Wasatch realistic expectations.

DonVathome

Very Active Member
Messages
1,720
I currently have 17 NR points and I should be able to draw the early rifle Wasatch elk tag. I am in fair shape and I will be 49. I can dedicate 2-3 days to scout before the hunt and stay for the entire 9 days.

What is a realistic goal? Not top end just what size bull I can expect to get 2 or 3 chances at. My goal is a 330 bull bigger is great but a 330 would be enough.

I helped my dad with the last week of his archery elk tag there 6 or 7 years ago. I hear a lot about to many tags, big bulls shot out etc - but the average age is still high and see pics of 350 plus bulls every year.

I am willing to wait a few more years for another tag and I am willing to hunt late rifle or muzzleloader.

Your thoughts?
 
I havent hunted the Wasatch in a few years but there are still some good bulls there I think that you could be successful. It's a big unit and the elk herd is down but it is always fun hunting elk. You never know how long we have left so I would put in for it and go make the best of it.






Life ain't about waiting for the Strom to pass.Its about learning to hunt in the rain!
 
Like houndman said don't wait. Utah is killing as many cows and spikes as they can so if you can draw do it.There is still some great bulls on the unit.So go hunting as soon as you can before Utah kills everything they can just for the almighty dollar.
 
The wasatch is still a decent unit. I hunted it in 2012 and shot a 350+ bull and saw a couple more bulls that year that would go 350. I have been on the unit every year since 2012 and have definitely seen a decline in the number of elk, cows and bulls. When the unit was over objective there was a plethora of 300+ bulls. Now, it is still a tag that can produce a 300-320 inch bull, however, if you want to top 330 or even the 350 mark you will need to be more familiar with where the elk are now compared to where they were 6 years ago. I'm afraid that in order to meet your goal, you will want to scout a great deal more than 3 days. I have noticed quite a few more elk in areas I haven't normally seen elk in the past. Trail cameras set up in my traditional deer areas show an increase in elk, especially bulls. My suggestion would be to spend as much time on the unit as you can preseason scouting. When the hunt rolls around, hunt hard and you may have some luck on your side and find a 330+ but a good solid 6 point between 300-320 probably shouldn't be passed on unless you want to eat your tag. If that sounds like something that doesn't meet your goal, the wasatch probably isn't your unit. Unless of course you hire Berryblaster. He can definitely get you hooked up. He knows the unit well as he lives on it. Good luck with whatever you decide.
 
Hunted the wasatch alot last year. it is totally different elk numbers wise than the last time you were there. a 330 bull is a great accomplishment on this unit. the Elk are sporadic throughout the unit with alot lower numbers than 6 years ago. personally I would do the Manti unit close to draw points and a whole lot more Elk. I seen alot of disappointed wasatch Elk hunters the last few years.
 
Thanks guys! keep the info and opinions coming. I am surprised at the Manti comment - but I have never paid any attention to the Manti.
 
I enjoy these threads, you get a string of doom and gloom posts, then a real expert on the unit joins the conversation and has a opposite opinion. funny he would benefit from lower draw odds, but gives a green light for more internet scouters to apply.

makes you wonder.....


thanks Berry for a honest answer.



How to start an argument online:
1. Express an opinion
2. Wait
 
So?

A 330" Bull now is Mature?

Might be some Truth to it!








I know so many people in so many places
They make allot of money but they got sad faces

It Ain't Easy being Me!:D:D:D
 
LAST EDITED ON Jan-07-19 AT 08:21AM (MST)[p]I'm with berry on this one... don't forget a real big chunk of the unit was unhuntable last season do to fires and access being closed... there is a good number of bulls that are still around up there, and some up and comers that got a free pass last season to grow another year.
 
Someone turned in their mid season tag last summer and my son took it. We had a awesome time. Killed a 300 plus bull and missed two that were 40 inches bigger.
 
>I enjoy these threads, you get
>a string of doom and
>gloom posts, then a real
>expert on the unit joins
>the conversation and has a
>opposite opinion. funny he would
>benefit from lower draw odds,
>but gives a green light
>for more internet scouters to
>apply.
>
>makes you wonder.....
>
>
>thanks Berry for a honest answer.
>
>
>
>
>How to start an argument online:
>
>1. Express an opinion
>2. Wait

no offense to Berry blaster good on ya. but they also have access to private property. Call the Biologist for the area he can fill you in on the disappointed hunters. not doom and gloom because there are still good Elk to be had.
but anyone who doesnt think the absolute cow slaughter from years ago hasn't caught up with the uunit, either has not spent any time on the unit. or has another agenda.
 
LAST EDITED ON Jan-07-19 AT 07:40PM (MST)[p]the "typical" Utah hunter that complains about there elk hunt expected to drive around and shoot a 350 bull from the road. hell they put in for years for the tag.

with a good starting point with 3days of scouting and give the hunt the effort it deserves a 330 bull is doable. very doable


sorry to offend but i suspect most people who post doom and gloom have ulterior motives or dont know what it takes to make it happen and just want to make excuses for there failure


Deerlove is the perfect example of a guy taking a tag and making it work. doom and gloom did not affect his hunt. do a search and plenty of other examples.

huge unit, i think if you expand your search you will find more elk.

How to start an argument online:
1. Express an opinion
2. Wait
 
43333img47511.jpg

by the way my 2018 muzzy bull on the wasatch. like I said still some good bulls but prepare to work for them
 
Awesome bulls berry blaster. all the more reason to hire you guys when it comes to guide services on the wasatch. most of the guys who draw that tag wont put in the effort you guys or I do. those will be the people who have a bad experience on the wasatch. the " good ole days" of drawing the tag being half the battle are gone on that unit.
like I said still some good bulls around, but you will work for it. there will be days you dont hear a bugle or see an Elk. persistency pays off.
 
That's exactly where I disagree with you Brian. We will see if it holds, but last year I saw more elk, and bigger bulls then I've ever seen period. Many of the hunters I spoke with relayed the same. The rut was ridiculous and lasted for a month, cow numbers were very very healthy to say the least, and our success was reflective of that.

https://www.facebook.com/strawberrybayoutfitters
 
LAST EDITED ON Jan-08-19 AT 09:48PM (MST)[p]Some great looking bulls for sure! What did some of these bulls score? Pictures can make it hard to tell how big an animal is sometimes...
 
>That's exactly where I disagree with
>you Brian. We will
>see if it holds, but
>last year I saw more
>elk, and bigger bulls then
>I've ever seen period.
>Many of the hunters I
>spoke with relayed the same.
> The rut was ridiculous
>and lasted for a month,
>cow numbers were very very
>healthy to say the least,
>and our success was reflective
>of that.
>
>https://www.facebook.com/strawberrybayoutfitters

all good berry agree to disagree. I am not in it for a who's right who's wrong pissing match. just simply stating my observations from the last few years on the wasatch. I am very familiar and used to running into your guides on the mountain and the areas you guys hunt.i am glad you had a better year last year, obviously i did well on my own.
so hopefully it is on the up swing.
I still ran into plenty of Elk hunters who were highly disappointed and looking for any advise they could get though.

I am simply saying for a non resident who has no experience on the unit, it could be a tough hunt. and there might be some better options out there then the wasatch.
let's all hope the DWR learned from their mistake of killing off a bunch of cows and this unit can be close to what it once was.
 
330 on the Wasatch is absolutely doable if you can spend 12 days straight to find one. Know of two 330+ bulls killed on the late hunt on back to back days out of the same canyon in 2017. They were shot maybe 2,000 yards apart. I put my own hands on both of them the day they were killed.

And yes, a 330 bull is a ?mature bull? Bessy. And so are all the bulls Berry posted. The problem is that people have tried to convince everyone that they aren't, and that's why you see point creep skyrocketing and so many unsatisfied LE hunters that have unreasonable expectations. Sorry, but anyone that says a 330 inch bull is not a mature bull is part of the problem, not the solution. You can say it's too small for you in the inch game and elect to pass, I have zero issue with that. But that is a mature bull. Period.

Berry-BTW, that first one is...wow! What an awesome bull. You guys have that unit dialed in.
 
Thanks guys I forgot about the fires that close part of the unit that was enough to finalize my decision to put in. It's tough to tell but I should draw or my guess is at the very least have a 30% chance. I'll let you guys know how I do. I strongly prefer DIY I have only hired a guide for gator which I'm now doing on my own but I'm seriously considering it for this tag.
 
> Thanks guys I forgot about
>the fires that close part
>of the unit that was
>enough to finalize my decision
>to put in. It's tough
>to tell but I should
>draw or my guess is
>at the very least have
>a 30% chance. I'll let
>you guys know how I
>do. I strongly prefer DIY
>I have only hired a
>guide for gator which I'm
>now doing on my own
>but I'm seriously considering
>it for this tag.

Don, if you do decide to do it on your own and draw,feel free to Reach out to me. I would be more than glad to help you out and get you pointed in the right direction I will give you specifics from everything I encountered last year and years prior.

.I do reccomend a guide since you are coming from out of state and Berry blaster's guides are highly qualified.
High Top outfitters did well on the unit last year as well from what I seen.
it is doable to do it on your own and have great success, as long as you start your pre planning before your first visit on the unit. with this post you have already accomplished that. Good luck
 
>330 on the Wasatch is absolutely
>doable if you can spend
>12 days straight to find
>one. Know of two 330+
>bulls killed on the late
>hunt on back to back
>days out of the same
>canyon in 2017. They were
>shot maybe 2,000 yards apart.
>I put my own hands
>on both of them the
>day they were killed.
>
>And yes, a 330 bull is
>a ?mature bull? Bessy. And
>so are all the bulls
>Berry posted. The problem is
>that people have tried to
>convince everyone that they aren't,
>and that's why you see
>point creep skyrocketing and so
>many unsatisfied LE hunters that
>have unreasonable expectations. Sorry, but
>anyone that says a 330
>inch bull is not a
>mature bull is part of
>the problem, not the solution.
>You can say it's too
>small for you in the
>inch game and elect to
>pass, I have zero issue
>with that. But that is
>a mature bull. Period.
>
>Berry-BTW, that first one is...wow! What
>an awesome bull. You guys
>have that unit dialed in.
>


Hey Niller!

You can Call a 330" PISSCUTTER Mature if You Want Too!

That's what it's came to!

I Doubt very much You'd Blow your Points on a 330"ER!










I know so many people in so many places
They make allot of money but they got sad faces

It Ain't Easy being Me!:D:D:D
 
There is a difference between ?mature? and ?trophy.?

Trophy is in the eye of the beholder. Mature is not.
 
LAST EDITED ON Jan-10-19 AT 10:25AM (MST)[p]I shot a bull on the wasatch years ago, went just over 330... tooth data aged him at 12.5.... I have seen sheds and have a shed off my bull from years prior and he wasn?t bigger. I'm no rocket surgeon but I'd say 12.5 years old is mature even though he didn't tape top shelf.... hunting with a friend 3 seasons ago, we killed a 5.5 year old 5x5 that went just under 350... this horn sized equals mature argument seems silly
 
Bingo! Not every bull will make book regardless of how old they get. The Wasatch has always kicked out a few giants here and there but even in the glory years I would have considered a 340 bull to be upper end in size. And don't forget, just as many genes come from the soil as the seed. There are still some top end bulls still around, but they will be hard earned. It's not 2005 anymore with just a couple hundred tags issued. What are we at now? A thousand or so?
 
What is realistic across the state of Utah now days? All of the LE units have changed over the last 10 years. Things change from year to year in every unit. Every one can say they want a 350+ bull (or bigger) but when it comes to the average guy that has waited 12-18 years wanting a DIY hunt a 300-330 bull would be a great trophy. In my opinion the hunt starts the day you draw the tag. You start planning scouting trips, looking at maps, talking to anyone and everyone you know who has been on the unit, going on scouting trips, dreaming of what might happen opening morning.
These hunts are what you make it, if your in it for the highest scoring bull then be prepared for disappointment unless you can buy a tag every year. If your looking for a great hunt with family and friends it's up to you to write your own story how it turns out. You have the opputunity to take a great bull on the wasatch if you work hard and give it the effort you have waited for to get the tag. Hopefully a bit of luck will fall your way. Wasatch still holds some great bulls, you will just have to give it your all if you choose to cash in your points.
 
>Thanks guys I am planning to
>apply and diy currently.


Don,

Do it bud!!! As a life long resident and a person who has spent more time in the unit than anyone (except maybe Berry). I can tell you last year was close to the best it has ever been.

As mentioned before, do some research, enter with a plan and work for it. 330 is easily doable.

Anyone who is not having a chance on a 330 bull on the rifle/muzzy hunts is not trying.

Big tip (you don't have to follow the crowds to have an amazing hunt)!!
 
DGB and Berry is telling you alot of good stuff.

"I have found if you go the extra mile it's Never crowded".
>[Font][Font color = "green"]Life member of
>the MM green signature club.[font/]
 
https://youtu.be/pvSUVorvK6E
This was the last ten days of a buddies le archery tag. We saw six points each day, and even with really excessive wind (I would rather hunt in hot, dry, sleet, snow, full moon anything but windy when trying to call) and still had a great time and came oh so close with a bow. The last two bulls where both just over 70 yards and my buddies limit is 60. I can't imagine if you put your time in and hunt hard and smart with a rifle you will have a great hunt.
 
You should still be able to see more than one 330" bull on any given day in September on this unit.
It may not boast as high of concentrations of elk or "big" bulls as it once did only a handful of years ago, but the Wasatch is alive and well and you will have a great hunt if you decide to hunt it.
 
As many have stated... The Wasatch unit is what you make it. I had the archery tag in 2008 and saw lots great bulls. I had the midseason tag in 2017 and numbers of bulls where down a bit but still saw some great bulls.

Make it what you want!

Here is the 2017 Bull...

4480img1750.jpg


57328img1754.jpg


50612017bull.jpg
 
How?s the archrey tag? I'm doing it regardless just wanna know someone?s experience the unit is huge and always has good bulls come off it
 
I will have a little more realistic expections then that! Nice bull! A couple more NR early rifle tags will help. My odds should be around 50/50 with my current 17 points.
 
I just drew LE Bull Elk Rifle mid season, starting October 5th. I accompanied my buddy on a spike hunt in the unit last year for a couple days and we got close to a bull that would score around 300, so I decided I would put in for the unit. Much to my surprise, I drew the tag with 5 points and hardly any experience in the unit. Thanks for the info on the thread about what to expect. To be honest, I don't care too much about antler score, my dad was just laid off from the BSA after 20 years and is having a hard time reinventing himself and I just want to harvest a mature bull that will help feed the family through the winter and be home for my son's 2nd birthday on the 12th.
 
Congrats to you sporting. You should be able to anchor a nice bull pretty early on in that hunt if you put forth the time and effort.
 
LAST EDITED ON Jun-09-19 AT 04:11PM (MST)[p]I also drew the wasatch elk tag. This will be my second time hunting this area during the rut. My hunt starts Sept. 14th and I'm hoping to find someone else with the tag to spend time swapping stories around camp with. This is the bull I took the first time I drew the tag.

23292dcp0859.jpg
 

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