Manti Late Season Tag

fish_wisper · May 21, 2012

Ok, I wasn't going to post this just yet as I wanted to let some of the drama die down a bit with all of the credit card hits or lack there of. I just found out that I drew the Manti Late tag on Friday!!! If successful, this will be the first bull elk that I will have the opportunity to harvest so, I'm very eager to get started on the homework process of the hunt. Has anyone hunted this unit with the late tag in the past or know what area the elk might be in during November? I know a lot of it depends on the weather. Any info would be greatly appreciated! Congratulations to all that drew a tag this year!!!

littlebighorn · May 22, 2012

fw,
I helped a friend a few years ago and while we saw hundreds and hundreds of elk in big herds, the big bulls pulled away from the cows into little hidie-holes, and/or private ground to lick their rutting wounds.
It was a tough hunt for my friend who spent the whole season trying to find a good bull. He ended up killing a small 6 late in the hunt, which was pretty disappointing for him.
You are smart to make as many connections with previous hunters as you can to find those hiding spots. We never found them so I can't help, but they are there.
Congratulations on the tag and Good Luck.

rydub01 · May 22, 2012

my wife or myself also drew this tag, wont know until they email us. anyway i have a cabin in this area and hunted the late hunt with my uncles and grandpa who had 3 tags about 5 years ago. each of them shot around 300 inch bulls. it was a fun hunt with a lot of snow so be prepared for weather. like littlebighorn says, the better bulls have separated themselves from the herds and scatter. the 3 bulls that we killed were on opposite sides of the unit so find a way to cover ground. it was too cold for a wheeler and tough on our trucks but we managed ok with chains on. the bulls were also a little beat up, a few bulls had broken tines. thats about all i can help with, honey holes won't really help much that late. have fun and dress warm.

Catchindeers · May 22, 2012

i had this tag two years ago,it is a tough hunt but we saw some good bulls, worked our butts off to find them! I had help from two outfitters that knew the area well, if it wasnt for them i would not have seen as many bulls as i did. If you want some info go ahead and call me
lance
801-675-2255

fish_wisper · May 22, 2012

Thanks for the info guys! I really appreciate it!

utahbigbull · May 22, 2012

P.M. sent

potgut · May 23, 2012

I had this tag in 2010,+1 on the cold it can be just that. Be ready to move and be moble we hunted on snowmoblies, four wheelers, horses, hiked, and drove from the north end HWY 6 to the south end I-70 and west side to east side. Elk everywhere you go follow the tracks you will find the elk but like said before the big ones are by there selves. congrats on the tag and enjoy every moment I made a movie of my hunt my kids and I watch it all the time, make the best of it and envolve all you can.

AndymanSavage · May 23, 2012

I hunted this unit with a friend last fall. The weather is no joke, we were nearly stranded by snow several times. Chains are a must and snowmobiles would be better.

I have to disagree with the people that say the big bulls are far from the herds of cows at this time. This is true as winter goes on, but not necessarily early november.They may not be in the middle of the cows, but they are within a few canyons. At this time of year the cows that ddid not get bred or whose breeding didn't result in a pregnancy are coming back into second cycle esterus. The biggest bulls we saw (350+) were screaming and chasing cows, not all day, but it was happening. The only bulls we saw by themselves (miles from cows) were 300 type smaller bulls.

My buddy shot a decent busted up bull on the last night, mistaking it for a really big one that had been spotted a few minutes earlier. Shoot me a PM and I'll share more specifics.

377192_10150379781348946_629088945_8552835_1975630990_n.jpg

-----------------------------------------------
http://andymansavage.blogspot.com/

hossblur · May 24, 2012

Early scouting is pretty useless, other than to familarize yourself with the unit. Hunted it 4 years ago late. Two brother in laws hunted it two other years. WEATHER is the factor. On two of the hunts it was WINTER. The other not so bad. Seems like the bulls are between the high country and the winter range. We caught them out by where they winter in Spring City, but could never get them off that closed land. PM sent

When they came for the road hunters I was not one so I said nothing. When they came for the oppurtunists I was not one so I said nothing. When they came for the public land hunters I was not one so I said nothing. When they came for me there was no one left to say anything!

DBLung · May 30, 2012

Hoss is right. You will have to play the weather and try to find some private ground. The extended archery hunt overlaps this hunt a few days so sanpete valley area will see lots of pressure.
Good luck.

monstermuleyhunter · May 31, 2012

I've been on this hunt a couple times...lots and lots of elk. Opinions are like you know what but mine is certainly big bulls are far from the herds of 500 cows! We have never seen so many elk but the big bulls go into holes that very few men have ever seen. on One hunt after fighting the snow for several days the tag holder gave in and killed a 300" bull. We have a cabin on the unit which certainly helped but 3" of snow is tough at that time of year because the elk have went to their wintering ground yet and dissapear into their holes. If you find a big bull focus on him and chances are there will be other big bulls very close. Most important thing to remember.....if a bull is good enough to make you smile than kill him because like any snow covered late hunt the weather can completely shut you down filling your head full of regret and nothing eats you worse than regret. Good luck!