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Do-it-yourself elk and mule deer hunt on 11,000 private acres in eastern Idaho |
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This hunt provider offers self-guided hunting for deer and elk on three ranches that he has combined into one parcel of 11,000 acres. He allows no more than nine hunters per season on this acreage. He also offers unguided hunts on a couple of other ranches that he leases in the same game management unit in eastern Idaho. One of those is for mule deer hunting only. Hunter success is typically higher on private land. About 75 percent of his rifle elk hunters have filled their tags over the past four years, and the kill rate in 2008 was 77 percent. Deer hunters have a lower success rate because most are after big bucks. Mature muleys are difficult to hunt after they lose their velvet in September and before the rut in November. No hunting during the November rut is allowed in this part of Idaho. Bowhunters may hunt elk during the rut in late September. The hunt provider doesn't want bowhunters before Sept. 15 because the weather can be hot and rut activity unpredictable. Only two elk bowhunters took this hunt in 2008, and they had 10 shooting opportunities within bow range but were unable to connect. They were pleased with their hunt and said they would recommend the ranch. Bulls typically score 220 to 300 and occasionally reach 330 B&C. The average bull is a 5x5, and there's a chance at a nice 6x6. In 2008 the biggest bull scored about 330 B&C.
"This is really a prime hunting opportunity for bowhunters," the hunt provider said. "They get to hunt during the peak of the rut, and there are some really good bulls. We can tell from the improved quality of bulls that we've been managing it right. We offer a good, long bow hunt to give our customers a chance to get a bull."
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Every year the hunt provider sees bucks in the 180s or better Boone and Crockett scoring and occasionally a 200-incher. He has taken a buck or two in that category himself. He hunted with a rifle after his customers were gone in 2008, and he had a chance at one of the biggest bucks he had seen while scouting before the season before he connected on a mature 26-incher. "Most hunters don't realize how hard it is to get a big muley in their sights," the hunt provider said. "Some hunters think if they don't see a big old buck in a couple of days that there are no big bucks to be had. That's not the case at all as every year I see quite a few mature bucks on each ranch. We usually run 40 to 50 percent kill rate on mule deer, but last year we had a 25 percent success rate. I saw just as many older age class bucks before the season last year as I had seen in previous years, including at least two that were in the 185 to 195 category and several others in the 170s and maybe low 180s. The bucks we did harvest were all good bucks, mostly mature 24 to 26-inchers with good frames and good points and some extra points. " The hunt provider has decided to combined three of the ranches that used to be separate. The fences touch each other. Now there are 11,000 acres in one block. "The elk don't leave the ranch," he said. "It's a resident herd, and we are usually seeing about five bulls every year in the 320 to 340 class. It's a good opportunity for elk hunters now because you can hunt the whole 11,000 acres." The hunt provider allows nine hunters on the 11,000 acres, and he keeps hunting pressure down to about one hunter per 1,000 acres on his other properties. There are openings in 2009" There are two cabins and a house trailer available for hunters. There's also a house available at a weekly rate.
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