Late Hunt ADVISE!

6x6tmh · Jan 6, 2009

Like utahelk1 was trying to get out has anybody had expierence on a late hunt in utah. What unit, how many points did you have to draw, sucessful or not, and did you see alot of elk etc... any help would be great! I think that a guy with 15 points is well aware that he can draw for muzzy or late but good advise is hard to come by on some of these hunts and shopping for options is always good!

koldtrailin · Jan 11, 2009

Late hunts are great. With 15 points take your pick. If I had 15 I would be looking at a Premium tag. Max is 16 in the 2009 draw. Good Luck!!

littlebighorn · Jan 12, 2009

I spent a little time with a friend this year on a late Manti elk hunt. We saw tons of elk, but only a small number of bulls. He ended up killing a very small 6 point on the last day. He knows the unit pretty well and he scouted for 3 days before the hunt and hunted every day of the hunt. The big bulls are not with the cows during that time time of year and unless you know where they go, it is a very tough hunt. A few years earlier my neighbor also had that tag and he ate tag soup. That is my experience.

never_catch · Jan 12, 2009

If you seriously have 15 points then yea a premium tag like San Juan or Pahvant is the only thing that makes sense to me...but since I put in for that hunt every year I think you should just buy a bonus point and keep rackin em up

jk and good luck!!

~Z~

apollosmith · Jan 12, 2009

I hunted a late hunt in Northern Utah this year. I drew with only 2 points (VERY, VERY lucky). I was successful and saw hundreds of elk through the summer and fall, then focused on The One as the hunt got closer.

Late hunts are awesome! The problem is that the bulls are very unpredictable at that time. Scouting for elk early is mostly worthless, unless you do it during the late hunt in previous years. My bull moved a lot during the time and alternated between being with a big herd of 40 with 8 bulls, being alone, and with a small group of bulls. Depending on the snow, the elk could be very high or very low, active or very dormant recovering from the rut. You also risk having the bulls busted up. It's really a crapshoot, but if you have snow on the ground and have an idea where the elk will be, it can be a lot of fun and very productive.

Utahelk1 · Jan 12, 2009

kold trailin and nevercatch.....have you looked at the odds for a premium hunt on Pahvant and/or San Juan. A guy with 15 points is looking at another 15 years possible wait to get that tag. A guy could be dead by then.

koldtrailin · Jan 12, 2009

I never said get a premium on Pahvant or San Juan! But he can get a premium tag on some great units this year if he wants with 15. Would you take a premium on a lesser unit or a 8 day muzzle or 7 day late tag on the San Juan Or Pahvant since 15 will not get him even an early tag on those units. Those are not the only good units with big bull potential in the state. With a premium tag and time to hunt there are a lot of good units with big bull potential(370 plus).

6x6tmh · Jan 12, 2009

It was enteresting to see the photos of some great bulls taken on the late hunts. Thanks for the input from all that posted. Looks like utahelk1 is VERY concerned about the draw and knows a great deal about the odds. If you think about it a great bull in the world is a nice 6x6! I think us UTAHNS get to wraped up in the SPIDEY bulls and need to focus on being out with our friends and family creating memories!!!