Idaho Unit 39 vs Unit 40 General Deer

[Glock10mm]

Last year I wasted a ton of money and time drawing what was supposed to a great elk hunt.
Well my son and I got skunked, spent days and didn't see a single living creature.
So this year I'm going to try and get at least something and was wondering which unit I might have better luck at possibly shooting at a deer. I know Unit 40 is 2 point only, I've seen some deer but nothing that qualified. I rode arrowrock to Prarie in 39 and saw no deer, if you all had minimal time to hunt and really wanted to get your kid a deer which Unit would you bank on?

 

[JPblind]

39 over 40, but you will have to walk in 1 or 2 miles. As 95% hunters are cityboy road hunters.

 

[Outdoordan]

Rode from Arrowrock to Prairie says it all. Half of Boise hunts that stretch because it is 30 minutes from Boise. Go further out, get out of the UTV and do some hiking. Not trying to be a jerk about it, just get further away from the crowds.

 

[boise]

40 is a great unit, but if you drive a little farther 41 is less crowded especially towards NV boarder. Kids can shoot antlerless in 39, as close to a sure thing as you’ll get. You have a month there’s resident deer year round in foothills, Danskins, clear creek, pine creek, grimes creek, or you can go farther out, house, Rattlesnake, sheep, and lava mountains all have deer just putt in a little time before season. If you don’t have time hope for weather. Coachem up!

 

[critterstalker]

39 for kids should be a slam dunk being able to shoot either sex. Just wait until the last two weeks when most of the road hunters are gone. If you have to go out opening day I'd go to 42 or 41 any place with water is will have deer somewhere around it. Just a hint, use your binoculars not your windshield. I guarantee you and ALOT of other people drove by deer on that drive. I see it all the time.

 

[KickrBuk]

39

 

[JPickett]

Sounds like you need to get out of the truck...

 

[Weiserbucks]

Sounds like you need to get out of the truck...

Negative, road hunting 39 is the way to go. More road hunters equals less pressure off the road. If more people would just road hunt it would free up a lot of area for those that don't.

 

[JPickett]

Negative, road hunting 39 is the way to go. More road hunters equals less pressure off the road. If more people would just road hunt it would free up a lot of area for those that don't.

It’s funny I’ve actually seen some nice bucks killed right off the road but yeah, not my cup of tea. I take a good buck out of 39 every year and hardly see a soul where I hunt. Just killed a nice bear up there Labor Day during all the holiday activity and again, had my spot to myself.

 

[kickerbuck]

Please don't shoot a doe, even with your kid. Bad advice and poor management!!!

 

[Weiserbucks]

Head North and shoot a whitetail.

 

[andrew12gauge]

Head North and shoot a whitetail.

They’re all dead from blue tongue

 

[boise]

State is issuing 2000 either sex tags in 39, feel free to harvest a Doe! You won't be the only ones. Loop

 

[kickerbuck]

State is issuing 2000 either sex tags in 39, feel free to harvest a Doe! You won't be the only ones. Loop

Like I said POOR management, and obviously hunters can't Police themselves then!

 

[critterstalker]

Like I said POOR management, and obviously hunters can't Police themselves then!

39 is a huge unit with a ton of deer. Proper management includes taking out doe's.

 

[regul8r1]

Not to hi jack the thread but I’m in line with kicker buck. Winters and predators kill plenty of the does, I don’t think we need more doe shot. The winter of 2017 killed so many deer that I just can’t believe we are back to the numbers we had prior. I just can’t support more doe opportunity. I do wonder if the push to kill more doe is because the winter range can no longer support them. Fires have burned so much over the years. Everyone has an opinion And I agree with Kicker, those does are the future.

 

[kickerbuck]

Not to hi jack the thread but I’m in line with kicker buck. Winters and predators kill plenty of the does, I don’t think we need more doe shot. The winter of 2017 killed so many deer that I just can’t believe we are back to the numbers we had prior. I just can’t support more doe opportunity. I do wonder if the push to kill more doe is because the winter range can no longer support them. Fires have burned so much over the years. Everyone has an opinion And I agree with Kicker, those does are the future.

PLUS 1!!! But hey if you're going to shoot a doe make sure it's one with twins that she just dropped in June, so they can die too from a predator or not knowing where to migrate for winter. Also by killing an active breeding doe she won't be able to have twins next spring either. So maybe you can kill 5 deer with one shot ???

 

[boise]

Wildlife biologists on ever tread! LOL! Wish it worked that way, you'll never stack the deck. Guy started thread to get advice on getting his kid a deer. Your opinion and mine are just that, support for new hunters is everyone's future

 

[stevebucks]

It’s funny I’ve actually seen some nice bucks killed right off the road but yeah, not my cup of tea. I take a good buck out of 39 every year and hardly see a soul where I hunt. Just killed a nice bear up there Labor Day during all the holiday activity and again, had my spot to myself.

c

 

[Howler]

39 is a huge unit with a ton of deer. Proper management includes taking out doe's.

When was the last time you heard of a rancher killing his cows when he was trying to grow his herd?

 

[Howler]

Like I said POOR management, and obviously hunters can't Police themselves then!

Boy you have that right, sure as hell can’t count on hunters to police theirselves!

 

[JPickett]

Boy you have that right, sure as hell can’t count on hunters to police theirselves!

39 is the biggest deer herd in the state next to the largest population. It’s never going to be a trophy hunt, always an opportunity hunt. Realistically 90% of people who buy hunting licenses don’t care. They just want to shoot a deer. Why would F&G turn Over that apple cart? You can kill nice bucks in there but you gotta know what your doing. And have to accept the unit for what it is. Most guys are just fine with a two point. That’s not gunna change and that revenue will drive the policy.

 

[boise]

When was the last time you heard of a rancher killing his cows when he was trying to grow his herd?

I think the 2000 either sex tags are to reduce or maintain the herd. Not “grow the herd”