Wasatch archery season-Guns?

nocwalker · Jun 5, 2012

Hello guys, maybe you guys noticed on other threads that a friend and I drew archery bull tags for the Wasatch.

There a question I have if you guys could answer it. From what I understand there is a cow/spike hunt at the same time as the LE bull archery hunt.

Is the cow/spike hunt all weapons or is it just archery?

another Q:

I've read so many times how fun of a hunt we're gonna have, I've also heard how "crowded" it is in that unit due to the cow/spike and the deer hunters. I'm trying to wrap my head around what crowded to you guys mean.

What does crowded mean to guys that are use to wide open spaces?

Thanks for any answers. nocwalker

middlefork · Jun 5, 2012

The spike/cow hunt is archery only during the archery season.

As far as crowds are concerned on my hunt last year we never really had a problem with other hunters in most areas.

The crowded problem is with camping. There are a LOT of people who think it's cool to reserve their campsite for an extened period of time. It seemed that towards the end of the season the forest service was starting to crack down on them and forcing them to move.

You have to understand that this is a major recreation area for everybody from SLC, Provo and Orem. Not just hunting but fishing and ATV trails ect.

Zeke · Jun 5, 2012

Good answer middlefork!

I'll add this; When you get 1/4 mile from the roads you'll lose all the recreation/camping traffic. When you get 1/2 mile off the road you'll lose 90% of the other hunters. When you get 3/4 mile off the roads you'll start running into elk!

There are places where few tread and you can have a fairly private hunt.

Good luck,
Zeke

Sniper1 · Jun 6, 2012

+1 to the above.

Tons of campers but thats it. We hunted 20 + days and never had a problem with other hunters. Like Zeke said get a mile away from roads you will find elk and no hunters.

nocwalker · Jun 6, 2012

Thanks so much guys, you put my mind at ease. We're use to dealing with crowds as we are suburban hunters(the crowds are mostly non-hunters). 1 mile is nothing, if theres places where we go further, thats fine. We're not shy and will go where ever we need to so we get into elk. The maps I have at this point show alot of roads. some areas look like there may not be a mile in between the roads but, we'll deal with it and make it work.

Q: These camping areas you guys mentioned-- are they the trail heads? or designated camping area or campgrounds ? we will be tent camping and or spike if needed. Do we need a permit to camp or anything?

Q: could one of you guys tell me what ranger office is the correct one for this area? and the game dept office?

Thanks nocwalker

Zeke · Jun 6, 2012

While the previous posters are correct about the campers/fisherman/atv issues, don't let it scare you. There are always great places to camp especially with a tent.

Unless you stay in a campground you will not need any special permit to camp on Forest Service or BLM land.

Tht closest FS office to the west side of the unit is the Pleasant Grove office. The closest Fish and Game office to the west side of the unit is the Springville office. And they're the closest offices to I-15 (freeway access) but I don't know your access point.

I'm not suggesting that the west side of the unit is the best since it gets the most recreation pressure. Hikers, bikers, motorcycles, hunters etc will be more prevalent on the west side and around the center of the unit by Strawberry reservoir. Good elk both places though but just tougher to have a secluded hunt.

Just remember that 1 mile in the mountains at 9000' is still a long ways to pack elk quarters. Totally different than driving the quad over to retreive a whitetail buck (but you already knew that).

Zeke

SneakAttack · Jun 6, 2012

There is a FS office in Spanish Fork. About a block west of Main Street on 400 North. But I can't a reason to even bother contacting them. Unless you want to cut a butt load of fire wood.

nocwalker · Jun 7, 2012

Thanks for the info guys. Our access direction will be from the east. we'll be traveling from rt70 either comeing up rt 6 or coming accross rt 40(if wrong rt #, its the one that goes by north end of the reservior) from Colorado. I'm in the info gathering stage and just want to know who to contact if problems arise or I need offical clarifications.
Thanks for the info guys, I really appreciate it. I want to make sure I follow all the rules of the area so, I'l be a stickler for finding out what all the regs are.

I have so much work to do for this hunt and it seems like there is so little time left to research and prepair. I work a full time job and work on the side in the evenings and on the weekends. It leaves little time, I may have to stop the extra stuff SOON, and concentrate on UTAH.

I can't say this enough-- WE ARE STOKED!!!

Thanks guys, Talk later nocwalker

lunkerjunker · Jun 10, 2012

Hey nocwalker, congrats on the tags! I tink I read in another post that you are coming from PA is that right? If so what part? I'll be up there this archery season hunting deer and spikes/cows with my buddies and we are all transplants from PA.

I was up there today doing a little scouting. Saw a few does and a small buck, no elk though but we didnt really get out of the truck. The road we were on was really rocky and horrible and there is no way I'll take my truck on that one again. Beautiful day up there today!