Help me burn some muley points...please!

bcmulie

Active Member
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181
Hey folks,

I've accumulated a few bonus/preference points for muleys in a number of states and am anxious to burn some of them this year. I'm hoping you guys can help me figure out which ones to burn first. I have the following points, all as a non-resident: Utah (12); Nevada (7); Arizona (2); Wyoming (1); Colorado (10).

I will hold out for a 180 class buck on whatever hunt I do, and am prepared to eat my tag if I can't find a buck in that class (tag soup is starting to grow on me...). I am not shy about tackling a physically demanding hunt, and have been on more than 20 backpack hunts of 7-14 days. I will not be using horses or atvs - strictly a 4x4 and my own two feet. I prefer areas with fewer other hunters, even if I have to work a lot harder.

I don't think that Arizona offers a hunt that I can draw with 2 pts and really expect any chance at a 180 buck, but please correct me if I'm wrong. With that in mind, I've narrowed down my choices to the following hunts that I think I can draw this year:

Utah: West Desert, Vernon
Nevada: 221-223E or 171-173L
Wyoming: Region H (I've hunted here twice)
Colorado: 53, 54 or 55 3rd season (I'm leaning towards 53)

Which one of those hunts would you choose/recommend, and why? Thanks in advance for your thoughts!

bcmulie
 
LAST EDITED ON Jan-30-15 AT 10:39AM (MST)[p]LAST EDITED ON Jan-30-15 AT 10:38?AM (MST)

Utah: San Juan elk ridge much better hunt than Vernon and point wise not much harder to draw. I have hunted both

Nevada 221 is great we shot a 193" buck there last year

WY region h is great for one point we have shot several 180 plus bucks there

Colorado I would go to 53. they reduced tags I believe it was last year which should help make it an even better hunt. Lots more deer there than 54 or 55. I have hunted 53 and liked it my dad hunted 55 last year got a good buck on the last day but overall we were disappointed in the unit. 54 is similar to 55 but 55 is slightly better 54.

Good luck on whatever units you decide on!
 
I wouldn't burn 7 points on 17 late in NV. The area is struggling with quality compared to so many other units. The nice thing about NV is they consider all 5 of your choices. Do a little research and I'm sure you can come up with 5 choices worthy of your 7 points. Surprisingly, there are some units with small wilderness/roadless areas that are not known as backcountry hunts where you can get away from all the other hunters by just hiking in a mile or two. I think the hunters that are tied to the roads just feel like its too much effort to hike up that first incline and the backpack guys feel going in a mile or two isn't sufficient to get away from the "crowd". I've been pleasantly surprised on every hunt to not see another hunter all day on day trips into these types of areas in a few units. In a good moisture year (and this could be one), there are many units in NV that will provide an opportunity for a 180 class buck if you come early, scout hard and hunt every possible moment for the entire season. On most hunts, that would mean dedicating 3 weeks or more to your hunt. Take a look at the 4 point or better statistics for every hunt, resident, non-resident and guided and you can come up with more than 5 choices.


"You can fly a helicopter to the top of Everest and say you've been there. The problem with that is you were an a$$hole when you started and you're still an a$$hole when you get back.
Its the climb that makes you a different person". - Yvon Chouinard
 
Hunter77 and you both have it right.
My nephew would argue that Vernon is better than San Juan and he has hunted both.

Would love to see your success picts later this year.
 
Thanks guys, some great input.

Sage, I hunted 17 in '04 and '07, which is why I included it in my list. Backpacked well back up into the Arc Dome Wilderness. Saw tons of bucks (30-40/day in '04 and around 20/day in '07) but couldn't turn up a big one on either hunt. I agree there are plenty of better units (221-223, 194,196, 231, 241-245 all come to mind immediately), but it would be a crap shoot as to whether or not I could draw a tag for any of those hunts. My plan would be to put 4 premium hunts as my first 4 choices and then either 221-223E or 171-173L as my final choice, to ensure that I drew a tag. Based on your note and what I've heard a couple other places, it sounds like quality has slipped in 171-173 compared to what it was like when I hunted it before. If that's the case and I decide to go NV, then I think 221-223E would be my fifth choice (unless someone has a better idea!).

hunter77, assuming I have the hunt code correct (1019), 15 points only got you a 50% chance at drawing a San Juan bonus tag last year. With my 12, I'd be in the random draw, which would be very tough.

Keep the thoughts coming, guys!

bcmulie
 
My wife had the 17 Late hunt and a 13 bull tag in 2013. We hunted the second week in 17 and had a decent skiff of snow. The farther we went into the Arc Dome Wilderness the fewer deer we saw. Glassed up our first buck, a spike, at last light on the fifth day. Morning of the 6th day, we found a small 4X4 pushing a herd of does and he locked down on a hot doe. He came home with us. We spoke with a lot of locals, all road hunting, and only one buck was taken by any, a 3X3, and one passed on a fork and was thinking maybe he shouldn't have. A far cry from its former days in 17. If you put it as any choice, you will draw it with 7 points, guaranteed, and miss out on the chance at a great tag even if it takes a couple more years to draw.


"You can fly a helicopter to the top of Everest and say you've been there. The problem with that is you were an a$$hole when you started and you're still an a$$hole when you get back.
Its the climb that makes you a different person". - Yvon Chouinard
 
Wow, Sage, that's a far cry from what 17 was like when I hunted it. I'll give it a miss. Thanks for the info.
 
I not sure he can draw the San Juan tag any time soon. By my count it would take about 11 more years assuming no one new comes in or drops out. But with the West Desert, he would have a better than 50% chance of drawing if nothing changes.

txhunter58

venor, ergo sum (I hunt, therefore I am)
 
It looks as though with 12 NR points you will be into the Bonus Tags for the Vernon unit rifle hunt, but you will not be guaranteed a tag. You would probably get the Fillmore/Oak Creek rifle tag if you put in there.

South Slope/Diamond Mtn with a Muzzy looks to be in your grasp. The Vernon tag with a Muzzy would most likely be yours if you put in for that.

With a bow, you would get the Vernon or South Slope/Diamond Mtn tags as well.

The other unit mentioned above (San Juan) is way out of your point range, no matter what season.

Of course, you can still put in for whatever you like, and possibly draw a tag after the Bonus Tags are gone. It's a crap shoot no matter how many points you have. 12 points increases your odds, but only slightly once you are out of the Bonus Tag pool.

"Therefore, wo be unto him that is at ease in Zion!" 2 Ne. 28: 24
 
Non residents can usually draw an az archery Kaibab tag w 2-3 PTs, good way to learn some country and there's always a chance of closing in on a monster! I got lucky and stuck a 201 7/8" buck last year. Was a combo of good luck and being able to draw often enough to learn some good country!
 
I drew Vernon with 10 NR points and I had a blast. If you have 12 I'd wait a couple more years and draw a better unit. Pm me if you want info on my hunt.

Steve

Cancer doesn't discriminate...don't take your good health for granted because it can be gone in a heartbeat. Please go back and read the last line. This time really understand what it says.
 
So I ended up going with the Colorado option and managed to draw a third season tag in Unit 53. I've done a fair bit of map and google earth scouting already, but would love to hear from those of you who have put boots to the ground in this unit. Feel free to PM me with any info you are willing to share, from good campsites to your very best muley buck spots! Thanks in advance for any help!

bcmulie
 

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