Dedicated hunter program

fullthrottle · Oct 26, 2017

I have 2 years left in the program, wondering if I can get out, or change units?

Bocephus · Oct 26, 2017

Haha you saw the light??? Biggest crock of crap in the state. I could be wrong but you are stuck, they want your money!

I can't tell you how many times I've been screwd up on the archery hunt by deficated hunters "scouting" for the muzzy and rifle hunts. It's ran its course, get rid of it! Only state that diehard archery guys have to deal with half hearted gun hunters just out there to get in the way. Good luck!

fullthrottle · Oct 26, 2017

Ha, ya it is a crock. But I do like the idea of having a tag 3 years in a row and the ability to hunt all 3 hunts. Really I just want out of my area, used to be a few better bucks running around, but they just give out way to many tags on way to many different hunts for the area to sustain the pressure and continue to have any type of trophy potential. Bummer, but the DWR seems to be pretty good at messing up a good thing.

elktaker · Oct 26, 2017

LAST EDITED ON Oct-26-17 AT 01:34PM (MST)[p]As long as you can take the cost it's a great program if you are a all around hunter.

The program allows me to focus my bow hunting on elk. Knowing that I have muzzleloader and rifle seasons and an extra year if I take an elk late or not at all.

Allows you to target a better class of deer overall. If you are a bow or nothing guy the program isn't worth it since depending on the unit you could just draw every year and only pay $150 total.

I prefer take an animal with a bow but I do rifle hunt and own a custom muzzleloader so it allows me to spend more time in the field hunting and interacting with wildlife.

elktaker · Oct 26, 2017

LAST EDITED ON Oct-26-17 AT 01:37PM (MST)[p]Definitely research and kniw the unit before you get in. That's the downfall as you posted you want to switch unit or drop but you are stuck for 3 years.

I wouldn't pick a unit unless you know it.

What unit do you have?

fullthrottle · Oct 26, 2017

Huh, I know the unit very well. I have hunted it most my life. I could see and sense it was slipping the last few years, but knowing its potential and proximity to my home I put in again. The deer are just getting pounded, they give out way too many tags, and there are very few bucks that make it to there full potential. That being said there are a few general units in the state that are currently doing extremely well, pumping out multiple 200" deer every year. I was going to put in for one of those other units, but I didn't and after this year I'm kicking myself. I hate to miss the boat on that opportunity, good areas don't last forever. Currently in 4/5/6, the biggest, smallest unit in the state.

elktaker · Oct 26, 2017

That sucks you will probably have to ride it out. Try contacting one of DWR guys that work with the program. Doubt they will let you out or move but worth a try.

one_dryboot · Oct 26, 2017

There are still big deer in 4,5,6.

one_dryboot · Oct 26, 2017

And it will pump out multiple 200"deer just like the others

iluvrax · Oct 26, 2017

LAST EDITED ON Oct-26-17 AT 11:57PM (MST)[p]Plenty of ?pimped out? 200? deer, from all the CWMU brothels!?
Not so much on public land???
Sorry, no offense... I couldn't help my self...?

I think you can buy your way out of it, and then just go into next years draw? Even get back in the dedicated system again, just have to buy back in?

?Wise men change there mind often,
fools never?
(Not sure who quoted that, remembered it from somewhere)

deerkiller · Oct 27, 2017

If your hours have been completed for this year, just go surrender your COR. You have to eat the cost of your permit, but If that's not an issue surrendering your COR will get you out of the unit and you can re apply for another unit

deerkiller · Oct 27, 2017

I love the DH program. I've been in it for 9 years and plan on re applying this next year when I'm eligible again to re apply. My experience has been, most guys who don't like it are 2 point slayers. Or they don't archery hunt or own a muzzleloader. So I guess if that's what kinda hunter you are, ya it's probably a waste of money and time. It hasn't "run its course", a lot of guys love it. Gives me a chance to be very selective and pass on bucks knowing I have plenty of time to hunt still.

Bocephus · Oct 27, 2017

LAST EDITED ON Oct-27-17 AT 11:36AM (MST)[p]You are exactly right they aren't serious archery hunters so they go out with a bow in hand and get in the way scouting for the gun hunts. This past year we had guys that weren't even carrying their bows "because they had the gun hunts still" screwing us up on several occasions. Why not give the first week to dedicated archery only guys? We are the only state in the West that has the program. Everywhere else you choose a weapon and hunt with it.

Shadow · Oct 27, 2017

So, archery guys get nearly a month long season before the deer are even bothered, an extra 3 months extended and you want exclusive time on the mountain where nobody else can enter? Ok...why don't we propose to the WB that all fall just be dedicated exclusively to elite archers only, and everone else can pound sand, or pick up a bow.

Muley_73 · Oct 27, 2017

Bo,
That is completely incorrect. There are multiple states that allow you to archery and rifle hunt. Multi use public land. It's all part of the game.

Bocephus · Oct 27, 2017

LAST EDITED ON Oct-27-17 AT 03:48PM (MST)[p]LAST EDITED ON Oct-27-17 AT 02:27?PM (MST)

Muley you are correct, but not to the extent Utah has become. It's a money maker as most guys just pay for their hours and I'm not complaining about the multi use public land, I completely understand that. My main gripe is the guys that aren't serious bowhunters are in the way. I'm proposing to give an archery only tag that you apply for that allows the first week of the season to archery only guys, then all the dedicated guys can join in the following week for the rest of the hunt. This has been hashed out around family dinners multiple times haha, most my friends and family are dedicated and the majority never seem to get serious on the bowhunt. Is it asking too much to give the first week to only the guys interested in hunting with a bow, on a tag they applied for knowing they can only hunt with a bow???

fullthrottle · Oct 27, 2017

One dry boot, the public portion of 4/5/6 won't pump out multiple 200" bucks. No way, hasn't for years. The private portions of 4/5/6 is some of the best hunting in the country for big bucks and has been for a long time. I guess that's my real issue. The division includes these area's which are the majority of the unit and gives out thousands of tags for a small percent of public. They really need to pull their heads out and separate those 3 units and manage them accordingly. Wasn't that the whole point of going to more units? To micro manage the deer hunters and deer herds? So why combine an area that is so drastic from one spectrum to another. Hell Deseret should be its own unit. And that is only one of the many huge ranches in this area. Just saying, makes no sense. Unless they are just catering to the private land owners.

Muley_73 · Oct 27, 2017

LAST EDITED ON Oct-27-17 AT 06:52PM (MST)[p]Full,
The micro unit plan is not utilized even close to the way it could be. You are 100% correct on Deseret. But that is how the DWR gets the numbers they want and need. The counts are done using the deer off of the private areas. Who I completely throws the reality of accuracy out the window. If you don't count those deer in with the overall unti there would be units that do not come close to objective or buck to doe ratio. If that happens the mule deer plan would "suggest" that tags be cut on said unit. So instead we issue public tags for a number based on the entire unit. Not based on actual huntable deer on public land. So we over harvest the public land creating more value for the deer on the private and making the private less of an option to those without big dollars. Increase the number of deer and bucks that are actually living on the public land and you reduce the value on the private land and create more offordable opportunities.

Bo,
2 thoughts, archers already get more than 3 times the amount of days in the field than the other weapons. So I'm not in favor of a the first week being set aside. What I would like to see is 5-7 units spread across the state that are archery only like the Front. If you took those units and issues 500-700 LE archery only tags each year you would be peeling 3000-3500 LE hunters out of the LE back up. Within 5 years those units would be very sought after. Spreading the points and running big numbers through the LE system.

one_dryboot · Oct 27, 2017

Fullthrottle,

I agree with most of what you are saying. They need to do a better job of managing. But... to say it won't and can't happen is not accurate. I know of one 200+ buck that was just killed a few days ago. And another that disappeared during muzz. Maybe it's dead? All on Public land within the unit.
Like I said I mostly agree with you. They issue too many tags for the amount of public. I live in the unit and am DH in another unit that has better potential for a big deer

Bocephus · Oct 27, 2017

LAST EDITED ON Oct-27-17 AT 07:56PM (MST)[p]Muley I do like your thoughts on some archery only units to move people through the system. In all honesty I consistently have great archery hunts and dont mind dealing with the few dedicated guys that enjoy being out just like me. I love the idea of some late season archery only rut hunts. I would be game to burn LE points to chase rutting muleys on my favorite general units with my bow! Actually sounds awesome!

Muley_73 · Oct 27, 2017

Bo,
I think you could throw 400-500 with current dates and 100-200 mid Nov for 10 days. I'll bet you'd draw 10,000 apps to those hunts. But that would put you drawing every 3-4 years. That's the kind of management that could happen on the micro units but believe me the DWR will not do it on their own. It all starts with knapkin meetings and small town mafias.

bugleb · Nov 12, 2017

The main problem with the Utard dedicated hunter program is that instead of one piss-poor Utah hunt per year, you end up with three piss-poor Utah hunts each year.

I like it a lot better going hunting with the kids and grand kids in Wyoming every year, even if I don't have a tag myself most years.