Utah LE Deer units rankings

UtahMountainMan · Oct 12, 2012

Hey guys - I currently have 5 resident points for LE deer. I have been applying for Book Cliffs archery and am getting close. I am open to using the muzzleloader or rifle too.

I am not foo familiar with many of the LE units here in Utah, so I am just wondering how you guys would rank them OVERALL, meaning overall number of bucks, quality of bucks, success rate, etc.

What changes would you make on this order?

1. Henry Mtns
2. Paunsaugunt
3. West Desert Vernon
4. Book Cliffs
5. San Juan, Elk Ridge
6. La Sal, Dolores Triangle
7. South Slope, Diamond Mtn
8. Fillmore, Oak Creek

"You sure you know how to skin grizz,
pilgrim?"

BuckStrut · Oct 12, 2012

I would put the Book Cliffs before West Desert Vernon. and Crawford mountains should be on the list too!

southslope82 · Oct 12, 2012

Just my opinion
1. Henry mtns.
2. Paunsaguant
3. Vernon
4. Diamond Mtn.
5. San Juan Elk ridge
6. Book Cliffs
7. Dolores Triangle "this one could very with weather conditions"
8. Fillmore, Oak Creek

bayside · Oct 12, 2012

1. Henry Mountains
2. Paunsaguant
3. San Juan Elk Ridge (Gotta know how to hunt it)
4. Book Cliffs
5. Vernon
That's all I can really talk about since I don't know the other units.

shedhead · Oct 12, 2012

henries
paunsy
san juan
delores
books
vernon
diamond
oak creek

swbuckmaster · Oct 12, 2012

LAST EDITED ON Oct-13-12 AT 03:30AM (MST)[p]with 5 points you wont every really have a chance at the top archery units in Utah. I have 12 archery points and cant even draw the 2nd best archery unit in utah and Im still 10+ years away from the henrys tag.

if I were you id go with a unit you know the best. Any of the le units have 170-200" bucks and any of them kill them every year. this doesn't mean you will kill anything especially with a bow. The only good thing about the higher up units you just dont get to have to hunt with 300 tag holders you get to hunt with 10 or less other tag holders. but you wont draw any of those units realistically for quite a few more years unless you hit the lottery.

just look at the odds pages on this site but remember they haven't been updated and there were a lot of rifle guys with lots of points dropping down into the archery pools this year and the odds above wont reflect this. heres the link, just select mule deer and "DONT SELECT A WEAPON OR UNIT" this will show you what the majority who are applying will say about what units they think are the top units. again its a year behind it will be updated though in a few weeks. http://monstermuleys.hunterstrailhead.com/huntsearch.php?ST=UT

rifle and muzzy odds are going to be worse in fact it could be 4-7 more years until you draw a rifle bookcliff deer tag. So if you want to hunt id go with the archery tag.

id personally rank the top three archery units in this order
1. henery mtns, will never draw this tier in your life

2. pauns, sanjuan, could be 7+ years on this tier

3. vernon,bookcliffs, your getting close on this tier

reality sucks when looking at the utah butt plugg point creap system if your not lucky and are one of the last ones in your point pool to draw.

Can we update this forum so posting with a
phone is easier?

BullCrazy · Oct 15, 2012

LAST EDITED ON Oct-15-12 AT 11:25AM (MST)[p]LAST EDITED ON Oct-15-12 AT 11:21?AM (MST)

LAST EDITED ON Oct-15-12 AT 11:20?AM (MST)

LAST EDITED ON Oct-15-12 AT 11:18?AM (MST)

My buddy drew a Vernon tag this year and after having hunted it with him and the time I have spent on other LE units, I would definitely not put Vernon number three of all the units, I would drop it to #5 with Book Cliffs #3 and Diamond Mountain #4.

Nemo · Oct 15, 2012

I think I would put the Books and San Juan both above Vernon.

Unless you know someone who owns land on Diamond Mtn, I wouldn't rank it that high. The bucks are there, but the ability to hunt them may not be.

Just my 2 cents.