New hunter looking for guidance

BeastlyDavis13 · Jan 15, 2019

I am new to Western hunting, all of my experience is in treestand whitetail archery hunting, and I'm planning on hunting deer and elk this coming fall, and I would love some advice on how to be successful with muleys!

I'm a student at Brigham Young, so I'm looking at the Wasatch East deer hunt and Wasatch spike elk hunts. I've got my rifle sighted in, (Ruger American Predator in 6.5CM) and it drops coyotes without an issue. Any advice on general locations, how to best prepare or scout out, or just someone I can bounce ideas off of would be great. I just feel a little overwhelmed by how drastically different this is from what I grew up doing.

Also, the application guidebook is a little confusing, can you buy deer and elk tags over the counter?

Thanks

lundellhunting7 · Jan 15, 2019

Really anything south of Strawberry will get you into elk and deer. There are a lot of people that hunt that area but get off roads like any other place and you will find more animals. Deer tags if there are left overs you can get them over the counter. Elk tags for there will be limited entry unless you buy a spike tag.

Founder · Jan 16, 2019

Hunting a new area begins with getting to know the area. If you know the unit you'll likely be hunting, then begin now getting out and looking at deer on the winter range a little. When summer comes, that's when you really need to get up there and look for bucks and bulls, learn roads and trails and identify the more remote areas where you might get away from a few more people.

Also. between now and summer, analyze everything on Google Earth.

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legacy · Jan 16, 2019

1) Apply for your archery tag during the application/draw period so you have the best chance at the tag you want. The application period begins in a couple of weeks.

2) Buy an elk tag as soon as they go on sale (I think they go on sale sometime during the summer)

3) Take Founders advise and go learn the area. There are elk and deer there, it's just a matter of figuring out when and where.

I can imagine it's probably overwhelming, but just get things into motion and you will figure it out. it's really not that bad once you learn the ins and outs. Someone here is always willing to answer most questions.

https://wildlife.utah.gov/guidebooks/2019_pdfs/2019_biggameapp.pdf

legacy · Jan 16, 2019

BTW, you'll have to buy a hunting license before you apply for the hunts.

BeastlyDavis13 · Jan 16, 2019

Thank you for all the replies so quickly, I can already tell this forum will be of great help!

I have already transferred my hunter safety card to a Utah card, so we're on track. Thanks for the reminder to buy my license before tags, sucks my fishing license won't be up yet, but it's only a few month overlap.

With the fires that went through this past summer, do we know if anything is still going to be closed?
Also, I realize now that I put Wasatch East, when I meant Wasatch West. Big difference. Does that change anything?

BeastlyDavis13 · Jan 16, 2019

Additionally, what's the deal with WMA's in Utah? I know the Wallsburg WMA is in the Wasatch West deer hunt, and I know it's closed through spring, but how do they work here in Utah? Is it just public land to hunt on? Special regulations? Heavily pressured?

Like I said, Utah's paperwork isn't the most clear, and there's a lot I need to get figured out before fall.

legacy · Jan 16, 2019

>Additionally, what's the deal with WMA's
>in Utah? I know the
>Wallsburg WMA is in the
>Wasatch West deer hunt, and
>I know it's closed through
>spring, but how do they
>work here in Utah? Is
>it just public land to
>hunt on? Special regulations? Heavily
>pressured?
>
>Like I said, Utah's paperwork isn't
>the most clear, and there's
>a lot I need to
>get figured out before fall.
>

https://dwrapps.utah.gov/ram/start2

The WMA's are public land that you can hunt. If you camp inside of a WMA, don't attempt to camp anywhere other then an established camping area within the WMA. They're strict on staying on roads, etc. Depends on the WMA but they can get as much hunting pressure as any other area.

BeastlyDavis13 · Jan 16, 2019

>Also. between now and summer, analyze
>everything on Google Earth.
>

I know Utah has the pretty slick site that is the "plan your hunt" tool, is there a way to overlay the hunt unit boundaries on Google maps / earth so I can see topo and satellite images a little easier?

Are there sections that are generally known as being better than others? Like Diamond Fork is never good, or American Fork canyon is always hot? Obviously I don't want anyone giving out their honey holes, just wondered what the general thought is on where is worth putting time in for scouting.

Thanks so much y'all, this is hugely helpful!

littlebighorn · Jan 16, 2019

Because the Wasatch West is right in the middle of most of the people in the state, it is harder to draw a deer tag there than a lot of other units, especially the rifle tag. So if you are really wanting to hunt this year, be sure to apply in other units with your additional choices. It's also a unit that gets hunted hard because people live close, so if you do draw, find places to hunt as far away from roads as you can find.

BeastlyDavis13 · Jan 16, 2019

Littlebighorn,

Maybe I read this wrong, but from what I see, it looks like everyone got their general season buck tag for Wasatch West?

https://wildlife.utah.gov/hunting-i...me/1468-big-game-statistics-drawing-odds.html

I looked at the 2018 general season deer, and for rifle in Wasatch West it showed a 1 : 1 ratio. Am I reading this wrong? Let me know if I am haha.

Thanks so much!

justr_86 · Jan 17, 2019

You'll still have to pay attention to land boundaries but utah is mostly public land. Onx maps will be a great tool, has hunt boundaries built right in. Find somewhere you can get away from roads and people (walk) find a good vantage point or lookout and use optics to find the animals then plan your route in, play the wind. Eastern animals you can pattern to a specific trail, western animals only pattern in to a few hundred yards typically. Some sitting but it will be mostly spot and stalk. Enjoy it, you just signed up for a hell of a ride!

IdahoHntr · Jan 17, 2019

LAST EDITED ON Jan-17-19 AT 04:51PM (MST)[p]>Littlebighorn,
>
>Maybe I read this wrong, but
>from what I see, it
>looks like everyone got their
>general season buck tag for
>Wasatch West?
>
>https://wildlife.utah.gov/hunting-i...me/1468-big-game-statistics-drawing-odds.html
>
>I looked at the 2018 general
>season deer, and for rifle
>in Wasatch West it showed
>a 1 : 1 ratio.
>Am I reading this wrong?
>Let me know if I
>am haha.
>
>Thanks so much!

Looks like its a guaranteed tag to me. Never hunted that area, I've always thought it looked rough and steep though! Really the best advice has already been given. Get out and learn the area during the summer. Even if you don't see tons of animals, get to know the roads and trails at the least and you will have a lot more confidence when the season rolls around.

And the advice about ONX ^^ is spot on. It's a very helpful tool especially when getting to know a new area.