New Mexico 2B v.s. Utah Book Cliffs

[kfed]

just wondering if anyone on the forum has hunted both the books and 2b, I was also looking for people to debate the pro's and con's of both units. I hunted the books rifle in 2006 and get to do rifle 2b this year (non res.) and from my research thus far, they sound the exact same! both units have tons of deer! both units are fully capeable of a 180-200 class mule deer and they are both oil fields! not to mention they are both migratory
areas or wintering ranges
any info would help
thank you
kfed

 

[cjboz]

LAST EDITED ON Jun-22-08 AT 09:23AM (MST)[p]Why are you posting if you already know so much?

 

[JJTMD]

I've never hunted the Books but have hunted 2b. Alot of how well your hunt will go is based on which hunt you drew. The later the hunt the better, in my opinion. On the late rifle hunt, if weather cooperates, you should get the Colorado migration. This will greatly increase the # of deer plus put the bucks into rut. Be ready to see alot of people. It is a big unit but there are alot of people, even walking. There is also a ton of private land and most of it isn't posted. Get a good map and know where you are. As you said before, you will see a ton of deer (in every nook and cranny), just finding the right one is where the work will be.

I guess that is why its called hunting insead of killing.

Good Luck and I wish that I would have been going too.

 

[kfed]

I think for the most part I have the book's figured out but I want to know how close they really are to each other in deer quality, as well as ammount, places to scout in 2b? any info, i more or less just want to sort of get it figured out before i take the time and money to drive the 500 miles it takes for me to get to 2b
any info helps
google earth can only get you so far

 

[bighamr]

I live 1.5 hours from the Bookcliffs and have hunted there all my life. I drew a late archery tag in 2b last year. The hunts are a lot alike in the type of country, PEOPLE, and roads everywhere. I didnt see the quality of deer that I see in the Books, but I was only there 9 days. We seen a ton of deer, but for how many deer we did see, we didnt see near the mature deer as in the Books. I'm sure if you were a local and could do alot of scouting then you could probably have better luck than I did finding the nooks and crannies. I saw one buck over 160 and a ton of 2 points and small 3 points getting chased around. I walked my butt off back behind locked oilfield gates, and thats where I saw the best deer, AND other hunters.
In conclusion, I think that there is some major potential, but the big boys know when the campers start rolling in and the traffic gets wild, its time to head to the hidey holes. I just wasnt lucky enough to find one of them. People kill some big deer there every year so hunt hard and have a good time and post some pics this fall!

 

[joesikora]

kfed sent you a PM


Joe E Sikora

 

[muleyslayer1]

Well I'm exactly 180 degrees from where you are. I have spent years hunting in 2A,B and C. Both early, late, and rifle bow and Muzzleloader. All Good, some better than others. I will be in the Books for the first time in August, bowhunting.

P/M me and we'll exchange info.

MS

 

[Buxndiverdux]

I've drawn a 2B rifle tag as well. 1st week after the youth hunt. Any tips would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

 

[kfed]

this is my 06 books buck, he was ok but i think i can do better in 2b its hard when you grow up thinking that 3x3's are big deer i guess thats what happens hunting in utah's grand Central
anyway i would imagine that these are the usual deer that 2b has to offer he was only 24" wide so i know its not a monster but a big buck atleast