The smell comes from the black cheek patch on the neck. It is a gland that increases in size during the rut. Pre rut bucks have a smaller gland and less smell. The more mature dominant bucks have a quite swollen and "smelly gland". Try to avoid touching the gland while you are dealing with the...
I may not be interpretting your post correctly. Did you take the owl home? If so your are in violation of multiple laws. Burrowing owls are a protected species and the general public is not allowed to posses them. FYI.
This probably isn't the advice you want to hear, but here goes. Concentrate on college. Get your degree and then a good job. You have the rest of your life to hunt. It would be difficult to hunt the OTC rifle hunts in Idaho mid October and be in class at the same time. I was in your shoes 30...
Never hunted the unit myself, but a buddy has. I would hold out for a mid to high 70s class buck. As others have stated get there early and do some scouting. Find the buck you want before the season opens.
Get him in a good spot 1/2 or 3/4 mile from a road or trail with good binos and a book. Fortunatley age and physical limitations usually come with wisdom and patience. If he sits at a good vantage point long enough he will most likely have an opportunity. I'm still pretty gung ho, but the older...
Thanks.
4 days scouting in July
2 days scouting before the opener
20 minutes hunting opening morning. I spotted this buck in July and found him again in September. Still not an 80 incher, but the best buck I found out of at least a hunert.
Very good advice!
Do not salt unless you have removed the skull, turned the ears, eyes, nose, feet, and tail, and completely removed all the meat and fat from the skin. Then it can be salted and dried like Bubblehide advised.
Skin the bear out as soon as possible to cool down the skin and the meat. Try and keep it clean and dry. Make sure that you remove all of the neck meat clear up to the base of the skull. Get it cooled down as soon as possible and keep it cold. Try not to get the skin wet. Heat and moisture will...
If your hunting the opener you will more than likely have lots of company. Get off the roads even if its only a 1/2 mile or a mile, it can make a difference. Antelope in this area don't see much activity for 10 or 11 months of the year so they don't stand and watch vehicles drive by they run. I...
You can buy a 50# bag of non iodized salt at most feed stores in Idaho for 6 or 7 bucks. I would suggest that you turn and flesh everything before salting or you will still have slippage. Make sure you skin the bear and get it cooled down as soon as you can. Don't let it sit overnight with the...
There aren't many guides to choose from in Idaho.
Guiding for bird hunting only became legal a few years ago, and I think they are only supposed to guide on their own property. I haven't hunted with any of them so I have no recommendations, sorry.