First time ever out west - Idaho Sawtooth scouting

[FLAK]

Wherever you decide its about legs and lungs.
And. BTW. If I could live anywhere I wanted, it would be Idaho.

 

[breakglass]

Don't take my comment as trying to detur you from this unit. I just want to put it in perspective. I'm 29 and I would say I'm in the top percentile of the fitness world and this unit still kicks my ass. I work out 5 days a week very intense workouts. I would say blast your legs like you never have before. Stairstep every day. Good boots are a must. Be prepared for any type of weather.

Success rates: I really think the success rates reflect better hunting than in reality. A lot of hunters in this area are local, hard core guys that really know the area and what they are doing. Not really that its an amazing unit for deer or elk. Creatures can be hard to find and the wolves can push them around a good bit as well. With that being said this is a beautiful unit.

I get your drift. This unit is starting to sound pretty intimidating. I hope my getaway sticks are ready for the challenge.
While researching this unit, I have found a some people mentioning wolves making this unit harder to hunt, but the threads are 5+ years old if I remember correctly. I didn't assume they left, but maybe the numbers are lower today?

 

[breakglass]

Wherever you decide its about legs and lungs.
And. BTW. If I could live anywhere I wanted, it would be Idaho.

I have a feeling I'll want to cancel my flight home from the pictures I've been looking at! I've been getting a lot of funny looks and comments from coworkers and friends when I tell them what I'm doing. "Why would you want to go there? Isn't it just one big potato farm?" .....Some people's kids

 

[FLAK]

I heard the same when we went on vacation to MT. this past June. Why would you want to go out there?
Some people just don't get it.

 

[juan trueno]

why scout when you can hopper fish.

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[breakglass]

That looks like a good time to me! I'm hoping I can get the job done with a few mepps spinners. I've never been known to target trout, but they seem to be more abundant out west compared to where I live. I'm going to give it a try. I saw that some lakes I was researching have stocked golden trout, I've never even heard of one.. awesome looking fish.

 

[idahohikker]

Ahh fishing. I caught so many at Cascade this summer.

The fishing can be good where you’re talking. That’s why the Idaho wilderness is for backpacking and fishing, not hunting. Slay the fish and then slay the deer and elk elsewhere unless you want to really bust your balls in insanely rough country for a few critters.

People get confused because wilderness hunting is good in other western states.

Regardless, I hope OP has a wonderful time.

 

[ID_MW]

Most of the reply’s you have received have been spot on. If you fly into Boise and take 55 to 17/21 up to Stanley you have just driven through and around better Muley hunting then you can find in 36.
39 May report a lot more hunters, but its twice as big and has country just as gnarly as 36. 33/35 have a ton of roads but the steep canyons keep the majority of hunters out. Not many deer at all in the sawtooth’s. Better deer hunting in the east side of 36. Good luck- lose the Irish Setters and bring aspirin for the headaches from looking through crap glass for 6 hours a day...

 

[MrWolf]

Most of the reply’s you have received have been spot on. If you fly into Boise and take 55 to 17/21 up to Stanley you have just driven through and around better Muley hunting then you can find in 36.
39 May report a lot more hunters, but its twice as big and has country just as gnarly as 36. 33/35 have a ton of roads but the steep canyons keep the majority of hunters out. Not many deer at all in the sawtooth’s. Better deer hunting in the east side of 36. Good luck- lose the Irish Setters and bring aspirin for the headaches from looking through crap glass for 6 hours a day...

Why loose the Irish setters? Delta just destroyed my luggage that had my boots in it and are only covering part of the cost to replace them so I was looking at getting setters because they are cheaper.

 

[Customweld]

I've been following this thread and I hope that breakglass has an incredible time! Hopefully he reports back.

 

[sneaky]

Why loose the Irish setters? Delta just destroyed my luggage that had my boots in it and are only covering part of the cost to replace them so I was looking at getting setters because they are cheaper.

They don't have the ankle support needed in the really steep stuff. They're doable, but not the ones we would recommend

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[MrWolf]

They don't have the ankle support needed in the really steep stuff. They're doable, but not the ones we would recommend

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What's the recommendation? I have saconey perigrins and a set of Morrell moabs for early archery.

 

[sneaky]

Boots are different for everyone. No two people's feet are the same. Lots of guys like Crispi, my feet prefer Zamberlan, lots of Kenetrek, Lowa

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[MrWolf]

Boots are different for everyone. No two people's feet are the same. Lots of guys like Crispi, my feet prefer Zamberlan, lots of Kenetrek, Lowa

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I thought I knew boot brands but I have never heard of any of those! Thanks for the info

 

[breakglass]

The Irish setters did pretty well for me in my opinion. They’re the most comfortable pair of kicks I own. I will agree that they lack the ankle support you would want, but they did fine for me. I didn’t really wander off the trail too much.

I had a great time out here and I wish I didn’t have to go back home tomorrow...
I did 1 hike per day just to see some different areas within the unit, but realistically I didn’t get enough time here to do everything I wanted to do. My first day was in Lowman. Seemed like a decent area although I didn’t see any deer, I spent most of my time fishing the Payette river. I caught maybe 6-7 rainbows and a few brook trout. Good ole mepps spinner did the trick!

Ive been in Stanley the last 3 days. I hiked up to Hoodoo lake in the white cloud area. I saw a few does and 2 spikes when I was on my way out. Next day I went to Langer lake which may not even be in unit 36. It might spill into 27 or on the ragged edge. I liked that area though, a lot of burned stuff. Plus I spotted a few does back there on my way to the trailhead. Today I walked back to Hell Roaring lake to give the sawtooths a try. Awesome views back there but I saw zero signs of deer. I was more so trying to scout an area compared to scouting deer. Either way, this was the most adventurous thing I’ve ever done in my life. With all the research I’ve done and advice from you guys I still couldn’t help feeling like I was going in blind, but that’s part of the reason I had such a good time. This is so much different from being back at home.

I’m sure I left some stuff out. I was just excited to report back to you guys!

BG


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[juan trueno]

It can feel pretty needle/haystacky when it all looks that good. Get comfy behind that glass and also remebe your not going to materialize a buck in that burn or that patch of timber. If they aren’t there they aren’t. I watch a lot more country with glass deer hunting usually 3or 4 times more than for elk hunting.

 

[GregB]

Langer lake is still in 36, but know where the boundary is 27 has a later opening date than the other units.

 

[Stroke250]

I thought I knew boot brands but I have never heard of any of those! Thanks for the info

Definitely check out Crispis. My buddy and I just picked up some Idaho’s and so far they are like walking on clouds. Being I have small ankles they are tall with plenty of support.

 

[Cali_Hunter]

thanks for the info, idahohikker