Book Cliffs Deer Survey

schoolhousegrizz · Oct 2, 2017

Just curious about everyone's experiences. My wife and dad have a tag. If you have spent any time on the Book Cliffs, please click on the link and fill out the survey. I will share the results in a week or so, thanks!

https://goo.gl/forms/Cx7a1lY9cOSQ4Kxw2

schoolhousegrizz · Oct 8, 2017

Here are the results, thanks for the input.

170-180
200+
200+
180-190
180-190
150-160
160-170
190-200
150-160
180-190
150-160
200+
170-180
160-170
190-200
160-170
200+
170-180
200+
200+
200+
Under 150
160-170
170-180
Under 150
200+
170-180
200+
200+
180-190 180-190
150-160
180-190
200+
150-160
160-170
190-200
190-200
190-200
200+
200+
160-170
160-170
180-190
150-160
200+
180-190
190-200
150-160
180-190
200+
160-170
190-200
190-200
190-200
190-200
170-180
160-170
180-190
180-190
190-200
170-180
150-160
200+
170-180
170-180
160-170
180-190

blazingsaddle · Oct 8, 2017

If I were to see the survey results and had never stepped foot on the books cliffs before, I'd have unrealistic expectations for a hunt in this unit. They seem very misleading.

If you had to guess, what would the average buck score that comes off the Book Cliffs?

elkassassin · Oct 8, 2017

I Don't know what the TOTAL Average would be because by day # 3 they start Pounding PISSCUTTERS!

But I'd Bet the Average of the Upper End Bucks wouldn't Brerak 150"-160"!

SAD!!!

Back Me Off to 1,700 Yards,650 is a Little Close & I'm Not Comfortable with it!

A GUT SHOT at 1,700 Yards will Still Make Some Good BRAGGIN Rights so I Can Say I At Least Hit Him!

WhiskeyDog · Oct 8, 2017

I get the luxury of spending more time on the unit than most. I often run into people that tell me about a big buck they've seen and usually I've already seen the same buck and they over scored the buck by quite a bit. I think a safe bet would be to take 50% of those answers and subtract 20". There are a few 200+ bucks on the unit, but there are a lot more 170-180 bucks that are called 200.

JakeH · Oct 8, 2017

I've spent a ton of time out there over the last 15 years. I have seen a few over 200 but they are definitely the exception not the rule by a long shot.

I would agree with whiskey on this as well.

I would say your average buck out there over 3 years old wont break 160.

Jake H. BIG BONE HUNTING Page on Facebook.

blazingsaddle · Oct 10, 2017

I've only spent a few years down there helping friends and family with tags and even archery hunting it for myself not too long ago.
My guess would be the average archery buck that comes off that unit is less than 140" and the average muzzy/rifle buck is not much higher than 150"-160"

Again, I feel like the list above is misleading. Not saying its untrue, just misleading.

headshot05 · Oct 10, 2017

It's not really misleading. The survey asked what is the largest buck you have seen? I have been going to the bookcliffs my whole life, if you spend alot of time out there you will maybe see one now. However if you spent time out there from say 2003-2007 You would more than likely have seen a few. 2008 was the last decent year for bookcliffs deer, it has gone down hill ever since.

Tikka · Oct 10, 2017

If the average buck killed on that unit is 130" or above, I would be VERY surprised... Its sad to see what the unit is vs. what it could be...

2lumpy · Oct 10, 2017

LAST EDITED ON Oct-10-17 AT 09:27AM (MST)[p]

2lumpy · Oct 10, 2017

LAST EDITED ON Oct-10-17 AT 09:26AM (MST)[p][The book cliffs is like all but the two premium units. Actually better tham nearly every other unit on any given year. It's being managed exactly like the UDWR believes the majority of us Utah sportsmen want in a deer unit. When you manage for maximum recreation opportunity, they believe buck deer should be killed long before they reach their natural antler potental...... for many different reasons.

As along as most of us want to hunt that kind of unit, that is what the agency will manage for. When the majority want something different, the agency will change it's recreational hunting strategy.

The strategy is a based on how sportsmen answer UDWR surveys. As a group, State sportsmen.......... the book cliffs, as it is today, is very nearly exactly when we told them we want.

Imagine that......

DC

headshot05 · Oct 10, 2017

Agreed, the only way they could get larger bucks would be to cut tags. If they were to do so there would be alot more point creep than there already is. Hense we would have a lot more boobing on here about nobody getting LE tags