Just kicking the idea around for the time being, but has anyone hunted for Muleys out of Cold Meadows? Idaho unit 20A. I've already got antelope and elk hunts planned, so I feel more secure in taking a chance on somewhere new for deer this year.

Seems like if one were to burn a little boot leather, you'd have decent results.

School me.

Maybe...
I've spent a few weeks hiking from Cold Meadows and don't remember seeing any mule deer. Doesn't mean they weren't there, or that I didn't see them...just don't recall any. Not sure why many of them would be that high. If there were any large bucks I definitely didn't see them, as I tend to remember those.

It's pretty country to hike regardless. FWIW, it can be a bitch of a strip to get out of with any wind, from any direction. The DA there is no joke, and a mule deer isn't the lightest thing you can put in the back of an airplane. Pack like a backpacker on a sheep hunt, not like a airplane camper...literally. I think my least enjoyable takeoff's and climb out's have been from Cold Meadows, and that's with being careful.

Second highest back country strip in Idaho? Copper Basin being the highest.....pretty sure of that. Correct me if I'm wrong. Never been in there, ( Meadows) it's on my list.

courierguy wrote:Second highest back country strip in Idaho? Copper Basin being the highest.....pretty sure of that. Correct me if I'm wrong. Never been in there, ( Meadows) it's on my list.

Pretty much, yea, unless you count Smiley Creek.

Hammer wrote:Maybe...
I've spent a few weeks hiking from Cold Meadows and don't remember seeing any mule deer. Doesn't mean they weren't there, or that I didn't see them...just don't recall any. Not sure why many of them would be that high. If there were any large bucks I definitely didn't see them, as I tend to remember those.

It's pretty country to hike regardless. FWIW, it can be a bitch of a strip to get out of with any wind, from any direction. The DA there is no joke, and a mule deer isn't the lightest thing you can put in the back of an airplane. Pack like a backpacker on a sheep hunt, not like a airplane camper...literally. I think my least enjoyable takeoff's and climb out's have been from Cold Meadows, and that's with being careful.

Thanks Hammer, always nice to have intel. I'll save that strip for sightseeing. The search continues!

I knew an guy that used to fly for an air taxi in ID. He hauled a lot of hunters to cold meadows but most of them pack trained to a different area to actually hunt. There were some guys that flew in there to hunt while based out of their planes and did have success so there are animals around.

Cold Meadows is much more closed in than either Copper Basin or Smiley Creek. It has rising terrain in almost every direction. A few years ago we took an emergency pit stop at Cold Meadows on a August afternoon. Due to being stupid and a case of get-there-itis we took off and skimmed though the draw at the south west corner of the strip. Didn't bother me a the time but now I'm older and...would probably do it again, maybe

If your looking for a place to take your gun for a walk with the best chance of seeing few people and the possibility of a successful hunt then I think Cold Meadows is a reasonable choice. Most other places you'll have neighbors.

I landed at Cold Meadows a few weeks ago and hiked around a bit. I did not see any deer and only saw a few tracks on the runway. The runway was in pretty decent shape, bugs were mostly gone and it was beautiful. If you go enjoy and expect cold temperatures in the AM.

Thanks for the heads up! I think I may just stick to my guns (bad pun ) and keep working the Middle Fork.