Vernon Deer Help

DeerJohn · Sep 20, 2011

LAST EDITED ON Sep-20-11 AT 01:28PM (MST)[p]I was lucky enough to score a Vernon any weapon deer permit this year. Until this summer I have not set foot on the unit with the exception of riding at the Sand Dunes, Cherry Creek, and Jericho. I have been out of town most of the summer for work and have only been able to go out and scout 8-9 times. Just wondering if there is any advice you would be willing to send my way? Any Vernon bow tags have a deer report? Anybody seeing any trash out there? Any thoughts and or help would be most helpful and greatly appreciated. Thanks.

Foreman4x4 · Sep 20, 2011

You've scouted 8 or 9 times and are just figuring out the roads and access points? Really?...

DeerJohn · Sep 21, 2011

Sorry to bother you Foreman. Was just trying to make small talk. Any help would be appreciated.

BearPaw101 · Sep 21, 2011

Yeah i have seen some nice bucks runnin around but not monster ones

lastshot101 · Sep 21, 2011

Hey Deerjohn, I am in the same boat as you! I have never really been on the unit other than sand dune trips untill this year. I have spent alot of time out there this year and I have only saw 1 buck I would have shot! Lots of little 24" 3X4 and 4X4's runnin around.
I am still excited to hunt but I really dont see my self filling a tag this year.

let me know were your camping maybe we can chase'em around together.

I have a rifle tag.

DeerJohn · Sep 21, 2011

Not sure yet where we are going to set up base camp yet. I talked to the Biologist who is supposedly in charge of managing the Vernon unit. He said that his management goal is for the average deer harvested to be 24" 4x4. Obviously, there will be some deer taken both smaller and larger, but to average out at 24" 4x4. He claimed that this trend has held true the last year or so. With this approach, they are getting a higher buck to doe ratio than most areas, but less trophy class deer. He said that there are around 35 bucks per 100 does. Not sure if this is true or not, but that is what he told me. Based on my scouting though, this holds pretty true. Have seen tons of bucks, but most of them would fit close to that criteria (24" 4x4"). I have seen a few nicer deer and some crazy wide 3 points.

powellpounder · Sep 22, 2011

There is lots of trash around the unit. people need to care more and haul it out. As of the bio. he stated some facts different to you. The buck numbers yes but he stated its a false number the does and fawn have taken a sharp decline the last two years. The forrest service also issued almost 400 more cattle permits this year then the earlier years. The deer are in some odd locations this year because of that. But keep looking you will find the pockets that will hold a few biggens. Also if you are finding groups of good 4x4s you might want to take a closer look at them. Its a great hunt and close if you live around the wasatch front area. I would scout hard after the muzzle and set my plans then. Also for those that had the tag last year on the rifle the reason you saw alot of hunter by simpson is because they had 9 camps that thought it was a general unit per F@G john hammond stated to me.

DeerJohn · Sep 22, 2011

Thanks Powell. Good information. What are people thinking? That is nuts that 9 different camps would confuse the Simpsons as part of a General Unit. Did they not do their homework? Or did they just not care?

nicediybucks · Sep 22, 2011

I don't think the forest service has issued 400 more cattle permits. I run cows on some of the vernon unit and that is not what happens with cattle permits, they just don't up your cattle numbers. The deer numbers seem to be really low from what I have been seeing out there this year. You just need to be patient and not shoot the first 22 inch four point you see out there.

DeerJohn · Sep 22, 2011

Thanks for the post Nicediybucks. I can be patient. Have you seen some deer that would be worth waiting for this year?

Downrange · Sep 22, 2011

powellpounder did those guys in the 9 camps kill any deer and get in trouble over it? My friend had a tag out there last year and i couldn't believe the amount of hunters around the simpsons. I thought somebody must have really seen a big un in that area. We did scout the simpsons a lot a last year and didn't turn up anything bigger then a 24in 4pt.

lastshot101 · Sep 22, 2011

Has anybody spent any time around the Kegs? What are the deer like out there?? Might be an option to escape the hoards of people since it is out of the way.

ridgetops · Sep 22, 2011

I ran into a guy out there last weekend with a youth any bull tag and he had no idea it was a limited deer hunt area.

There's always next year

powellpounder · Sep 22, 2011

No deer where killed he caught most camps that am and the night befor. As the cattle numbers that was from the forrest service supervisor they were surveying to see if they will keep those permits. the church picked them all up. And yes the deer numbers are down but all said its a fun unit

nicediybucks · Sep 23, 2011

Yes I have saw a couple bucks that are really nice. There not 190" monsters that everybody talks about on here, but they are good solid four points 26" to 28". The hunting on the vernon does get better after the first weekend. I would really consider going out on the backside somewhere them deer start going that way when the pressure hits them. I hope you have a good hunt.

Downrange · Sep 25, 2011

I am happy to see no deer were hammered by those few camps who thought they were hunting a general unit. My wife had a tag out there last year and my cousin also, we had an awesome time scouting all summer. Biggest buck we saw was a 180 inch 4pt. Never could find him during the hunt. My wife ended up taking a 26 in 4 pt right off the cherry creek road. My cousin killed a 29 inch 5 by 4 that scored right at 173 inches a real good buck. We killed the 2 biggest bucks we saw during our hunting but we were done by wednesday and never spent any time out there the last 4 days. It is a fun hunt with alot of bucks being seen everyday. To pull a 180 type buck out of there a guy should be very very happy because they are not behind every tree they are few and far between. We also hunt alot of lions out there and during the winter months i am amazed at the amount of people i see out there during that time of year running around. I think we have some poaching going on and alot more then what you or i think is happening. My older brother has a tag out there this year and we are getting excited for the hunt should be alot of fun.

Gamewatcher · Sep 25, 2011

I would go up harker canyon and look up there. Wait there opening morning and everyone else will push them to you. Then look elsewhere until Wednesday or Thursday and go back when everyone else leaves. It's a good canyon later in the week

southy10 · Sep 25, 2011

VERNON...LOTS OF TAGS GIVEN YOU SEE ALOT 50 TO 100 DEER PER DAY ALOT OF PEOPLE SAY THERE ARE TONS OF 26" TO 28" BUCKS BUT MOST ALL BUCKS 18"-24" DONT LET ALL THE PEOPLE FOOL YA DONT GET ME WRONG THERE ARE REALLY NICE BUCKS OUT THERE BUT HUNT HARD AND YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO KILL A NICE ONE THAT YOUR HAPPY WITH. LET ME KNOW IF YOU NEED SOME HELP. +1 HUNT LATER IN THE WEEK AND DONT COUNT OUT THE LOW COUNTRY.

DeerJohn · Sep 26, 2011

>Has anybody spent any time around
>the Kegs? What are the
>deer like out there?? Might
>be an option to escape
>the hoards of people since
>it is out of the
>way.

Hey Lastshot. I have been out to the Kegs a couple of times. Looks like great deer country to me. Hardly saw any deer. Might be a place they go later in the year though. Anybody else have any thoughts on this?