Getting rid of points Utah

[armybrat]

I am looking to get drawn this year for elk, I would much rather hunt big muleys than elk. I have been on the waiting list for deer and now am done but do not want to start on deer until I get rid of the 4 points I now have for elk. I have looked at huntodds.com and see some units that are better in the odds. I would like to hunt with a bow or a muzzleloader. Oak Creek South, Diamond Mountain and Central mountains Nebo All have pretty good odds with the points I have. I have been in all the units except Central mountains, but in the units I have been in I was hunting deer and not Paying any attention to the elk. Does anyone have a suggestion on witch one of these units would be better for elk. I am not looking for monster elk anything over 300 would be acceptable and I don't expect to even harvest an animal, just being able to see and chase somthing that big would be fine

any help on these units would be great

 

[littlebighorn]

At least you are in the position to not lose too much. I have two less than top elk points and as much as I want to get back to hunting muleys, I feel like I have too much time invested to cash them in on a mediocre unit.
I don't know the whole unit, and I have never elk hunted there, but Diamond Mountain has a fair amount of private land, where I am told the elk tend to run when the pressure starts. It's a long way from where you live and I would suggest you go more with the Central Nebo, or Oak Creek.
I don't know Oak Creek, but there are some decent bulls on the Nebo. During the rut you can find good elk almost anywhere. One of the issues with archery is, you have to contend with the open archery spike hunters in those units that allow it. I know that can sometimes be a problem.
Don't know if that helps at all, but good luck!

 

[325wsm]

Nebo unit probably has the best bulls of the three units, but it is very steep rugged country, so if you draw that tag make sure your in great shape for hiking that steep country

 

[2_Point]

There were over 100 tags issued for the Nebo last year, so the big bulls will be fewer and farther between. I think there are better chances on better units for the same points.

 

[legacy]

I wouldn't waste your time or points on Oak Creek.

 

[armybrat]

What do you mean don't waste you there, two of my buddies drew and both shot 6x6 one 320 one 350 I have been leaning toward that unit but if you can tell me why not please do don't leave me hanging,what do you mean by don't waste you time? One friend drew in 2002 and one in 2004 if things have changed i whould sure like to know.

 

[out4elk]

I would think that the Central Mountains would be a better hunt with a bow or ML than Oakcreek South.

Oak Creek is rough and it seems the elk get chased around alot and hide out in the nasty stuff. It would be my last choice.

My dad hunted bulls on Diamond mountain about 6 years ago and had a difficult time finding bulls on public land, most of the elk were unreachable to him because of landowner permissions. He got a decent bull, after that hunt I would not hunt that unit unless I could get permission to land that made me feel confident I could hunt elk.

 

[legacy]

My bro-in-law and I drew Oak Creek archery tags in 2001. It was a great hunt! My bro-in-law ended up killing a 5X5 that NETS 343". I also had chances at bulls the entire hunt, but passed up several and ended up not killing one. Then the DWR opened up the north end of that unit and killed off a ton of nice bulls. The unit has gone down hill from there. They give out way too many tags for that unit...including cow tags and landowner tags. My wife drew a tag this last year (2006). I was very dissappointed with what we seen. We seen one really nice bull the entire time and very few elk. She ended up killing a SMALL 6X6 after about killing ourselves (but that's what elk hunting is about...oh, and she was pregnant!) Now I'm not complaining because I am very familiar with this unit and our hunt actually exceeded our expectations. I'm not saying you can't kill a 320"+ bull on this unit, but I think the chances are slim. Your chances of drawing an Archery tag for Oak Creek is about 1 in 2. Muzzleloader not quite as good. You could definately "dump" your points, but if it were me, I'd look at another unit. I also hunted Oak Creek in 2003 with my dad who had a muzzleloader tag. Seen one shooter and ended up not filling the tag. My uncle and cousin both had rifle tags as well in 2006. My uncle killed a SMALL 6X6 and my cousin didn't fill his tag.