Boulder Early

Maxxy

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Lucky enough to draw the Boulder Early Elk tag from the Expo. No I dont know anyone from SFW :)
Had a ton of thoughts cross my mind in the past couple weeks on what size bull I would be happy with, when to start scouting, where to even start scouting, if I want to hire a guide, and then remembering I have said I would never hire a guide, etc etc.

I respect a lot of the posters on here, I have been reading for nearly a decade on this forum although I rarely post. Im curious as to what you would all do with the tag I have (knowing I have 0 points in the Elk draw moving forward, and this is probably as close to a once in a lifetime hunt as I may ever have).

Would you go guided? I want my family there (by family I mean my 3 Brothers and father and possibly wife).
I don't know the Mtn, but I have plenty of time to scout and spend time there the next 7 months. I am physically fit, I dont mind going where others wont on foot. I can be there the entire hunt, again, time is not the problem.

Im not asking for handouts either, but in reading posts about the Boulder for the past 10 years in the archives, many posters were willing to point others in the right direction. If anyone has that info and would like to share it, It would be very appreciated.

To say I am excited is an understatement. I just don't want to blow a world class opportunity that might never present itself again.

Thanks in advance.

Maxxy
 
" (knowing I have 0 points in the Elk draw moving forward, and this is probably as close to a once in a lifetime hunt as I may ever have). "

Why do you have 0 points in the Elk draw? Have you been putting in for Deer?
 
I think this all comes down to what you want out of the experience?
If you want the biggest bull you can possible kill then generally speaking a guide with years of experience on the mountain and that specific hunt will stack the odds in your favor.
Your family can still join you on the hunt and scout with you during the summer.
For some, the size of the bull is not as important and there is great satisfaction from just doing it by themselves or with family/friends.

You just have to be honest with yourself.
 
LAST EDITED ON Feb-25-16 AT 02:56PM (MST)[p]>" (knowing I have 0 points
>in the Elk draw moving
>forward, and this is probably
>as close to a once
>in a lifetime hunt as
>I may ever have). "
>
>
>Why do you have 0 points
>in the Elk draw? Have
>you been putting in for
>Deer?

In 2011 I had 6 points, but I was planning a move to CA and didn't anticipate coming back. So I blew my points on a terrible unit (that is now an open bull unit). (shot a small 6 that i was happy with). This is my last year on the waiting period.
 
Congratulations Maxxy,
It is a rare opportunity indeed to get a second chance at a Utah early LE bull. I agree that much of your answer lies in how big of a bull you want and how good you are on your own at elk hunting. If you want real big and you aren't very experienced, then a guide would be in line. If you are more into the experience with family then DIY may be the ticket.
That unit holds some good bulls and I believe that most hunters can probably get a decent bull on their own, but PM me if you want the name of a very good guide for that unit.
 
You have an amazing tag. You'll have fun either way but if you go guided i'd look hard at Ryan Carter with DC Outfitters
 
>You have an amazing tag. You'll
>have fun either way but
>if you go guided i'd
>look hard at Ryan Carter
>with DC Outfitters


I have to agree with what guys are saying here. It does depend what you want. Do you have an email address? We have hunted down there and could give you some pointers on what worked for us. We met Ryan Carter while down there and he is a hard working dude and he knows elk. If you want to post an email address we can talk. Congrats on an awesome tag!
 
I agree with what is being said. Something else to remember if you decide to do it on your own. If you scout all summer and find the bulls, come your hunt most of them will probably move to their rutting areas. So if you can get past information about where the elk rut and then scout and become familiar with those areas in the summer you will be better off during your hunt than trying to find elk in the summer.

One other thing. The first year we hunted it due to lack of experience in the unit and no way to pre scout where they rut, we could have easily killed a 330 to 340 elk, but bigger than that is not running around everywhere in the unit. So if you would be happy with that size and maybe bigger with a bit of luck, then do your own thing. If you are wanting 360 plus with your lack of experience in the unit, you may consider that guide after all.
 
I am not sure if this is the BEST way of doing it, but, these units usually have great hunting so I would go DIY. I would go 3 or 4 days early, and keep mobile on foot and by vehicle literally tying to see as much of the unit as I could, glassing and listening for elk. Do it from afar as to not screw up somebodies archery hunt. Make notes on a map of what you saw. Pick the best spot for opening morning. If no luck, go to the next spot...

Good luck, great tag.

Free Draw Odds!
www.hunthardcore.com
 
I had the archery tag 5 years ago. Got into elk almost every day. I just hunted long weekends.

If I had it to do over again, I'd just go down for the last 10 days of the hunt. The bulls tend to move around as the rut gets going. There's so many bulls down there, you shouldn't have any problems getting into elk. I talked to guys that hunted down low in the fields to up high on the top, from the east side to the west, elk were in all those areas. If you have that much family, take them all down, fish, camp, and have a good time. It's a giant unit, don't try and hunt the whole thing.

Good luck.
 
I appreciate all the input and advice. Still debating on DIY or guided, but definitely leaning more one way at this point. Hope I have a date with a good one, but looking forward to hunting these guys in the rut n matter the outcome... Should be a blast. Hope to keep you all posted and hope to have a good story to tell. Im always open to advice, if anyone has more to offer, if not, good luck on all your hunts. May the wind blow right :)

Maxxy
 
I drew the tag last year with 19 points. I spent 21 days on the unit before the hunt began. I know I would have killed a bigger bull had I used a guide.

After waiting that long for a tag, there is a lot of pressure to get the biggest bull you can. I had a different idea though. Antler size is cool, but I chose to have a hunt worth waiting that long for.

Scouting is a blast. Enjoy every second of this rare experience. Include family and friends, but most importantly HAVE FUN! Decide what is important to you, and run with it. I'm happy to help if you want any info.

Congrats, and good luck.


I'll tell you who it was . . . it was that D@MN Sasquatch!
 
If a bull of the lifetime is your goal, I would recommend a guide who knows the unit. If you are cool with a good solid bull on your own with the possibility of killing a better bull, do it yourself.

As other guys have stated, you can scout all summer, the bulls will move once that rut kicks in. Experience in a unit is huge. But that's just my 0.02
 
The vast majority of hunters will never draw such a tag and it's probably your best opportunity to ever hunt for a really big bull. I'd recommend using an outfitter and discussing your preferences with him. You can still scout and include your family in the hunt.
 
In general, I tell most guys to go DIY. But I've been considering your situation. While some might argue the point, Boulder may well be in the top 3 units here in Utah. I've been there during the rut and the bulls just don't shut up. And because its such a big, beautiful unit, they get big, big bulls down there.

It sounds like you are in CA..?? Maybe I misread that..?? Anyway, if you found a guide service that is more than happy to have you and your entire family there together, I think in your case I would consider it. I have to agree it is Once-In-A-Lifetime. And having everyone come together for an OIL hunt, you want to definitely get into the elk. If you doubt your own abilities to find them, guided might be the way to go.

Let us know what you decide, and I'm sure many of us would love to follow your hunt. Consider the Hunt Adventure Challenge thread this year... Good luck.!!

"Therefore, wo be unto him that is at ease in Zion!" 2 Ne. 28: 24
 
I wanted to say I appreciate all of your input and hope to be able to share a good portion of the hunt on here. MM has always been a good read, with many different personalities posting, but I have to say that most members are honest and want to help.

BrowningRage, I think thats a great idea and will help me make this a memory for a long time to be able to look back and enjoy the ups and downs.

I have decided to go with a guide, but not a "big" outfitter, but one who knows the Mtn more than almost anyone (I was pushed his way by multiple people, on here and other sites). Im hoping to be able to have my family there and in the mix and also looking forward to seeing what we can turn up later this summer.

Again, I appreciate all the input and of course Im still listening to all info if anyone has any to share. Good luck to all those waiting on pins and needles for the cards to get hit.
 
Great! Who did you book with? My dad is anticipating drawing the early tag this year also. Best of luck to you.

}}-SLIVER-->
 
Maxxy,
Not sure if you have access to the Sportsman's Channel, but I just watched a hunt in the Utah Boulder unit, on Long Range Pursuits. Kregg Thommasen hunts the Boulder with a muzzle loader so they are hunting after your hunt will end. They have a tough time finding the real big bulls, but his hunt shows the kind of thick country you will be up against.

Anyway, if you are interested you might see if you can still check it out.
 
If you are out of state, aren't able to scout, and don't have much elk hunting experience I think you made a wise choice going with a guide. I hunted an adjacent unit several years ago on my own. Like many have stated...the bulls will likely move around as the rut progresses on Boulder. Weather in that country is also a MAJOR factor! I actually drew a muzzy tag (which is after the early rifle). The bulls were relatively quiet and not active during the early rifle season the year I drew. It was around 70 to 80 degrees, super dry, plus a full moon....which made it super tough.

Boulder has lots of thick, dark timber...and guess where the elk will be if it is hot, dry, and a full moon? Boulder could potentially be a lot tougher than some have stated if the conditions aren't right. I'm not sure how many days you will be guided but you may actually want to keep your hunt dates flexible (if possible) with your outfitter depending upon the weather? As I mentioned above, it was hot and dry during the early season the year I drew but once the weather cooled down and there was some moisture the elk came out of the wood work...at least for a few days when it cooled down. I had super long days waiting for elk to appear out of their shadey bedding areas with only a little time near dawn and dusk when they were active. My hunt was actually THE most grueling hunt I've had to date. I've been on 4 mtn goat hunts and 2 dall sheep hunts in Alaska. I put in the time and boot leather so it was super gratifying getting a bull of a lifetime towards the end of my hunt. Some of Boulder is relatively flat but there are some steep, nasty spots. It isn't near as steep and nasty as the unit I hunted but I would definitely be in decent shape.

Hopefully some of this helps...good luck!
 
Hi Maxxy,
Let me first congratulate you for being one of the lucky ones and for drawing what I believe to be one of the most coveted tags in the state for Big Bulls.
I'm sure you have a lot of emotions going into the hunt (as stated in your post), I've had the great fortune of having a tag myself on this unit and since then I've been involved in numerous L.E. hunt on the unit as a guide and friend.
The Boulder is a unit that will test your endurance, wit and knowledge of Elk hunting. The mountain is tough and not too forgiving but with that said it will be the greatest 10 days of your life (It always is for me...lol). If you decide to D.I.Y. be prepared to spend as much time as possible and really do your homework; preparation is the key to success. If you decide to pursue a guide I'd be more than happy to talk in greater detail with you, just FYI, I guide with Ryan Carter of DC Outfitters.

Best of luck,
Boulderhunter
 
LAST EDITED ON May-14-16 AT 09:42AM (MST)[p] I ran into Ryan and his crew multiple times. They are top notch! If you're considering a guide, don't look past those guys. You will have a great hunt.



I'll tell you who it was . . . it was that D@MN Sasquatch!
 
My favorite elk unit in the state by a long ways. I had the opportunity to help out on my sister in laws bull that is the new world record muzzy elk. My wife had the tag in 2012 and we missed some chances at some GIANT bulls. Killed a great bull second to last day, and killed a GIANT mule deer. Its a tough unit, glassing is almost non-existent, but the bulls never shut up. Most people hunt the east side, dont overlook the west side.
 

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