What would you do with 17 points?

sfjdds · Oct 16, 2016

Trying to give my older brother some advice. He lives in AZ (grew up in Utah) and has accumulated 17 points. Last year he put in the Central Mountains, Manti unit and did not draw out. The only reason he wants to go there is because our family has hunted deer in the area for 30+ years. From what I know (which is not a lot) there seems to be a good elk population in the area. Look.... I am new to the world of elk hunting. I wish I had discovered it years ago. I was lucky enough to have a big bull elk tag gifted to me on the Deseret CWMU. It was the most amazing hunting experience I have ever had bar none. I can't stop thinking about it and can't wait for my next crack at a big bull (I have 11 points..). Anyway, other than the Deseret CWMU, I am not familiar with what units are prime for big bulls. Please help me give my brother some good advice for next year. I appreciate the help and look forward to learning from many of you who have been paying attention to what is going on in our state.

Steve

sfjdds · Oct 16, 2016

This is my bull from this years hunt.

Sherlock · Oct 16, 2016

Nice bull. Great memories, i'm sure.

Welcome to world of elk hunting. Hope you can enjoy hunting big bulls and harvesting smaller bulls in the future, unless you can keep getting 'hooked up' with special tags. I love hunting elk, even if not "trophies". Figure out how and where to hunt general unit elk and go have fun, even if the elk are not like Deseret.

Regarding your question...
If i was your brother, I'd gain Utah residency for a year and then have a chance to draw a decent tag. Maybe a premium archery tag in the rut for 17 points (18 by the time he is a resident). Otherwise, it might be a while before he gets a great non-resident rifle tag. Like maybe never. (i am sort of joking about gaining residency, but...)

As for you, keep applying and earning points, but hunt general in the meantime. And look at other states to hunt as a non-resident.

(BTW...you can look up draw odds and get an idea of where/when you might have a chance to draw certain units)

Sherlock · Oct 16, 2016

Steve,

BTW...just re-read your post. How is it that you are "new to the work of elk hunting", but have 11 points? Eleven years of interest in elk...were you not hunting elk all those years?

Just curious.

bowhunt · Oct 16, 2016

Sadly, he has little to no chance of drawing a tag, that will come close to matching your Deseret experience.

fordtruck1996 · Oct 17, 2016

That is one of the Best CWMU Bulls I have seen in years and years! Congrats to you... The Manti is as good any of them out there, especially if you know the mountain and have hunted it that many years... Yes there may be a couple units that are better but the quality that exists on the Manti is as good as any...

Everyone on here will tell you this as well... You are always better off to spend time in an area that you know... Especially if you have contacts and connections to the unit that would be willing to help.

The SWD would be a good unit for your Bro where it is closer to Arizona... It is one of the tougher units to draw... Hope this helps some... This is all based on rifle knowledge, if he is a bow or muzzy hunter than you need to look at the #'s on those...

sfjdds · Oct 17, 2016

Good question. I can see why that is confusing. I started putting in because my brothers told me to do it. I have hunted deer my entire life, but never been on an elk hunt. In fact, I had not actually been up in the mountains during the month of September and experienced what is going on during the rut. I'm not exactly sure what I've been doing all these years, but after being up there this year, tag or no tag, I just want to get out of the city and be up there. I guess I had heard conversations about it, but didn't really understand how fun it can be. Believe it or not in all my years hunting deer (I'm 44) I've only seen a handful of elk on the deer hunt. So even though I've been in the mountains hunting, I've been there too late to see the excitement of the rut. Hope that makes sense. This has opened up a whole new world for me. Feel bad that it has taken so long. Elk are amazing animals.

As I was looking at the DWR web site I think I saw that if you are out of state you can't draw for a CWMU. Is that correct?

BuglesNGrunts · Oct 24, 2016

>Sadly, he has little to no
>chance of drawing a tag,
>that will come close to
>matching your Deseret experience.

Unfortunately bowhunt has it. With him being a NR it's a crapshoot!
I spoke with a Kalifornia hunter this year on the Manti during the early rifle, he drew the multi-season tag for NR with only 5 points. I also talked to several NR rifle hunters who drew with anywhere from 10-18pts.

I would say look into the San Juan (pts most likely need to be maxed for a rifle tag) or look into the SW Desert tag or stick with the Manti since it seems like you have a good knowledge base with your deer hunting knowledge.

Hope this helps!