Idaho Unit 31 Nov 10-Nov 24

[bootspearo]

I drew a tag for the late muley hunt in Idaho unit 31. I have hunted this unit for archery elk quite a bit but I really dont see all that many deer except for the occasional doe. So I'am woundering if anyone has any advice on where I can plan my scouting trips to. Any info would be greatly helpful.

Thanks, Hugh

 

[flea_bitten]

Honestly I hunt the unit usually 2-3 days from May-July bear hunting. I have never seen a buck in there that would get a guy excited, maybe 1. If we get early weather a few guys like to hunt the breaks past raft creek via boat, or another place is to hunt the breaks that run down to fairchild res alot of deer push in there on those big sage flats,if you have horses, I would suggest even riding out in cottonwood, but I know the unit, inside and out, upside and down, I've treed bears in almost every drainage in that unit and the deer hunting there sucks, period. I've known countless guys with that tag the last 5 yrs and no one has connected on anything great. The unit gets hammered during general season, I have hunted it off horseback many of times, well off the beaten path thinking I'll find the magical spot, but never have. A 160 class buck would be very respectable in there.

 

[bootspearo]

Well I really appreciate your honesty flea_bitten I have been archery elk hunting in there for the past 4 years and I havent seen that many deer either. But I was hoping if we get some good snow that maybe a guy could get lucky by going in from the Oregon side via boat on Brownlee resivoir. I love getting away from the roads and have never shot a big muley so a big muley to me would definetely be anything over 150. I sure hope I can find something in there in that range. Thanks for your advice. Hugh Powell

 

[flea_bitten]

Problem is with that unit is theres no real "high country" or remote places that anyone can't get to except the breaks of the river past raft creek, otherwise theres roads everywhere in there and the general seasons take there toll.

 

[YoungBuck]

I have seen some great bucks in the unit...my dads best friend lives in Weiser and drew the hunt this year...his wife drew it last year...and he also had the tag about 6 years ago.
The buck he shot the first time he drew wasnt very big at all...18" widex 18" tall...with good mass 4x4
His wife shot a 20" 3 point
I shot a 25 1/2 3x4 a couple years ago on the general hunt...and passed up numerous bucks that year and last year that were the same size.
If I were to point you in a direction...I would have to say start asking landowners in the areas you plan on hunting...or hunting the borders of the private land...this is where the majority of the bigger bucks hang out...from what I have found.
I have seen 2 25-26" 3x4's this year during the archery hunt...one on private and the other on public...but there are much bigger bucks there than some people realize...not really a well known spot for monsters.
I have a 5 point shed that scores a little over 79" from that area also.
If you need a watchful eye I can keep an eye open for you during my hunts...and more than likely all the way through your hunt...I am trying to convince my dads friend to let me go along with him..haha
YB

 

[bootspearo]

Hey Young Buck thanks for the heads up. Iam really looking forward to the hunt. I have been up about 4 times this year hunting elk, it has been kind of slow going though. Do you reccomend the Fairchild area? I hunted elk there last year and was lucky enough to get a cow last year with my bow. I saw lots of does but no bucks but then again I really wasnt hunting deer to hard either. My wife has a doe tag for the same Unit 31 so I will do some scouting then towards the end of her hunt so we dont have to deal with the crowds so much. I think its a good idea to ask some land owners to hunt privare land. I have never hunted private land so I really dont know what the best way of going about it.

P.S. I will probably be hunting alone, I like to do alot of glassing if it sounds like something your intrested and would like to come along, let me know.
[email protected]

Thanks again, Hugh Powell

 

[YoungBuck]

I sent you a pm
YB

 

[flea_bitten]

LAST EDITED ON Sep-15-06 AT 07:24PM (MST)[p]I just re-read my post, sorry it sounds like I hunt the unit 2-3 days, but I hunt it 2-3 days a week all summer long starting the end of may. Hunted it thurs. Seen 5 bucks and 5 bulls, all bulls were together in a bachelor group, 4 spikes, 1 raghorn 3. Biggest buck was a 2x3 about 20 wide. Going back in there tommorow.

 

[bootspearo]

Flea_bitten what are you driving. I will be in a white single cab Toyota Tundra. My brother in law will be in a green Toyota Tacoma. They might have stickers that say Responsible Pest Control. Maybe we will run into ya. We usually are around Bear Saddle or down the back side . Hugh

 

[flea_bitten]

I've been in a single cab blue chevy, but I've been further south then bear saddle/sturgill area but was headed up there this morning but got sidetracked late last nite, probably in the morning.