Book Cliffs Weather

inarcher

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Looking for some advice here.

I'm the guy that lost a bull elk in the Books at the tail end of the archery season. The bull was located less than a week later during the rifle hunt. Utah F&G would not allow the individual to bring the head out for me.

A game warden was supposed to retrieve the head the following week, but that fell through. His next opportunity will be during late rifle, but I'm not getting a firm commitment.

I did not fly back to the Books myself because my wife had surgery shortly after my hunt. She is still recovering. We are looking at a second surgery in the near future. There is a possibility I can sandwich a flight in there prior to the next surgery, but we're talking that late rifle time frame.

Of course, the head may already be gone...but I won't know until I look. Twelve years to draw that tag....and at my age, it may well be my first and last elk hunt in the Books.

My question is...what is typical weather in the Books during mid-November? I would be flying into Grand Junction and coming up East canyon. Will need to hike in approximatley three miles north of Divide Road.

Does this idea have potential...or am I kidding myself?

Thanks in advance for your input.
 
You should be able to do it ok. You never know though. Most years I'd say it would be no problem. I am sure the pumper will be hitting those wells for a while, and probably wont shut them in until it gets pretty bad. I am out there quite a bit and could probably give you an update as it gets closer.
 
I would be careful about taking that bull out yourself. It is my understanding that the F&G have to recover those bulls themselves. If you have to wait for an officer to bring it out anyway, why spend the money to fly out? I know it is hard, but being patient might be the best thing that you can do.
 
What does the next time he will be able to get it mean, Are you saying there will be no Wardens out on the Books until then. LOL
I would a local guy go by the spot and tag the horns with a small gps tracker because the rack will grow another set of legs and just walk out the Books if they are found.

"I have found if you go the extra mile it's Never crowded".
 
LAST EDITED ON Oct-23-10 AT 08:02PM (MST)[p]Appreciate the info bonepiler. Sounds like there is at least a chance with the weather.

I have already cleared the recovery with Utah F&G. Told as long as I go in myself....with my tag...and no weapon...everything is 100% legal.

As far as the number of game wardens patrolling the Books, I have no idea? What I can tell you is in 18 consecutive days of elk hunting the Books, I saw ZERO game wardens.

Had the recovery gone as planned, the game warden would have been bringing the bull out during ML season. It didn't happen and I was told he would not be back in the Books until late rifle. This due to duties with the general seasons. I've talked to the game warden himself..as well as two F&G reps in Vernal. Nobody has mentioned another warden in that area.

Of course, there is a chance the bull already grew a set of legs and walked out of there. I realize this is a gamble.
 
For what it is worth, we had a great experience helping retrieve a dead head with a conservation officer. We had to take him to the head because we spotted it from another inaccessible canyon and then we GPSed the location. He hiked in about three miles with us. The law required him to investigate the kill site with a metal detector, etc. He had to take it back and get approval from the regional director, but once everything was cleared they let us have it.
I know they have to be very careful about poachers who would kill an animal and then claim they just found it, but it sounds like you have your ducks in a row.
I hope you have the same experience as we did.
Typically the weather in the Books is variable, but the roads can be a nightmare if they are wet. It sounds like this week we are lined up for some of that.
Anyway, best of luck to you!
 
Make sure your rental Truck is 4x4 with good snow and mud tires. Good Luck.
Last year we showed up in SF SD and our rental was a Van it got changed from a 4x4 Suv it could be a bad problem but the roads was great so it didn't hurt us much.

"I have found if you go the extra mile it's Never crowded".
 
When are you tenatively planning on coming Inarcher? It would be a long shot, but there may be others who could or would want to help out...
 
Depending on the wife's situation, it looks like either the 2nd or 3rd weekend in November. Her follow up surgery could throw a wrench in the entire thing...but right now, it looks possible.

Just need to make a decision and book a flight...
 
Well, rolled the dice and booked a flight for 11/13. Keeping my fingers crossed the weather holds a few more weeks!
 
It has snowed out there, but as of Thursday it was about gone in the area you mentioned. I didnt have any problem driving around. I think you are going to be fine, unless one hell of a storm hits.
 
Good luck. Wish I could help, but I can't make it out there that weekend. Spent all of my vacation time there on the hunt....Keep us posted...
 
I'm sure you really want the bull bad, but you better do it the right way. If the Game Warden catches you with it you won't like the results.
 
Dry as a bone out there yesterday. Storms in the forecast for next week though. Good luck.

Dax

There is no such thing as a sure thing in trophy mule deer hunting.
 
I appreciate the updates, but it looks like I'll be cancelling my flight. Suffered a treestand mishap (not a fall) on Tuesday and can barely bend my right knee. Eating Advil like candy just to walk.

Guess some things are just not meant to be....
 

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