SE Idaho Motor Vehicle Restrictions

[Straight6]

I will be hunting OTC for deer this fall in SE Idaho, my question for those of you that have hunted there is, how strongly are the motor vehicle restrictions enforced? I am looking at a few spots to hunt in 66, 76, 75, and 77 and love the idea of the restrictions, I'm just afraid I'll run into a bunch of people on 4 wheelers running all over the place after I get into some of these areas, there looks to be some roadless areas on the maps, but when I look on Google earth I can see roads in some of these places, and maybe I'm mistaken and these roads are wide enough to use legally, but a lot of them look like 4 wheeler trails. Anyone have any experience around there?

 

[Rent Outdoor Gear]

It's pretty clear if you buy or pick up the Forest Service travel map. Designated routes are clearly marked 2-wheeled, 4-wheeled OHV, or auto routes. They do enforce the rules fairly aggressively. Additionally, IDF&G will ticket you for traveling designated routes in motorized restricted areas if you are "hunting" from an ATV even though the trail may be open to motorized travel during your hunt. You can pack a camp in and out or your harvest out, however, you cannot travel routes daily to access hunting areas. I've had a few run-ins and this has been my experience with F&G.

 

[robby denning]

Coop nailed it.
Call 208 523 1010, Idaho Falls Chamber of Commerce, which has a map store in it. If you need the travel map Coop references.
Like anywhere, you may still have people on ATV's who ignore the law, but most people obey it.

 

[Rizzy]

Like with most other states the forest service and IDFG officials are too understaffed to really control it, but they try. Commercials are run on the radio stations informing the public that going off trails and going around gates on closed trails is illegal. This seems to be helping too.

Too ad to what Darin said, when you get the forest service map there will be symbols next to the trails. For instance a number 1 with a square around it is closed to all use but hiking, a number 4 with a square around it is open to all use all the time. This info will be in a legend on the map, take the time to get familiar with the road restrictions as it will narrow down the country for you. You want to find the trails that only allow pack animals and hikers year around, this will give you the best chance of having the backcountry experience your looking for.

 

[Toneloc]

I've hunted 66A OTC for archery Elk 4 out of the past 6 years. I've had a few encounters with both recreational dirt bikers and four wheelers hunting elk where they shouldn't of been.

Not sure about deer, but from talking with the locals, apparently the OTC elk hunt there is getting more popular due to wolf issues in Northern ID.

Like others said the forest service map is very useful for finding trails (or lack there of)...

76 / 66A there is very few trail free areas, but if you work at it, there are some less pressured areas.

For what it's worth, I did not see many deer in 66A....but I understand that historically that is a good area.

 

[Straight6]

Thank you for the help, looks like I will need to pick up the Forest Service maps of the area. I have a few 7.5 Topos of some of those areas that my dad has from a few years ago, but not one that shows Forest Service trails. Thanks for the advice on the maps and the trail markings, that will help me make sense of it all.