Southern Utah Elk: Winter Range Thoughts

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pinenut

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I am curious what the "locals" in Southern and South-Central Utah are seeing in terms of numbers of mature bulls on the winter range of the premier units, particularly numbers of the "top-end" bulls 370+. I live on the Wasatch Front and cannot make it down to Southern Utah more than once or twice a winter to take a look so it is hard for me to make conclusions based on my small sampling each year. I do make it out at least once a week to spot around here and think the numbers of bulls are about the same, but the top end bull numbers are down significantly.

I mainly want to hear from people who have watched the elk winter down there for many consecutive winters and can give an honest assessment of what they are seeing this winter compared to last compared to the one before that. Were the hunts this fall just tough and a similar amount of big bulls showed up in the winter as the previous couple of years? We are far enough into the winter that i think the serious spotters down there can make a good assessment.

I am not asking for unit specific thoughts but feel free to give em if you want to. I also want to ask that this thread just not turn into a bashing thread about the tag increases.

Thanks,

-RPinenut
 
Can't give you any specifics on the bulls down there pinenut, but we are planning on being down south again this year and you are welcome to join our bow camp again to do some scouting.
 
Sounds like the entire state is seeing a lack of "big" bulls on the winter range this year.

Probably just aother indicator showing how profficient we're becoming at killing the cream of the crop ever year.

Too many good hunters doing what they do and WALLA it'll finally catch up to us.

Still some big bulls? Yes. But, not near the amount there was just a few short years ago.

Ofcourse the new World Record and new State Muzzleloader bull may sway some to the "all is well" party, but it isn't...a well.

The deer on the other hand pretty much don't exist north of I70, but who cares about the deer anyways............as long as we're buying tags they're selling tags......... Happy days ahead.
 
Have to agree with ya there Prism. Of course, we wouldn't be killing off the cream of the crop year in and year out if they would just move the rifle out of the rut and distribute more tags to more primitive weapons...but that is a debate for another thread.
 

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