honkerdwn,
Time for you to hunker down, partner.
Life is tuff, sometimes. You just got sold a bill-o-goods by the pro "Books is a great trophy unit" clan.......but if you're as dedicated as you describe yourself.....you can still get-r-done. This big buck thing is a mental game more than a physical one, just so you know. Seems like you may have the right stuff.
What you just described is a 28" 190 class buck. I know...pics can be deceiving. I've seen a couple with 200" frames on the hoof......but I've looked at hundreds of bucks in the Books. And I mean....hundreds.
Just cuz the tag is hard to draw doesn't mean it's worth the odds....or the years and points. This is a common misconception in trophy hunting. it's a complete, total misconception when it comes to hunting big bucks in Utah. Utah blows right now.....and prolly forever. It's disgusting given the potential.
According to some recent data.....the average age of bucks taken on the rifle hunt is about 4. Yet the average buck whacked is 22"-24" 150 or so. I've seen tons of Utah Books bucks that were mature, 5+ year olds......and were only 24" 150-160 bucks. The gene pool for BIG bucks blows in the Books compared to many other areas in the west. I've been incredibly disappointed with antler production many times in the Utah Books. Not so right across the border in Colo unit 21.......where the deer summer, rut, and winter in pretty much the same unit with little co-mingling with other deer.
I wouldn't waste my points in the Books if I wanted a buck you just described. Having said this.........there ain't many other places, cuz Utah BLOWS for big bucks these days due to pi$$ poor mgmt and catering to the "opportunity" folks. The Henry's and the Triangle are about as good as it gets. Oh wait.......the Triangle bucks are Colorado bucks.
There are always a few big bucks whacked all around the west, including North Dakota and western Nebraska. Doesn't mean those areas are great trophy areas.
Sooooooooo........don't just "work hard"......but work hard and hunt SMART in the Books for a buck that you described. If you hunt the lower, winter-range country......persistence and patience and mucho glassing is the key. If you hunt the places these older bucks still live cuz they ain't moved down yet....use yer noggin' and try to predict their habits and behaviors to cross paths with one when you have a rifle with ya. The bucks I've described seeing here were mostly near roads.....FYI. But, the roadless area has a few good ones as well. Get yer mind right........recognize that this will be a challenge for ya and not a "tag=instant whopper" thing.........just cuz it's the great Utah Books.......and you can do well.