8 Utah Elk Points Which Unit?

kelco · Dec 18, 2008

I am a non-resident and have 8 bonus points in Utah. I am interested in an archery hunt? I don't need a huge elk but something over 300 with a possibility of better. I am not very familiar with the odds in Utah. What is my possibility of drawing and for what units? Where can I get the odds information for the units. Should I keep building points? Thanks for your help.

oilcan · Dec 18, 2008

You can get the draw odds information right here from this site.Go to the draw odds on the home page and click on Utah.

kelco · Dec 18, 2008

Thanks. Any suggestions on units?

bingo · Dec 18, 2008

Book Cliffs looks like your best bet to me. From what I have heard about that unit, that hunt would fit the bill for what you explained. You may check with some people that are familiar with the area, I am not. Good luck

awbmab · Dec 18, 2008

Manti looks like your best bet.

Hazmat · Dec 18, 2008

When you go into the odds page, don't put in a unit. Just put in your points and non-rez and click find a hunt. The page you get shows all the units and weapon choice and the odds for each. You can go down the page at 8 points and see which units you can reasonably draw this year. Then click on each hunt to see the specifics. For some reason the success rates aren't there anymore. That is nice info to have to go into an area cold. Pick a few units and then ask this forum about them. Lots of people will share.

HAZMAT

www.muddyroad.net

JDC · Dec 18, 2008

Kelco,

Based on last years odds numbers, there are a few archery hunts that would be a guaranteed tag for you and there are a couple more that you will be very close to a guaranteed tag. Most of these areas will give you a reasonable chance at a 300 class bull with a possibility of something bigger.

If you are not real familiar with Utah elk hunting, there is something new this year that you need to consider. On an archery hunt, you will be competing with an army of general season spike and cow hunters - at least until the last few days. It used to be that only a few units had this problem, but due to some changes this year it is now on every unit of the state. You can still have a great hunt and hopefully get a great bull, it is just something you do need to consider.

That being said, maybe do a little research on the Central Mountains Manti, Central Mountains Nebo, Wasatch Mountains, Book Cliffs Bitter Creek and Plateau Fishlake. You could even look into a few muzzleloader hunts. At least you wouldn't be competing with all of the general season spike hunters. If you want, shoot me a PM and we can discuss your options.

Good luck,

Jon
www.HuntersTrailhead.com

DonVathome · Dec 18, 2008

hazmat good tip I forgot about that feature, nice to use.

I have 7 points (I apply for bow or ML) and IMO there are several good units you likely will draw within 3-4 years, maybe not this year. You will likely never draw utah again so consider not "settling" for a lessor unit. My 2 cents.

Cam@strawberry · Dec 19, 2008

If all your lookin for is a 300" bull then either unit will be good. the wasatch will probably be your best bet

Wildlife population control specialist

Silentstalker · Dec 19, 2008

Almost all the units will provide you with odds at a 300" bull. Look at the Book cliffs, Wasatch, and Manti. Any of those would give you plenty of elk to chase around and you could draw any of them reasonably soon. Keep in mind you will be hunting with the spike and deer hunters too if you go archery. Probably have less competition from them on the Book Cliffs. Put in and come enjoy a great hunt!

Chad

kelco · Dec 19, 2008

LAST EDITED ON Dec-19-08 AT 12:24PM (MST)[p]Hey thanks for all the information. I will do some research. What about Panguitch Lake? I am from Az and have shot a 350 bull, but I am as much into the hunt experience with my sons as I am into size. I grew up in Idaho and spent 5 years at Utah State so I am familiar somewhat with the areas. I would probably hunt the later part of the hunt. Also, is the cow and spike hunt a general hunt with no draw? If any of you need information about Az I am very familiar with all the units. Thanks again.

Silentstalker · Dec 19, 2008

Panguitch Lake is a good unit but I do not know it very well. You don't hear a lot about it but maybe that's because they don't want to tell us about it??

As for the cow spike hunters, they are over the counter and unlimited. So hunt early if you can, but save your time for the last week when they go home. You will still have general season deer hunters but they are not as much of a problem.

koldtrailin · Dec 20, 2008

Do your homework and you could score big in Utah!!

Gator · Dec 21, 2008

if you can draw P-Lake you should it has a good population of bulls in it and it a a good place to hunt. 300 is type bull is a good bull but on P-lake you can run into and find 370 and up bulls. I know the area around Horse Valley That would be the place I would start looking.

kelco · Dec 22, 2008

Where on the Utah website is the draw odds? I can't find it. Sorry.

Hazmat · Dec 22, 2008

Look at the extreme top right hand corner of THIS page.

HAZMAT

www.muddyroad.net

kelco · Dec 23, 2008

I looked at the odds and here is what I came up with.

100% odds manti
50% odds bookcliffs
33% odds mt dutton
12% odds fishlake

It looks like manti is the only for sure. What would you guys suggest? Should I hold out 1 or 2 more years? For archery in the next 2 years all units open up except for Pavhant and San Juan, but in 3 years I can draw all units?

WapitiBob · Dec 23, 2008

LAST EDITED ON Dec-23-08 AT 02:46PM (MST)[p]>I looked at the odds and
>here is what I came
>up with.
>
>100% odds manti
>50% odds bookcliffs
>33% odds mt dutton
>12% odds fishlake
>
>.... For archery in
>the next 2 years all
>units open up except for
>Pavhant and San Juan, but
>in 3 years I can
>draw all units?

I think there are a lot more than 3 years worth of applicants ahead of you in the San Juan. 26 apps with 8 or more points for SJ and they are after 2 NR tags.

Your not looking at the whole picture. Go to UT web site and D/L the draw stats so you can see how the point pools look.

http://wildlife.utah.gov/hunting/biggame/pdf/08_stats/08.pdf

prn · Dec 23, 2008

WapitiBob is right. You're forgetting to take into account point creep. I'm a nonresident as well and I've been one to two points behind max on the Wasatch archery tag for five years in a row now.

txhunter58 · Dec 23, 2008

Chances are you will find more accurate info on your odds for this year, if you put in 7 points instead of 8, because of the point creep. Those guys that were ahead of you at 7 are still ahead of you at 8.

txhunter58

venor, ergo sum (I hunt, therefore I am)