Is a S.E. Idaho tag worth getting?

LouieT

Active Member
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166
Since I didn't draw any hunts this year and there are some leftover non-resident tags for S.E. Idaho I was thinking of getting one of those. I hunted that area (unit 76) back in 1991 and it was a fun hunt, but I have heard it is not the same now. Do you guys think this would be a good tag worth getting? Obviously there are left over tags for a reason. Thanks for any info.

Louie
 
Its not even what it was like in '96. These tags useta sell out the day they went on sale (December 1st). The past several years there have been leftovers well into August - a definite reflection of the quality of the hunt (quality in terms of number of decent shootable 4x4+ bucks).

Having said all that, I picked up one of these tags yesterday - not because I have any illusions of taking a big buck (the last decent buck i took up there was a 24" in 2001), but 1) i'm not getting any younger (approaching 50), 2) my 2 boys can both hunt as junior-mentored licensees, and 3) their fall break AND the UEA break work VERY well with the hunt dates.

We go only with the expectation of some good times together.

Neil

btw, 10 years ago we'd see MUCH better bucks, more of them, and about half the # of hunters. Hunters seem to not think twice about taking the bucks that the hunters would pass on back then.
 
Louie

Don't buy a tag, don't go. I don't want anyone else camping by me this year. Nothing personel, just that the bucks are hard to come by. Ha Ha. Just kidding there is a few deer left, mostly smaller bucks. They have great genetics, just no age. Good luck.


Ransom
 
I would rather just have a general Idaho tag. I think there are better units than the ones covered by the SE tag. If you know the country there though, maybe it would be your best bet. Good luck regardless.
Dax
 
SE idaho is nothing like it was back in the 90's. However there are still some giants taken every year off of that region. They are just few and far between. I grew up in this area and it is nothing like it used to be, however it is still one of the top hunts on my list each year because the potential is still around it just needs some age. Do not go one this hunt if you are looking at seeing a lot of deer and a high number of bucks, this is not the unit for that. One thing is certain a day in the woods seeing nothing is still better than the best day of work. That being said I say get the tag and go have a fun trip and you never know you might be one of those guys you gets one of the big ones this year. Good Luck.
 
I will see what works for my schedule. I know they still get some big deer there, just not the numbers they used to. Are there any quides for that area? Is there any private land to pay an access fee that may hold a few more deer? Thanks.

Louie
 
>I will see what works for
>my schedule. I know
>they still get some big
>deer there, just not the
>numbers they used to.
>Are there any quides for
>that area? Is there
>any private land to pay
>an access fee that may
>hold a few more deer?
> Thanks.
>
>Louie


Louie
Yes, there is private land but I'm not sure of the ownership and accessibility. There are a couple of big places up Montpelier Canyon/Crow Creek that are just gorgeous. You just KNOW there are some good bucks (and bulls) that find refuge there. In the bigger picture, these parcels of private ground are actually a good thing for the herd.
I understand from some local elk hunters that there's another big ranch also right on the border (don't know which side - Idaho or Wyoming - or if it straddles BOTH sides of the border) where a good number of the elk in the Diamond Creek unit head to and stay put once the mass of archery hunters converges on the unit.

An ugly divorce put a beautiful ranch where we used to hunt into the hands of the crazy wife of a ranch owner I know. She immediately sold it, and the new owner immediately sold it (to some easterner) for twice the amount he paid. Its now adorned by expensive rigs and loud mouth, overweight ATV riding "hunters" during October. Again, maybe its "good for the herd." I dunno. What I *do* know is that its now out of reach to us commoners.

Other local landowners have been quite good about letting hunters onto their property. Just ask around, find the owners and introduce yourself, show up w/ some fresh corn, peaches, tomatoes - or some baked goods. Stay in contact and send something for Christmas. At least this has been the formula that has worked for us. Even though we most likely won't be on any private ground this year, we'll still stop in and drop off something and say "hi" to a couple of local landowners. Nurture those hunter/rancher relations.

In the end, we are fortunate that there is still plenty of public land and access. That's where we go now. We just use our feet to get a little further off the beaten path. Deer or no deer - you can't put a price tag on the memories w/ hunting buddies or dad, brother, or son.

Neil
 

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