Dutton Hype?

YoungCountry · Sep 29, 2009

Just curious?
I see there have been some nice Bulls taken on the Dutton,the big 6X5,the 7X7,the stinky Bull & others
I'm wondering how the rest of the permit holders done & what their opinion is of the Unit?
I'd like to hear about more bulls even if they were in the 320" range?
How many held out & ate tag soup?
Just looking for honest opinions on the unit?
Thanks & lets hear your thoughts.

we are YoungCountry, we like all kinds
of music and people, 'cause we do draw some lines'
no our hair is not orange,we don't wear chains and spikes
but we know how to have fun come Saturday night

Antler1 · Sep 29, 2009

I know of a mid 380's bull that was taken opening weekend. The two other bulls I know of taken the last weekend were in the 330-340 range. The hunters that took these know the mountain as well as anyone but held out to the end. I know one other guy that had a tag there and have not heard how he did. How bout it Woolsey!! How did you do? I know your lurking out there..

I know one thing, if you get a bull on Dutton you earn it no matter what the score is.

bowhunt · Sep 29, 2009

Woolsey did great!

Utahelk1 · Sep 29, 2009

My bull is still alive down there. If you want to follow the story on the late hunt I'm sure we can find a WI FI station to hook up to. You all might be burned out on that though after Stinkys adventure....plus it might be hard to top his story.

stinkystomper · Sep 29, 2009

i know of another person camped down from us who had tons of people and horses shot a bull that went side to side in the back of a superduty n had tines to boot. there was also this bull that left the opener at the end of the bow hunt n crossed to the boulder. he was a little over 380. mastiff knows a little about him.... huh mastif!

silly liberals, paychecks are for workers!

Antler1 · Sep 29, 2009

bowhunt,
I know he put in the time so there was no doubt he would do well. PM me the details!!

Stinky, that would make me sick to see that bull switch units. Things paid off in the end for you though!!

slamdunk · Sep 29, 2009

Antler1 said it perfectly-

"I know one thing, if you get a bull on Dutton you earn it no matter what the score is."

We sure had a great hunt down there this year, but it was hands down one of the most grueling and physical hunts i ever remember being on as far as a day by day basis....well worth it though! ;-)

Gator · Sep 29, 2009

I would have to say Hunting the Dutton is a mental game that is as important(or more) IMO as it is having the hunting ability.

"I have found if you go the extra mile it's Never crowded".

stinkystomper · Sep 29, 2009

Sounds like you want to know what the unit is like for future endeavors???

I will say the mental comment is right on! I saw great bulls. More great bulls than I have ever seen on one hunt at one time. I'd say I saw over 6 bulls at or above the 380 mark easy. I'm sure a couple would have went 390+. What was the problem???

Even with a rifle these bulls were tough to get on. The big ones don't hang out around the meadows and clearings. They don't hang out around high vantage points overlooking the thick PJ country. They hang out in the thickest flatest PJ country imaginable. The only possible way to get to them is to go the mile or so off your vantage point and pray the are there. When you get there they have changed locations by over a mile. The mental game is 100% the dutton experience. Yes I saw big bulls. Yes I saw them most every day. No, I never had a shot at one in nine days hunting till the last day. Even then he was out of range for the average joe. What made the hunt really bad is the amount of pressure those elk were hit with before the rifle hunt. I was expecting an awesome bull elk rut hunt. What I got was a herd that had been severly pestered by the cow and spike hunters during the archery season and weren't about to talk. You combine cedar dwelling bulls with no bugling and you have a very difficult hunt on your hands. Sure, the smaller 320 type bulls were talking but thats about it. The big boys never spoke up. I firmly blieve the spike/cow situation really made that hunt a doozey and I'm unsure at this point if I will throw money at an acution tag again. I was severly dissapointed in the rut. However it was the best hunt I've ever been on at the same time. Never before have I seen so many bulls at once in which I saw on the Dutton. In addition slam and myself made a covenant, through hell or high water, we were gonna smash a giant bull period. We did! The sole fact of what slam and I accomplished on that unit made it a life long memory of which I will never forget. I will say this, that is no cake walk unit. If anyone gets their once in a lifetime tag for the dutton and thinks their gonna walk off that mountain with a 360 or better bull with minimal effort they'd better think again. I went from 280lbs to 255lbs in 9 days. I'm still dying at the gym and have half the strength I did before the hunt. That unit is tough, just plain tough.

silly liberals, paychecks are for workers!

cabinfever · Sep 29, 2009

With all the press the Dutton has received this year on MM I doubt there are any secrets about this place.Here's my 2 cents worth!

The amount of activity on that mountain this year had the elk scattered. You can leave your elk calls at home. These elk have them figured out! Minimal bugling in the areas I hunted. I still don't think the spike hunters will put a dent in the quality of big bulls, however, the amount of pressure has and will put a dent in the quality of the hunt.I know it did this year. There will always be big bulls on the dutton because of the lack of roads and good genetics, however, there are holes on that mountain that I would not kill a bull, unless he was a monster. Truth is, most guys went home with a 330 type bull and IMO there is no shame in that. Consequently, they worked as hard for a 330 bull as the guys who killed 380 bulls. If you are putting in for this hunt with visions of big bugling bulls everywhere, this is not the hunt for you. If you have an incredible work ethic with lots of stamina and are willing to go the distance there are a few big bulls to be had.If you want a fun hunt with tons of bugling and a shot at a 310-340 bull put in for fishlake.You'll have a lot more enjoyable hunt. Maybe stinky and others had different experience!

cabinfever · Sep 29, 2009

looks like I'm not the only one who lost weight on that hunt! I dropped 10 lbs which aint saying much as I only weigh a 149 lbs dripp'n wet. If anything, the dutton is a good weight loss program! My wife claims I've been as worthless as hen $hit on a pump handle since I got home. It really did zap my strength!

Mike

stinkystomper · Sep 29, 2009

Hey cabinfever...................BINGO! I believe you hit the perverbial nail right on the head! I agree 110%! I'm still falling asleep at the wheel a week later and I just cant seem to get my eyes to look in the same direction. I'm spent. So much for a "relaxing" vacation! The rut sucked BIG TIME! 340 bulls were definitely not easy to get into range either. However, if you have visions of calling in a 250 bull at a dead run then the dutton is your ticket. Those raggies were the only things fighting, and for the most part, responding to bugles. However, even finding a cow was a success on some days. Dutton is definitely not a rut crazed, elk behind every tree, mountain!

Super tough hunt and definitely not for the guy not willing to put in at least 15 miles of straight up and straight down hiking every day. I'm still exhausted. That mountain definitely gave me a love hate relationship!

silly liberals, paychecks are for workers!

mustache · Sep 29, 2009

This dutton is a tough hunt i packed in about 2.5 miles and hunted from a spike camp. This helped with not having to hike in and out everyday and saved lots of time and energy. One thing i noticed was that the elk were quiet during the day however, were very vocal during the night and early morning. Most nights i had trouble sleeping listening to all the bugles, in a way it made my hunt magical listening to elk wistle while sleeping on the rock pile was lots of fun.

in my own opinion the dutton is one of the last few places you can really get away from the roads and feel like you are alone where its just you and the mountain.

overall it was a hunt of a lifetime I got lots of pictures, video and had a great time with family and friends I also ended up killing a decent bull.

archeryguy30 · Sep 29, 2009

hey stinky if you really wanna complain about the rut try having an archery tag. dont talk like you waisted your time and money on the tag because you didnt quite catch the full swing of things. we start our hunt while the bulls are still in velvet, they are in the process of moving from the summer grounds to the feeding grounds and an archery guy runs himself ragged to keep up. you guys have the luxury of killing a bull at 500 yards + or alot of us archers a max range is about 60. Quit bit#$en start hunting harder, maybe try getting off of a road.

ktc · Sep 29, 2009

stinky,

I know a guy who thinks differently than we do. I always felt hunting Dutton was indeed a challenge with any weapon. However, he tried his damndest to erase the feeling of accomplishment. He could call in every elk within miles, saw several 400's each week, and calls it a shoot. I dont disagree with you at all. It is work and very rewarding when you get done.

The archery is very tough on Dutton! I would never do it personally because I cannot do it. However to say stinky did not get off a road and is complaining is uncalled for. I know what he did and ride roads was not one of them. If I were bowhunting I would rather have early Spt than mid or late Sept. I have been down there during these times and the dates are not that bad except the first week to ten days.

cabinfever · Sep 29, 2009

Having hunted the dutton with a rifle I can honestly say the archery guys are getting screw'd!

archeryguy30 · Sep 29, 2009

First the bulls on the dutton and almost any other unit in the state especially in the south shed their velvet durring the archery hunt. Second the bulls move throughout the hunt to the areas where they rut and are in search of cows. Third the farther south you go the later the peak of the rut is and in this case the dutton seems to ramp up towards the end of september and the first of october, then the second estrus comes sometimes in the middle of october. The first of september is one of the worst times to try to kill a bull, they are very unpredictible and are impossible to call. You drew on the worst year in 5 for a rifle tag, but like every year you at least got some rut dont complain that the archery hunters messing up the hunting try hunting with them not after them when you have an big bull tag. I dont know how hard he hunted, but he had a tag with a sucess rate of between 85 and 90%. There arent 400 bulls everywhere and sorry to say the dutton isn't the best unit in the state. Like I said the devision gives the rifle big bull hunter the best chance to kill a bull anywhere you go with less pressure and a better time of year. Buy a muzz tag next time, hey maybe the elk down there are gay?????? Just kidding but please dont complain about a hunt where you saw lots of elk and killed a decent bull.

LowCountryElk · Sep 29, 2009

He's not complaining, just explaining. And Stink and Slam watched me bust ass down into a basin one morning with my bow while they were scouting and he just thinks I'm stupid for choosing to do it that way. To each his own. I loved it, but I can attest, it is an excellent weight loss program that will leave you drained once your done. I was going to help Stinky out, but after 11 days, I had nothing left and needed a break to get some energy back. Personally, I loved the hunt there this year and most of what has been posted is right on but not unexpected. I love hunting, killing is extra. But I did kill.....a real bonus and and gratifying experience on that slippery rockpile. Thank You Lord!

slamdunk · Sep 29, 2009

Did i seriously just read someone telling stinky (and me as his guide) we should have gotten off the road to hunt???
ROFLMAO!!!!!
Talk about an unexcused assumption!!
I SWEAR i and others have mentionioned several times how physical this hunt was....didn't we??

mozey · Sep 29, 2009

...yeah, but we all know what a couple of lardbutts you two are, so anything beyond a hundred yards from your wheelers is going to be monumental trek for you guys... ;-)

Topform · Sep 29, 2009

It has been 20 years since I hunted big bulls here in Utah. I was 14 the last opportunity I had. Anyway I was unlucky enough to eat Tag Soup on the Dutton...I didn't get a chance at the size of bull I was looking for. I had tons of opportunities for little bulls. I saw a lot of little bulls and even a lot of 5 points taken off the mountain. The largest dead bull I saw was a 340 bull, which I would have been happy with later in the hunt for sure. The hunting was difficult but fun. The elk were on the move. We moved camp 7 times. It wasn't till the last 2 days of the hunt that we saw good, shooter bulls. The problem was they were miles a way. When I took off after them of course they were gone. If I had 2 more days I know I would have had an opportunity at a big bull. All in all I learned something about elk hunting. 1. it is not easy especially if they are not rutting. 2. I am addicted and can't wait to redeem myself.

Coyote_chaser · Sep 29, 2009

Who is this archery guy?? Stinky you sure attract some winners...

spotit1st · Sep 29, 2009

Heres my top 10 opinions and this is after experiencing it first hand this year during the archery hunt.

#1 There were a few spike hunters but not as many as one says!

#2 There are NOT a ton of bulls that score in the 380 to 400 range! Maybe a half a dozen and yet to see 1 over or at 400 dead or alive proofs in the picture not the eye of one that thinks he knows what a 400 incher looks like!

#3 There WERE alot of rifle hunters that were scouting during the archery hunt and messing up Archers that drew a LE tag!

#4 It is a tough hunt and you do need to get off the road a few miles to see elk for the most part!

#5 The Dutton IS NOT the best unit to draw in UTAH!

#6 You do need to check your hunt dates the archery hunters got screwed this year, the rifle hunters ended up with a little too warm of weather and late hunters will kill the biggest this year!

#7 All of you worry too much about the score and not the experience, stinky worked his butt off supposedly I wasn't there to see it but I believe he did, because I know I had to pack my elk out of there 4 miles on my back 2 years ago. For you that are wondering what it scored "350" and he is a beautiful bull in my eyes!

#8 Who cares what other people say is it really worth arguing over "how old are you"!

#9 Those who draw a tag on any LE will more than likely never draw another tag again in their lifetime and if you do you will be old and more than likely not be able to hunt like you would of when you were younger, like my cousins dad who drew the late tag this year and will need assistance getting him up on the hill this year!

#10 I apologize if I offended anyone in my top 10 opionions, I am trying to be a more positive person and can't figure out why everyone just can't get along and quit complaining!

SHANEWA300 · Sep 29, 2009

One of the few places to get away?? lmfao you can go to just about any western state and "get away" try ID,MT,WY OR lots of terrain to get away.
Sorry I will take the guy who lets the air out of a 330 bull with a arrow anyday over a guy with a rifle shooting a giant bull at 500+ yards, pretty gay if you ask me, thats not hunting

LowCountryElk · Sep 30, 2009

No, what's not hunting and truly gay is PETA types sitting around a Starbucks figuring out how they can take our hunting rights away so none of their animal friends get hurt.
To each his own bro.....sharp sticks and string for me, and you?

CATMAN · Sep 30, 2009

I can't believe the archers whining about rifle hunters? Or visa versa. You have your choice of weapon, and 3 times as much time to kill one in? Is it easy....heck no or everyone would do it. Is the rifle easy? Nobody said the shot was the hard part, and yes it is harder to get close, but thats what most archers passion is about isn't it????????? I hate when one weapon hunter bashes another weapon hunter. C'mon we're in this together...stop your bashing and start banding together.....hopefully we're gonna be able to stay on this ride for awhile, but for surely not if we don't hang tough one with another

out4elk · Oct 1, 2009

Me and my brother had ML tags down there in 07 and my dad had his ML tag down there last year. Both of those years were hard work. In 07 the bulls were bugling but did not respond to calls at all and you had to work to find them. In 08 the bulls were bugling but once again did not respond to calls, at least mine anyway. Bulls were still hard to find. We were mentally and a little physically unprepared in 07 so it seemed we had to work REALLY hard to get to the elk. My brother killed a 386 gross bull and I killed a 330 gross bull. In 08 we were more prepared both physically and mentally and as a result we saw more bulls on a daily basis than in 07. The big ones were hard to locate and get on but we saw our share and my dad missed one of them. We passed a lot of bulls and my dad ate tag soup in the end. Even still I admit today that the 08 hunt was MUCH better.

?Life is like a ten speed bike. Most of us have gears we never use!?