Archery Book cliffs mule deer roaded or roadless?

[MuleyMinor]

I finally seen what a "Successful" looks like after nine years of waiting. My dad was tired of waiting and wanted to burn his points so we put in as a group and here we are.

I have a question on the roaded and the roadless? I would like to spend two or three days packed into the roadless area? Worth It? Am I going to see the same type of deer (130-150 inch) in the roadless as the roaded? What's the terrian like? Am I going to be able to get my dad who's 65 years old and in decent shape back in there?

Headed there this weekend to start scouting just thought I would try to get some info on the roadless area.

Thanks for any information. you can PM me if you would rather.

 

[BrowningRage]

Congrats on the tags my friend... You guys are in for a very fun hunt with lots of opportunity at nice bucks...

As far as the Roadless area, I have a friend that hunted the archery hunt in 2011. He and his buddy hiked into the Roadless thinkin they'd find some bigger bucks. After two full days of hunting there, they hiked out Monday afternoon as they had seen some deer, including some bucks, but nothing big like they wanted. With more patience, maybe they would have gotten lucky in there with a 180" or better, but he seemed pretty bummed about what they had seen to that point.

They both tagged out on good deer, like 150s range bucks...

I hope you get a little more help on the Roadless. Maybe someone on here has a great spot they'd let you guys in on.

"Therefore, wo be unto him that is at ease in Zion!" 2 Ne. 28: 24

 

[SLIVER]

Check your PM

}}-SLIVER-->

 

[MuleyMinor]

Thanks Browning rage!! Email sent SLIVER.

 

[bbentley392t]

I hunted the Book Cliffs last year with my stick-flicker, although I never really set foot into the roadless area...which doesn't help you much at all I know, however I do think if you can manage to get your father-in-law safely down in there you'll definetely see better bucks without question. Don't get me wrong there are a lot of really decent deer all over the "road" area, from my experience during 3 scouting trips prior to the hunt and even spending an additional week helping a friend after I filled my tag opening day...you'll have your opportunities if you want them, it all just depends on where and how high your standards are.

The majority of the bucks I saw up on top the Book Cliffs were for the most part in the 22-24" range, dozens & dozens of bucks that on a general season unit would be shooters for anybody...however the majority were mis-matched deer like 2x3's, 3x4's, 2x4's, 3x5's, etc. Most have decent mass but pretty small forks, along with a handful of GIANT 2-points. My hunting partners and I also found about 10-12 of what I'd call "goal bucks", that would be 24-28" typical 4x4's that are in my opinion are pretty picturesque deer...which is exactly what I was after, not necessarily a monster but a good solid buck.

As I stated earlier, I was given an opportunity on opening day last year...the buck I took wasn't the best buck we had seen & filmed, however he was in a position where I could put a good stalk on him and make it happen...I learned a long time ago to "never pass on the first day what you'd settle for the last day". That was pretty much the catch-22 of the Book Cliffs for me, is would I have the will power to pass one of the seemingly endless 22-24" bucks hanging out on top...or should I drop in one of those nasty canyons (roadless)and try to go for the bigger bucks?

Anyway, hope you have a blast down there...good luck and have fun!

 

[hilltophunter]

I hunted the Book Cliffs in 2008 (archery elk) and was down there in 2010 for my brothers archery elk hunt as well. I spent a total of about 20 days down there between the two hunts. While we were there to hunt elk I glassed a lot of deer. In my oppinion you may be able to find a few more mature bucks in smaller areas on the roadless side but your setting yourself up for limited coverage of the mountain and animals by packing in.

The road side has hudreds of miles of roads that you can easily access and glassinto canyons all day every day. You can cover so much ground and glass such a larger amount of area compared to the roadless each day. If it were my tag I wouldn't set foot inside the roadless area unless I knew of a great buck or two and had them patterned or at least had an idea of the area they live in.

I doubt your going to find 190-200 inch bucks down there, although with that amount of country you know there are a few around. I did glass some 180 class bucks on the road side and one buck (trashy) that may have pushed into the 190's. All of these deer were from the roads and were in pretty decent locations to spot/stock or set up on in the morning and evening.

In 2008, 3 days before the end of the archery I had just returned to my camp with my elk and an archery deer hunter stopped to talk to me for a while. He had been down int he Books since 3 days before the opening of the hunt. This guy appeared to me to know how to archery hunt. He had a GPS with all the bucks around 30" in width that he had glassed over the past month of hunting. He said that he had been holding out for a 200" buck and the only one he had found was near the ratholes. He did have multiple 30 inch bucks pin pointed on the GPS. I think if your patient you can kill a nice 170-180 30" type buck.

but then again if you want to you can shoot those 130-150 class bucks from the road all day every day!!

Good Luck!!

 

[Broadside_Shot]

Ive spent alot of time in the Book Cliffs.

The above statements are true. My advice is if you want to kill a 180 class buck on the Book Cliffs is to give it you best shot and do the best you can and if you get one, great and if you don't remember the journey and memories that this hunt will give you. It is a family friendly hunt that creates alot of memories.

I think if you really are set on a big buck than your best chance is in the Roadless. Less people and a better chance to spot and stalk.

This hunt in my opinion is an oportunity hunt with lots of medium to small bucks all around. You won't get bored at all.

I had the tag in 2010 and hunted for a giant buck. I found all of the bucks he was running with all summer but never him. I hunted 8 days and ended up with a 150 class 4x4. He was really old. But I regret not shooting the huge 28" massive 2x2 with 3" browtines on day two, he would have been a great trophy. I don't know if I will ever have a chance at a two point like that again. Good Luck!!

 

[MuleyMinor]

Thanks alot for the insight from all of you. I really appreciate it. I will be tickled to shoot a 150-160" buck as I know they can even be few and far between in the books. Its going to be a ball even if I eat tag soup.

Thanks again for all guys willing to help. Hope I can return the favor one day.

 

[OpeningDay]

I helped a friend on a Books Archery tag a couple years ago. In my opinion, you should have many chances at bucks in that score range. Maybe even a couple bigger and that is if you only drive up and down the divide road. I say chances because actually stalking in and connecting is a different story. It is tough. Most of the country is thick buck brush and sage. Multiple times we were within 20 yards of the bucks and could not see them, let alone get a shot. They are very smart as to where they bed. If you can get in front of them and cut them off, you will have a better chance. Again, thats my opinion. I don't think there is a better place to hunt deer with archery gear when it comes to opportunity. It is a very very fun hunt. We had a blast and I am sure you will too!!