mule deer, getting started

[eLightfoot]

Looking to expand my deer hunting horizons. I am a wilderness blacktail guy and that is pretty much all the deer I have pursued at this point. I backpack hunt every year after those cagey bucks in CA and do pretty well considering the odds on CA public land. I do have great interest in getting out of state after mule deer. Problem is I have no idea where to start. With all the possible states, zones, units, seasons, draw odds, wilderness areas, ect, picking where to go is the tough part. So I thought Id lay down some of my criteria and hopefully get pointed in the right direction.

what I am looking for

A hunt that takes place in Oct or November
land large enough to pack in several miles (preferably wilderness) No quads or trucks in there
obviously a place with decent deer populations (I know most herds are down everywhere)
big mountainous country/canyons/burns/ridges
Rifle Hunt
Draw with favorable odds or OTC

Leaning towards Idaho but open to other options.
Mostly looking for Adventure into new land

Thanks for any input

 

[ianpadron]

Idaho is your huckleberry.

Just be aware that the Wilderness areas there have far lower deer densities than the national forest lands with ATV access.

You can definitely still backpack in areas not technically designated as "wilderness" and get away from roads. Use the IDFG hunt planner filters to find those areas and the harvest statistics to find an area that's a good balance of success % and hunter numbers.

I've been to ID 2x this year after finally saying "ah what the hell, I'm buying a tag" and learning on the fly, it's a great state to hunt but definitely a learning curve for an out of stater.

Good luck!

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[eLightfoot]

how is it possible that the NF has more deer than wilderness areas? More unchecked predators? Or just less prime/suitable habitat?

 

[ianpadron]

Predators. From the guys I've talked to, it's almost impossible to hunt them in the Wilderness complexes during the winter, as they are virtually unnaccessible, even with stock.

Units 39 and 43 have the highest deer densities in the state, and are almost entirely national forest land adjacent to Wilderness areas. Roads and trails everywhere. I'd call a district bio for a more scientific explanation.

how is it possible that the NF has more deer than wilderness areas? More unchecked predators? Or just less prime/suitable habitat?

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[idahohikker]

No go to the wilderness areas with tons of nonresident guys and lower game densities. Idaho is tough because it's super steep with plenty of places without many deer. And some units have 3000 hunters. Low point deer hunting in Colorado, Utah, and Wyoming is a better option in many casss. Idaho can be pretty decent if you learn it though but it'll take some time .

 

[idahohikker]

Densities are lower in wilderness areas because of more predators due to inaccessible winter range, less productive habitat due to rockier soils, difficulty managing backcountry by F&G, and increasingly hunter pressure from backcountry bad a's. I talked to many guys who didn't see any horns on animals this year in wilderness.

 

[eLightfoot]

I have a buddy who has a really productive spot in Utah but he said they might turn it into a trophy hunt or something. What areas in Utah are worth a look?

 

[realunlucky]

I have a buddy who has a really productive spot in Utah but he said they might turn it into a trophy hunt or something. What areas in Utah are worth a look?

You need to sweet talk your buddy into taking you to his spot. All deer units in Utah are draw only

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[eLightfoot]

You need to sweet talk your buddy into taking you to his spot. All deer units in Utah are draw only

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Fat chance, that a deal for him and his brother. He was saying they might change it next year as well

 

[realunlucky]

I'm surprised that they can multiple years in row in any unit must be in dedicated hunter program.

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[idahohikker]

Utah general deer can be pretty good in places. It's overlooked by non residents. I'd work your connection there.

 

[KayLee]

If you're interested in Idaho hunts, the Idaho Fish and Game site has an awesome hunt planner that shows maps of each unit and zone. I use that plus satellite maps to scout areas before scouting in person. Just need to be careful with private land now that landowners do not have to post, so use onxmaps or something similar. Lots of over the counter tags and early and late seasons depending on your weapon.

 

[bozeman]

Love the responses Idahohikker- don't come to Idaho.........go elsewhere.......

 

[eLightfoot]

Love the responses Idahohikker- don't come to Idaho.........go elsewhere.......

thats the same vibe I got LOL

 

[idahohikker]

People oversell Idaho as a deer destination and sometimes overlook other options. Realize Montana is basically OTC and there is general in Utah and quality low point units in Colorado and Wyoming. My one time hunting general deer in Utah I saw more good deer in a day than I ever have in Idaho. All of those states can be pretty good and you have to personally weigh the pros and cons of each state.

Idaho is no easy bet with the steep terrain. Unit 39 has 13,000 hunters. Many units have over 3,000 hunters. It gets pounded these days due to OTC tags. Good luck with that kind of pressure if you haven't hunted it before. But, if you don't go in the low density wilderness units as I mentioned above, and get into steep country away from roads you can do well. It gets old trying to help people coming to Idaho to hunt who think they should be looking in the wilderness and then see nothing and are bumbed about it.

 

[377Archery]

Arizona has great mule deer hunts in November if you can get drawn. Units 1, 27, 3A/3C all have decent draw odds for what your asking imo. For some really good information try out goHUNT.com. They’ll have all the answers you need, although it’s a subscription. Being an Arizona bowhunter, I would encourage you pick up a bow and come hunt the biggest Coues deer in the country and great mule deer otc during the rut! It’s a great, guaranteed deer hunt every year.


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[eLightfoot]

kind of forgot about AZ, Ill have to look into hunts that are not totally absurd draw hunts. And realize that I come from a land where if you can kill a fork on public land every year you are elite. Im not asking for spots with 50 bucks a day or 190" deer. Just putting some on the ground would be a lot of fun.