Utah LE Late Elk Hunts?? Worth it or Not

HeadHunter · Jan 26, 2007

What is your opinion of the UT Late LE elk hunts? I have a bunch of elk points, not enough to guarantee a early hunt, but enough to hopefully draw some of the late hunts. I would love to hear from people who have drawn late tags. How was the hunting? Would you do it over again?? I hate to make a bad choice on what is probably a once in a lifetime hunt, but I would really like to chase big bulls sooner than later. Issues such as inaccessibilty on bad roads, getting snowed/weathered/fogged out of hunting days, no bugling bulls to chase, & broken horns make me wonder about the quality of the hunt. But I have successfully hunted late season bulls in MT/ID/WY. I love hunting in fresh snow and cold, and the late hunt odds are starting to temp me away from early rifle or MZ hunts.
I really appreciate any opinions or feedback before I apply.

Thanks,
HH

browtine · Jan 27, 2007

How many points?

Nothing wrong with the pahvant late hunt... I would kill to have that tag.

Later, Brandon

HeadHunter · Jan 27, 2007

I have 11, I dont think I would be in the running for Pahvant.
But I agree that would be an excellen late hunt.

Thanks

browtine · Jan 27, 2007

I wouldnt waste them on a lesser tag... That unit will produce good bulls for a very long time. yo9ur 3 under max... keep going and don't get desprate.

Later, Brandon

HuntElk4Fun_ · Jan 27, 2007

It really depends on how soon you want to hunt. Let's be honest, 11 points is a tough spot to be in when it comes to early season guaranteed tags on premo units. Take the Pahvant for example (which is very similiar to other premo units in regards to odds), last year they gave out 9 bonus tags. There is approx. 320 people ahead of you to get one of those tags. Start doing the math and it's not pretty. Add on the fact that you had a .88% chance at a regular tag and you get the idea.

With all of that in mind, it really depends on you like I mentioned above. If your not in a hurry and want a premo tag, then wait it out or hope you get lucky in the lottery. I personally think the late tags can be risky, but could also be very rewarding. Your still hunting some great units- you just have to deal with the things you mentioned. That might lower your chances of killing that big stinky bull or might narrow your choices.

ODDNUT1
Kirt C.
Hunt Odds.com

HeadHunter · Jan 28, 2007

Browtine & Kirt,

Thanks for the comments. I agree with both of you. I just have big bull fever and my patience is breaking down. Mossbacks booth at the show and new DVD certainly did not help the situation. Utah is producing such good bulls right now it is amazing. I shot a nice UT raghorn bull in 1986. On the long drive home from Eastern UT people were honking and pointing at my bull like they had never seen a bull like that killed in UT. before. In 20 years how things have changed for the better.

Kirt,
Do you have a feature on your site which shows whats hunts could be drawm with a certain number of points? Great site by the way.

Thanks,
HH

HeadHunter · Jan 29, 2007

ktc · Jan 29, 2007

LAST EDITED ON Jan-29-07 AT 05:06PM (MST)[p]HH,

Big bulls come from all over the state. I agree Pahvant would be great, but so would a handful of other ones. If you are willing to go Pahvant late then you would not be disappointed with a handful of other units. I personally do not think that 5-6 units are lesser than Pahvant and a waste of points IMO. All units will have the broke horns and snow late.

Kirt's info is very accurate.

HeadHunter · Jan 29, 2007

KTC,

Thanks for the info. Congrats on the nice bull this year for you. I know you had waited patiently to get your tag. I don't think I can be patient enough to wait another ten years. Who knows what will happen to the great UT bulls by then. Your unit is one that I am considering late, but I am getting mixed reviews on it for a late hunt.

I guess I will toss & turn another night to see if I can decide which hunt/unit.

Thanks,
HH

Bemis,
Thanks,check your inbox.

ktc · Jan 29, 2007

Thanks for the compliment. I am very happy and hopefully in the next month or less I have a mounted head to show? Then, I hope, it is mrs ktc's turn to show me up.

You are doing the right thing. Ask around and get all of the info you can. There are good hunts in Utah for elk.

HuntElk4Fun_ · Jan 29, 2007

We do have that type of feature. It's in the premium services. You enter the species, points and weapon and it returns all the units you would have drawn last year (including CWMU's).

ODDNUT1
Kirt C.
Hunt Odds.com

Prism · Jan 30, 2007

I'm in the same boat with 11 points and thought long and hard about the late hunts. I was going to put in, but my quest for muleys in November kept me from putting in for a late hunt.

I think there are some great late hunts, and in some ways I think the late hunt may offer a better shot at a big bull-especially if you like to glass.

For anybody looking at points and odds I recomend checking out www.huntodds.com there is a ton of great information in an easy to understand format.

grizzmoose · Jan 30, 2007

That site is awesome! But depressing too. Ignorance was bliss.

HeadHunter · Jan 30, 2007

Prism,

Good to talk to you the other day @ the show. I have been thinking about the late hunts since walking through the Mossback booth. Now is the time for a big UT bull! We sure saw a bunch last fall. And I agree that long range glassing is the key to this hunt. I need a good excuse to get those 15's anyway!
But, being a more than likely one time hunt I want to make the right choice. I guess I will sweat it out a few more days. Tonight I am trying to get the "MOJO" on which WY elk unit is calling my name this year. Good Luck in the drawings!!

Kirt-
Thanks for the e-mail. I apply for almost everything in every Western state until I run out of $$ or credit card space. I could definately use your service. Thanks Again.

HH

antlerless · Jan 31, 2007

I have ten points and just put in for a late hunt i hope i didn't mess up but i just want to start hunting other things like deer and antelope and i can't do that by putting in every year for early elk hunts and never draw pluse didn't they kill the new state record during the late season!

HeadHunter · Jan 31, 2007

antlerless,

I am with you. I would like to get my elk hunt over and go back to building deer points. I would like to hunt the Book Cliffs again one day now that it is limited. We hunted it for years before it was closed. Good Luck in your decision.

HH

antlerless · Jan 31, 2007

Thanks for the support i figured i would get railed on for possibly wasting my points but the unit i put in for you actually see more bulls that time of year and i talked to a guy i work with the other day and he took out one of his uncles who had never hunted elk before and showed him some elk and while they were sizing them up the guy just shot and he did get a 350 bull but i guess there were to larger bulls there that the guy i know was trying to look for broken stuff and he said one of them was a 380 390 bull so the big ones are still runnin around then.