Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Deer Hunting Hunt the opener or wait?

My oldest son and I are heading to idaho for mulies. We’re more than likely going to get an OTC license but will put in for a draw hunt first( controlled hunt).
I’ve only hunted the opener there the last 2 times I went and wondered if there are those that wait for later in the season to hunt and why. We can only hunt for one week( get there Friday and fly out the following Saturday). Lots of time on my hands so musing on decisions for the fall.

God Bless,

MM

This can be a real toss up.. Early you have more deer, later the weather moves the deer, but getting to them can be a problem !! I guess I like earlier hunts..

It depends a lot on the length of the season, and time of year.

If it's a short season (1 week or less) I'd be out there right away. If it's a longer season, especially if it extends into November, would wait for the rut and/or colder weather and snow.

If ones season extends into the last week of Oct or early Nov then go late. There are some Idaho draw hunts that get well into the rut.

From my limited experience in ID, it would depend on where I'd be hunting. I drew limited entry deer and elk tags for the same unit in the same year. Hunted deer in Oct. Saw some elk, but not lots but did see a good amount of deer. I hunted the elk tag in Nov. Saw more elk and in bigger groups. Hardly saw any deer at all. I understand that this could be limited to the unit I was hunting, but imagine this plays out over other parts of the state.

Where I hunt, the low desert of Kalifornia, it's a good idea to hunt the opener. I don't spend much effort looking for a buck. I watch the other hunters to see where they hunt and how they hunt. If they don't get any shots, I know the bucks are elsewhere. That's because I hunt the whole 3 week season. E

Exactly my thoughts.

I hunt idaho every year. I have the luxury of scouting alot. If I find a big buck I will camp on him, and kill him opening morning. If I don't have a big one found, I hunt later, hoping for the weather to move some deer. Have killed some big bucks each way. Depends on if you can scout.

I don’t think the season runs close enough to November to make a difference rut wise. But it’s hard to say. We’re going back in a ways, packing in and staying there. It’s unlikely to see lots of pressure but it would be nice to know what has happened in the area rather than hoping it didn’t get hit too hard. Honestly the more I think about it, backpacking with the boy(14) probably better I hedge my bets on timing to avoid snow. I would like to hunt it with snow but want to make this trip as comfortable for him as possible.