18 points

Jq23 · Feb 9, 2017

I have 18 elk points and I'm putting in for a tag this year. The problem is which unit I want to hunt. The last couple years I was going to put in for the manti tag but we kept drawing a random wyoming elk tag, so not wanting to have those hunts interfere with each other I held on to my points. I think our luck has run out with drawing another random wyoming elk tag, odds are against us. So now I need to figure out what utah elk hunt to burn my points on. I'm interested in the early rifle hunts, right now I'm still leaning towards manti. What do you guys think?

fullthrottle · Feb 9, 2017

Manti is a good tag. Seems to be trending upward as far a trophy potential.

rockroller · Feb 9, 2017

Panguitch Lake early rifle.

Jq23 · Feb 9, 2017

I haven't looked at panguitch lake to much, only because I had a friend hunt it a few years ago and it was a tough hunt for him.

ElwoodUT · Feb 9, 2017

Manti could be a great unit. I've heard really good things about it and if you have the time to scout you could get a good bull. Remember that it is a general season muzzleloader deer unit so you want to harvest before that final weekend if you can. Friday/Saturday you will start to get other hunters coming in to scout and camp for their deer hunts.

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crimedog · Feb 10, 2017

I drew the Manti Tag last fall. I didn't move around much and hunted the same canyon the entire hunt. I had a couple of chances at bulls over 360 but alas couldn't seal the deal. It's painful being with in 50 yards of a bull that big and not having any chance for a shot.

I ended up shooting a great looking bull that went 325. But the score was the least of it. It was the entire hunt and play for that bull that just worked out perfectly and I wouldn't trade him for anything.

rockroller · Feb 10, 2017

Had the PL tag in15 ,found an area with quite a few bull's.Ended up getting a nice bull,dark heavy anlers,a nice top end about 340 ,and good eating too !

Itipaw · Feb 14, 2017

LAST EDITED ON Feb-14-17 AT 09:59PM (MST)[p]I would not put in for the manti if I had 18 points. They have been giving out way too many tags and its getting hunted down bad. I have spent the last few years watching the elk on the central part of the manti and very few bulls are getting over the 330 range. Crimedogs bull would have been a awesome bull in two or three years. He put on about 30 inches from the year before. I have hundreds of pix of that bull. There was only three bulls in the surrounding canyons that were truely over the 360 range and all three got killed.

I would pick a better unit....

Jq23 · Feb 15, 2017

What units would you suggest?
I'm leaning towards the manti because I live fairly close and could scout it a bit, but I'm open to suggestions.
I will be hunting off of horses to avoid some of the other hunters.

alpinebowman · Feb 15, 2017

I would go for the boulder with those types of points.

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dillon · Feb 15, 2017

You have several options, Manti is good. You would probably draw, hard to say with the new mid season hunt and the permit shuffling.

I would not do Panguitch Lake if you don't know the unit.

18 points would get you a phenomenal muzzle loader hunt.

I have 15 points and I have been researching units on www.toprut.com.

Good luck.

Jq23 · Feb 15, 2017

What muzzleloader hunts would you suggest?

goofyelk · Feb 15, 2017

The Boulder early rifle could still be 5 years out with 18 pts

The Boulder ML permit might be possible with 18.
Although it wouldn't surprise me to see some '19s' jump
in there this year.

If you want to hunt this year, you should go Manti. IMO

Gator · Feb 16, 2017

P Lake would be my choice too. You would need to scout it good and find the bull you want to hunt BUT there is great bulls in that area.

"I have found if you go the extra mile it's Never crowded".
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sshuntn · Feb 19, 2017

I would consider the Boulder Muzzleloader
Mount Dutton Early
Sw Desert Muzzleloader
Manti Early is a great hunt if you are patient and have the ability to scout.
That's a great problem to have.
Good luck sir.
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Cam@strawberry · Feb 19, 2017

A Wasatch premium tag shouldn't be written off. It's down, but keeps kicking out 350+ Bulls for us. If you've got time and an itch to spend it behind glass then nothing wrong with having a tag on your pocket from august till November.

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