Utah Archery elk hunt

elkggkhunter · Mar 20, 2016

Anticipating drawing a 2016 Utah Manti Archery elk tag. I know I will not officially get the results until the end of May, however with 12 points, I feel 95% confident I will draw. Summer is by far my busiest time of year at work, so I do not want to wait until June before doing homework and research about this hunt. I am from Minnesota and will not have time to scout the area before season.

Wondering if there are any fellow hunters out there that have hunted the Manti that would be willing to share any information. Being in my late 50's, this will be my one and only hunt in Utah and I want to make the most of it. Any information would be appreciated. Area's to hunt, hunting pressure, terrain, weather, can these elk be called in or are they too educated? Quality of Bulls etc. etc. I have found some information about the Manti, but not a lot.

Thanks

Vanilla · Mar 20, 2016

How much of the season can you devote to be here?

The archery dates are as good as they'll ever be in Utah this year. The later in the hunt you're here, the better chance of calling them in as you'll be approaching the rut. Earlier in the hunt you'll need to find water as it will be hot and bulls will be dispersed some.

Lots of elk on the Manti, with some really good bulls.

smitty · Mar 20, 2016

Try and hunt the last 10 days of the season. Scouting is difficult to do on rutting elk. They can travel great distances to find cows. Just come and hunt your ass off. I had the Boulder tag 5-6 years ago and just hunted weekends. Wish I woulda just waited and hunted 7-10 days straight. I was burned out by the time I was done. Too many trips and miles driven. Bulls didn't get active until later anyhow. In my opinion the hunt archery hunt dates are crazy early.

elkggkhunter · Mar 20, 2016

Vanilla / Smitty, thanks for the reply. I actually plan on hunting no less than the last 2 weeks of the season so hopefully I will get opportunities. Looks like a big unit with lots of steep country. Sounds like I may need to get back in a ways due to lots of pressure, mostly spike / cow hunters, deer hunters etc.?

Gary

smitty · Mar 20, 2016

I believe the last week of the hunt you'll be the only archery hunters there.

Check the regs to be sure.

Seems like in the past that has how they've done it. Gives the LE guys a week to their selves.

goofyelk · Mar 20, 2016

smitty is correct, general archery ends September 9th..

Archery deer continues thru September 16th,
not many hunters left though.

There will be LE any weapon guys coming in, setting up camp.
Still not a major factor, the last week of archery LE will be AWESOME!

I too anticipate at least a 50/50 chance to draw this permit
this year. I've been watching bulls on the unit all winter..

The Manti is looking really good IMO for 2016.

elkggkhunter · Mar 21, 2016

goofyelk,

Nice, You must live close by? I know this unit is not known for monsters, but what should I realistically expect to see quality wise? Up to 320 inch bulls and with some luck maybe bigger?

goofyelk · Mar 21, 2016

elkggk,
Pretty much lived on the unit for almost 40 years...

And every year there are a few monster bulls harvested.

310-330 is realistic,
A bit harder to pull off with a bow, BUT possible for sure.
And a chance at bigger!

elkggkhunter · Mar 21, 2016

Goofyelk,

I'd be more than happy with a 300 plus bull. I'm just hoping to get into elk and and get opportunities. With at least the last two weeks of hunting and maybe more, I would think there is a good chance. But hunting is hunting and you never know.

I guess I need to draw before I get too far ahead of myself.
The end of May is going to be a long wait for results.

Good Luck on your draw!

littlebighorn · Mar 22, 2016

elkggk,

Pretty solid advice here so far. I will chime in that the archery elk hunt is no cake walk and getting a good bull in archery range is not as easy as TV and videos often represent. The season ends right when the rut generally heats up so be prepared to have some days that you don't even hear a bugle. Because of that, I would recommend that you identify some isolated water sources/wollows to sit during slow days. If you have some trail camera's bring them and place them on water so you have an idea of what is coming in and when.
If you are not practiced with calls, get good with them and then use them sparingly. (leave the hoochy momma home). The spike/cow hunters educate the elk very quickly on who is real and who is not.
It can be a great hunt if done right.
Best of luck

elkggkhunter · Mar 22, 2016

Thanks littlebighorn,

The archery harvest for LE looks to be about 35% in the manti which is still pretty darn good compared to most areas. I've taken a few archery elk, so I'm confident in my abilities. My biggest challenges may be .... being my first time out there, getting to know the area ( Yet to be determined)and finding the elk. I'm in decent shape at 58, but can't go like I did when I was 30. lol
Hopefully with the season being later this year, the bulls will be more vocal the last week or so.

bowhunt · Mar 24, 2016

Littlebighor nailed it!
If you can find some wallows / water sources and sit them ESPECIALLY early in the hunt, and during the slow calling part of the days...you will dramatically increase your odds of success.

Bulls wallow lots early! From Aug 30-sept 11ish, they hit them regularly.

good luck!

kchristi · Apr 1, 2016

Had this tag last year spent 2 months on the mountain I live close. I took a 355 Bull on sept. 4th It is a hard hunt without them rutting I would agree with everyone that the last week would be best. Would be happy to share info send me a message.

joesikora · Apr 1, 2016

I know I've said this a lot in the past but I'll say it again. that's what I love about the people on here. They will hope a person out in a heart beat. Very cool!

Joe

"Sometimes you do things wrong for so long you
think their right" - 2001
"I can't argue with honesty" - 2005
-Joe E Sikora

Servehim · Apr 2, 2016

+1 Joe. I love it when MM team helps out NR guys. Bottom line is every one of us in our home state will have X number of out of staters hunting our home units. For most of those guys it's a one and done experience. I choose to help those folks , I won't send them to my honey hole but happy to send them to an area I know is good ? Shalom