Big Game Scouting for Idaho

Stop guessing and start hunting.

  • Unit 39 is a bucket-list destination, but it’s a rugged piece of country that humbles a lot of hunters every year. Don’t let your hard-earned tag turn into a high-stakes guessing game. Here is the "boots-on-the-ground" truth about the challenges you'll face and how I can solve them for you.

    1. The "Traffic Jam" Heartbreak

    • The Problem: You spent six months e-scouting a "hidden" basin on a map, only to arrive and find ten trucks already parked at the trailhead. The truth is, Unit 39 is the most pressured unit in the state, for good reason— there are some monsters running around in 39. Idaho Fish and Game gives out more non-resident tags in 39 than of any other unit. Those non-residents are looking at the same forums and tips you are seeing. You need an edge to beat the crowds.

    • The Solution: I’ll tell you which access points are actually quiet and which ones are "YouTube famous" traps before you even leave your driveway.

    2. The "Ghost Road" Trap

    • The Problem: OnX shows a perfectly good Forest Service road, but in reality, it was decommissioned years ago, is overgrown with brush, or is currently blocked by a fresh rockslide or fallen tree. Nothing worse than driving to your “Plan A” spot and realizing you can’t get to it!

    • The Solution: I verify road conditions and gate closures in person. If a road is impassable or a gate is locked tight, you’ll know before you ever put your truck in gear.

    3. The "Green Wall" Frustration

    • The Problem: That perfect glassing knob on the satellite view looks clear, but once you’re there, it’s covered in 10-foot-high brush that makes it impossible to see the rest of the drainage.

    • The Solution: I’ve stood on those ridges. I’ll tell you exactly where the clear sightlines are so you aren't fighting a wall of brush all morning.

    4. The "Topographical Trap"

    • The Problem: On a 2D screen, a 1,000-foot climb looks like a simple morning hike. In reality, Unit 39 is just “built different”. Combining the vertical grades with thin mountain air is a recipe for disaster—especially if you have a 400lb bull to pack out of a hole.

    • The Solution: I’ll verify the grade. I’ll hike the literal paths you’re eyeing to tell you if that "shortcut" is a viable trail or a vertical climb that will end your hunt early.

    5. The "Empty Basin" Mystery

    • The Problem: A spot looks "elkier than elk" on a map, but there isn't a fresh track, a rub, or a fresh turd within three miles.

    • The Solution: I go in and verify the sign. If a spot is a bust, I’ll tell you to pivot to a backup basin where I’m actually seeing active game sign and reliable water. If your spot ends up being a dud, it is much better to find out before you waste precious time on your hunt!

The Reality of Idaho’s Unit 39 

Get a Free Sample Scouting Report

Your Hunt, My Boots.

The Process:

  • Free Strategy Call

    We start with a phone call to talk through your goals, your gear, and your expectations for Unit 39. Whether you’re looking for a trophy bull or a fun adventure to fill the freezer, I want to understand what a "good hunt" looks like for you.

  • You Lead the E-Scouting

    Next, you spend time on your favorite mapping app (onX, GOHUNT, Gaia, etc.) picking the drainages and ridges that look promising to you. I’ll provide tips, local context, and advice along the way, but you decide where we focus. When you finally stand over that Bull Bear or Buck, you’ll know it was your intuition that put you there.

  • Pick Your Points

    Once you’ve narrowed down your areas of interest, you choose the specific locations you want me to scout.

    Simple Pricing: $500 per scouting area.

    No hidden fees or complex tiers.

  • I Hit the Road

    I head into the mountains to verify your chosen points. I move slowly and methodically—the way I’ve hunted for years—to find what the satellite images miss. I check the water, the sign, the "pack-out" feasibility, and the actual road conditions.

  • Your Custom Scouting Report

    I deliver a custom digital report to your inbox. You’ll get high-res digiscope photos, fresh waypoints, and a detailed breakdown of exactly what I found. You’ll head to the trailhead with the confidence of a local.

  • A black vehicle parked on a dirt road in a forested area with a 'Road Closed' barrier blocking the path.

    Verified Access & Road Conditions

    Don't trust the map's "dotted lines." I verify the actual condition of the Forest Service roads and gates. You’ll know exactly where your truck can go, where the ATVs are required, and where the "Ghost Roads" end before you ever leave home.

  • A camping setup in a forest featuring an orange tarp shelter tied between trees. A bow and arrows are secured to a tree trunk nearby, with a backpack and other camping gear underneath the tarp.

    Tailored Campsite Selection

    I’ll find a campsite that actually fits your style. Whether you need a flat spot for a wall tent near the truck or a perfect pair of trees for a hammock deep in the timber, I’ll verify a spot that is legal, accessible, and out of the wind.

  • A mountain landscape with large rocks, small trees, and a flowing creek, under a clear blue sky.

    Water Source Verification

    In Unit 39, water is life. I’ll locate and verify active seeps, springs, and wallows. Knowing where the water is—and more importantly, which "creeks" on the map are currently bone-dry—is the fastest way to find game.

  • A close-up of a tree trunk with peeling bark in a forest, surrounded by various other trees and foliage, with some green pine branches

    Fresh & Historical Sign (With Photos)

    I’ll provide high-res photos of what is happening on the dirt right now. From fresh tracks and active wallows to historical rubs that show where the bulls want to be, you’ll see exactly what I’m seeing through the lens.

  • A landscape with a grassy hillside, distant mountains, and a deer with antlers on the hilltop during sunset or sunrise.

    Glassing Points

    I’ll identify the specific knobs and ridges with the best sightlines. I’ll spend time glassing the area myself and include my observations.

  • Sunset over a river with green grass in the foreground, trees along the riverbank, hills in the background, and rays of sunlight breaking through the clouds.

    Detailed Field Notes

    I’m a methodical observer. My reports include detailed notes on everything from local wind patterns and thermal shifts to how much hunter/human pressure I observed. I provide you with every detail that I can to give you an advantage.

  • Route Feasibility & Hiking Paths

    I’ll determine the best "path of least resistance" to get from your camp to your glassing spots. I’ll tell you if a route is a viable hike or if the terrain and blowdown make it a "Topographical Trap" that will eat up your hunting time.

  • A detailed topographic map of a natural area showing various points of interest marked with colored icons representing outdoor activities and amenities, including camping, hiking, and warnings.

    OnX or GO HUNT Waypoints

    No need to manually enter coordinates. Your report comes as a ready-to-use file that you can drop directly into onX or GoHunt. All my waypoints, verified paths, and honey-holes will pop up right on your phone.

Free Strategy Call with Flint

Frequently asked Questions

  • The short answer is Yes. Reach out to me and we can chat if you have a tag that is outside of Unit 39

  • Nope. That would not be much fun anyway. You are hunting public land, not a fish-in-a-barrel “hunting ranch”. I will give you the best possible odds but this is a real wild west hunt and you get to claim all the glory.

  • I am affordable and flexible. This is not my day job but I have a passion for helping guys have an awesome hunt.

  • A scouting point is a specific area of interest you’ve identified during your e-scouting—usually a single drainage, a specific basin, or a glassing ridge. When you "book a point," I commit a full day to hiking that specific area to verify your plan.

  • $500 per area/point you want me to scout. Which is basically what I can cover effectively in one day. If you have multiple spots that are close together, I can combine a few points. 50% of the payment upfront and the last 50% on delivery of the report. I can accept credit cards, Vemno or whatever is easy.

  • I get pumped just by hearing about your planned adventures. Give me a call anytime and we can chew the fat about your tag. If I can give you a few tips I am happy to help whether you hire me or not.

  • Go get one…Today! I prefer OnX. These apps are indispensable and will make your hunt so much effective, safe, and enjoyable. There is no reason you shouldn’t have one of the apps.

  • Nope! I am not a lic’d outfitter or guide and I am not allowed to assist you in the field. But feel free to call me if you can get signal and I will help out as much as I can. I’d love to hear about the hunt when you are done!

  • Everything is digital. Go get the sample report— This is NOT a real Report— but it gives you an idea of what they look like. I’ll email you a PDF with all the needed links. The links will take you to a private shared folder on OnX. It includes high-res photos, and notes about the waypoints. I can also include any video walkthroughs of the terrain.

  • Sure can! I can add that service if you wish. It would be an extra charge that we can discuss.

  • Most guys like me go in about 7–10 days before their opener. This gives you "fresh" intel on water and sign, but still leaves us enough time to hop on a call and discuss the report before you leave your house.

  • That’s actually not a bad situation! If I get into your chosen basin and find it's bone-dry with no game, I’ll tell you immediately. It’s much better to spend $500 to find out a spot is a bust now than to spend precious time during your hunt.

  • Nope and neither should you! If your eScouting turns up a friggin gem of a spot, don’t go blabbing your mouth about what you found. I certainly won’t. One of the joys of hunting is finding a great spot and working it for years. when you find a great spot, protect it like treasure! I surely will.

  • Yeah, here is an official disclaimer:

    Disclaimer & Scouting Agreement

    Scout Idaho 39 LLC provides custom scouting reports based on observations at a specific moment in time.

    • Not a Guide Service: Flint and Scout Idaho 39 LLC are not licensed outfitters or guides. We do not provide transportation to the field, or meat packing services, and we do not accompany clients on their hunts.

    • No Guarantee of Harvest: Hunting involves variables beyond our control (weather, animal movement, and hunting pressure). While we provide the best possible intel, we do not guarantee a successful harvest or the presence of game during your specific hunt dates.

    • Safety & Risk: Idaho’s terrain is rugged and inherently dangerous. Clients are solely responsible for their own safety, navigation, and physical preparation. Scout Idaho 39 LLC is not liable for any injuries, equipment damage, or loss incurred during your hunt.

    • Unit Knowledge: All information is for personal use by the client and may not be resold or shared.

Want to see a Sample Scout Report?

I have made a sample report to share to give you an idea of what to expect for your own report. Fill out the form and I will send it to you.