Utah elk hunt for my dad

DidIDraw · Nov 18, 2010

I'd like to take my dad elk hunting next year in Utah. He's never killed a branch-antlered elk and I'm a little worried for his health so it feels like its time to try and draw a tag.

These are the hunts I think he has a chance to draw. I know about some of them but others I don't have a clue. I'd like to find a rifle or muzzleloader hunt that isn't too physical but has reasonable numbers of bulls available (our threshold will likely be a 300ish or bigger bull).

Books Cliffs Bitter Creek late rifle
Box Elder Grouse Creek late rifle
Central Mountains Manti late rifle (will be a stretch to draw)
Central Mountains Nebo early rifle
La Sal Mountains late rifle
Nine Mile Anthro late rifle
South Slope Diamond Mt early, late, premium, or muzzleloader
Paunsaugunt muzzleloader

Which hunt do you think best matches what I'm looking for? What are the pros and cons of these hunts? Thanks in advance for your help.

justr_86 · Nov 18, 2010

Take nine mile anthro off your list.. They have been trying to erradicate those elk for a few years now...

Bookcliffs is pretty good with some bruisers around but you have to work pretty hard with grim draw odds..

Diamond is a pretty good unit but lots of private..

those are the only ones I know about.

chunter · Nov 18, 2010

Take the Nebo off your list it has gone down the past 4 years. And is a very hard hunt to do. The Books is what I would look at if I were you.

Aaron84 · Nov 18, 2010

Don't burn your point's on the anthro you will be disapointed. Out of all those unit's if I had those point's I would be putting in for bc, la sal, or pauns.

Elkhunter96 · Nov 18, 2010

LAST EDITED ON Nov-18-10 AT 06:45PM (MST)[p]The books is not an easy hunt, but there are some nice bulls on it along with a few bruisers. Of the hunts you listed, I would say the Books is hands down the best unit. You may want to check the odds on the Book Cliffs Bittercreek muzzy hunt. I would imagine with a lot of hard work, your dad could get a 320-340 bull on that hunt.

Please note, I know not know much about some of the other units you listed, but did hunt the LE Book Cliffs Bittercreek archery elk hunt and took a nice bull this year. It wasn't easy and I spent around 20 days scouting and hunting on the unit before getting lucky...

From researching, I would stay away from Nebo, and anthro. La Sal may not been a bad hunt, possible the second best on the list...

dillon · Nov 18, 2010

I would agree on the anthro hunt being bad.

Paunsaugunt is okay, but I think most of the good bulls are gone after the rifle hunt. I would do the Book Cliffs Bitter Creek late rifle.

I take it he has 8 points.

evilroy250 · Nov 18, 2010

The Grouse Creek hunt should be good.

AWHOLELOTTABULL · Nov 18, 2010

How many points does he have?

It's always an adventure!!!

msy · Nov 18, 2010

I have done the muzzy deer hunt around grouse creek area for the last 3 seasons and have never seen an elk out there. I've never been elk hunting out there though, but still. Maybe its just the wrong time of year, who knows. There is a lot of private land out that way too. I wouldnt waist points out there.