Wasatch Front Access Question

[jr8fish]

So, I am looking at areas along the wasatch front that I am interested in archery hunting(deer and elk) this coming season. I have been looking at the mountains above emigration canyon but not back as far as east canyon. The great western trail runs through this section. I am looking particularly at Grandview Peak and Lookout Peak. Looking at a map showing national forest and private land boundaries, it looks like there are large sections of private mixed with large sections of national forest in this area.

These peaks are right about 9-10000 feet so it seems weird that there is private land this high. The way I understand the law here in Utah is that private property has to be properly posted for it to be trespassing. The great western trail is a pretty well used trail that goes through the private property. Can you hunt the private property that is interspersed in the national forest if it is not posted?

Does anybody have experience hunting this area? Is the private land posted? I know some landowners dont post their land cuz they dont care if you hunt on it.... I was wondering if this is the case with private property in this area?

If you cannot answer the question directly, can you guide me to an agency/someone that can answer the question?

Thanks for your help.... You can PM me if necessary.

 

[Utah400Elk]

I have hunted the area when I lived in SLC. Some of the private property is owned by Salt Lake City for the water rights. If my memory serves me right, in Utah you only have to post the corners. I always avoided the private property. There are more than a few anti-hunters up there and you are asking for big trouble if you hunt on private property without the owners permission. I do know one land owner up there and he doesn't want anybody to hunt on his property. He will call law enforcement if you are on his land. He was very nice to me, he simply didn't want hunters on his land. i use to stop by his house after hunting and share a few beers with him. Like I said, Good man. Good luck, that is some steep and nasty country

 

[SMELLYBUCK]

Take your map to the county recorder. That is where you can find out ownership. There is a CWMU in that area so you will want to make doubly sure where you are. City Creek, the area between Grandview and Lookout requires a trespass permit with the county.

 

[jr8fish]

Hey guys,

Thanks for the heads up on the CWMUs. It is the Hardscrabble CWMU that is in this area.

Actually, I am more interested in the area south of the hardscrabble CWMU. More on the south side of grandview peak and the area around lookout peak.

I am attaching a picture of a map I created. I have a program that shows the public land on a map, and I super imposed the hardscrabble CWMU map from the DWR website on top of it. The areas marked in green are national forest (legally huntable), the areas not marked in green are private property, the area in purple is the hardscrabble cwmu, and the areas circled in orange are the areas that I am interested in hunting.

Does anybody have experience hunting this area south of Hardscrabble CWMU? Is the private property in the areas that I have highlighted in orange off limits? or is it not posted? I know there is private property out there that isnt posted cuz they dont care if it is hunted.

If anybody has any info about this area I would greatly appreciate it. I have not hunted the area, I have only scouted it and it looks steep and tasty... Perfect for the DIY that I have in mind. IF anybody has any info on the quality of the hunting I would appreciate any info I could get.

I am basically now trying to decide if it is worth my time going to the county recorded to find out whose land it is and contacting them to see if they will allow me to hunt it. If anybody has any info regarding the likelihood or the unlikelihood of getting permission... please share.... is it worthy my time pursing permission?... I will NOT pay to get access?

IF this area does not work out, is there another area you would recommend with the 4/5/6 chalk creek/east canyon archery deer tag and a general archery bull tag?

PM me please if you have any helpful info to share..

I appreciate your help.

Thanks

James

 

[jr8fish]

hey smellybuck, I sent you a pm....

 

[tallbuck1]

Hunted the area since I was a teenager both rifle and archery. Hardscrabble CWMU guys are hard cases sometimes. Their property is well marked and they monitor it regularly! How are you thinking of accessing the area? It is some beautiful country and time up there is key.



Tallbuck1

 

[jr8fish]

Hey Tallbuck... thanks for your post.. I sent you a pm. I have some questions for ya... maybe we could chat on the phone... I sent you my number in a pm.

 

[gznokes]

Don't forget you can't hunt Red Butte either.

 

[elkfromabove]

LAST EDITED ON Apr-17-13 AT 11:26PM (MST)[p]And, as of last year, private property DOES NOT have to be posted for you to get a ticket by the DWR for trespassing! It just has to be "fenced or enclosed in a manner designed to exclude intruders", whatever that means.