I am trying to plan a DIY Idaho public land hunt for this fall. I am currently deployed and have and have limited research capabilities on the ship. I am not looking for all the answers just hopeing for a hand full of areas to narrow my search and get me started. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
DIY Resarch
- Thread starter holbrookra
- Start date
2rocky
Active Member
- Sep 10, 2012
- 290
- 0
First Step...Narrow down the hunts you can do by Season Date, Weapon, Tag availability, and success rate. Idaho has the best research tool of any state I've ever seen. The Hunt Planner.
http://fishandgame.idaho.gov/ifwis/huntplanner/
Then get maps from the Various Public Land Agencies USFS, and BLM
http://www.idahoforests.org/foresthq.htm
http://www.fs.fed.us/sopa/state-level.php?id
http://www.blm.gov/id/st/en/info/maps.html
The General USFS maps will highlight campgrounds and trailheads for access points. BLM maps will give more Topo detail.
That is where you start. A first post on a forum asking for spots won't usually get much traction. Kinda like waliking into a room full of strangers and askin' "Where should I go huntin'?" without getting to know the folks..
Good luck, and let us know how your research goes.
http://fishandgame.idaho.gov/ifwis/huntplanner/
Then get maps from the Various Public Land Agencies USFS, and BLM
http://www.idahoforests.org/foresthq.htm
http://www.fs.fed.us/sopa/state-level.php?id
http://www.blm.gov/id/st/en/info/maps.html
The General USFS maps will highlight campgrounds and trailheads for access points. BLM maps will give more Topo detail.
That is where you start. A first post on a forum asking for spots won't usually get much traction. Kinda like waliking into a room full of strangers and askin' "Where should I go huntin'?" without getting to know the folks..
Good luck, and let us know how your research goes.
Well said and 2rocky gave you some good info. Good luck on your research and welcome to the forum.
Great info the links will be extremely helpful. I apologize for the appearance of fishing for specific hunting locations that was not my intention. Again, thank you 2rocky and Ikeepitcold for taking the time to reply to my post.
Shooter
Active Member
Just do what 10,000 other people do every year and hunt unit 39. 39 is no secret. It gets better with snow imo.
tdub24
Veteran member
What weapon are you wanting to use holbrookra? Rifle? ML? Archery? I was successful in 2008 landing a 6 point bull in unit 39 with a rifle. I couldn't tell at the time, but there were 5000 tags given out that year. I didn't see tons of folks away from the main road though, probably why I didn't see hunters. I too was told that it is best when the snow flies as the herd migrates over from the surrounding area. But when I was there, no snow just rain and I got stuck hunting the resident herd, which was pretty tough to find.
Share your Idaho plans with people around you. I was surprised how many resources were close at hand for me. I have a co-worker, a friend of a friend, and a family(in-law) member that lives and guides over by Payette. The information from the Idaho hunt planner and these people has been really valuable. Last thing for me is a road trip second week in May. I get to pass through the whole state and try to put my eyes on my top few. I'm leaning torward the November rifle hunt for deer and elk. I think the weather during that time helps to narrow my choices down.
It's alot of reading material. Good luck with it.
It's alot of reading material. Good luck with it.
I am looking at general rifle season. I have my apps in for my home turf (Colorado GMU 40) in the end of October. I should get drawn for my deer tag. I have got it the last three years just to have to give it back due to deployments. I am trying to do both hunts if I can get the time off.
tttoadman, you are so right about sharing my plans. I was talking with a guy from work and he mentioned that he has a buddy in Idaho that could look in to getting me some maps. Turns out it was a mutal friend . Some times it's good to be lucky.
tttoadman, you are so right about sharing my plans. I was talking with a guy from work and he mentioned that he has a buddy in Idaho that could look in to getting me some maps. Turns out it was a mutal friend . Some times it's good to be lucky.
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Timberstalker
Veteran member
I was planning to hunt Idaho next fall too. Turns out I don't think I will be making it, I guess I will continue to researce for future. I need to find someone to go with me, it gets pricey when you have no one to share the fuel costs with!
MacDonald
New Member
I've been toying with the idea of hunting somewhere in the Panhandle, more for elk than mulies, but it depends more than anything else how many of my buddies would be interested in going as well. And Holbrookra, thank you for your service!