Sanpete Extended Archery Elk Hunt

[savage]

I'm new to SC Utah and still getting familiar with the area. I still have an elk tag (spent too much time chasing muleys this fall) and was thinking about hunting these last two weekends in the Sanpete extended archery elk hunt. I was hoping with all this new snow that the elk would be coming into the valley. Has anyone "herd" about any elk in that area and would be willing to share? I talked with the local biologist but he didn't give me any specifics.

Thanks,
Juan ........

 

[Silentstalker]

Most of the Elk are on Private ground or land that is landlocked by private ground. If you go down, Good luck!

 

[savage]

I understand that the extended hunt was initiated because the locals were complaining about the elk in the hay stacks and fields. If people aren't allowed access, the DWR will probably close the hunt. Hopefully the locals are willing to give me a chance to get on their property.

 

[predator]

Savage, you are correct about why it was initiated. However, the hunt now has appeared to pit local against local. Silentstalker and I heard several horror stories at the RAC meetings where the landowners are charging exorbitant trespass fees, herding and baiting elk onto their land.....so I wouldn't get your hopes up.

Let us know how you do, and good luck!

 

[bowhunt]

We have had some luck getting on land, but the permission was granted based on long relationships. The elk are there now, but it will be very tough to find a place to hunt. Seems like a waste of a hunt, I just really do not get it. Open a season all on private land?
Good luck!

 

[Silentstalker]

The biggest reason for the hunt is to keep the elk off the highway. There were some nasty wrecks down there before this hunt opened up. The hunt has really cut down these accidents but has once again allowed people to take advantage of the system. There are people down there not allowing hunters on their land and then turning around and holding their hand out to the division for money because the elk are tearing up their fences/fields etc. It is too bad their is not more of an incentive to allow hunters on to prevent the damage. Like maybe - Allow hunters on your land or no handouts from the Division for property damage. Don't get me wrong here, I don't think a landowner should HAVE to allow hunters. It is his land and he can do whatever he wants with it. I just don't think they should get a handout if they are unwilling to allow the elk to be hunted off their property. Just my oppinion, take it for what it is worth! Happy Holidays!

Chad

 

[Legolas]

I've been hunting the Sanpete extended lately. Was there yesterday. Plenty of elk and they're down low, but the boundary is even lower with the exception of some private lands.

I know what the original intention of the hunt was. But 2+2=4 and the hunt boundary tells you what's going on.

 

[DBLung]

I have read a few of Chad's postes on this. Except for the accidents he couldn't be more wrong. Yes there are a few land owners trying to get rich on tresspass fees with there big fancy blinds and Bait stacks, oh I mean Hey stacks, these are the only guys who want the hunt. A few landowners from Ephriam and Spring city were killing good bulls and making good profits until the D.W.R. changed the boundries an took them out of the picture. They are the ones causing most of the fights. Because they want the east side of the sring city highway opened up to hunt again. I don't know of anyone who is asking the D.W.R. for money for elk damages, sure there might be a few. We certianly could, but don't. I guess we should let hunters on our property and ask the Division for Compensation on hunter damages it only TRIPPLES the price!

Also. Accidents are down a little but the elk are still crossing the highway at night. Not counting thousands of deer why don't we hunt them to. The answer to all of this is simple. "Accidents on the highway" is the excuse for the hunt. The real motive is, influential people, and lazy land owners that won't button up there hay stacks that don't care. They just want a big bull every year or at least get rich trying. Otherwise a hunt like this should be going on almost all over the state, due to accidents.

For Juan. My suggestion is check out the WMA's there are a few all along the unit and almost all of them have elk in them, at one time or another.

 

[savage]

Thanks for everyone's input. I hunted there on the 22nd and saw elk at first light just outside of Manti. They were on the mountain (public land ???) about 1/4 mile from private property. I spent the next 3 hours trying to find someone to ask about getting access. Then the clouds dropped and snow set in. I drove around to the WMAs but they seem to be surrounded by private land also. I finally found public access to where the elk were but it was three canyons of hiking to get there. Unfortunately, the elk moved out by the time I got there. Had I been lucky enough to get one down, it would have been a hell of pack - not even sure if my mule could have packed it out of that terrain, especially with a foot or so of snow.

If the Utah DWR wants to keep that a reasonable hunt then they need to do something about the private land B.S. A suggestion is to provide easement across the private land to the "public" land. Or have land owners provide their phone number so we can ask.

Until then, I say let the elk (and deer) eat all the hay, break fences, hang out on the side of the highway, and camp in someone's front yard.

If any of you have been back east (at least in New York), you know what hunting is like. ALL hunting is on private land, you have to pay a fee for access, if you are lucky enough to get on a hunting club "member" list. Hunting is not allowed on "Public" land. The west is fortunate enough to have better recreational use of public land but we aren't to far from getting it taken away.

My 2 cents. Hope someone else had better luck on this hunt!!

 

[Silentstalker]

DBlung,

You don't seem to be representative of the locals I have talked to or the Many hunters who showed up to the Wildlife Baord Mtg and RAc mtg's to discuss this topic. I could and may be wrong but the people I have talked to have said what I have posted. I also have hunted it and enjoyed the hunt. Landowners are not the only ones who want this hunt.

Chad

 

[Legolas]

LAST EDITED ON Jan-04-07 AT 05:35AM (MST)[p]I heard an interesting discussion taking place at the Homeplate cafe. The idea being discussed was to sale access permits, similar to what was once done for pheasant hunters but with restrictions. Participating landowners would share the proceeds from the access permits with a percentage banked into a fund to compensate damages by hunters. (A helluva statement about our behavior, eh?)

I'll also mention that in this particular group of ranchers, there was some strong resentment over decisions being dictated from Salt Lake. I'm wondering whether that resentment is fueling some of the anti-Salt Lake hunter attitude I've encountered down there over the past couple years.

Here's a thought - if the only decision-making meeting concerning the Sanpete extended hunt was held in Mt. Pleasant, I wonder how different the outcome would be.

 

[Silentstalker]

I am sure the outcome would be much different. This hunt is probably a headache for these ranchers. I know from the meetings I attended there was plenty of support for this hunt and that included a few landowners and a good number of people who belonged to spring city archers (I think). It seems to be a very controversial hunt. This hunt has replaced the depredation Big bull hunts that were very high success rates and did not keep the elk off the highways. I guess time will tell what comes of it.