new to utah mule deer hunting

[sigm]

I plan on putting in for a hunt in Utah La Sal mounts area outside of Moab. i will be going with a group (mostly family), but most of us are new to hunting mule deer in the mountains. We are from Texas and have plenty of experience hunting whitetail, and some experience hutning mule deer in New Mexico, but again no experience in the mountains. What can you recommend as far a preparation, fitness, and gear is concerned? In addition, we might have the chance to do a little scouting beforehand, how many days before the hunt would you recommend that we scout? We are going in the centerfire rifle hunt. Does teh archery and blackpowder put quite a bit of pressure on the deer and push them further out to the remote areas?

 

[tageater]

I know nothing about the area you are talking about, but you can NEVER do too much scouting! not just to locate game, but to learn the terrain.

The archers and muzzy hunters(for elk and deer) will no doubt send the deer into their hidey holes, but if you know the area well enough you might just know where to look come opening day of the pumpkin hatch.

good luck!

 

[woodruffhunter]

Here is what I would recommend (for what it is worth).

Buy a map of the area. Study it before hand and find the most
remote areas you can. If there are trails, there will be ATV's everywhere. Hike in to these areas well before light to scout and to hunt.

As far as gear goes here is what I would get:

1- Buy a good pair of boots. To me, this is the best piece of equipment you can have. Here is a good boot that I uses:
http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/t.../search-box.jsp.form23&_dyncharset=ISO-8859-1
400 gram, IMO is a great all around insulation for the rifle
hunt

2- Optics- Spend as much as you can on a pair of Binoculars. I would recommend 10X42's.

3- Practice shooting-alot. Down hill, up hill...etc..

I have left a lot out, but I have listed the most important (IMO)

Good Luck!

 

[NickJ1980]

LAST EDITED ON Jul-26-09 AT 10:23PM (MST)[p]I don't have a lot to add other than to be aware that the La-Sals have a different opening day than the rest of the SE General this year(Oct. 21st vs the 17th), and it is only a 5 day hunt. Who knows what it will be like next year...

 

[swbuckmaster]

there are no big bucks in Utah;-)


Archery is a year round commitment!!

 

[marcopolo]

Well howdy pardner!

 

[tabbyhntr]

the archery and muzzleloader hunts dont put nearly as much pressure as opening day of rifle hunt. Plus 1 on the finding a remote spot to hunt cause come opening day alot of deer will move to those spots because there is less pressure there. i must say opening day of any general rifle in utah is a nightmare if you dont know the area so scout as much as you can.....

 

[sigm]

Good thing, I'm only looking for the small muleys (25-30"). You know that saying, "Everything is bigger in Texas" unfortunately doesn't apply to the deer.

Thanks for the information, this is exactly what I am looking for. Keep it coming.

 

[littlebighorn]

LAST EDITED ON Jul-27-09 AT 09:41PM (MST)[p]If you are just planning on putting in for a permit, you are out of luck because the draws were in April and all general tags are sold. So if you meant that you already have a tag and you are going, that is a different deal.
The La Sals are steep and thick on the top, so getting in shape and getting to know where the deer are is a good idea. There is lots of lower country as well with cedars and pinions, etc. I would check with local Fish and Game (I think they may be out of the Price, Utah office) for ideas as to where to start and then scout as much as you can.
Good luck

 

[LuckyShot]

+1 swbuckmaster!!!! Sorry, but you have simply come to the wrong place for good bucks, small bucks, or any type of buck for that matter. Although we had a pretty good thing going there for a while on the Vernon unit, but that group of deer got slaughtered by local poachers..........

 

[powellpounder]

Go there and give it a try great deer and small to big bucks. Great if the snow falls. Also get a map detailing the private land There is a CWMU unit close by also

 

[sigm]

No, we are not going this year, but next. I'll leave all the deer to you this year!! I plan on heading up that way next summer to do a little scouting. What is the weather like up in the high country during the summer? I know that Moab can get pretty warm out there in the rocks. Is it cool enough to tent camp in the summer months (we usually tent camp in Colorado during the summer and the nights can get into the upper 30's/mid 40's(about 9-11K elevation))?