Advice on Idaho OTC units

daltrix99 · Sep 16, 2018

Hi all,

My buddy and I just learned that as DAVs we can hunt in Idaho at a great price, and we are thankful for the opportunity. We will be chasing Mulies in Idaho during the first week of the OTC rifle season (Oct 10-14). We have narrowed our hunt down to units 36A or 69. The plan is to hunt 36A if the weather remains mild, and get aggressive in the big country. If low temps and especially snow come in, we'll head to 69 to hunt the Caribous for both resident and maybe migrating bucks. Any thoughts on these two units for this particular season?

Much appreciated!

daltrix99
Montana

idsharp · Sep 17, 2018

Hi there and good luck with your hunting this year. I don't have any experience in 36A and very limited experience in 69. I hunt general seasons. Deer (especially big bucks or even decent bucks) are few and far in between. That's just my experience. It's also my experience that the more time and effort you put in the better your chances. Still no guarantee of course.
I have not heard much except negative comments on the quality of deer hunting in 36A. I think you'll be more crowded in 69. Again good luck with what ever you decide.

Rmhely · Sep 18, 2018

I've seen good bucks in 66, the sister unit to 69. Every year a couple are taken. Given the number of hunters on the unit, however, I'd put the success rate on good bucks at just about 0%. With the recent Tex Creek fire and severe winter, I would not be hopeful, unless you've spent a lot of time in the unit.

elkboy32 · Sep 18, 2018

36A got crushed by the winter of 16/17, and it's going to be a while before it recovers, if ever. Both units are overrun with non-residents. Not a great report, but that's the honest truth. Idaho is not typically an instant gratification state. I would recommend using a 5 year plan. A couple years to learn the unit, a couple years getting into deer, and maybe shoot one in 2023. But your just going to be fighting other non-residents till you put in the time....

Mnbearhunter123 · Sep 19, 2018

Pm sent

scopenstalk · Sep 20, 2018

Not sure what your plan is but if you can get out and scout either unit your chances go up exponentially. You most likely aren't going to find a lot of help on forums. Honestly hunting is so hard now finding anything other than "yes there are deer within your chosen unit" on an internet forum would be a surprise. All I know is 69 gets hunted very hard during the general hunt and 36A has lower deer densities but less hunters. Both got hammered with winter kill from the 2016-2017 winter. Keep your expectations in check and hunt your ass off and you will have a good hunt. I managed to kill a 4x5 buck last year in Idaho and I am a non resident. It's one of two bucks I saw during all my hunting and scouting trips so I can give a first hand account that the winter kill really was bad. I hunted a southeast unit and a central unit before I pulled the trigger. So it can happen. Idaho is one of the most beautiful places I have ever been. Just the scenery is worth the trip. Good luck.

jetsled · Sep 21, 2018

I'd stay in SE Idaho. Much higher deer numbers in that area of the state. Units 33-37 all got hammered a couple years ago with snow and have yet to recover. Not to mention these units never have had high numbers of deer like SE has.

BPKHunter · Sep 21, 2018

Me and my group has spent a fair amount of time in 36a the past 3-4 years and while it holds a lot of animals including both species of deer, elk, moose, goats(antelope and mountain, and big horns, what it doesn't have is a mass of muleys. I do think they kill some nice bucks on the late hunt, I would not go recommend that unit.

Not sure what areas got hit by the winter the worst, but we've found bucks and so have some others, so don't be afraid to come. I don't know 69.

Derekg12 · Sep 30, 2018

I'm heading out to SE Idaho on Oct. 12th. Sounds like always I need to hunt hard to find something. Hoping to find n area with activity. Best of luck to all.

Cactusbuck · Sep 30, 2018

Also hunting SE Idaho leaving Oct. 12th. Long range forecast is calling for cold and snow.

N_Corey · Sep 30, 2018

This is a classic first and only post.

daltrix99 · Sep 30, 2018

Makes sense, right? I've never hunted out of state before. Been shooting elk and deer for years in Montana, all over the state. Not only have I never scouted or hunted Idaho, but I had never even considered it, with the hunting so good in Montana. I only found out this year that I can hunt in Idaho at resident prices as a disabled vet. I'll take info anywhere I can get it.

cjg_beef · Oct 5, 2018

LAST EDITED ON Oct-05-18 AT 03:25PM (MST)[p]Idaho has some great opportunities for OTC! I think you'd be better off hunting later in the hunt. I've found the hunt is better the last week of the hunt as it's closer to the rut. That being said with the weather that's moving the first week might be pretty good. Also I don't know if I'd be bouncing between units with so little time to hunt.

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