Paunsaugunt

[Hawkeye]

I was finally lucky enough to draw a tag. I will be rifle hunting on the Paunsaugunt this fall. I plan on doing a lot of scouting and working my tail off but I don't think I can afford to hire a guide. I would appreciate any information that you are willing to share. I would like to hear about some general areas in which to focus my scouting and some specifics about the timing of the deer migration in the area. In particular, I would love to hear from some of the hunters who hunted the Paunsaugunt in the last couple of years. Thanks in advance to all those who are willing to help. Please feel free to drop me a private message.

Hawkeye

 

[Torch]

Congrats on a great tag! I don't know how familiar you are with the unit, but the rifle hunt can be extremely tough. If your looking for a nice buck you shouldn't have too much of a problem harvesting a buck.

However, if your looking for a great buck, I would be prepared to possibly eat your tag. I have talked to quite a few people over the past few years that got very discouraged on this hunt and didn't fill their tag. The unit gets a lot of hype because of a few great bucks that are killed every year, but the rifle hunt can be extremely tough. It's thick country and the big boys can disappear in a hurry! My advice would be to enjoy the hunt and to not dictate the quality of the hunt solely on the animal harvested.

 

[cowslayer]

Several years ago, Torch ate a Paunsagaunt tag looking for that once in a lifetime buck. He said "it" goes down better with lot's of A-1 sauce.

As I talked with him yesterday, he sounds like he still has no regrets.

CS

 

[Torch]

CS.....ya need a lot more than A-1 when you eat that tag..LOL!

I found that once in a lifetime buck, but I just couldn't close the deal after 10 days of hunting. I never could find the buck after he shed the velvet. He had a solid 200" frame with huge double drops....ahhhh what a buck. I probably should have dropped the hammer on a huge typical opening day, but oh well....I was going after one buck or going home empty handed! On a hunt like the Paunsaugunt I would rather go for a once in a lifetime buck than shoot a nice buck. There are a lot of places you can shoot a nice buck.

It's still one of the funnest hunts I've ever been on and I didn't harvest an animal!

Another good friend of mine drew the tag last year and also ate his tag after 10 days of hunting and going for a once in a lifetime buck. It's tough!

 

[WIDOW_MAKER]

My brother had the rifle hunt last year. It was a trip from hell. Nothing went are way. We didn't even seen a deer on opening day. At night you could see a ton of big bucks but not during the day. You'll need to know their patterns!!!!!!!!!!!!
My brother didn't fill his tag. I think the best tag for that unit would be the archery or the muzzleloader.

Good Luck

WIDOW_MAKER

 

[D13er]

torch's words in post #1 are refreshing. he's right on. Have a fun and hard hunt and be happy how ever it turns out. The killing is always anticlimatic. Hopefully you'll at least get to SEE a buck of a life time in a zone that is open and a tag in your pocket. that is more than most will experience.

Good luck.

JB

"Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch. Liberty is a well-armed lamb contesting the vote."
--Benjamin Franklin 1759

 

[mdh]

Hawk,

How many points to draw? If it is my (one) chance of a lifetime to hunt a big buck I would turn the tag in and put in for the muzzle next year, especially if I was on the upper end of 10 bonus points. Guides try not to guide on this hunt. Just my thoughts, Sorry to be negative.

Mick,

 

[KLL]

Hawkeye,

You may want to check on the laws for spotlighting deer during the night. ( if you don't already ) Many people were doing this the year I was there, locating deer for the next morning hunt. I didn't know it was even legal until my hunt was over. It may help you. Just FYI.

 

[theridge]

What so you mean guides try not to guide?

 

[Hawkeye]

Guys-

I appreciate the comments and advice. I am prepared to work my tail off and even eat the tag if necessary, but I am not going to turn in my tag before the hunt. For those of you that have hunted the Paunsaugunt during rifle season, how did the deer migration effect your hunt? Were the deer really moving South by early to mid October? I would really like to speak with those of you who have hunted the Paunsaugunt or are familiar with the unit. Drop me a pm with an email address or a telephone number. Much thanks.

Hawkeye

 

[Muley73]

Hawkeye,

I have hunted the Paunsaugunt several times in the past ten years. We have shot some nice bucks late in the hunt after passing much better bucks early in the hunt waiting for that once in a lifetime buck. My best advise is, decide before the hunt what you are going to be happy with. When you see it get the job done quick. If you don't ever see it then just enjoy the experience.

My bother also drew a Paunsy rifle tag this year so we will be putting in alot of scouting also. Drop me a PM and I can give you some starting points and maybe compare some scouting info. Good Luck.

 

[Hawkeye]

I sent pm's to those of you who have been kind enough to respond. Thanks for all of the information.

Hawkeye

 

[mdh]

Hawk,

Good luck on the hunt. The weather will be the biggest factor. When the migration starts it is an exodus. You will need to learn most of the unit. Don't give up on the bottom end either, there are some nice bucks that summer down here also. Below the pinks and on the whites depending on the weather will be the majority of the deer. CWMU migration will be quick as usual when it starts. Pray for an early winter so you can get a crack at something there maybe. They will move within a few days. Need to know the boundaries and what is accessible. Hard to pattern anything if they are migrating. Still can find a good buck. Best of luck on the hunt. Can show you some areas on a map if that will help.

Sorry about the negatism before. If this hunt was the third Saturday in October like it was in the past it would be awesome. After all you are paying for a premium hunt.

Look and see when the Henries Rifle hunt starts?

The pauns deer would be down on public lands and the public would get to hunt the whole herd if the dates where like theres. As it is now, alot of the deer are on private land whether CWMU or private they are not accesible. That is the paunsaugunt and been like that for some time. When the public realizes they are not getting a crack at maybe 50% of the herd on this hunt they may decide to do something about it. I am not downplaying the CWMU or Private land up there that is how the unit is set up. I am for the public hunter though and would like to see the hunt dates revisited and looked at again sometime for the publics sake. best of luck.

Again,, Pray for an early winter.


Mick,

 

[RACKMASTER]

Watch 89 for road kill when it starts its a sight to see....
that when it really start!(the migration)
be on the south side any where up high and watch the draws early (before 1st light)!
do not watch any monster muley vidoes they will ruin you for this hunt!....
good luck
Rackmaster

 

[Hawkeye]

Guys-

Thanks again for all of the information that you have shared. I sent a few more pm's to follow up on your comments. A few of you have chimed in on the migration. What are the chances that the deer will be migrating during the hunt this year (Oct. 7th-17th)? Does it really only take one significant storm to start the migration? And once they start migrating, do they move directly to their wintering grounds or do they gradually work their way South. Thanks again for your time and feel free to respond by way of pm if you prefer.

Hawkeye

 

[RACKMASTER]

100% the last week!
rm

 

[cabinfever]

hawkeye, the biggest bucks killed on this hunt are resident bucks that live in the low country. Ryan hatch has been guiding guys to these little groups of bucks for some time. They killed a real good one last year, and my wifes uncle killed a big resident buck a few years back. I know they are getting up high on the white cliffs and spotting down on the low country. I would also recommend spotlighting every night to locate bucks.

Best of luck

 

[Califelkslayer]

I hunted 12B early in Az, just south of there several years ago. We actually accessed it off of 89 and dropped south into our unit. The advice on 89 is accurate. You'll see numerous roadkills or blood splats on the pavement when they are really migrating. Our season was a little later and it was on. I would check this out if you get any weather.

 

[SNEEKEEE]

FIRST OF ALL CONGRATS ON DRAWING THE TAG. I PERSONALLY HAD THE OPPURTUNITY TO HUNT THE PAUNS LAST YEAR AND I WAS NOT VERY IMPRESSED. I THINK THAT THE UNIT IF YOUR LUCKY CAN PRODUCE A NICE MULEY BUT DON'T SET YOURSELF UP THINKING THAT YOUR JUST GOING TO TRAVEL DOWN THERE AND BAG A BIG BUCK RIGHT OFF THE GET GO. I WENT DOWN LAST YEAR WITH MY GRANDFATHER WHO DREW THE TAG AND HE TO ATE HIS TAG. HE SAW THIRTEEN BUCKS ONE NIGHT AND THAT WAS IT. I HAVE HEARD THAT THE DEER OUR MIGRATING DURING THE RIFLE HUNT SO IT IS HARD TO FIND THEM BUT IF YOU SCOUT HARD I THINK THAT YOU WILL BE ABLE TO BAG A DECENT BUCK. WE HUNTED ALL OVER UP HIGH DOWN LOW AND IT SEEMED TO ME THAT THE LOWER ELEVATIONS WERE THE PLACE TO FOCUS BUT GRANDPA DIDN'T LIKE TO HUNT THE CEDARS SO WHAT DO YOU DO RIGHT. WELL MY FAMILY AND FRIENDS HAVE HUNTED PAUNS FOR YEARS AND HAVE BAGGED SOME REALLY NICE THIRTY + INCHERS. GOOD LUCK TO YOU, SCOUT HARD HUNT EVEN HARDER

 

[Hawkeye]

I really appreciate all of the information and advice that has been shared. The timing of this hunt appears to be a little early. Why does this hunt occur two weeks earlier than the other premium unit (The Henry Mountains)? It seems that this hunt would be a lot better if it occurred after the migration. Does anyone here have any suggstions as to how best to hunt this unit once the deer start migrating? Send me a pm. Thanks.

Hawkeye

 

[Muley73]

I believe that they are trying to protect the deer that migrate off of the private. If the hunt was later more of these bucks would be on public land. Believe me when I say that the private land owners control what happens on this unit far more than the public hunters. Regardless you should have a great hunt if you put in the effort. As you can see from a lot of the posts the best two options are find a good buck early up high or concentrate on the local buck living in the low country.

 

[Hawkeye]

Who here has hunted the Paunsaugunt during the last few years? How did you do? How many people had to eat their tags? I hope I can get a nice buck but I am willing to eat my tag if I cannot find one during the 11 day rife hunt.

Hawkeye

 

[ktg]

I went along on a hunt in '97 and then I hunted it in '99. There was a HUGE difference just in those 2 years. We saw at least twice as many bucks on the '97 hunt and they were on average larger. I saw the biggest buck I've ever seen on the '97 hunt. Since then I've just been building points hoping that the F&G pulls head and I can one day hunt those BIG bucks again.

 

[fin little]

Ktg, just curious.What do you think needs to happen to bring those big bucks back? Deeper tag cuts?

 

[ktg]

fin, that seems the most logical approach to me. After all, that's basically what got the Pauns where it was, tag cuts of 100%. Honestly, with the Alton unit out of control (imo) I don't know that they will be able to get it back to where it was after it was reopened. Maybe they don't want it back where it was. Maybe I'm saving points in vain. If so, I'll use them elsewhere one day.

 

[trueblu]

one of the main issues to make drawing a paunsagaunt rifle tag worth the time and money is to get the dates changed back to where it needs to be. it's really past the point of rediculous. let the tag holders be able to hunt the majority of the herd the unit has to offer instead of maybe 25%. tony abbott, there are a lot of mdf members in this area who want the hunt dates moved back, please use whatever leverage you can and push this in the rac's or wherever they need to be pushed. this is a priority. much more so than any habitat project. the unit can sustain the deer(and many more) just fine without money being wasted on habitat projects imo. we HAVE to get this done. btw, the #2 priority is to get the elk off the unit. i want this to be a premium deer unit, not another elk unit. lets get rid of them now before they take over. thanks, coby