Idaho Hunting

SSmith7595

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Looking for some good solid advice on mule deer hunting in Idaho. Last year I went to zone 66/69 but went with guys that jacked everything up. This year I am taking my 12 year old daughter and would like to have a fair chance at least seeing mullies. I am planning on going back to the eastern side of Idaho, but with some good advice I am willing to travel further. Planning on getting her a doe tag and I will get a buck tag. She's a solid shot out to 200-300 yards with her .243 so that isn't a major concern. Gong to be out there the 11th so we can hopefully get a head start before the weekend. Like I said any solid advice is greatly appreciated. We are from Missouri so may things are new to us and last year was my first year hunting Idaho.
Thanks, Sam
 
A lot of times when you open the door for advice you open the door for some crazy stuff, I'm looking for helpful stuff. Want to make the trip fun, not really need to kill anything just have fun, hopefully kill something. I noticed that 69 was a very busy area, not that it is all bad, but just busy. looking at calling a few of the ranches on the access yes program not sure if that is helpful or not.
 
If your going to hunt General deer anyway you might as well put in for a controlled deer hunt together. If you don't draw you could still hunt the general tag.
 
Hop on the Idaho Fish and Game website and find the regional offices that are close to where you are wanting to go. Ask to speak with the biologists in that area. I have found that most are very helpful with information. Most of them are familiar with local ranchers, who may or may not offer access.
 
+1 to what customweld said.

My two cents: The winter of 16-17 was brutal in that section of the state (wasn't much better in other areas as well). Some of the harvest reports in the eastern units were down into the single digits as far as success percentages go. You will see some deer (mostly does) if you hunt HARD but overall it's tough, especially during October seasons. Talking with a biologist is solid advice, and would help you narrow down the area in the unit you may want to try that may hold a few more deer. Antlerless permits were cut back a lot in many areas so getting one may be more difficult than in years past.

Can't point you in the right direction because if I make it up there again this year, I will be looking for greener pastures as well.
 
You might think the grass is greener in other areas but the truth is general season deer hunting in Idaho was tuff last year. There is a good reason success rate was less than 15% in 66 and 69 last year. The 2016/2017 winter was very hard on the deer. Most of the guys that did kill a deer in those units are the same group of guys that killed deer previous years in those units. Your odds as a new hunter tin those units are much lower than other hunters that have more experience.
Hunting the same area year after year and getting to know it is a good strategy to be successful in the long run. In some Eastern Idaho units youth hunters can kill either bucks or does which includes 66 and 69. If you liked the country you hunted last year, I would recommend going back to the same general area. If you haven't done much mule deer hunting the best advice I could give you is to hike to places you can't see from a road and use binoculars. Even if you put in a good effort your odds of killing a buck in Eastern Idaho on a general season tag won't be great but you can still have a good time hiking around the woods with your daughter. Good luck
 
Here's my most solid advice about taking a youngster hunting for the first time. I give it because I tried it with my son when he was your daughter's age and it made a big difference.

Take her out shooting in simulated hunting situations.
Most novice hunters can shoot over a bench, but real hunting is a different animal.

It might be impossible where you live but if there is a place you can take her and have her tote her gun. Then suddenly stop, pick out a rock target at a random distance and while she is getting into a comfortable position range the target for her. Have her try to pick out the target in her scope as quickly as possible, and fire. Then do it again and again at different ranges, etc. I called it rock busting.
It took a few trips for my son to get the hang of it but he eventually got better and gained confidence. Besides, it was fun.
When the hunt finally came around my little guy was proficient enough to down a very nice Wyoming antelope buck in a tough pressure packed situation. Practice really paid off for us.

Best of luck and I hope that advice might help.
 
LAST EDITED ON Apr-10-18 AT 09:13AM (MST)[p]Is your daughter hunting or just going with you? If you are interested in hunting with your daughter, my advice is to draw an antelope tag in Wyoming....Lots of easy to draw tags, lots of public land, lots of critters and opportunities, and many ranchers there either charge a reasonable access fee or would allow a young hunter to shoot a goat.

If you really want to hunt mule deer in Idaho, I would suggest the archery hunt. You will be amazed at the number of animals you will see in the very same place you hunted the general rifle hunt.

I have no other advice that hasn't already been given on rifle deer hunting on a general tag. Access Yes is no big secret, some places are hunted harder than the public around it. The units you speak of were very hard hit by the winter, and general units are just always busy unless you get private access or are willing to hike or actually beat the thick stuff.
 

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