Idaho Unit 73A

usmarine6211 · Jul 13, 2020

Typical First time questions. Any info on Unit 73A would be greatly appreciated. I know theres going to be a lot of pressure pretty much everywhere, But I was hoping this area would be alittle less then for say 44 or 48

jcoop7 · Jul 13, 2020

I've hunted that unit a number of times last being about 4 years ago. Lots of ridges to hike if you're willing to get away from the roads. On the Rockland side of the range there are lots of CRP fields that you can spot deer transitioning from bedding areas up higher to feed down lower. Make sure you have your maps with you though. Plenty of access through the whole range however. Not a ton of deer on the unit but still some good bucks and genetics. Good luck!!

BrianID · Jul 13, 2020

Any general season unit in Idaho will have significant pressure. You aren’t going to be able to hike into a basin that no one else hunts. Expect other hunters to have legal or illegal motorized access to areas you don’t expect them to. It is close to Utah and I wouldn’t be surprised if many of the nonresidents that can no longer get a 73 tag (reduced nonresident quota recently) have moved over to 73A. I’ve hunted deer in about every unit in eastern Idaho including 73A and you can potentially find a nice buck in any unit on public land if you put in the work. Older bucks in general season units survive their first couple hunting seasons by finding ways to avoid hunters. Private land, minimal movement in open areas during daylight and holding tight to cover even when pressured are stratagies I’ve seen older Idaho general season use to survive more than one or two hunting seasons.
I’m sure it was just a typo on unit 44. If you had a valid tag for 44 you would have significantly less hunting pressure than 73A or 48.

usmarine6211 · Jul 14, 2020

I use OnX pretty much anywhere I hunt and haven't had a problem with it yet. (fingers crossed) it works well for me out there. We will be living from our packs and plan on humping the ridges as best as possible. There will be 4 of us there. Not all having tags, but still have extra sets of eyes. I'm expecting the pressure. That's pretty much all you read about is the ATVs and all the people. We will be out there 3 days before season trying to get a bead on something. I'll also be coming out in August to try and scout alittle. I live in Ohio.... alittle different here then what we'll be dealing with there to say the least. Last year my brother and I drew tags in Wyoming for Antelope. I was fortunate enough to shoot a Booner there. That's no where near my expectations this year though. Thanks for the responses. Truly appreciate it. And yes.. I meant 43... not 44. I put in for 44 and 45 but of course didn't draw it unfortunatly

BrianID · Jul 15, 2020

Killing a B&C pronghorn is not easy, even if you draw a max point unit. I've had several Wyoming pronghorn tags and have yet to see a buck that I know would score 82" while the season was open and I had a tag in my pocket. You must have put in some considerable effort and knew what you were looking at before you pulled the trigger.

If I was going to backpack hunt 73A this year, finding water sources I would be willing to drink filtered water from would be a priority in my planing and scouting for the hunt. There is enough water throughout the unit for deer but I personally wouldn't be excited about drinking water from a stock tank. In 73A you are going to find it very difficult to get more than a mile or two from motorized access (legal or illegal). It is steep country so 1/2 mile walk and 1000 feet elevation will get you away from most hunters.

B&C mule deer are very rare animals. The last Muley that I've seen in an Idaho general season unit that I know would net B&C was over 20 years ago and that was in December on the winter range. Anyone that claims to see B&C deer in Idaho general season units on a regular basis is a liar. It is good you are not expecting a booner because in 2020 there may not be a single buck in 73A or 48 that grows antlers that would net B&C. The genetics are good enough to grow an occasional B&C muley in 48 and 73A but few of the bucks get old enough to reach their genetic potential. I wouldn't be surprised if less than 1% of the bucks born 5 years ago in 73A are still alive. The number of 5+ year old bucks is without a doubt less than 1% of the population of the deer in 48 and 73A. A 3 1/2 year old muley that scores around 140" will look big and get shot by most guys who are hunting 73A. Many hunters rarely see a 4 point during the general season and will shoot a 1 1/2 year old two point if they get the chance. Around 80% of the hunters in 73A this year will likely not tag a deer. If you put in the work and time, I think you have a good chance of having an opportunity at a younger 4 point and possibly something bigger. you will have a good time if you don't set your expectations high for Idaho general season tags.

usmarine6211 · Jul 21, 2020

Actually, my brother was being more picky with the Antelope. I just got lucky. We was on a far corner of public that didn't hold a lot of Antelope and we didn't see anybody over there besides Mule Deer hunters. We was actually just cutting that corner to get to a different spot and I spotted him about 400 yards away walking the edge of public. I had no idea how big he was, but knew the way he was walking he would keep coming more onto public. So we speed ahead and got parked and put on a stalk. He disappeared into a hole (little indention in land) and I was able to get within 100yards. My brother walked up to far left edge of hole and he ran out the right and stopped and I dropped him in his tracks. I knew he was big, but didn't know what I shot until I ran into a outfitter the next day and showed him. Either way,, what size of deer would be ideal to hold out for in 73A? My biggest whitetail is only 154in. So I'm pretty sure a 140in Muley would get shot pretty fast if given the opportunity..

BrianID · Jul 21, 2020

I've passed on 180" muleys in Idaho general season units but if no scouting was involved, a 160" buck would be hard to pass on in a general season unit. The circumstances of the hunt dictate my decision on when to pull the trigger more than score. In 2018 I shot a two point because on the last day of my Idaho general season hunt, I felt it needed removed from the gene pool. I shoot whatever buck I feel like and don't worry about the score as much as I use to.

usmarine6211 · Jul 22, 2020

Same here.. I hunt for the meat and the love. The main reason my biggest Whitetail is only 154. I'll be coming out for a few days next month to do some scouting. And then I'll be there 3 or 4 days before season starts. So I'll just see what I see and go from there!!!

jcoop7 · Jul 22, 2020

Here is a buck my brother took from 73A the last time we hunted it, 2015 I believe. I’ve seen a couple bigger ones on previous hunts but never got a chance at them. Like most general units there are good mature bucks there but won’t find them on every ridge for sure. My suggestion for your hunt would be to cover ground and glass the transition areas. Good luck!!

TheArdentOutdoorsman · Jul 22, 2020

Im also from Ohio? I can only speak for myself but I spent 6 days in 73A archery hunting last season and never laid my eyes on a single buck. I saw about 30 doe and had an awesome camping trip otherwise though lol.

Cooper · Jul 22, 2020

That’s a big 2 point Brian

BrianID · Jul 22, 2020

Cooper,

24" two point. You can't tell from the picture but his body was significantly larger than the 3x4 he was with and looked like a tank next to the 1 1/2 year old two points. He needed removed from the gene pool and I would rather tag a buck like that than a 160" or 170" 4 1/2 year old 4 point any day. His teeth didn't look too old but I would still guess he was 4+ years old.
I killed a 30 1/2" 3 point in Colorado last year on the last day of my hunt. He was another buck that needed removed from the gene pool.

TheArdentOutdoorsman,

General season Idaho deer tags are not easy. Even if you do see bucks, sometimes it can be very difficult to get in position to kill them. There is a reason why a large majority of the Idaho general season tags end up as tag soup every year.

TheArdentOutdoorsman · Jul 23, 2020

BrianID said:
Cooper,

24" two point. You can't tell from the picture but his body was significantly larger than the 3x4 he was with and looked like a tank next to the 1 1/2 year old two points. He needed removed from the gene pool and I would rather tag a buck like that than a 160" or 170" 4 1/2 year old 4 point any day. His teeth didn't look too old but I would still guess he was 4+ years old.
I killed a 30 1/2" 3 point in Colorado last year on the last day of my hunt. He was another buck that needed removed from the gene pool.
View attachment 10385

TheArdentOutdoorsman,

General season Idaho deer tags are not easy. Even if you do see bucks, sometimes it can be very difficult to get in position to kill them. There is a reason why a large majority of the Idaho general season tags end up as tag soup every year.

Agreed. I was planning to go back this year and try some new areas but I procrastinated and tags sold out so it appears I'll be trying my hand at a Colorado leftover tag

Outdoordan · Jul 24, 2020

https://www.bigcountrynewsconnectio...cle_985c1582-cc51-11ea-865e-f7049a984a57.html

They just released 1400 non resident deer tags to be sold.

Cooper · Jul 24, 2020

I ended up getting my boy and a tag, that was cool

usmarine6211 · Jul 28, 2020

jcoop7 said:
Here is a buck my brother took from 73A the last time we hunted it, 2015 I believe. I’ve seen a couple bigger ones on previous hunts but never got a chance at them. Like most general units there are good mature bucks there but won’t find them on every ridge for sure. My suggestion for your hunt would be to cover ground and glass the transition areas. Good luck!! View attachment 10352

I'd be more then happy shooting one this size. My expectations are alittle lower then this. Glass, glass and glass some more is all I hear. So I guess I'll do as I'm told and Glass.

Can't wait!!! Thanks for all the responses!

usmarine6211 · Oct 26, 2020

Sooooo…. to say my hunt was successful is a understatement. I went into this hunt willing to shoot basically anything legal being I'm a Ohio boy first time hunting Mule Deer. 4 days of hard scouting, and I drop this giant 45min into opening morning! I had no idea he was this big until I walked up to him. Spotted him at 1500 yards and through my binos he just looked like a average 4pt. He came sprinting my direction and I myself had to sprint behind a ridge and try and cut the distance to where he was headed. I popped up over the ridge about the same time he stopped and I ranged him at 350yds. Dropped on impact. Sooooo… Not knowing much about mulies, what do you think he will score? Scoring is alittle different then whitetails and I'm not good at scoring whitetails. lol. So any ideas would be greatly appreciated. Thanks so much to all of those that helped me with info!!

Cooper · Oct 26, 2020

That’s a badass deer!

Elkfinder · Oct 26, 2020

Great buck congrats!!

BrianID · Oct 26, 2020

Very nice buck for general season Idaho. I like unique bucks like that. You did very well for general season Idaho. Good shooting too. Most guys talk big but the truth is many hunters out there are not capable of pulling off a 350 yard shot under rushed conditions. They may claim they can dial their scope and shot a deer at 1000 yards but will often miss a 300 yard shot.

I would guess he will score very close 160" with an outside spread around 26".

tmull1 · Feb 24, 2021

usmarine6211 said:
Sooooo…. to say my hunt was successful is a understatement. I went into this hunt willing to shoot basically anything legal being I'm a Ohio boy first time hunting Mule Deer. 4 days of hard scouting, and I drop this giant 45min into opening morning! I had no idea he was this big until I walked up to him. Spotted him at 1500 yards and through my binos he just looked like a average 4pt. He came sprinting my direction and I myself had to sprint behind a ridge and try and cut the distance to where he was headed. I popped up over the ridge about the same time he stopped and I ranged him at 350yds. Dropped on impact. Sooooo… Not knowing much about mulies, what do you think he will score? Scoring is alittle different then whitetails and I'm not good at scoring whitetails. lol. So any ideas would be greatly appreciated. Thanks so much to all of those that helped me with info!!
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Hey Man, was doing some research on this area and was hoping to pick your brain on it. I am an east coast boy too so was hoping i could get some advice!