Paunsaugunt - Muzzleloaders - Bad News

[Brine]

Paunsaugunt - Muzzleloaders - Bad News

The Year 2009 brings a big change for the Muzzleloader hunt on the Pauns. The REGULAR rifle hunt on this unit will be two weeks later, than this year, starting on Oct. 17th and ending on Oct 25th. The muzzleloader hunt starts the next day (Oct 26th) and then the MANAGEMENT HUNT starts one day after the ML hunt ends.

This year the archers did better than the ML hunters and next year, with the delay of season, the REGULAR RIFLE hunt will undoubtable be the better hunt of the three. I hunted there when the rifle hunt started the same time as the state-wide general season and it will be, hands down, the best hunt of all, that's my prediction.

I think the MUZZLELOADERS took this one in the shorts. Can you immagine hunting the next day after the rifle season closed and then, trying to find a good buck the last of the season when the managment hunters move in on top of you.

 

[Muley_73]

RE: Paunsaugunt - Muzzleloaders - Bad News

Brine,
I am very intrested in how the later hunt will affect the rifle hunt this year.
I can understand that you would not be happy if you drew a muzzy tag this year. However if the rut kicks in a little early I believe that the muzzy hunt could still be very good.
I am actually pretty intrested to see how the later dates will affect the rifle hunt. If the deer move off the top, which I believe they will, it may be tough to find them in the middle ground.
That being said I am sure that you have alot more insight on how this is going to affect both hunts.

 

[WARBIRDUM]

RE: Paunsaugunt - Muzzleloaders - Bad News

These new rifle dates will takes it's toll on top end bucks killed.The muzz hunt will still be ok but it will make it a much harder hunt in my opinion.The new rifle dates will allow deer to be hunted in zones that will allow for much higher success.The archery hunt is a blast but if I had high points would cash out on the new rifle dates .After two years if they don't cut the rifle tags back the unit will not even be close to a premium unit infact I would like to see it closed for a few years to tell you the truth but we know that won't happen.

 

[Brine]

RE: Paunsaugunt - Muzzleloaders - Bad News

Muley 73,

Your Dad is a lucky dog. The first year we hunted the Pauns the date of the rifle hunt was the same as it is this year. That year most everything had moved way off the top by the opening of the rifle hunt The next year I showed a friend where to go and same story - they're off the top. With everything being equal(average weather) I think the rifle hunt is going to be a total extermination of the larger buck. They are past the no-mans land and very accessible to the hunter. The Muzzleloader Hunt is backed right against the Rifle Hunt (no days off to give the deer a rest) and there will be a few larger ML buck that will get stupid, if there is anything left.

MARK MY WORD - STARTING THIS YEAR THE "PREMIUM MUZZLELOADER" HUNT" IS GONE. AFTER THE MANAGMENT HUNT IT WILL BE JOINING THE RANKS OF "ELK RIDGE" AND "THOUSAND LAKE".

I really get upset with stupidity and unethical behavior and it's not just coming from our Congress. Of course that's just my view.

 

[Brine]

RE: Paunsaugunt - Muzzleloaders - Bad News

Bye the way I am going to be praying for a 10 day rain storm during the rifle hunt down there.

 

[Muley_73]

RE: Paunsaugunt - Muzzleloaders - Bad News

I hope it storms the week before and then clears out. I would love it if the bucks start dumping off the first of the hunt and end up in the lower country. But to be honest I really don't care what happens as long as we can find just one big one to give us a chance. I am just really excited to go down and hunt again. Jordans hunt was a ball but being done by 11 o clock on opening day did not give us a chance to chase in some of the our favorite places.

 

[mdh]

RE: Paunsaugunt - Muzzleloaders - Bad News

I was just curious and I am not being sarcastic one bit, does it really matter what hunt takes the top end bucks? Has the muzzle hunt been takeing the top end bucks? From what I have seen the last couple years come off the unit it is hard for me to even believe we have that type of caliber of buck even left on this unit. yes one or two will show but nothing like it was. So I am left to wonder does it really matter what hunt the bucks are taken? Has anyone really herd why they dates were changed? I know the group in Kanab (LLOTP) pushed for this 3 or 4 years ago but nothing happend. I did hear that the dwr passed the spike elk hunt on limited entry units and if that is true those hunt dates would coincide with the old rifle hunt dates on the pauns. Can you imigine drawing a rifle tag with the old dates and wake up opening morning to go hunting and have, elk hunters hunting with you on the top end. YUK.
Just my thoughts,

Mick

 

[Muley_73]

RE: Paunsaugunt - Muzzleloaders - Bad News

Mick,
If you take a look the finlittle and coch post it may give a little more info. I think more big bucks will get killed on the rifle because there are more tags and the rifle hunters will be more effective. I guess we'll see?

Cody

 

[mdh]

RE: Paunsaugunt - Muzzleloaders - Bad News

I know the boys well and they know me, my point still is does it really matter what hunt they are taken in? I bet you whatever you want the success in 09' will be close to last years. Stat's show the rifle hunt for 2008 had a 85% kill. it will be real close to that I believe.
What I would be curious to know is this.


How many of the bucks taken on the rifle hunt in 09' will be bucks that summered on the CWMU and the private land within?


I would dare bet that out of the 76.5 bucks kiiled on the rifle hunt in 08' 90% or better were bucks that did not summer on the CWMU and all the private land within in.

So you can look at 2 ways. They are still going to get the 85% + success on the hunt. For every buck killed that was on the private lands a buck lives on the public side.

Or you can believe like alot of people do and that is all the so called trophy bucks summer on the private land and now since the hunt dates have been moved the public hunter will get a chance at them.

I believe both will happen , but more of my belief is there is not the caliber of buck on this unit that most people have come to believe in from the pauns.

Great winter though, It will be hard to fault mother nature this year especially if we have a wet spring.

Just my thoughts.

 

[whipknot]

RE: Paunsaugunt - Muzzleloaders - Bad News

Makes sense. However... it seems to me that it will likely be a higher percentage of bucks taken from the group that summer on the CWMU. If hunters hold out for older age-class bucks and more of them are coming from the CWMU, isn't that what is more likely to be taken?

 

[Brine]

RE: Paunsaugunt - Muzzleloaders - Bad News

Does it matter? - only if muzzleloading is your passion!!

1) If a person has a lot of points they would be crazy to put in for the ML hunt when they could put in for the rifle hunt.

2) If Arizona is your thing this is the year to put in for that area just south of the buckskin. The thing that is not being said, there will be additional hunters that will be hunting spike elk on the plateau of the Pauns as well as the management hunt. With the constant push of the deer from August to November, just about all of Utah's deer (not just part of them) will be in Arizona this year.

 

[BoneJunkie]

RE: Paunsaugunt - Muzzleloaders - Bad News

The older class bucks arent coming from the CWMU. They are killing everything 3 years and up every year on there. The big bucks that have age on them are on public all year and they are big because the have learned to avoid hunters. It wont be a slaughter and if its anything like the years past you wont find many of those deer in Arizona either.

 

[dillon]

RE: Paunsaugunt - Muzzleloaders - Bad News

My mom got a rifle tag, and I just hope that all your prayers don't get answered when it comes to ten days of rain. She hasn't hunted for several years, but being her loving childen we talked her into appling this year and she got really lucky! Hopefully, I can get off school to go help her out...if not my other brothers and dad will have to guide her...this is moms year!

 

[deerbedead]

RE: Paunsaugunt - Muzzleloaders - Bad News

I'm predicting a massive slaughter on the Paunsaugunt Rifle Hunt this year! I'm predicting that the 24" 170" bucks are going to be slaughtered just like every other year!

 

[trueblu]

RE: Paunsaugunt - Muzzleloaders - Bad News

i also believe the muzzy hunters took it in the ass. my buddy and i have put in for pauns muzz for eleven years together and just this year put in for the rifle and were lucky enough to draw. its not so much the dates that made us change our weapon choice it has more to do with thinkin that with the management hunt, doe tags, and the date changes that in a couple years the good bucks on the pauns are going to get shot to #####. we just wanted to get our tag and get out of the game before its to late. i feel sorry for the guys with a lot points cause it ain't going to take long, maybe a year or two, and the pauns hunt is going to be mediocre at best. its already way overhyped.

 

[BoneJunkie]

RE: Paunsaugunt - Muzzleloaders - Bad News

Thats funny, I cant see that the Pauns is anything more that mediocre as it is. This date change wont make a big change. The big change will come from the management hunts for 3 points.....Now thats gonna hurt the pauns the most, hell there goes all the genetics.