Wasatch LE elk

Sniper1 · Jan 11, 2011

Wondering how many people drew the archery tag this past year for this unit? Im already cramming my options on what to do and im thinking this is where im putting in for. Would appreciate any thoughts on this, succes stories and such.
Thanks fellas

Elkhunter96 · Jan 11, 2011

There were 135 tags issued last year, most people with 6 or more points were guaranteed a tag last year. My buddy and his brother both drew it with 4 points. It was not an easy hunt, but my buddy was able to connect on a really nice bull. His brother went home empty without even getting any shot opportunities. That is all I know...

justr_86 · Jan 11, 2011

Its a pretty good unit with tons of elk! There are some big bulls taken every year but the bulk of the bulls killed fall pretty close to 300 class. The archery hunt in utah is the same on most units, suck one year and the next the dates line up with the weather and its great. You did pretty good if you kill one over 330 IMO.

utahbigbull · Jan 11, 2011

Pretty good unit but if you are looking at doing archery, Jason, the Dutton is the place to go!

Sniper1 · Jan 11, 2011

:7 HA HA HA.. On a serious note rob get your ars in shape this year is my year. Somewhere or another

AWHOLELOTTABULL · Jan 11, 2011

Last year the more remote you went the bigger the bulls. That was my experience. Justr86 is right though. There is a lot of elk with the majority of the bulls in the 300-320 mark. We did see a couple of monsters last year with a missed opportunity on one but there were a lot of hunters that ate tag soup. I think if people go into the Wasatch with the reality of not passing on a 320 class bull if you haved a shot, they will have a good hunt. As a general rule, those that ate tag soup did so, not because there were no bulls, but because they chose to pass on several bulls. If you want to see a lot of elk in some of the most beautiful elk country (IMO) this is a great unit to hunt. If you draw give me a hollar. I may have to break out my maps to jog my memory, but I should be able to stear you in the right direction.

Jim

It's always an adventure!!!

Cam@strawberry · Jan 11, 2011

LAST EDITED ON Jan-11-11 AT 02:09PM (MST)[p]I think that wasatch elk is kinda like my shooting hit and miss.....;-) One year can be killer the next nothing....as a general rule the harder you work and the more patience you have the better bull you have a chance at. Most of our hunters killed really great bulls last year with some chances at real monsters. It was one heck of a hard hunt though. If I were to summarize it I would do it this way. The wasatch is probably the most fun hunt you can have in terms of numbers of elk and hunt quality. Trophy chances ie: 350+ are really slim with that said every year 10-12 quality bulls come off the unit....so you never know. 10-12 out 400 some odd tags isn't real good though......just a few unorganized and uninformed thoughts...i don't know a whole lot about this unit. ;-)

Wildlife population control specialist

Sniper1 · Jan 11, 2011

Thanks gents. Alot of my decision also is based on it not being to far from my home so it would be alot easier to scout than other units. 400 tags for one unit. Does not seem right to me. I mean your just asking to wipe a herd out or at least it sounds that way to me. Thats a hell of alot of elk taken in one year. Or i guess i should say s hell of alot of chances for elk to be killed. Thanks again guys

bowhunt · Jan 11, 2011

The archery success rate is usually around 30-35%.
The average bull harvested is around 5.8 years.

Hope that helps.

Cam@strawberry · Jan 11, 2011

may I offer another quick thought, if the reason that you are considering putting in for the wasatch is because you want to cash in your points b4 it gets to late, you may reconsider. my personal thought on UT is this, the vast majority of the units will become like the wasatch where 330-340 bulls are the norm with those 10-12 bulls that are bigger coming out each year. Now that would be a percentage based on the elk pop but you could work it out. So with that in mind, you may hold out for whatever unit you know best because IMHO that unit will offer you the best shot at a great bull. Just another thought from me, I think that UT's elk hunting will become alot more even through out with the so called Premium units disappearing in a sense, I consider units like the wasatch GREAT our hunters have year in and year out had opportunities at record book bulls and if that is not great hunting I don't know what is......

Wildlife population control specialist

nockednlocked · Jan 11, 2011

Jason,

Just sent you an email with a pic of a buddy's bull off the Wasatch, it holds some big elk. I am with Rob on this one, Dutton all the way! Last year's archery hunt was a one weird for sure as far as the rut went. It will be better this year. I am more than happy to help out if you draw on either tag.

utahbigbull · Jan 11, 2011

I will have the vacation time this year since I will not be burning it all up for my LE tag. You just let me know the when and where and I will help you man! I can't guarantee anything but you might want to consider my ol stoping grounds and I could really help ya out. Just food for thought.

oilcan · Jan 11, 2011

AWHOLELOTTABULL You have a P.M.

Elkhunter96 · Jan 13, 2011

Interesting Dutton comments. I really want to see how Dutton, Beaver and Monroe do this year before I decide on applying for any of those units myself. From my research, it was scary how far they went down this year compared to prior years. Maybe it was the year, maybe it is a trend. Hope they rebound.

Derrick621 · Jan 14, 2011

Here is my 2010 Wasatch Archery Bull.

muttman · Jan 16, 2011

I drew the le-archery tag '10 - ate tag soup. but i passed on 7 bulls anywhere from approx 250 - 320". had a 350" bull @ 6yards for 3minutes, just didn't give me a proper shot placement. stopped behind pine tree. hunted the last 2 weeks straight. seen a bull i figured would go over 370". was into elk every day. missed another one @ 30yds, hit a branch.
it was the funnest elk hunt of my life. get into shape. i averaged 8+ miles of hiking a day,

my dad drew muzzy tag also, was able to get him his 1st bull a 310" bull shot @ 20yds.

the memories will last forever.

"MUTTMAN"

goofyelk · Jan 17, 2011

Derrick,,,,That is a wonderful Wasatch archery bull!
In my opinion, you should never pass a bull like that
(315-320) without knowing you might go empty with a bow..

Derrick621 · Jan 17, 2011

Thanks! I only had a couple of days left when I shot him. I shot him at noon at 6 yards from my treestand that over looks a wallow. I couldn't pass on him. It was a fun but tough hunt. The elk weren't very vocal.

alp75 · Jan 17, 2011

Here are a couple links to threads of my bull with pics and a couple vids. There are some good bulls on the wasatch for sure. I think the unit is great if you are really willing to put in some time and work. Lot's of elk and some great bulls as well.

http://www.monstermuleys.info/dcforum/DCForumID12/12438.html

http://www.monstermuleys.info/dcforum/DCForumID12/12809.html

540BnC · Jan 19, 2011

i drew a wasatch early rifle tag in 2008. i passed on several bulls looking for a specific 8x8 we knew was there. we saw lots of good elk (320 to 340) and a slug on the last day that my dad could not get close enough to get a comfortable shot that would go 370 or 380. i found the bull i was looking for and shot him in the afternoon of opening day(sept. 13 2008) at 56 yards. the only picture i have of him online is in the big buck and bull contest for that year. 2 or 3 years ago he would have been a real stud, i think he lost some mass as time went by because he was way old. he scored about 345, but has a lot of character. and how often do you get to shoot an 8x8?
http://www.monstermuleys.com/photos/PhotosID22/313.html
i hope that will get you there. if not, look at the contest photos for that year. it is in the back of my white tacoma.
if you draw, i would be happy to send you info. about where i was and answer any questions you had.