Guided or un guided

[canyoncrosser]

I was Just curious, do most of you guys always have the same hunts that you go on every year or as long as you are able to draw. Do you always hunt public land, or pay a landowner where you have been hunting year after year. Or can anyone recommend a good hunt that can be done often.

 

[BrianID]

I can't ever draw a tag here in Idaho so I buy an over the counter tag every year. I mostly hunt public land but also spend some time hunting private land. You could buy an over the counter tag and hunt Idaho every year but you will have to put in some work if you expect to tag out more often than not.

 

[canyoncrosser]

I tried Southeast Idaho about three or four years ago, around Preston and Soda Springs. The locals said there was a winter kill the winter the year before 90% of the deer were gone they said. All I saw was a yearling forkie in three days. After that I got depressed and went home. The Bitterroots last year was about the same I was lucky to tag out there. I just haven't had a good public land experience yet, and I am apprehensive about going on anything not proven now.

 

[AspenAdventures]

There are still places in each state you can tag out each year on a 4 point buck.

I hunt in Utah and there are places here that I regularly see good bucks. They win half the time and I win the other half. I could take a small buck each year but I am wanting something bigger than my last buck. This area is on public ground and is hunted by quite a few others.

We have also hunted Nevada, Colorado, and this year Wyoming. It is hard to draw a really good area more that about every 4 years so if you build up your points right you can hunt somewhere almost every year.

I only hunt high country. Try these things in the high country:
1. Search F&G websites to get to see what areas are tough to draw. Put in for something that takes about 4 years.
2. Look for high and large mountains and look at the stats for that area.
3. Go over topos and find a place you can get in at least 3 miles from any roads. Preferably 5 miles.
4. Get awesome optics and spend all the time you can behind them from July 15th till the hunt.

The bucks are still there on public ground in every state. And I know if you pay for it, like the Eastmans do, you can get on priviate ground and hunt from your truck for good bucks every year as well.

I prefer the greater challenge and believe it offers often a smaller buck, but a greater reward. They are there, good luck!