Exactly what I was thinking. I was trying to get zone info while I was on the clock but the Idaho website was down for the draw so I had zero info on zone info.
I’m in California. I’m not really willing to drive that far out. Idaho has good deer. Just have to be lucky enough to get a decent OTC. I focus on CA, AZ , ID, NV, UT, and OR.
Well, IDF&G data for that unit shows a firearms success rate of 18% for antlered deer in 2023. They're not very big, that's for sure. But you could come up and enjoy a part of Idaho that few people see, maybe take in a chukar hunt while you're at it. The area includes the CJ strike WMA with great fishing if you're so inclined. I've prospected that area years ago, been back on kayaking, hiking and picture taking excursions a few times, and I rather like the starkness and desolation of the Owyhees. Keep an eye out for rattlesnakes and if you see a range bull, give it a wide berth. Those critters have a mean eye and they are dangerous. Also be mindful of the sidewalls of your tires, and watch the weather carefully - sudden rains in the spring and fall can render the roads impassible. But I gotta agree that it's not going to be a HOAL. Maybe rolling the dice on a controlled hunt would be a better choice, depending upon your desires and expectations.
Have you ever had a tag where you are limited to just dinks? If you saw a really nice buck you have to pass it. That’s the kicker for me. I’ve elk hunted a 2 point deer zone in Idaho and some of the bucks I’ve seen in there made my head spin.
