I'm looking to hunt the Uintas this year for elk. I plan to pack in with horses however deep I need to go. I've got a few canyons picked out that I want to scout this summer. Just trying to see if some of you could tell me what to expect as far as number of hunters and quality and quantity of elk. I'd be willing to trade Utah deer, Idaho deer, or Wyoming deer information in exchange for some pointers.
Uinta Elk Hunt
- Thread starter tjsum
- Start date
Utah400Elk
Very Active Member
- Messages
- 1,269
I went with the U-Bar ranch over 10 years ago...
First the plus. We never saw another soul in over 10 days. Two of us got elk (small raghorns) easily could have been three. The guy who didn't get an elk had bulls at 10 yards on several occasions. It was an awsome experience 12 miles from trailhead and one I will do again.
Now the negative. The ranch was dirty (IMO) and tried to jack us around. We had a pre-agreed upon price the bring elk out. I hiked out a day early with a another hunter. We both had 60-75 lbs pack. We told the ranch about the two elk down. They brought extra horses and tried to tell us that the horses could only take two front quarters a piece so we needed three horses per rag horn (we pre arranged one horse per elk). This was about $1000 swing. We faight it and they gave in but not fun! They pushed hard for us to use their broken down equipment. I felt everything was buckle and done to get more money.
Long and short...lots of elk (albeit smaller) and tons of fun but a logistical nightmare. I strongly encourage you to really review you contract if you go ranch route. Please PM if you have more questions and have fun!
First the plus. We never saw another soul in over 10 days. Two of us got elk (small raghorns) easily could have been three. The guy who didn't get an elk had bulls at 10 yards on several occasions. It was an awsome experience 12 miles from trailhead and one I will do again.
Now the negative. The ranch was dirty (IMO) and tried to jack us around. We had a pre-agreed upon price the bring elk out. I hiked out a day early with a another hunter. We both had 60-75 lbs pack. We told the ranch about the two elk down. They brought extra horses and tried to tell us that the horses could only take two front quarters a piece so we needed three horses per rag horn (we pre arranged one horse per elk). This was about $1000 swing. We faight it and they gave in but not fun! They pushed hard for us to use their broken down equipment. I felt everything was buckle and done to get more money.
Long and short...lots of elk (albeit smaller) and tons of fun but a logistical nightmare. I strongly encourage you to really review you contract if you go ranch route. Please PM if you have more questions and have fun!
desertpointbrian
Very Active Member
- Messages
- 1,347
Even on horseback you will run into people. Expect very few elk cows or bulls.the first bull you see I would shoot the south slope is definitely better than the north slope very beautiful country with awesome fishing. Just not as many elk as there should be. Could be a tough but fun hunt though. Check the success rate on the dwr page it's pretty low
have hunted this unit for 30 years on horses the amount of people the last 5 years looks like salt lake city .fish and duck has over hyped this unit .tuff to get any where with with out orange pumpkin patch .I was 10 miles in last year and got invaded .needless to say have not got an elk in last 5 years because of too many people or wait shoot one and 5 other people fill full of holes and say mine mine .
elkassassin
Long Time Member
- Messages
- 36,951
Who was running the U-Bar at that time?
>I went with the U-Bar ranch
>over 10 years ago...
>
>First the plus. We never
>saw another soul in over
>10 days. Two of
>us got elk (small raghorns)
>easily could have been three.
> The guy who didn't
>get an elk had bulls
>at 10 yards on several
>occasions. It was an
>awsome experience 12 miles from
>trailhead and one I will
>do again.
>
>Now the negative. The ranch
>was dirty (IMO) and tried
>to jack us around.
>We had a pre-agreed upon
>price the bring elk out.
> I hiked out a
>day early with a another
>hunter. We both had
>60-75 lbs pack. We
>told the ranch about the
>two elk down. They
>brought extra horses and tried
>to tell us that the
>horses could only take two
>front quarters a piece so
>we needed three horses per
>rag horn (we pre arranged
>one horse per elk). This
>was about $1000 swing.
>We faight it and they
>gave in but not fun!
> They pushed hard for
>us to use their broken
>down equipment. I felt
>everything was buckle and done
>to get more money.
>
>Long and short...lots of elk (albeit
>smaller) and tons of fun
>but a logistical nightmare.
>I strongly encourage you to
>really review you contract if
>you go ranch route.
>Please PM if you have
>more questions and have fun!
>
It Won't Be Long and a 22" PISSCUTTER will be known as a Trophy that will be put on the Wall!
>I went with the U-Bar ranch
>over 10 years ago...
>
>First the plus. We never
>saw another soul in over
>10 days. Two of
>us got elk (small raghorns)
>easily could have been three.
> The guy who didn't
>get an elk had bulls
>at 10 yards on several
>occasions. It was an
>awsome experience 12 miles from
>trailhead and one I will
>do again.
>
>Now the negative. The ranch
>was dirty (IMO) and tried
>to jack us around.
>We had a pre-agreed upon
>price the bring elk out.
> I hiked out a
>day early with a another
>hunter. We both had
>60-75 lbs pack. We
>told the ranch about the
>two elk down. They
>brought extra horses and tried
>to tell us that the
>horses could only take two
>front quarters a piece so
>we needed three horses per
>rag horn (we pre arranged
>one horse per elk). This
>was about $1000 swing.
>We faight it and they
>gave in but not fun!
> They pushed hard for
>us to use their broken
>down equipment. I felt
>everything was buckle and done
>to get more money.
>
>Long and short...lots of elk (albeit
>smaller) and tons of fun
>but a logistical nightmare.
>I strongly encourage you to
>really review you contract if
>you go ranch route.
>Please PM if you have
>more questions and have fun!
>
It Won't Be Long and a 22" PISSCUTTER will be known as a Trophy that will be put on the Wall!
HorseCreek
Very Active Member
- Messages
- 2,242
LOTS of elk but the most difficult hunt in the state. Bow hunt, the bulls are quiet and super call shy and educated...I'd leave the bugle at home. Summer scouting they will be high above the timberline and visible literally everywhere you look. Then they vanish in thin air. I've killed my fair share but you will work your ass off for a rag horn.
The opener of rifle hunt isn't worth the gas money to get there. So many pumpkin suits it'll make your head spin.
If you get some weather and have patience it can pan out for a raghorn.
Traditional >>>------->
The opener of rifle hunt isn't worth the gas money to get there. So many pumpkin suits it'll make your head spin.
If you get some weather and have patience it can pan out for a raghorn.
Traditional >>>------->
desertpointbrian
Very Active Member
- Messages
- 1,347
>LOTS of elk but the most
>difficult hunt in the state.
>Bow hunt, the bulls are
>quiet and super call shy
>and educated...I'd leave the bugle
>at home. Summer scouting they
>will be high above the
>timberline and visible literally everywhere
>you look. Then they vanish
>in thin air. I've killed
>my fair share but you
>will work your ass off
>for a rag horn.
>
>The opener of rifle hunt isn't
>worth the gas money to
>get there. So many pumpkin
>suits it'll make your head
>spin.
>If you get some weather and
>have patience it can pan
>out for a raghorn.
>
>Traditional >>>------->
Lots of elk I would have to disagree. I have been fortunate enough to take 5 bulls off the open bull hunts in the area. All of them were DIY public land bulls. With this 9 year period did I ever say man there are a lot of elk in this area. The numbers and harvest rate back this up. Simply put it takes years to pattern those elk on this unit. The guys who year in and year out have success. do their homework and pay their dues of going days or even weeks without even seeing an elk before they start having success. Simply put go enjoy the beautiful country you might get lucky and harvest a decent bull but don't expect to be non stop elk action because that is not what this unit is.
>difficult hunt in the state.
>Bow hunt, the bulls are
>quiet and super call shy
>and educated...I'd leave the bugle
>at home. Summer scouting they
>will be high above the
>timberline and visible literally everywhere
>you look. Then they vanish
>in thin air. I've killed
>my fair share but you
>will work your ass off
>for a rag horn.
>
>The opener of rifle hunt isn't
>worth the gas money to
>get there. So many pumpkin
>suits it'll make your head
>spin.
>If you get some weather and
>have patience it can pan
>out for a raghorn.
>
>Traditional >>>------->
Lots of elk I would have to disagree. I have been fortunate enough to take 5 bulls off the open bull hunts in the area. All of them were DIY public land bulls. With this 9 year period did I ever say man there are a lot of elk in this area. The numbers and harvest rate back this up. Simply put it takes years to pattern those elk on this unit. The guys who year in and year out have success. do their homework and pay their dues of going days or even weeks without even seeing an elk before they start having success. Simply put go enjoy the beautiful country you might get lucky and harvest a decent bull but don't expect to be non stop elk action because that is not what this unit is.
elkassassin
Long Time Member
- Messages
- 36,951
Due to Hunters having to Draw for General Deer Tags!
Thousands of Hunters Still wanna Hunt!
So what do they Do?
Yup!
That's Right!
They Buy an Open Bull Tag!
Most of them Slap two Cow Tags on top of the Bull Tag!
The number of Hunters/Hunting Pressure has become beyond Belief!
Don't know where they're gonna let you Buy the 3 Season Tags?
But if they are for the South Slope it'll be even more Pressure!
The Biggest PUMPKIN Patch you'll ever endure!
Thousands of Hunters Still wanna Hunt!
So what do they Do?
Yup!
That's Right!
They Buy an Open Bull Tag!
Most of them Slap two Cow Tags on top of the Bull Tag!
The number of Hunters/Hunting Pressure has become beyond Belief!
Don't know where they're gonna let you Buy the 3 Season Tags?
But if they are for the South Slope it'll be even more Pressure!
The Biggest PUMPKIN Patch you'll ever endure!
bowhunt3r4l1f3
Active Member
- Messages
- 190
TJ! Dude, sounds like you just need to team up with me. We filled our bull and cow tags in the Unitas last year. You bring the horses and you are welcome in our camp! 
www.utahscoutingservices.com
www.utahscoutingservices.com
smartbuy3274
Member
- Messages
- 29
I also hunt the uintas, I grew up on the unit. I am always looking for an archery elk hunting partner. I have a good spot that I like to hike into, but having horses would be way easier. I would be interested in talking to you about the possibility of hunting together. PM me if interested.
