Hi-

Am supposed to make the trip this fall to SW/Central Idaho for the first week of elk, rifle season. I am pondering whether I should buy the muley tag as well. No doubt, if I don't, I'll probably see the buck of a lifetime....that's usually how it works

I'll be hunting in the Sawtooths and around Boise National Forest.......

My question is: what is the Muley population like in this area and is this an area for larger (28"+) bucks or does this area see a lot of hunting pressure and consequently, bucks don't get to maturity?

Thanks
JJ

There are still a few to be had. They do get alot of pressure in that area though. The big boys will be pretty nocturnal until the first week of November., so you will either have to be lucky to step on one or know where they are at. Big spreads are cool but more often than not will cheat you out of the spread credit. If you are looking for a trophy, bucks in the 26 to 27 inch range will be more likely to put you there if they have good tine length. If you are coming all this way to hunt go ahead and get a tag. Non-residents can use the deer tag for cougar or bear if they run across one I beleive. Check first but I beleive that statement is correct.

Im hunting specifically unti 36......is the hunting pressure still intense. I don't see a lot of outfitters using this area.

I don't know which part of 36 you are hunting, but if there are no outfitters there, there may be a reason. All areas of Idaho have respectable bucks, sometimes they are just hard to see in the ealier season. The good buck hunting starts the first week of November. One of my favorite deer hunts is in a very heavily hunted area that runs the month of November. You would not beleive the big boys that are walking around. If you can afford it ,get a tag, you never know. I had two friends come out from New York this past season and they were fortunate enough to take a 150 class 3 point and a 170 class 4 point. These are not book bucks but a good indication of what is walking (or laying) around out there.