Utah's Best Archery Elk Unit

SuperSlam · Jan 24, 2011

So I was hoping to get some feedback on this. After looking over the draw statistics there are a few units that have a 1-4 odds or better to draw an archery tag. quantity of pts aside this is just a overall draw odd. Here are some of those units and I'd appreciate if we could rank them or just some feedback.

Wasatch

Manti

Nebo

South Slope Diamond

Cache

Dutton

South West desert

West Desert deep Creek

Fish lake

Book cliffs (south)

Book cliffs (rd less)

Lets hear them....

Silentstalker · Jan 24, 2011

1. Dutton
2. Book Cliffs roadless
3. South Cache
4. SW Desert
5. Wasatch
6. Manti
7. Fish Lake
8. Book Cliffs
9. Nebo
10.West Desert Deep Creek
11.South Slope Diamond Mtn.

To be fair I don't know much about West Desert Deep creeks as an archery hunt. I have archery hunted and killed 3 bulls on 3 of the units you mentioned. All great hunts but tough. This is the list I would choose without any knowledge of any of the areas. If you know any of the areas, that is what I would hunt.

marley · Jan 24, 2011

I would agree with Silentstalkers list other than i think I would swap the Book Cliff with South Cache IMO. Any of them would be a fun hunt though.

Elkhunter96 · Jan 24, 2011

LAST EDITED ON Jan-24-11 AT 04:42PM (MST)[p]It would depend on how well you know the area and how hard you want to hunt. Also, each unit chages year to year. From all the information I could find, Dutton was way down this last year and Wasatch was up. May have just been the year, maybe not.

If you have horses or access to them, my first hunt would be the book cliffs roadless. But, that hunt is not for everyone because of the packing issue.

Here is my list:

1. Wasatch
2. Book Cliffs Roadless
3. Book Cliffs
4. Manti
5. Dutton
6. SW Desert
7. Fish Lake
8. Cache
9. West Creek
10. South Slope
11. Nebo

In all honesty, the first 5-6 choices are about the same in quality and quanity and it would not matter much which unit you chose, unless you knew it better than the others.

I archery hunted Book Cliffs last year, had a great time, took a good bull (330 class). But, I also spent over 20 days scouting and hunting on the unit. I did not run into too many other hunters, which was nice, but it was not by any means an easy hunt.

desertpointbrian · Jan 24, 2011

you forgot the fillmore oakcreek unit lol

1.book cliffs roadless

2.dutton3

3.manti

4.book cliffs

5.sw desert

6.fishlake

7. wasatch

8.south cache

9.

SuperSlam · Jan 24, 2011

Lol thanks I know, for good reason! Interesting that the Cache unit was a high choice for some. I don't know this unit but have always wanted to hunt up in that country. That unit has fairly reasonable draw odds. I've hunted the Books and Wasatch both for archery. The books seemed to be a more fun hunt just because you didn't have the crowds. I was under the impression that the Dutton was the hardest archery elk hunt ever. I was under the impression that the bulls don't rut real good or consistent early in September on that unit. I wouldn't care about another unit that I'd have to get to know, kinda like that about drawing a tag all the research and stuff. Tell me more about the South Cache? All public? what is the archery deer and spike hunt like with general hunters? Thanks

Utah400Elk · Jan 24, 2011

I have spent time on most of those units and archery hunted the Dutton. Given that, I would rather hunt just about any unit in Utah Archery than the Dutton. I might have hunted it on a bad year but I never saw a bull that I thought would go over 340. I hunted hard for the last two weeks of the season and the elk never got going. The hunt ended 9/10. I know the hunt is later now but I wish I had gone on to the Wasatch or Book Cliffs rather than Dutton. Good luck either way

Silentstalker · Jan 25, 2011

I based my list on quality of bulls. Based on my own knowledge of the units "my" list is different. Dutton is a tough unit to hunt but there are some smoker bulls down there. Even 2010 had some pigs. My 2 good friends chased a couple of monsters down there this past year. Ended up killing a 340 satelite bull and ate the other tag holding out for the big one.

I would say ALL the units are down on 400 type bulls but they all will produce a giant with a little luck and a ton of effort!

nockednlocked · Jan 25, 2011

Hunted the Dutton for LE archery bulls in 2010. If you don't know the unit at all, it is a tough one to learn in a year. Saw some pigs, at least 8 bulls over 350. Missed a 360-370 class bull opening morning and never got another shot opportunity the rest of the hunt. The weather was tough for the hunt this year, I got one bull pretty worked up on the last night of season but it got too dark on me. Besides that I would spot bulls and move in down wind, get within calling distance and be met with silence. Dutton is a cool unit but there is a lot of country to learn and it is varied in terrain. I hunted 14 days and the last 7 straight. It was a lot of fun but it was hot and dry, the bulls started to pick up around labor day last year, but then the rut just seemed to die when the hot windy weather moved in. But if you scout hard you can have good success over wallows or water if the rut doesn't turn on. Just be prepared to work hard before season if you want to have a chance at bulls during it. I wish I had about three more years to learn that unit before I drew that tag. But if I had been about six inches lower on my shot, i would say it is the greatest unit ever. If you know a good unit inside and out, hunt it.

gon4elk · Jan 26, 2011

>Lol thanks I know, for good
>reason! Interesting that the Cache
>unit was a high choice
>for some. I don't know
>this unit but have always
>wanted to hunt up in
>that country. That unit has
>fairly reasonable draw odds. I've
>hunted the Books and Wasatch
>both for archery. The books
>seemed to be a more
>fun hunt just because you
>didn't have the crowds. I
>was under the impression that
>the Dutton was the hardest
>archery elk hunt ever. I
>was under the impression that
>the bulls don't rut real
>good or consistent early in
>September on that unit. I
>wouldn't care about another unit
>that I'd have to get
>to know, kinda like that
>about drawing a tag all
>the research and stuff. Tell
>me more about the South
>Cache? All public? what is
>the archery deer and spike
>hunt like with general hunters?
>Thanks

There's a reason the odds are good for the Cache. Lot of pressure from the spike hunters to mess up your hunt as well as tough. IMHO out of the ones listed Book Cliff rdlss - look a the draw odds and harvest stats.

Ton of elk on the Wasatch or the Manti to increase your odds for success.

Steve

ForkWest · Jan 26, 2011

I've hunted South Cache archery for spikes and cows quite a bit. I have to say I think that unit is over rated. Very,very few real good bulls and thick timbered country to hunt.

bowhunt · Jan 26, 2011

1 Dutton (there are 376 reasons I like this unit)
2 SW Desert
3 Bookcliffs Roadless
4 wasatch (I know it well and could kill a bull there )
Beyond that I think it is a crap shoot.

Good luck

BradN · Jan 27, 2011

Why doesn't anyone pick San Juan?

I've never hunted San Juan, but have always heard that it's a great unit? I'm curious why no one has it in their top 10.

UT1031 · Jan 27, 2011

There are a LOT of good units. Knowledge of a unit and time are the most important factors. Good luck on whatever unit you choose and HUNT HARD! How was the San Juan unit left off?????

Sniper1 · Jan 27, 2011

>1 Dutton (there are 376 reasons
>I like this unit)
>2 SW Desert
>3 Bookcliffs Roadless
>4 wasatch (I know it well
>and could kill a bull
>there )
>Beyond that I think it is
>a crap shoot.
>
>Good luck

Not to change the subject but i would love to know some of these reasons why you would do the dutton. That is probably the last place i would go to try to get a bull with my bow.

gon4elk · Jan 27, 2011

I think the reason why San Juan, Phavant and Monroe and all of the hot area were left was in his original post he mentioned area that were easier to draw. He used 1 in 4 odds to draw as an example.

Without looking I think San Juan/Pahvant/Monroe etc is 1 in 10+??

SuperSlam · Jan 27, 2011

+1 gon4elk I specifically listed these units because they offer a guy with 4-5 or less points almost 100% draw odds. Lots of talk about the Dutton and how it holds big bulls but may I clarify something regarding the purpose of the post. I want to know out of these units (and I know I may have left some out that fall within the criteria) which are the best units to have a good archery hunt? ie: quantity of elk, rut activity, access... I am not after a monster just want to steal/draw a tag with a few points have a fun hunt and then get back to applying for deer. I wouldn't shoot anything less than a 300 class and I may pump that bar up to around 315-320 I have just killed my share of 280 class bulls. The best unit you know argument doesn't play a factor because I'd love to get to know other areas and see different country. Hope that clarifies and thanks for all the feed back. I really appreciate it!

Cam@strawberry · Jan 27, 2011

Personally this is how I see it, and mind you its probably an uninformed opinion i don't know much about these dang elk....;-)

I think the best unit is the wasatch if you live in Utah or wasatch county....oh wait i think the best unit is San Juan if you live in blanding.....no no no no it must be SWD if you live in St george or enterprise......

If you didn't get my drift yet, when it comes to archery and for that matter just about all UT elk now, the best unit is your back yard. Whatever one you know best will offer you the best chance at the best bull. i'd stake my bottom dollar on it.

In your last post you said scrap the 'one you know best arguement' i say thats the most important part. however under the conditions that you stated superslam i would suggest the wasatch or manti. High numbers of elk massive amount of area to hunt....they make for an awfully fun hunt. It would take alot to take me out of my back yard though.......

Wildlife population control specialist

bowhunt · Jan 27, 2011

Hey Snips
I like the Dutton because I know it well, and have had good success on the unit. It has what I am looking for: remoteness, the opportunity to pack in, isolated water, good elk numbers.
As Berry stated, I think the best bet is to hunt a unit you know well and have easy access to it.

Sniper1 · Jan 27, 2011

I understand what you are saying about the dutton. I know that unit better than any other in the state. That being said i was down there on the every hunt last year and we had a hell of time on the bow hunt. Bulls were not talking and it was just very hard. It seemed like they didnt even really peak in the rut till mid way through the muzzle hunt. Now if we were talkin about the late hunt on the dutton i would agree 100% with you on the dutton. I enjoy that unit in Nov.

I also agree very strongly with the knowing the unit being your best bet on picking one to put in for. Also how far from the unit you are. Im my situation im 5 hours from dutton so its hard to pass up a tag an hour from my house where i could be hunting in an hour over a tag it takes me 5 hours to get to.