Fillmore Oak Creek (Unit 21c)

400bull · Nov 29, 2012

With the big forest fire that burned up a fair portion of the Fillmore Oak Creek LE deer unit (unit 21c) this past summer I have been hearing rumblings that the DWR/Forest Service is considering shutting down the unit next year. Can anyone validate the rumblings or have any insight on what the future plans are for the unit? Also if anyone had a tag for this unit this past year I would be interested in know how things went. I have 12 bounce points and should have a fair chance at drawing the tag next year. With the big fire I may look at burning the points on another unit if the fire wiped out the unit.
400bull

wooldeer · Nov 29, 2012

I haven't heard anything about the dwr shutting the unit down. I have spent some time on the very south and very north end of the unit this past fall and I can tell you that you would be crazy to put in this unit with 12 points....

typicalfreak · Nov 29, 2012

LAST EDITED ON Nov-29-12 AT 02:44PM (MST)[p]Im pretty sure its just a rumar that has spread from talk of worried locals that the unit will go general, I doubt its changing from Limited Entry or closing.

As for your points I would not want to blow 12 points/12 years of waiting on a unit that makes you absolutly work your butt off for 140-160 class bucks with a small number of bucks that go bigger. Unless you know where a big one is or get lucky id expect to see bucks in the 140-160 class on the hunt.

Take my word for it, but 6-8 points would be about the limit for me for the class of bucks and condition it is in right now.

Im pretty sure 12 points would probably get you a tag for the unit. 12 would probably give you good odds for any unit though which is something to think about cuz you have good odds for any unit really.

Also...

The unit has a genetic bug, which is why alot of bucks are 140-160 class... Hear is one example:

Ive been tempted to call the DWR about this one but im afraid they wont do much about it so I havnt... a few weeks ago i was down there and watched an antlerless buck north of Oak City rutting around and follow some does around. Its probably still around in the area ruttin around and you could probably find him if you want to see him for yourself. I saw him in the evening coming down north of town about 2 miles out of the foothills.

This is not the first antlerless buck ive seen on the unit.

Has anyone else seen these antlerless bucks??? or this antlerless buck this year???

I know what your thinking... the antlers could be broken off... NOPE...

I know this for sure because I got 15 feet from it and made sure. I was exremely curious! Its 100% male. Rutted out neck, white face/roman nose, testicles, everything but antlers. I heard it grunt like a buck too so I know. The fur is grown over where antlers should be and bone does not grow from its head.

Downrange · Dec 2, 2012

Yes I have seen that antlerless buck there this year. That buck has to be 10 years old because I have seen him for many years. The locals here in delta have contacted the dwr and asked them to get it out of the heard and they will do nothing about it. They know it's there. Shawn Kelly was the biologist for the area at the time and he was personally shown the deer. The problem is we think there is more then just one of them. It is a big old bodied roman nosed buck, I have watched him chase off big bucks with horns they are scared to death of him.

huntinguy · Dec 2, 2012

LAST EDITED ON Dec-02-12 AT 12:47PM (MST)[p]Kind of a fascinating topic that really hasnt been explored on the forum before at least to my knowledge. I had to google it and look around a little but did come up with an excerpt from the Journal of Mammalogy in which anterless mule deer bucks were found in 1948 or thereabouts in all places but Oak City, Utah.

Here is the link-

http://www.jstor.org/discover/10.23...id=2129&uid=2&uid=70&uid=4&sid=21101443617271

typicalfreak · Dec 2, 2012

Wow!!! thanks for the information! Thats crazy and makes sense all at the same time!

You would think that now would be the best time to get rid of genetics like this when the numbers are low.

Im just speakin my mind on this one and just sayin some of my opinions.... but, its too bad the Oak creek doesnt have some kind of management plan or management tags cuz you sure spend alot of time seein mature 2, 3, and 3x4 bucks with shallow crabby forks that are old and arent that impressive and not worth puttin in for.

Dont get me wrong... I think its a great unit, but MONSTERS! are too far and few between for more than 6-8 points.

IMO... Management tags are great also because they give more oportunies to hunters and it helps them be a part of good management.

The pauns and henrys offer these hunts and i think its great! More oportunity on these units and better quality of hunting!!!!

Its such a small unit that the genetics could be helped rather easily with some proper management.... but they wont!

huntinguy · Dec 2, 2012

"Wow!!! thanks for the information!"

Yeah no worries. Again I think it's a very intriguing subject matter. There are many oddities in nature and as a muley fanatic I think this one about takes the cake. Many guys are into cactus bucks and the circumstances that surround them but anterless bucks are crazy weird. I wont ever have to worry as I never shoot does, but I agree something should be done to combat the issue in Oak Creek. Obviously its been an issue for decades.

Have any pics of the old guy that intimidates other bucks?

deadibob · Dec 2, 2012

I've watched that same antlerless buck for a few years. He is easy to identify from his behavior from far away. Very aggresive buck. I live in Oak City and a few years ago my wife had a doe tag. We found a group of does and there was one that was much larger than the others. She shot it and when we got up to it, it was a buck with little marble like nubs that just barely broke the skin of it's skull. First time I'd ever seen that.

deadibob · Dec 2, 2012

and I sure wouldn't waste more than a couple points on the unit.

NeverStopHuntin · Dec 3, 2012

These two "bucks" squared off for quite a while before the antlerless buck had enough and slammed into the other buck chasing him into the next county and claiming all the does.