Pine Valley Deer Hunt

Daxter

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I grew up hunting in this area of southern utah, and since I moved up north haven't been back for a few years. With all the moisture down there this spring and summer I would think that there would have been some great antler growth, but I haven't heard anything from this area. I know it gets a lot of pressure but I also know that there are some nice bucks down there. Did anybody hunt down there? How was it? See any good bucks, see very many elk? I used to hunt on the western slope of the pine valley range between Central and Pinto, but have also spent some time near Browse and over farther to the west around Gunlock and even on Utah Hill. I miss that country and was just wondering if anybody had any success or horror stories about the 2005 hunt. Thanks.
Dax
 
Dax,
You're not missing much anymore. It is almost a joke down there. With all the fires, nearly all the good areas have been lost. With all the moisture this last year they have had all kinds of flooding and it has made it difficult to access many spots. Areas you can find open are packed like sardines with hunters. The area between Central and Pinto, as well as Grass Valley have been really good in the past, but not so good anymore because of all the people. The fires have burned most of the good areas around Utah Hill, Gunlock, Enterprise and up the I-15 pass including Browse and Commanche. Cedar mountain is also packed with hunters. Again, the good areas are packed with people. I didn't draw in 2005, but hunted with family. We did see alot of does with two fawns. I think the moisture and the added grass lead to a good fawn heard, but the deer where not big like you would expect and the bucks just were not around. Now, I have heard numerous speculations from locals on why it has turned out to be so . One is that the cougars are out of control in the southern unit. The other is that many of the deer didn't leave their winter grounds because of the long spring, abundance of food, and additional moisture. Both reasons are believable. Personally, it just isn't what it used to be.
 
I am guessing that there is a far more extensive network of ATV roads than there was 20 years ago allowing hunters easy access to many more locations and therefore there are far fewer bucks able to survive four or more hunting seasons and live to maturity...for the people who hunt the Pine, is that an accurate statement?
 
I would agree with this statement. One thing that is certain is that the Southern unit just isn't what it used to be. I am sure this is why the unit has been limited to a five day hunt as well limited on the quantity of permits drawn. I am glad that the DWR has made efforts to save it. I just hope it isn't too late.
 
cougars, over harvest (way to many tags), cougars, over harvest by hunters, coyotes, lack of sound management by the dwr. Sad thing is this area has some awesome potential.

Mike
 
Holy Crap!
I came home for Thanksgiving and am writing this at my parents house in Santa Clara. It has been a while since I have been home and I can't believe how much stuff burned! Browse is pretty much gone, and I went out to Utah Hill, West Desert, Gunlock and lots of the places I had hunted out there in the past were burned up too. I had been thinking about coming home to hunt next fall, but would have to find a new place.

Back in the day I had seen some really nice bucks up in the Greys Ranch area, but I hunted it during the blackpowder about 4 years ago and there were so many people that I decided I wasn't going to go back. Sounds like (and looks like) things are tough in the SW corner of the state. I am sure there are a few good bucks out there still, but it is too bad to see an area with the potential this one has in this condition. I hope they can do something other than just let the cheatgrass/red brome come in and take over in the burnt areas or that habitat will be lost for good. Too bad to see such good country in such bad shape.
Dax
 

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