchy! Saw a lot of people killing deer a hell of alot smaller than the two we killed. But I could care less. If it makes them happy go for it!

JPickett · Oct 18, 2023

well you can. i passed every buck i saw last year , far as i know they were there when i left so go take a look. and haven't even bothered deer hunting this year solely based on what i see when im out there.

ill archery hunt later for the hell of it but im just about to the point of not deer hunting at all unless i draw a tag. ive killed lots of bucks, a notched tag doesn't do much for me any more

OLDHORNHUNTER · Oct 19, 2023

lundellhunting7 said:
I would love to see all the bucks you have passed on this year in Idaho then! I shoot what gets my trigger finger itchy! Saw a lot of people killing deer a hell of alot smaller than the two we killed. But I could care less. If it makes them happy go for it!

View attachment 123324 View attachment 123325

So basically all you guys did by killing these 2 bucks was take any chance of them HELPING to repopulate that herd !!! But hey there is still another dozen or so breeding bucks to help out !! Both of those bucks more than likely would have bred does this fall . IF Fish & NO GAME would have closed the unit these 2 & any this size would have been able to help the area they roam out !!

JPickett · Oct 19, 2023

lundellhunting7 said:
Our family’s property that usually holds deer on the south end had none. So went up north. A lot more of those deer made it through the winter than around my family’s place.

this a hilarious example as well.

"all the deer are dead around our place so we went up to shoot um where they ain't all dead yet"

lundellhunting7 · Oct 19, 2023

OLDHORNHUNTER said:
So basically all you guys did by killing these 2 bucks was take any chance of them HELPING to repopulate that herd !!! But hey there is still another dozen or so breeding bucks to help out !! Both of those bucks more than likely would have bred does this fall . IF Fish & NO GAME would have closed the unit these 2 & any this size would have been able to help the area they roam out !!

Yep... we had tags and filled them... Guess Idaho F&G should have shut down the hunts there.

JPickett said:
this a hilarious example as well.

"all the deer are dead around our place so we went up to shoot um where they ain't all dead yet"

Yes 100%

OLDHORNHUNTER · Oct 19, 2023

lundellhunting7 said:
Yep... we had tags and filled them... Guess Idaho F&G should have shut down the hunts there.

Yes 100%

Yes they should have !!! But then they would not get the $$ they need . Since these Idiots will NOT help the deer herds, Idaho hunters need to do our part as well !! I used to deer hunt units 31 & 32 but since the 16 -17 winter with the 80 to 90% wipeout of these deer herds. I have hunted other units, this past archery elk season in 31 I saw ONE 3x3 buck & around 20 doe/fawns all together. That was 17 trips out with over 40 miles on the boots, this unit has still NOT recovered. BUT those F ing Idiots at F&NG claim this unit as well as 32 are at or over their objectives