West Desert Vernon

shedneck · May 19, 2017

Luck has been on my side this year. I drew the rifle hunt on the Vernon unit as a non-resident. Fortunately and unfortunately I have a bull tag in New Mexico that will likely leave me with a few days to hunt the Vernon. If anyone cares to share their experiences on the Vernon it would be much appreciated. As always, no need for spots to hunt - I live pretty close to the unit despite being a non-resident. I'd just enjoy hearing about past hunts. Thanks.

oilcan · May 19, 2017

Congrats I put in for the same tag but didn't draw curious to see how the Hunt goes for you.
How many points did you have ?

shedneck · May 19, 2017

Thank you. I had 8 points.

wstrntines · May 19, 2017

I'd turn it back in and enjoy your elk hunt. The vernon is a pile of sh!t thank the DNR for never conducting a management hunt on the unit. Had they have listened when people asked for the management hunt they would have a much better unit with a better age class and gene pool. Instead they gave out more and more tags and no management hunt. Don't get me wrong it is a fun hunt and that desert country is fun and I did see alot of deer when I had a tag 7 years ago and missed some dandies and ended up with a solid buck. I just don't feel like it has ever been the same since I had the tag. You could kill a slammer buck but if you are looking for a slammer rather than opportunity at a solid buck I'd honestly turn it back in and put in for oak creek henries or the pauns.

shedneck · May 19, 2017

LAST EDITED ON May-19-17 AT 11:51AM (MST)[p]There is some wisdom in turning the tag in; however, I don't need a giant buck and I had a pretty good idea of what the trophy potential was like in the Vernon before I applied. The biggest thing that gives me pause about turning it in is that there is a legit chance that I may never draw a LE tag again in Utah in any unit, let alone Henry and the Paunsaugunt. With 8 points it extremely unlikely that I will ever be a top point holder. I'd be much happier with the thought of a fun hunt without much of a chance at a giant than I would be without a hunt at all. I appreciate your input though. Thank you for the reply.

oilcan · May 19, 2017

Shed that's the exact reason I put in for the hunt. There are a BUNCH of us non-res with 8 points. To draw the Henry's or Pauns would be lotto type odds and at 50 now I will never climb to the top of the point pool.
Go hunt it and have fun.

wstrntines · May 19, 2017

LAST EDITED ON May-19-17 AT 12:25PM (MST)[p]Makes sense shedneck I do see your point of view I hope you do get a giant. Good thing about this years hunt you will have good dates to have some pre-rut action. And what I have heard on the rifle hunt from guys I know who have drawn is hunt the second week the pressure will not be as bad.

shedneck · May 19, 2017

Thank you, wstrntines. The season is only October 21-29, so there really isn't a second week. Either way, because of my elk hunt, I'll be hunting the last few days anyways. How did you do in the draw this year?

Wiszard · May 19, 2017

I had this tag 6 years ago or so. I had a fun hunt...went solo. Best hunt "fun-wise" I had ever gone on. Lots of deer but few decent bucks. I will try to find my post from back then and post a link. I put in for this unit every year as I want to go back and hunt it the way I should have. With 8 points I'd keep the tag. What do you have to lose?

Steve

Cancer doesn't discriminate...don't take your good health for granted because it can be gone in a heartbeat. Please go back and read the last line. This time really understand what it says.

deerkiller · May 19, 2017

>Luck has been on my side
>this year. I drew the
>rifle hunt on the Vernon
>unit as a non-resident. Fortunately
>and unfortunately I have a
>bull tag in New Mexico
>that will likely leave me
>with a few days to
>hunt the Vernon. If anyone
>cares to share their experiences
>on the Vernon it would
>be much appreciated. As always,
>no need for spots to
>hunt - I live pretty
>close to the unit despite
>being a non-resident. I'd just
>enjoy hearing about past hunts.
>Thanks.

Keep the tag and go hunting. There's some giants still out there running around. PM me if you want more info

Wiszard · May 19, 2017

I drew in 2012...hopefully most of the pics come through. If you have questions, email me at [email protected].

http://www.monstermuleys.info/cgi-b..._thread&om=23728&forum=DCForumID6&archive=yes

Steve

Cancer doesn't discriminate...don't take your good health for granted because it can be gone in a heartbeat. Please go back and read the last line. This time really understand what it says.

wstrntines · May 19, 2017

What I mean is after opening weekend. Man I'm in panic mode nothing yet I figured at least a gen season I'm pretty worried that I may have to try to get an Idaho tag either way it'll be fun to explore some new country if I cant draw in utah. I've got 8 elk pts archery and 12 moose so I'm not banking on those. Deer tag or not I'll buy an otc elk tag.

huntFX4 · May 21, 2017

Shedneck,

I drew the rifle tag last year. I put in for it after seeing several large bucks while looking for elk several years ago. Last year scouting turned up nothing worthwhile for me so during the season I hunted several areas of the Sheeprocks. A friend of mine loves to hunt the sage land and helps people find big bucks there, but that sage is as tall as I am so it's really tough to find them. I hunted hard and found many 3 points, one that was tall, wide and heavy but I passed. I ended up shooting a 168 gross 4x4 with good mass and outside spread of 26 inches at sunset of the last day. It's a fun hunt and last year was in the rut during the last 4 days, but big ones are hard to come by. I know they love the junipers which is just as tough as hunting the sage.

GritGuy · May 21, 2017

I drew this tag 3 years ago, was looking forward to a pretty nice hunt. When we got in to set up our camp we found loggers every where chewing up Junipers, who were not there the week before, it really moved the deer around.

It's way over rated as a trophy area IMO, it's much more of an area that is regarded as a limited entry hunt for people. Meaning that less people means those who enter it shoot the crap out of everything they see.

My son's and I seen six bucks in five days, from a small two point to a 24 inch 4X4, with a pretty large heavy two point being the Trophy out of all of them, about 30 inchs wide, kinda of a freak deer. Was thinking of taking him but thought about it to long and some others took him out.

I passed on all of them, except the two point which was taken any way, but we watched as everyone was shot as soon as they got spotted by other hunters. Was very disappointed in the rifle hunt in this area. More so due to people shooting everything instead of just taking mature deer, then complaining they don't see any large deer any more.

Archery is a different hunt altogether though, I have some friends who have all taken 30 inch bucks out of the area in the last 8 years, But you got to do your homework, none were taken in the sage, but in the high country, they set in blinds almost the whole hunt on water trickles.

I won't go back there again for rifle or advise any one to put in for that hunt until they put it back to four points or better instead of a LE area hunt, LE means fewer people to those who hunt this area it does not mean Trophy bucks.

That whole side of the state also has a terrible poaching problem, which could be part of the problem with this area.
Sorry to be a downer, Good Luck to ya any way !

ElkManDan · May 21, 2017

Congrats on getting the tag, seems like you have some good luck in the draws and always end up with overlapping tags. That's a better problem to have than not being able to draw any tags. I don't know much about the unit but live pretty close, give me a holler if you need anything.

-Dan

shedneck · May 21, 2017

Thank you, Dan. That is very generous of you. I apply in so many states that sometimes I have overlapping hunts. If there is anything I can help you with in Nevada please let me know.

tlandrews13 · May 24, 2017

We have 14 points and didn't draw Vernon.
Good luck to you!

King_B · May 24, 2017

I hunted Vernon last year. Here's a link to a little video I put together:

shedneck · May 24, 2017

Thank you for sharing. I actually watched that video the day after I got the cc hit.

Depending on how the Nevada draw treats me, I'm leaning towards hunting the last four days of this hunt and having a great time with friends and family despite some negative opinions about the area. We will see. If all that I find in four days of hunting is immature and small deer, then that's fine - I was hunting and compared to the other option I will gladly take it.