Out of state hunting

Midwest_hunter · Jun 14, 2019

LAST EDITED ON Jun-14-19 AT 06:24PM (MST)[p]LAST EDITED ON Jun-14-19 AT 06:24?PM (MST)

Hello all! I am currently stationed in Maryland for the Marines, trying to plan a trip to Idaho to go mule deer hunting this fall. I am from Indiana and have only hunted out-of-state in Michigan for grouse, so Idaho?s tag/unit/season/weapon system is a little confusing to me. If I purchase a ?General deer? tag, will that suffice for any unit (and any weapon)? I am looking into unit 76, hoping to hunt with a rifle. Would this tag work? Also, is there any way I could get in touch with the areas game warden (you know, to do what all out of staters do- ask for the honey holes)? I am in good shape, and plan to train for the harsh, unforgiving country I always hear about. I truly look forward to trying to get as far away from hunters and roads as I can! Thank you so much for your time and help! Any help at all is well appreciated!

Outdoordan · Jun 14, 2019

Yes, you need to buy a hunting license of approximately $155 and a General deer tag approximately $302. If you would like to hunt unit 76, the dates are 10/10-10/24.

Using the hunt planner is invaluable to a NR. Google idaho hunt planner. Check the deer, general season (not controlled) then any of the units you may be interested in. Good luck.

BTW - You can use your NR deer tag to tag a bear or lion if the season is open (I believe it is). Once tagged though, you can't hunt deer anymore as the tag is punched.

Midwest_hunter · Jun 14, 2019

Thank you so much for your quick reply! I am glad that it is much more straight forward than I was thinking. I guess now it just comes down to picking a unit... hands down the hardest part. I have read that 76 *had* a great deer population but may be dwindling currently. Is it best to just try it out because ?what's the worst that happens?, or should I just kind of throw a dart at the map and go at it? Googling always seems to yield mixed results and suggestions for 40 other units and 12 other states... LOL

buckhorn · Jun 14, 2019

All of the south eastern Idaho general units are about the same. 76 is as good as any and has a lot of remote back country that you can hike into. The bucks are where you find them and could show up in any of those units. If you're unfamiliar with the area I suggest getting a room at the Caribou motel in Soda Springs and just scout and hunt everywhere you can for a week or so until you decide what you like and then focus on that.

Midwest_hunter · Jun 15, 2019

Wonderful advice buckhorn. I keep getting the vibe of ?you can't kill deer from your couch, get out there? lol. Is there another corner of Idaho that might prove more fruitful? Again, not asking for anyone?s secret spots by any mean! But any sort of direction would be nice, even if it's just a corner of the state! Thanks again?

Outdoordan · Jun 15, 2019

I think Buckhorn is right. 76 is as good as any. Find a map of historic burns (available with onxmaps subscription). Find burns that are 2 - 10 years old. It doesn't look like a lot of them, but there are a few. Scout those. I would estimate that a couple of good burns would bring the deer population back up in the future.

Midwest_hunter · Jun 15, 2019

Are burns just where wildfires have ripped through? Could you briefly explain why/how that affects deer population and location? I am so sorry for my lack of knowledge, definitely not my element... could definitely help you with Midwest whitetails though! Lol