South Slope Bonanza/Vernal

2096 · May 20, 2021

I drew a Deer tag in the unit and have never been in the unit before. I am hoping to get some info on where to camp. I plan on going out there for a few days to scout, but any help would be appreciated.
Thanks

roadrunner · May 20, 2021

Click Here to Start

ThrowingLead · May 20, 2021

There’s a dirt road just outside of town on the left. Drive on it for a1.8 miles then stop. Take 69 steps east, then turn 360 degrees, look to the pine tree on the ridge to the left and there should be about a nice 185 inch buck chillin right there for ya.

Land Hunter · May 21, 2021

I've only hunted antelope there. Hope it goes well! Sorry for all the sarcasm that gets dished out on this site. Not Founder's intention I'm sure.

JakeH · May 21, 2021

TheNewGuyInTown said:
There’s a dirt road just outside of town on the left. Drive on it for a1.8 miles then stop. Take 69 steps east, then turn 360 degrees, look to the pine tree on the ridge to the left and there should be about a nice 185 inch buck chillin right there for ya.

Gosh!!!! I hate it when people give out my secret hunting spot over the internet. Guess I got to start looking for a new area.

Abiggerfish2fry · May 21, 2021

If you are coming east into town on 40, take 2500 west and just follow that up it will take you right up the mountain and just find a place to set up camp.

MuleyKiller · May 22, 2021

Just being honest here. This is probably the worst general deer unit in the state. Probably not what you wanted to hear.

Blank · May 22, 2021

Scouted 3 days, and hunted antelope for a week there. Only buck low i saw was down along the river. A few deer up higher, and anytime i found quakies i saw does. Good luck

Daxter · May 24, 2021

This unit typically has the highest success rate of any general season deer unit in the state (So, I'm not quite sure how it's the worst unit in the state?). That being said, I would also guess that 90%+ of the bucks harvested are yearlings with maybe a couple two year olds. There are not many older age class bucks. If you're hunting the forest, where the most deer are, look for aspen and hunt in and around the aspens during the rifle hunt. There are tons of roads and lots of road hunters. Opening morning on the Range Study, Colton or Little V off Hwy 191 above Vernal you might just wear your running shoes and leave your rifle home. You just got to outrun everyone else to the buck and tag it before the other two guys that shot it get there. Ha ha!

It's a fun hunt. Not a trophy hunt. Have a blast.

Delta Bravo · May 24, 2021

Daxter said:
This unit typically has the highest success rate of any general season deer unit in the state

You might wanna study those numbers a little closer. It’s not the worst unit in the state as far as success, but it’s certainly not the highest over all.

MuleyKiller · May 24, 2021

Daxter said:
This unit typically has the highest success rate of any general season deer unit in the state (So, I'm not quite sure how it's the worst unit in the state?). That being said, I would also guess that 90%+ of the bucks harvested are yearlings with maybe a couple two year olds. There are not many older age class bucks. If you're hunting the forest, where the most deer are, look for aspen and hunt in and around the aspens during the rifle hunt. There are tons of roads and lots of road hunters. Opening morning on the Range Study, Colton or Little V off Hwy 191 above Vernal you might just wear your running shoes and leave your rifle home. You just got to outrun everyone else to the buck and tag it before the other two guys that shot it get there. Ha ha!

It's a fun hunt. Not a trophy hunt. Have a blast.

Shooting Spike's and two points, and putting on our running shoes to outrun everyone to a yearling. Sounds tempting.
I would have to give that a hard pass!

I don't think we should even include yearlings in our harvest success calculations!
And I will stand by it being one of the worst general units in the state, you just reaffirmed that.

Delta Bravo · May 24, 2021

MuleyKiller said:
Shooting Spike's and two points, and putting on our running shoes to outrun everyone to a yearling. Sounds tempting.
I would have to give that a hard pass!

I don't think we should even include yearlings in our harvest success calculations!
And I will stand by it being one of the worst general units in the state, you just reaffirmed that.

That happens in every unit in the state. I’ve seen literal fist fights take place over a 2 point. Every unit is a disaster the first 1.5 days of the hunt

deadibob · May 25, 2021

Delta Bravo said:
That happens in every unit in the state. I’ve seen literal fist fights take place over a 2 point. Every unit is a disaster the first 1.5 days of the hunt

Every unit is a disaster.
FIXED IT FOR YA.

Str8UpLegitHunting · May 25, 2021

Delta Bravo said:
That happens in every unit in the state. I’ve seen literal fist fights take place over a 2 point. Every unit is a disaster the first 1.5 days of the hunt

Maybe you should go buy a land voucher

Delta Bravo · May 25, 2021

Str8UpLegitHunting said:
Maybe you should go buy a land voucher

No voucher needed here. I’ll stick to my public land fighting and 2 point slaying ?

2096 · May 27, 2021

Hey guys, I know the unit is not a great unit. I also have a 85 yr old Dad that still wants to hunt and as long as he is able to do this I will take what I can get. I also have a friend that is only into hunting a couple of years and has only shot 1 Buck so far. Sorry if my post offended anyone. If we get nothing that is fine and if my friend wants to shoot a forky that is fine also. The jerky will still be good. Some of you guys are pretty hard core with the comments.
Anyway thanks to the guys that are trying to be helpful.

2096 · May 27, 2021

Daxter said:
This unit typically has the highest success rate of any general season deer unit in the state (So, I'm not quite sure how it's the worst unit in the state?). That being said, I would also guess that 90%+ of the bucks harvested are yearlings with maybe a couple two year olds. There are not many older age class bucks. If you're hunting the forest, where the most deer are, look for aspen and hunt in and around the aspens during the rifle hunt. There are tons of roads and lots of road hunters. Opening morning on the Range Study, Colton or Little V off Hwy 191 above Vernal you might just wear your running shoes and leave your rifle home. You just got to outrun everyone else to the buck and tag it before the other two guys that shot it get there. Ha ha!

It's a fun hunt. Not a trophy hunt. Have a blast.

Thanks for the info.

Daxter · May 27, 2021

Delta Bravo said:
You might wanna study those numbers a little closer. It’s not the worst unit in the state as far as success, but it’s certainly not the highest over all.

I have studied the numbers. I'm not looking at the youth or dedicated hunters that can hunt all the seasons, just the general rifle (including the early and late ones). For the last 5 years straight it has had the highest success. I didn't look back beyond that, but I bet it was super high in those years too.

Year	% Success	Success Rank
2020	53.8	1
2019	63.5	1
2018	75.2	1
2017	70.6	1
2016	80.2	1

ridgetops · May 27, 2021

MuleyKiller said:
Just being honest here. This is probably the worst general deer unit in the state. Probably not what you wanted to hear.

I think you've been drinking too much of elk azz's coolaid!

elkassassin · May 27, 2021

EASY There Ridge!

Let's See How Many of them Successful Hunters Took Bucks 5 Years of Age or Older?

ridgetops said:
I think you've been drinking too much of elk azz's coolaid!

Delta Bravo · May 27, 2021

Daxter said:
I have studied the numbers. I'm not looking at the youth or dedicated hunters that can hunt all the seasons, just the general rifle (including the early and late ones). For the last 5 years straight it has had the highest success. I didn't look back beyond that, but I bet it was super high in those years too.

Year % Success Success Rank
2020 53.8 1
2019 63.5 1
2018 75.2 1
2017 70.6 1
2016 80.2 1

Throw in the muzzy, archery and dedicated success in that number and see where it lands

Daxter · May 27, 2021

Delta Bravo said:
Throw in the muzzy, archery and dedicated success in that number and see where it lands

DB, go ahead and look those up if you want to, I just answered with the data for the hunt that the original poster asked about. The data is easy to find, here's the link if you want it ( Utah Harvest Data ).

The unit isn't famous for big bucks, but it consistently has the highest rifle hunt success out of the 29 different general season units in the state. That's saying something. There are lots of deer with easy access for hunters. I haven't hunted it since Utah went to unit by unit deer hunting. It's not for everyone but the folks I talk to that hunt it seem know what they are in for, and to enjoy it.

It wouldn't be my first choice if I was looking for a 5+ year old buck. But, if you are a meat hunter, a younger or older hunter, someone with limited mobility or a person that doesn't have a lot of experience and want to get your feet wet hunting muleys it's probably good for those folks. It's also getting to be pretty hard to draw, at least for residents.

elkassassin · May 27, 2021

All This Time!

And I Just Didn't Know I Was That Close to the Best Unit in the State!

Daxter · May 27, 2021

elkassassin said:
All This Time!

And I Just Didn't Know I Was That Close to the Best Unit in the State!

Too bad Bessy, you're not allowed to hunt it anyways! It's one of the many hunts you are on the drawing blacklist for in Fallon. You can only dream about hunting Nomads on the Vernal.