Where to hunt Mule deer in Idaho Middle Fork Zone?

[cc93crusier]

I was wondering if anyone can give me some info/advice about where to hunt mule deer in Idaho Middle Fork zone-public land.. I Just purchased my non-resi Regular Deer Tag & license. My father has a Antlered Elk tag for the Middle fork zone and that's why I am hunting that zone too. I am not looking for anybody's honey spot, but just wanted to know if I can get some advice/comments/suggestions as to have a succesful hunt in the Middle Fork Zone..

 

[ArmedBear]

They're selling tags right now?

 

[cc93crusier]

I got mine 2 days ago, license and tag, right from the idaho fish and game website...

 

[slabuda]

Cant get my tag for my first hunt till I re-deploy next Sept then who knows as my sister in Indiana is getting married. Something always came up so I have never hunted deer yet. My practice marriage, deployments to the middle east, surgery to repair a broken neck/bruised spinal cord etc. Think sis may have to do without me... lol

But to answer your question, good luck on someone telling you a good area to hunt

Seriously though, I dont know what you mean by middle fork zone. DO you mean middle fork of the Salmon, Boise, Payette river? I assume you mean Middle fork of the Salmon as most people refer to middle fork when talking about the Salmon. There are a few units that run along the Middle fork of the Salmon and better be in shape, its rough mountainous country. If you know what unit you are in maybe someone could help narrow it down.

 

[Big Bill]

Go to McCall, then head east to Yellowpine. From Yellowpine, head toward the Big Creek Ranger Station. There is all kinds of great hunting over in that area. BTW, it's easier to hunt this country with horses. Better also take a black bear tag with you and something to protect you from wolves. You can send me $100 for the tip.

 

[cc93crusier]

Thanks for the reply guys, and sorry for the late post.. When I meant I was going to hunt the middle fork zone, I meant either the 20A, 26 or 27 zone.. My father has a Elk Tag for that same zone, so that is where I will do my hunting.. This is going to be my first hunt in Idaho.. My father has been hunting Idaho for the past 5 years inwhich he harvested a couple nice bucks and a spike Elk... I wasen't looking for anyone's honey hole, but you better believe I am on Big Bill's tip.... Thanks very much, that's what makes this forum great.. When I harvest my B&C buck, it will be 'cuz of you! Thanks..... BTW, we will be back packing in somewhere for sure.... Big Bill, you mentioned it would be a good idea to carry something for protection from wolves, like what? I have my 44mag.? Oh yeah, I wish I can afford a bear tag, oh well..... Thanks again.....

 

[cc93crusier]

Big Bill, would yellowpine be in the zone 26?

 

[Big Bill]

Yellowpine is in Unit 25. So, you have to go further northeast until you are in the Big Creek range. Then you are in Unit 26.

If you have Google Earth - go to Yellowpine Idaho and then follow the Big Creek Road NE out of Yellowpine. When you start down the east side of Profile Summit, IIRC, you are then in Unit 26. Stay on the Big Creek Road and find a good trailhead, on the right side of the road, before you arrive at the Big Creek Ranger Station.

There is a map below. It is the boundries of Units 20A & 26. I hope this helps. Look at backpacking into the Marble Mountain or Cougar Basin country. Great elk, deer, and bear country. We've taken a load of each out of that country.

PM me if you need any additional help. I hope this helps. Let me know if you need some alternate places to go. BTW, your .44 Mag should be OK for wolves. A few years ago I saw a nice big wolverine in this area.

 

[cc93crusier]

"Yellowpine, perhaps the most remote town in Idaho." That is straight from the google maps page.. Sounds very insteresting indeed.. We were planning on hunting close to a small town called Challis, but we are now definitley taking a look at this area.. I am going to order some maps off of the DFG Idaho website and try to do some more research about the surrondings..Is this place part of Valley County? And what National Forest does it fall in? I was looking at the google maps for about an hour and I was trying to figure out where exactly the Big Creek Ranger Station is? I was also trying to figure out what rd exactly is the one that you mentioned to get to Big Creek Rd, is it NFD 412 RD? I was following along the maps and it seemed like that was the only RD that split to Big Creek Rd, but as mentioned above, I never saw a ranger station ( whould you happen to know how far Yellowpine is from the Ranger Station?)...I don't want you to think I am useless, but just kinda confused... Thank you so much once again for taking the time to tell and explain all this out for me..

 

[cc93crusier]

BTW, if my .44mag is not suffecient enough to hurt the wolves, I can always use even more esculated force, how's a .500 S&W mag sound?....Little over kill?......lol.....

 

[Big Bill]

After you leave Yellow Pine, you take NFD 412 for several miles and then there is a junction. Just keep going straight and it turns into the Big Creek Road. So, after that keep going until you pass over Profile Summit and after you go down the other side, you are in the right zone. Then keep going, till you reach the ranger station. After that, backtrack until you find a good spot on the left side of the road (right side coming in).

(If ye're still confused, just ask at Yellow Pine when ya get there. But, speak cowboy! OK Pard?) And, don't say words like indeed, escalated or sufficient. Nobody'll know what the heck ye're talkin bout.

BCRS's about 25 mile from YP, IIRC.

 

[longdayjake]

BTW, if my .44mag is not suffecient enough to hurt the wolves, I can always use even more esculated force, how's a .500 S&W mag sound?....Little over kill?......lol.....

I would just use a .22 for wolves. The bear on the other hand might take more like a .44 or just shoot it with your rifle. Bear tags aren't that much. Most people around here get one just because the meat is so wonderful. When I hunt I hope more to see a bear than to see any deer.

 

[Big Bill]

ldjake - he better take more than a .22 for wolves. I sure would. They're big, tough and smart.

 

[longdayjake]

wolves aren't too hard to penetrate. A .22 will do the job just fine up close but i dont see why you wouldn't just shoot it with your deer gun. If you are going to shoot why not shoot with what you already have in your hand. I personally have only seen one wolf here in Idaho. I thought it was a deer at first running down the road because of its size. The one experience that I had trying to track it down is proof to me that wolves are so afraid of us that if you see one you will be lucky to get a shot off before its several miles away. Kind of a moot argument anyway.

 

[Big Bill]

jake - good points. Thanks

But, just because you have had no adverse experiences with wolf packs, doesn't mean others won't.