Idaho Wilderness 20A Controlled hunt. November buck

AJEmerick · Jun 28, 2015

LAST EDITED ON Jun-29-15 AT 01:12AM (MST)[p]Well I got a Non resident Middle Fork 20a tag on accident as hunt numbers changed this year for some reason for what I wanted. So basically im trying to make the best out of my tag and im not finding alot of information so after being a non member snooper i decided to become a member of the muleymadness team and get nosey...lol.

Well a lil info...Im a professional Firefighter and do ALOT of big country hunting. my biggest fail was not getting 2015 regulations before i applied and well thats when i found out hunt numbers changed to the corresponding unit numbers...Ive hunted alot of breaks and big country like this and am use to elk in the weiser unit so steep nasty ever living country is ok. Im hearing/seeing alot of talk about boating in and getting a mule line to take me up possibly but ill be the only one in my 2 man group that'll actually have the tag. Is hiking in feesable or at all comfortable...and november im hearing alot of people saying theres snow maybe this time? might have accidently drawn a tag im not honestly prepared for...not physically...just knowledge and experience wise.

Can any of you guys recommend where to begin scouting/looking for some concentrations of animals and maps. really i just want to stay away from were there where big fires last year and were i'm not gonna get wolved out..Which has happened to me 2 years ago on a back country hunt(no fun but did it...lol). have any of you guys talked or had luck with local bios?

If any of you have hunted the middle fork specifically the 20A unit and have any first hand experience and can lend a hand i would greatly appreciate it! Maybe if any of you guys head over to the Washington side I can pay back the favor and help you out!

Thanks again and respectfully. AJ

ID_MW · Jun 29, 2015

Hey- you probably don't want to try parking and hiking into 20A- that would be almost logistically impossible. There will probably already be snow on the ground and a big storm would leave a guy in a tough position, not to mention having miles of trail before you would even be in 20A. For a little bit mor than the gas you would burn already, you can charter a flight- unfortunately there are only a couple viable strips to land in 20A, with Cold Meadows probably the best option. Jet boats can get you to Mackay Bar, and you can stay there with comfy accommodations, but would again have to hike up into country. Most of the 20A hunters hunt out of Mackay Bar, so you would lose some of the cache' of a true wilderness hunt. I am not sure who outfits in 20A, but that is another option. As a last ditch effort, you can turn your tag back for unlimited hunts by writing an email to the licensing department of IDFG and declining the tag. That would give your option to go OTC for another hunt.

ID_MW · Jun 29, 2015

Hunt numbers change every year as well, kinda sucks, but always happens. Best of luck whichever way you go.

AJEmerick · Jun 29, 2015

Thanks for the advicem..I'm definitely going g to look into getting a charter of some kind. I have planned in another few weeks to go up and scout it so be prepared to see some pictures. Hopefully I can find something. I did talk to a couple people that messaged me that there was some success on the northern end hiking in. Sucks but is doable. I guess being in November would about be the only worry I have about getting g back into that cou try by foot. Otherwise the distance isn't an issue and I'll have been hunting for a week already in unit 22 before I adventure to 20A.

If anyone e else has advice or suggestions ide gladly accept them all.

Respectfully, AJ