Idaho Unit 36A Archery?

[TnT Taxidermist]

Hey guys, I'm new to this forum and obviously I'm not expecting any body go give up their hot spots but I'm just hoping for any information I can get about the hunting opportunities in Idaho Unit 36A. Myself and a few buddies are planning a DIY archery trip in early September. While my buddies will be hunting elk, I could not pass up the opportunity to hunt a high country mule deer in the White cloud mountains. Just wondering if any body has hunted mulies in this area and could give me any advice on what to expect, like wolf numbers, deer populations, if there is a decent chance of seeing some mature bucks?
Any info and or help would be greatly appreciated as this will be my first DIY archery trip and I would like to make the most out of it.

 

[Bubba]

TNT,

I have hunted 36A the last few years and will be out there again this year. During my ELK hunts I've seen very few deer in the area where the elk are. Doesn't mean there not there. My primary focus was elk so I wasn't searching for deer in my bino's. I would focus in the lower elevations where the sage transitions to The timber. Look for small pockets of timber out in the sage and focus on those areas. What I have learned is the deer are in small pockets. I think you would enjoy yourself a little more with an elk tag in your pocket.... What part of 36a are you guys hunting? As for the wolf population they are there but not around every corner. Never seen one yet or heard one. Awesome country bring your camera and a few SD cards. PM me if you have more questions.

Bubba

 

[robby denning]

I agree with Bubba, deer are in pockets and lots of country that doesn't hold bucks (either elk country or too roughj/rocky). Check GE and look for the big green basins/ridges and that is where the majority of the bucks will be. Lots of backcountry over there, you'll like it.

 

[TnT Taxidermist]

thanks for the input guys. I've talked with a few outfitters in the area and it seems like most of them wait till later in the season to hunt the mulies once they start cruising looking for does. I think the country we are going into is pretty ruff and rugged to say the least, I think this may keep a lot of deer hunter out of that area early season simply because hunting them that time of year with archery equipment is going to be like hunting mountain goats. I'm up for the challenge though, there is bound to be some deer is those mountains somewhere.

 

[TnT Taxidermist]

Anybody know what kind of vegetation high country mule deer will be feeding on above timber line in Idaho. Just looking for an idea of what kind of vegetation to be paying attention to.

 

[robby denning]

Just look for "green" basins and ridges. I'm not being a smart alec. I've been hunting mulies 35 years and still can't name any of their preferred herbs and forbs. Good new is, neither can they.

 

[TnT Taxidermist]

Idaho 36A was a bust. It is no doubt beautiful country if your wanting to go day hiking or dirt bike riding, for the most part thats all we saw. Hiked in 7.5 miles thinking we could get away from the crowds but didn't realize the trails were open to dirt bikes the whole year. We saw multiple groups of dirt bikers on a daily basis along with day hikers and sight seers. I thought that maybe I could hike a few miles off the trail to get away from it all but the roar of dirt bike engines still echoed through the canyons all day. I did find some does and small bucks but the bigger bucks were no were to be found. I think wolves might have been the reason for that as well. Every morning and every night we could here several packs of wolves howling in the canyons around us, I even found fresh tracks about 120 yards from our camp on the 5 day. We had a great time and saw some beautiful country but came home empty handed. If your looking for solitude and a peaceful quite back country hunt I would not recommend Idaho Unit 36A