Unit help

paddlehead · Feb 18, 2014

I hate to do this, but I was wondering if I could get some valuable input form everyone on here about some elk units.

My dad is getting up in years, and has a decent number of points. We were intending on putting him in for the late hunt close to home up until this last years hunt. The good bulls just aren't here like they used to be.

He has some mobility issues. He has knee and ankle problems (the long term side effects of his cancer treatment thirty years ago). He can walk some and ride a horse, but not like a youngster that is for sure.

He just wants a chance at a decent bull before he hangs up his hat.

I was wondering if anyone has any experience with the Strawberry Ridge or any other CWMU that might be worth putting him in for?

Any and all input will be greatly appreciated.

txhunter58 · Feb 18, 2014

Can't add much to this:

http://www.monstermuleys.com/cgi-bin/stories/site99.pl?page=utahs_best_hunting_units&tem=art1

txhunter58

venor, ergo sum (I hunt, therefore I am)

ElkManDan · Feb 18, 2014

How many points you talking about? Sounds like Deseret CWMU is pretty accommodating and treat you like a paying customer. Don't know if that is what you are looking for or not.

paddlehead · Feb 19, 2014

I think he has like 12 or 13 points. Probably not enough for Deseret. He grew up in Randolph, so he is familiar with Deseret, but may be out of reach...

Has anyone here hunted the Strawberry Ridge CWMU? Still near his old stomping grounds.

bowhunt · Feb 19, 2014

There are VERY few CWMU hunts he could draw.
Strawberry Ridge is NOT one of them.
It took 18 points to draw last year.

Tough odds!

257Tony · Feb 19, 2014

13 points is a tough spot to be in, not enough to draw a really good unit, and too many to waste on a lesser unit. There are some CWMU he can draw, really all depends on what type of Bull you want.

paddlehead · Feb 20, 2014

A really tough place to be point wise. Everyone wants to kill a monster, but a monster to him would be anything over 300" I think. A 330" bull would be over the top for him.

He killed about a 320 class bull a long time ago on a general unit, but another guy claimed it. The guy hit it in the fleshy part of the brisket (no vitals) after my dad put two right through the heart. He decided he'd had enough of that guy (actually in the hunting party) and decided it wasn't worth it and let him have it and kicked him out of the group instead. That was over thirty years ago and hasn't killed a branch antlered bull since.

257Tony · Feb 20, 2014

There is a big difference between a unit that "has a chance for a 300+" and one that has a "expectation of 300+". I would say that most Elk CWMU have the chance of 300+, where only a few have the expectation of 300+.

Have you considered one of the late hunts, or a muzzleloader hunt?

paddlehead · Feb 20, 2014

A late hunt was what we were planning on putting him in for. I know someone who had a late tag for our area last year and it was very very tough. All the years leading up to last year have been great. Way too many elk have been taken off the unit in the last 6 or 7 years. It was hard to find a mature bull for us and everyone we talked too. A couple good ones were shot, but lots of small bulls were a consolation prize.

stillwaitin · Feb 21, 2014

Have you thought about muzzy hunts? There are a few with decent chances at bulls you could look at. Even South Cache might be a good one that is up close to his old stomping grounds.