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Unit 76 Deer & Elk Hunting Forecast

Posted on: July 27, 2007

By Dave Langston

This looks to be a good year for deer hunters and elk numbers should still be at all time highs. Unit 76 near Soda Springs is a top bet for hunters to down a bull or cow during the archery season and large bucks also tend to make their home in this area.

According to Idaho Fish and Game (208)-232-4703 P.R. spokesperson Jennifer Jackson, elk are at all time highs across the board. “We have more elk in the state than anytime before, this year should be a fantastic one for elk hunters,” she says. Jennifer did say that deer numbers are holding stable but only time will tell for their recovery. “We will see what condition they are going into the fall, that is a critical time,” she adds.

Unit 76 offers elk hunters an archery season starting August 30th and ending September 30th for the 2007 season. Only rifle hunters who have drawn on a controlled hunt may hunt this area for elk. Buck and doe season begins August 30th and ends September 30th for archers and rifle hunters can take a buck October 10th – October 31st.

Soda Springs hunter Forrest Humphreys reports bulls already holding in the 8 mile area. “We have seen five shooters in the 280 – 330 class while we were shed hunting,” he says. “We always see a good amount of elk in this area but this year looks to be a good one for those who do some pre-season scouting. Forrest should know, he hits these hills hard year round.

Another good bet is the Diamond Creek area for both bulls and bucks. Last year I had seven different bulls working in front of me with at least 30 cows and calves during the archery season. We hunted the Blackfoot river area and day after day these same bulls worked this area screaming, and we worked them into a crazed frenzy. I did manage to arrow a cow at 25 yards.

Here’s a tip hunting this unit, elk are holing up in the willows along the river system. This can be tough hunting but offers archers extreme hunting at its best. Setting up and cow calling seems to be the most productive system. Walking this maze of willows is tough even with a fresh trail. You can literally walk up on a bull and your busted before you can notch and arrow.

If you do decide to walk the maze you can tip the odds in your favor by glassing from an advantage point and planning your stalk. Last year I was able to view three bulls lying while I made a quiet stalk on each of them. It was tough but I did manage to get into a few exciting situations face to face.


Most of this area is rolling hills and aspens mixed with pines. A decoy of a cow elk is a top bet silhouetted near the tree line. By using the decoy in tandem with a cow call, your odds have increased two fold dropping an elk this year. Most of your local outdoor retailers or pro-shops carry these.

Want to take a huge buck this year? Unit 76 is a top bet but expect to hunt hard and concentrate in the top half of the higher mountainous range. Two years ago Humphreys nailed a Pope & Young buck hunting this way. “I smoked a huge 3×4 which was exceptionally tall; I had to go up after him though. Deer of this size tend to stay high year round except for extreme winter conditions,” he says.


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About Dave Langston

Outdoor writer Dave Langston resides in Chubbuck. He grew up in the Midwest and south fishing and hunting across the country.

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