Elk Ridge vs. Pauns.

buckhorn · Feb 9, 2018

I'm getting ready to apply for the limited entry buck deer in Utah this year and have a few questions for the experts that know about these units. We are non-residents. ( Live in Nevada ). I have 21 points and my son has 19 points. So we're knocking on the door of drawing. We will probably apply separately.
I guess my first question is how does the trophy potential of Elk Ridge compared to the Pauns?
The next thing that concerns me is this year?s lack of rainfall. Will that have an adverse effect on antler growth in these units?( should we wait for a wetter winter)
Next question what would be your preferred hunt. Archery, muzzleloader, or rifle.
I know a lot about big game hunting in Nevada so would be happy to offer up any info I can. Thanks

arns · Feb 9, 2018

Elk ridge only has a bonus point for rifle and the pauns has a bonus tag for all 3.With 21 one points you are right there to draw a tag. I have been on elk ridge during the archery and there are some great bucks down there but have never been there during the rifle hunt.

Tikka · Feb 9, 2018

For rifle I wouldn't do elk ridge if it were me... Pauns would be a better tag for that time of year...

Stubaby · Feb 9, 2018

LAST EDITED ON Feb-09-18 AT 11:01PM (MST)[p]
Filmore/Oak Creek Muzzy. I'll even scout for you.

Just saying.

"That's a special feeling, Lloyd"

www.cloverleafrifles.com

https://youtu.be/l3xHt-xeNYw

buckhorn · Feb 10, 2018

Thanks for the replies so far. OK let's throw Fillmore Oak/Creek in there as well. Is the chance of finding quality bucks as good as the other units?I am open for all the suggestions I can get.
I definitely appreciate the offer to scout that is a huge bonus. I have done that for some guys in Nevada.
I am still a working man but get four weeks vacation per year Plus the occasional extended weekends and I commit all of it to scouting and hunting so we always give it our best shot.
Is the lack of rain and snow going to hurt us this year?
Thanks Again for the posts so far and Please keep them coming.

MooseMeat · Feb 10, 2018

>Thanks for the replies so far.
>OK let's throw Fillmore Oak/Creek
>in there as well. Is
>the chance of finding quality
>bucks as good as the
>other units?I am open for
>all the suggestions I can
>get.
>I definitely appreciate the offer to
>scout that is a huge
>bonus. I have done that
>for some guys in Nevada.
>
> I am still a working
>man but get four weeks
>vacation per year Plus
>the occasional extended weekends
>and I commit all of
>it to scouting and hunting
>so we always give it
>our best shot.
>Is the lack of rain and
>snow going to hurt
>us this year?
> Thanks Again for the posts
>so far and Please keep
>them coming.
You keep bringing up the rain/snow fall like this will make or break your tag. These animals know where to find water and where to find food during all times of the year. Utah is always in a drought it seems, and the animals always seem to do just fine. Quit worrying about things out of your control and get the tag when you can. You never know what tomorrow might bring...

elkhunterUT · Feb 10, 2018

If it were me, I would take the Paunsaugunt archery tag all day long over any of those other hunts. Most of the deer are concentrated on top and the trophy potential is definitely trending up again. Some amazing bucks were killed on the unit last year, especially during the bowhunt.

chipc · Feb 10, 2018

+1 to what moosemeat said.

buckhorn · Feb 10, 2018

Good advice guys I appreciate it. I agree we never know what next year will bring.
It seems we hear much more about the Pauns. than the San Juan Elk Ridge.
Please feel free to PM me.
Thanks

Blackie6 · Feb 10, 2018

I spend a lot of time on oak creek during all seasons. I would Reccomend not putting that many points into any hunt there except rifle. I could help you out a little if you drew the tag and wanted the help.

buckhorn · Feb 11, 2018

>I spend a lot of time
>on oak creek during all
>seasons. I would Reccomend not
>putting that many points into
>any hunt there except rifle.
>I could help you out
>a little if you drew
>the tag and wanted the
>help.

Thanks Blackie6 sent you a PM

BrowningRage · Feb 11, 2018

Um, buy a home and move to Utah. Put in for the Henry Mtns next year as a resident...

"Therefore, wo be unto him that is at ease in Zion!" 2 Ne. 28: 24

goforbroke · Feb 11, 2018

>Um, buy a home and move
>to Utah. Put in for
>the Henry Mtns next year
>as a resident...
>
>"Therefore, wo be unto him that
>is at ease in Zion!"
>2 Ne. 28: 24

This is what is going to happen for all LE tags in another 10 years. We are being hosed as residents.

Stubaby · Feb 11, 2018

LAST EDITED ON Feb-11-18 AT 06:52PM (MST)[p]When I moved to Montana in 2007 I had three elk and three moose points.

Now that I'm back home I have 13 moose, 13 elk, and 9 if everything else.

Don?t hate the player, hate the game. That's a dumb rule but no way was I not going to get those points.

What gets me is the moose log jam. When I moved there were 35ish moose tags in the Ogden, cache, and other units. Now they give out 3-4. If I could move points to mtn goat or sheep and never be able to put in for moose again I would. Heck, I killed a rocky sheep in Montana last fall.....I'd be game to move my Rocky points over to desert and moose over to goat and call it a day.

There?s a ton of guys with 10-20 moose points who will be pushing daises before they draw for a bullwinkle.

Heck I'd give all mi OIL points for an oak creek rifle deer tag. I'm better off saving my money and going north of the border for moose and goat and south for desert sheep at this point.

"That's a special feeling, Lloyd"

www.cloverleafrifles.com

https://youtu.be/l3xHt-xeNYw

6x7 · Feb 11, 2018

>Um, buy a home and move
>to Utah. Put in for
>the Henry Mtns next year
>as a resident...
>
>"Therefore, wo be unto him that
>is at ease in Zion!"
>2 Ne. 28: 24

Read a story about a guide from another state that did that for a sheep tag,didn't turn out so well for him.

OpeningDay · Feb 12, 2018

>LAST EDITED ON Feb-11-18
>AT 06:52?PM (MST)
>
>When I moved to Montana in
>2007 I had three elk
>and three moose points.
>
>Now that I'm back home I
>have 13 moose, 13 elk,
>and 9 if everything else.
>
>
>Don?t hate the player, hate the
>game. That's a dumb
>rule but no way was
>I not going to get
>those points.
>
>What gets me is the moose
>log jam. When
>I moved there were 35ish
>moose tags in the Ogden,
>cache, and other units.
> Now they give out
>3-4. If I
>could move points to mtn
>goat or sheep and never
>be able to put in
>for moose again I would.
> Heck, I killed
>a rocky sheep in Montana
>last fall.....I'd be game to
>move my Rocky points over
>to desert and moose over
>to goat and call it
>a day.
>
>There?s a ton of guys with
>10-20 moose points who will
>be pushing daises before they
>draw for a bullwinkle.
>
>Heck I'd give all mi OIL
>points for an oak creek
>rifle deer tag.
>I'm better off saving my
>money and going north of
>the border for moose and
>goat and south for desert
>sheep at this point.
>
>
>"That's a special feeling, Lloyd"
>
>www.cloverleafrifles.com
>
>https://youtu.be/l3xHt-xeNYw

??????? Isn't there a rule in Utah that if you do not apply for a species for three consecutive years, you lose your points?? I am not sure on this one any more, but if that is true, you will be playing musical chairs with your current points and will never really be able to build any points for a specific species.. Again, not sure if that rule applies any more.

Stubaby · Feb 12, 2018

Not true. My brother hasn't put in for Bison in twelve years and his 6 bison points are still there.

As long as you are actively putting in the points stay active.

I moved out of state the year they changed the rules on NR putting in for all species. If you think this is bad, thing of a NR who's just getting started now. Talk about a log jam!!

"That's a special feeling, Lloyd"

www.cloverleafrifles.com

https://youtu.be/l3xHt-xeNYw

OpeningDay · Feb 12, 2018

>
>Not true. My brother hasn't
>put in for Bison in
>twelve years and his 6
>bison points are still there.
>
>
>As long as you are actively
>putting in the points stay
>active.
>
>
>I moved out of state the
>year they changed the rules
>on NR putting in for
>all species.
>If you think this is
>bad, thing of a NR
>who's just getting started now.
> Talk
>about a log jam!!
>
>
>
>"That's a special feeling, Lloyd"
>
>www.cloverleafrifles.com
>
>https://youtu.be/l3xHt-xeNYw

Good to know. I should have researched a little before I opened my pie hole! haha

JakeH · Feb 13, 2018

Openingday, they had that rule for a couple years, but as long as you applied for something you wouldn't lose your points.

Then on the 3rd year when it would have actually started taking points away from people they did away with the rule.

So as it is now once you have your points you keep them for life.

Jake H. BIG BONE HUNTING Page on Facebook.

Gator · Feb 15, 2018

He didn't say rent a house, He said MOVE to Utah so once he MOVES to Utah he can still put in for Hunts.

"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/]

elkassassin · Feb 15, 2018

>Openingday, they had that rule for
>a couple years, but as
>long as you applied for
>something you wouldn't lose your
>points.
>
>Then on the 3rd year when
>it would have actually started
>taking points away from people
>they did away with the
>rule.
>
>So as it is now once
>you have your points you
>keep them for life.
>
>
>Jake H. BIG BONE HUNTING
>Page on Facebook.
>

I Think Jake is Right!

Gonna Have My Points all My Life!

buckhorn · Feb 15, 2018

Looks like my thread got hijacked. Could we please start a new one to discuss residency issues?Thanks guys

OchocoKid · Feb 16, 2018

You're right on that.

I've been wondering the same thing as you because my wife has enough points to draw either one, or right at it.

From the research I've done the Pauns is the better hunt. but you have to wonder with so few tags in Elk Ridge if someone who knew it well couldn't find a better buck there than the Pauns ? I'm still on the fence, when it's time to pull the trigger I'll research it harder.

I hunted Elk Ridge 20 years ago and it was nothing special at that time as far as deer numbers went. I assume it's better today , if it isn't I'd go with the Pauns.

Stay Thirsty My Friends

BeDawg · Feb 16, 2018

Paunsaugunt

bugleb · Feb 17, 2018

Elk Ridge has been going downhill for several years, and is in a major slump right now. Also, it is always iffy there for the rifle and muzzle loader seasons because the deer start moving. There are miles and miles of no-man's land between the summer range and the winter range, and they can be mighty hard to find in the no-man's sector.