Looking for a little information in regards to the spike elk hunt in Utah. Did I have to apply during the big game draw? Is it considered the antlerless draw that I have to put in for? Is there somewhere that shows how many tags are available for each unit? I looked on the DWR website and in the 2013 guidebook but I can't seen to find much information. Thanks for helping.
Utah Spike Elk Hunt
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huntinfanatic
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There is no limit per unit. Permits are sold first come first serve until the statewide cap is met and your permit is valid on all spike units.
C
CCMuleyHunter
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Sure wish the state would stop this idiotic program or make some major changes to it. Our top end bulls here in Utah have suffered because of the spike hunts. 2006 was a banner year for elk here in Utah and just so happens that this was when we started hunting the majority of limited entry units for spikes. There are still a few great bulls killed each and every year, but if you aren't a guy who can spend 60 days on the mountain scouting, you will have to have a ton of luck. The biggest bulls killed every year are by guys that spend hundreds of days in the units shed hunting, setting trail cams, and behind the glass. I would love to see the spike hunt go back to just a select number of units as it used to be.
If they don't want to stop it, I think a guy who harvests a spike on a limited entry unit should have the same 10 year waiting period as the guy who fills his limited entry tag. He is after all a trophy bull in the making.
Get off my soapbox now. Sorry.
If they don't want to stop it, I think a guy who harvests a spike on a limited entry unit should have the same 10 year waiting period as the guy who fills his limited entry tag. He is after all a trophy bull in the making.
Get off my soapbox now. Sorry.
I was under the impression that the spike hunts were the cause of the boom in big bulls in Utah. I was 13 or 14, if I remember correctly, when Utah went to the spike only hunts. Low and behold 7 to 8 years later Utah starts producing big bulls and quickly turns from a place it was cool just to see an elk to a top tier elk state. What aspect of the spike hunt do you think is causing a problem with big bulls?
highcountryfever
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What aspect of
>the spike hunt do you
>think is causing a problem
>with big bulls?
You can't have big bulls if you shoot them when they are babies.
>the spike hunt do you
>think is causing a problem
>with big bulls?
You can't have big bulls if you shoot them when they are babies.
When the LE entry program was started some of the units did not allow spike hunting for several years.Some allowed only spike hunting for 5-6 years which allowed recruitment of a good number of bulls into the "mature" bull class each year. If I remember correctly some units like the Monroe did not allow unlimited spike elk hunting until about 4-5 years ago. The main reason that the LE bull units grew and did so well was because of limiting hunting to spike only for several years. I do believe that the move to statewide spike elk hunting has been "the " factor in the decline of mature bull population numbers. I know the Southern RAC has discussed limiting spike hunting on the LE units in their region to help improve the numbers of higher end bulls. The biologists wanted the move to statewide spike hunting on all units because they were concerned with the bull/cow ratios. Too many bulls and not enough cows to keep the different herds healthy and productive in terms of calf production..
Wasn't there a move around 2007 to lower the target age class of bulls on many LE units? I thought this was to be accomplished by adding more LE tags. I could easily be wrong as I don't spend too much time hunting Utah anymore but I seem to remember this being done to get more people through the system. If this is the case then that could also be a major factor in the reduction of the number of book bulls.
