Idaho white tail in November

[Fast14riot]

I've just settled the dates for this year's out of California hunt and were going to Idaho November 12-19 For white tail. Don't know exactly where yet, but it will be otc tags and a diy trip. I've never hunted white tail before.

Anyone have any good spots in the southern half of the state or any tips? I'll be taking my 30-06 as my primary gun and probably my 6.8 AR as a back up. Anything I need to know about with gun regs or transport laws before I sit down and comb through the regs?

Just looking to gather some preliminary info to help us decide.

 

[Flouncer]

I hunted Idaho last year for Elk, and on the guides recommendation got a "deer tag". I think you will find Mule Deer, White Tail, or both as a tag choice. The State web site got hacked last September and was shut down for sales so I had to call in. And the help I got would not sell me an either/or tag, so as I was on the spot and pressed for time, I bought a white tail tag. Just recommending you check that aspect out in advance and good luck !!

 

[drover]

I seem to recall that Idaho F&G has a site that shows success rate in the various areas, that is where I would check first. But also be aware that we had an abnormally bad winter here last year and the kill-off was bad, so don't get your hopes too high.

A link with some info, although it primarily references mule deer.
http://www.postregister.com/article...harsh-winter-took-heavy-toll-western-wildlife

drover

 

[Fast14riot]

So far, my basic reading has led me to the multi specie tag being available only for early season, but the late season is white tail only. If I can hunt mule deer I'm fine, that's what I've been hunting my whole life in CA and NV, I know how to hunt them.

I've got lots of research to do, I appreciate the info and link.

 

[Terry_M]

Is there a particular reason you're hunting the southern half of the state?

 

[Fast14riot]

We're driving from central CA, but not dead set on where yet, I'm just thinking about how many hours worth of driving to get there.

 

[Terry_M]

The Whitetail hunting is much better in the Grangeville and Moscow areas. I drove through there in the last few days and we quit counting at 200 deer in the field in Grangeville. The Whitetail populations in the southern part of the state are much lower.

 

[nakneker]

I played around last winter with a couple marlin 30-30s, started off with IMR 3031 but ended up getting my best accuracy out of leverevolution with both rifles. I had a hard time finding bullets so I bought a large quantity of Hornady 150 grain interlocks when I had the chance. The accuracy surprised me, didn’t think I’d get moa out of a lever action. The attached load data is out of the most recent Hornady manual, hope it helps. Leverevolution isn’t listed under the 150 grain bullets but it works well.

 

[HandgunHTR]

I cant really help you with the "where", but I can help with the "how".

Mule deer tend to like open terrain and use the contours of the land for cover. For the most part western whitetails do the same, however they cannot escape the fact that they are by nature creatures of "edges". They like to have side cover, whether that is a treeline, an overgrown fence row, or some other topographical feature that protects one of their sides. If you can find a place that they come to feed, look for the thickest, nastiest cover in the area. That is where they bed. Find a pinch point between those two places, get the wind right, and you will see a parade. If that place also has an edge or a pinch point in the topography, that is most likely where the mature bucks and does will be.
Good luck!

 

[Tommie]

I cant really help you with the "where", but I can help with the "how".

Mule deer tend to like open terrain and use the contours of the land for cover. For the most part western whitetails do the same, however they cannot escape the fact that they are by nature creatures of "edges". They like to have side cover, whether that is a treeline, an overgrown fence row, or some other topographical feature that protects one of their sides. If you can find a place that they come to feed, look for the thickest, nastiest cover in the area. That is where they bed. Find a pinch point between those two places, get the wind right, and you will see a parade. If that place also has an edge or a pinch point in the topography, that is most likely where the mature bucks and does will be.
Good luck!

Hope he’s still not looking after four and a half years

 

[HandgunHTR]

Hope he’s still not looking after four and a half years

Good catch. I didn't even see that this was a resurrected thread.

 

[Bc'z]

Good catch. I didn't even see that this was a resurrected thread.

Alex came up to Oregon for 2021, had him in deer every day. Not sure if he's planning on coming back this year or not.