Big bucks on Utahs Stansbury Mnts.

M

muleygrande

Guest
I have decided to hunt this range this year. I usually never hunt the same place from one year to the next becuase I like to see new places. I was going to hunt there two years ago but wrecked my atv the week before the opener and had a very sore back. My wife also had a baby that was due anytime. So I didn't go. If anyone could give my any info. or throw me a PM I would be grateful. What I would like to know is some of the travel patterns of these bucks from August thru Oct. and which areas get the most pressure, which ones people tend to leave alone and which areas have produced or have have had sightings of the BIG ONE recently. Also if there is someone I could call. Leave me a phone #. Thanks
 
Take this for what it is worth. I do not hunt there during the rifle, I do not hunt there during the muzzleloader. Why you may ask. If you would like to see an army of orange then this mountain range is the place to go. I have hunted there in the past, and have old friends that still do. They have closed a lot of access to ATV, so it doesn't matter if your ATV is broken or not cause you'll have to walk anyway. The muzzleloader used to be ok, now it is a serious joke. There are a few decent bucks, if you want a chance in hell then Bow hunt. Otherwise, hunt your heart out and pm we after the hunt and tell me how bad it truly sucked. Now if you want to see a lot of does scared as hell, and if you are lucky see a small 2 point then you couldn't pick a better range. I know it sounds like I'm trying to scare you off, I'm really trying to save you a terrible experience Now if you are committed who knows, people hit the jackpot in Vegas too. If you really still just have to hunt this range then access it from the skull valley side, there tends to be a few less hundred people swarming the mountain from that side.

T
 
I don't mean to discourage you but........
I live at the base of those hills and I used to hunt there a few years back and I still ride my horse there constantly. There used to be a ton of deer in those hills but the word must have gotten out. The last time I hunted with a rifle up there I spent the night on top. When I woke up before daylight the road in the bottom looked like I-15 at rush hour with all the quads and trucks. It was a mad house. Hell I even saw some guys shoot a buck in thier head lights. The rest of the day scared the hell out of me with all the shooting. The muzzle loader season isn't any less crowded. One year I counted 54 bucks on opening morning of the archery season. I always glassed all summer and saw tons of good bucks. But thats all in the past now. It's gone down hill for a long time . This summer while riding and glassing I didn't see a decent buck. In fact in areas where I would consistently see good bucks I only saw 5 does. I was reading the DWR's estimated population for this range the other day. I don't know where thier coming up with thier figures but I don't agree with thier numbers. I ride what used to be the winter range and don't see ANY deer in these areas. So if thier numbers are correct I must be blind. Those are the facts take em or leave em but I won't be waisting my time there again. Good luck if you decide to join the crowd.
Wes
 
I thank you for your comments. I will take the bad with the good, hopefully there will be some good.
 
I agree with the comments about the crowds. It used to be quite the place... but too many people caught wind. However, I still have a friend who faithfully scouts it in the summer and sees a few 30"+ bucks. Try the back basins of all those canyons... Hickman, Davenport, N & S Willow, etc... and be sure to pattern their escape routes. Also, another option might be to consider the sage flats at the base of the rush valley side of the range. It certainly holds a lot of elk and the deer are in their too, just hard to find.

-Lucas :)~

http://www.monstermuleys.com/cgi-bin/stories/site.pl?page=lucasdavis10103
 
Two more cents...
We hunted just south of there and did hit on the Stansburys' just a bit. Lots of Orange and few mature bucks. Like anywhere, I'm sure there are a handful of respectable bucks on there, but you've definately got your work cut out for you with the competition. Quite a few years back, like 20+ years, my Dad and I saw a bachelor herd of some of the biggest deer we'd ever seen on top of Hickman. As stated before, there are probably a few decent deer in those mountains, good luck sifting through the orange wave.
 
Your ODDS???????? Let's put it this way if you haven't gotten it by now, it would be very odd to see one that big during the hunting season. I would guess of the 4000 to 5000 people who end up on this range, locally maybe you hear of max of 10 bucks in that range shot during the the three seasons, so say there are 10 more that are kept secret. And lets reduce the numbers to say 1000 hunters for all 3 seasons, which is certainly an underestimation, your odds are 2% or less. I can tell that you are one of those guys who thinks that we are all keeping this area to ourselves and are obviously eager to try it out, seriously go for it, once again I won't give any details because this is such a secret area, but I stress again to hunt the skull valley side, if you want a chance in hell of a buck that you are talking about.

T
 
Tooele, ( 2% ) I like those odds. Will you pay me $980 on a $10 bet. Just kiddin, actually can anyone tell me if there are any water sources up on the backside south of Deseret Peak were I can get filtered water. There's no springs on the maps but has to be some up there.
 
Thanks for the info. people. I realize this mnt. is nothing special and there are other ranges in the cental region that are better but with all that wilderness area and the steep ledges and basins way back in, there has to be a few nice ones. Anyway I think I'll still do a couple overnighters on top in July and then dicide what to do. Thanks for the input. I still would like some info. on any hidden springs on top, south of Deseret Peak.
 
I've got to agree with the above posts. I hunted it last year on the muzz hunt. There were way too many people for my liking. I thought I could hike in and get away from the crowds.... WRONG!! What a zoo! I will be trying somewhere else this year. But that's just my thought.
 
I agree with the crowd posts that were said. I've hunted it for the past 15 years with my dad and on my own?.there sure are a heck of a lot of people up there. There are still, however, a few nice ones in there. As far as letting the secret out about spots?..well,......you just have ti find em where you find em. Last year on the bowhunt, I sat on top of hickman and found 14 small bucks. The biggest were 2 2-points that went about to their ears?..not too bad! I decided that if I got the chance I'd take him. The night before the opener I found a nice typical 4x4 that was just past his ears, about 15? high. He was nice??but sitting out in the middle of flippin baldy. There?s some good ones?.there's some secret water spots south of the peak?..there's some good country up top??.but there's A LOT of people!
 

Click-a-Pic ... Details & Bigger Photos
Back
Top Bottom