book cliff Utah late season elk hunt

bullhunt2017 · Nov 6, 2017

After 15 years of putting in for the book cliff bitter creek elk hunt I finally drew out but if course this year I don't have the money for a guide. I've been out scouting since the first of October but in the last 2 weeks all the bulls have vanished. If any one would be kind enough to share information on where the bulls go this time of year I would greatly appreciate any info you may have. Thank you in advance

ShakyHands · Nov 6, 2017

Unfortunately, I cant give you a specific place for that area but the general rules are somewhat simple.

At this time of the year, the elk has only three needs: water, food a safety. After the rut, the bulls leave the cows and will find a sanctuary where they can recover from the rut.

You will need to go deeper and higher as they will not be running around. And don't waste your time bugling.

Not sure how the current weather is in that location, but the bulls can handle snow easily and it would take a lot of snow to push them lower. So again, go high, high, higher.

So my only advice is, go higher, go deeper, look for signs as they still eat and poop a lot. Try to find a spot where they may come out of the woods and do not leave until dark!

If there is no snow and the weather is still somewhat warm, they will be hiding on the northern slopes in the shade. (or even in snow) and they will not be too far away from the water.

Also, if there are any recently burned areas, you may look there as they love those.

Additionally, if nothing else, and just to fill the freezer, find a herd and there may be a young spike still hanging with the cows.

bullhunt2017 · Nov 6, 2017

Thank you for the info I will start looking higher

Bowdeadly · Nov 6, 2017

Take out a loan, 15 years of points is gonna be a hard pill to swallow if you eat the tag. Should have saved up 300 bucks a year knowing that some day you will get that tag.

Cheater · Nov 7, 2017

You will see some extremely large groups of cows, give them a good look to make sure there aren't any bulls hanging with them, but don't waste a lot of time with them. The better bulls will have left them by now. With less daylight now, be prepared to hunt all day and cover lots of ground.

BrowningRage · Nov 7, 2017

Where have you already been scouting..??

"Therefore, wo be unto him that is at ease in Zion!" 2 Ne. 28: 24

DidIDraw · Nov 7, 2017

We were scouting for buffalo two weekends ago and saw a spectacular bull. He was about 7000 feet elevation in the P&J and rim rock on a north slope and was by himself. A bit further down the road we saw a dozen cows and calves. When I'm hunting a new place the first thing I usually do is find the elevation where the animals are hanging out as it is usually an indication of where their needs are being met at that time of the year (food, water, cover).

Best of luck, it is a super beautiful place to spend some time away.

DidIDraw · Nov 7, 2017

One other thing, on my Dad's late bull hunt last year we found a couple of bulls the first day in a little pocket. We couldn't get a shot but went back on Thur and found them again. It was just two bulls together in a place a mile of so away from roads. They were probably content to be there because there was not much snow and they weren't being bothered.

Like others have said, hunt all day long. At this time of the year they may be up and moving at any time.

bullhunt2017 · Nov 7, 2017

Been looking it on the book cliff divide been seeing lots of cows and calfs but the bulls that were with the groups of cow have left around 2 weeks ago. Also over by winter ridge bulls there have also disappeared. I'm lost 2 weeks ago I had been seeing 3 to 5 good bulls a day and now nothing at all.

buxnbullz · Nov 7, 2017

PM sent.

bullhunt2017 · Nov 7, 2017

Thank you for the advise

MontanaAdvocate · Nov 7, 2017

I have the same tag and wish you the best of luck. Please share pictures and success stories when you're done. I'll do the same. Good luck to ya, I'm sure you will get things done.

M/A

bullhunt2017 · Nov 7, 2017

Thank you and good luck

headshot05 · Nov 7, 2017

Hunt willow creek, woods canyon, Indian ridge and the lower end of McCook ridge. If you look good in these places you'll find more than one good bull.

bullhunt2017 · Nov 7, 2017

Thank you

headshot05 · Nov 7, 2017

I sent you a PM

bullhunt2017 · Nov 17, 2017

LAST EDITED ON Nov-17-17 AT 11:07PM (MST)[p]I ended up getting a small 6x6 thanks to everyone that shared information. It was smaller than what I was seeing during the ruts but he was the biggest bull I've seen in the last month
Trying to figure out how to post some pictures of it

elkassassin · Nov 21, 2017

Check your PM bullhunt!

She Don't Just Rain She Pours!

That Girl Right There's The Perfect Storm!

elkassassin · Nov 23, 2017

Here's a Pic of bullhunts Bull!

She Don't Just Rain She Pours!

That Girl Right There's The Perfect Storm!

Broadside_Shot · Nov 25, 2017

Congrats on the Bull. The Book Cliffs has been changing fast over the last couple years. The Elk and Deer herds are getting smaller and smaller. The Spike Hunt is catching up to the quality out there, there just isn't the amount of Big Bulls there used to be 5 years ago. The paved road has change that whole area due to the increased amount of Traffic. When you see a Volkswagen Bug or a Honda Gold wing at PR Springs then you know things are different. And the range is in really bad shape right now, no water or feed. If we get a tough winter with a lot of snow the animals will struggle bad. I hope it just rains. The Book Cliffs are not what they used to be.

elkassassin · Nov 26, 2017

>Congrats on the Bull. The Book
>Cliffs has been changing fast
>over the last couple years.
>The Elk and Deer herds
>are getting smaller and smaller.
>The Spike Hunt is catching
>up to the quality out
>there, there just isn't the
>amount of Big Bulls there
>used to be 5 years
>ago. The paved road has
>change that whole area due
>to the increased amount of
>Traffic. When you see a
>Volkswagen Bug or a Honda
>Gold wing at PR Springs
>then you know things are
>different. And the range is
>in really bad shape right
>now, no water or feed.
>If we get a tough
>winter with a lot of
>snow the animals will struggle
>bad. I hope it just
>rains. The Book Cliffs are
>not what they used to
>be.

Agreed!

Deer Herd in PISS POOR Shape!

NO BS!

I Seen more (So Called!) Wild Horses than I Seen Deer last Trip out!

Now that's Bad!

She Don't Just Rain She Pours!

That Girl Right There's The Perfect Storm!