Book Cliffs Archery Help

Zane · Aug 4, 2013

I drew a book cliffs tag with 9 points and have been on call for work sice the 1st of july so no time to scout, I have been hearing the heard is not doing so well and with using 9 points am thinking of turning the tag in! Anyone been out there that can tell me that i'm crazy if I turn it in. Thanks in advance. Zane

Broadside_Shot · Aug 4, 2013

Yeah the herd is struggling. What size buck are you after?

Zane · Aug 4, 2013

160-170 Class Buck, Keep thinking that with the way the draws are going there might be a chance on a premium tag in the next couple of years with bucks in the 170+ Class.

CAMO24 · Aug 4, 2013

I also have an archery tag this year I drew with 8 points. I have been on a few scouting trips this year and am doing on more this coming weekend. I have done all my scouting in the roadless area and have seen some good bucks. If you want my opinion I wouldn't turn it back in. You should see a lot bucks in the 160ish class. If you have time too hunt and are willing to put on some miles you will have a chance at a good deer without a doubt. I would be glad too help you out if you need a good starting point. Hope this helps and good luck.

Shorty1 · Aug 5, 2013

I hunted it the last two years on the rifle. You will be able to find deer/ bucks everywhere. There is a lot of deer, but...finding the older age class of bucks is difficult. They are there though. I scouted several times in the July/aug time and found a few 170 type bucks up high. The archery tag will be your best advantage because the deer will still be higher and easier to find. They need to do a youth management tag for a few years in my opinion. Lots of big two and three points. Give some youth a good opportunity to harvest a nice buck and get rid of some bad genetics. Hope I helped

BrowningRage · Aug 5, 2013

Just did a video of less than 24 hours on the Books a couple weekends ago... Saw more deer, and more good bucks than I've ever seen out there in the past...

I'm hoping since I didn't get my tag this year, that next year the herd out there will be that much better (what with the reduced tag numbers this year). Anyway, enjoy.

"Therefore, wo be unto him that is at ease in Zion!" 2 Ne. 28: 24

Broadside_Shot · Aug 5, 2013

In my history of hunting the Book Cliffs, more than half of the bucks we have taken qualify as a management buck. The genetics still have not changed, as a matter of fact they have gotten worse.

This is a limited entry hunt and people target the best bucks not the big 2x3's. If you could draw a tag more often maybe those bucks would get shot and not be able to breed. Maybe since they have cut some tags it might allow a few good bucks to survive. Not an easy way to manage wild deer for Genetics and make everyone happy.

The other problem is the doe still has bad genetics. I wish they could open a youth hunt that you had to shoot a buck with two on one side and watch it closely to see if it helps any. Call the Hunt "Dropping the Deuce".

That being said there just are not that many bucks in the Book Cliffs that score 170+. You will be able to chase some bucks that score what you are looking for. The Roadless is you best bet at those type of bucks.

rmanwill · Aug 5, 2013

LAST EDITED ON Aug-05-13 AT 11:25AM (MST)[p]Hunt and enjoy. Start bulding points for another hunt. The video shows you two days of scouting from the truck and what you will find on the books. A couple good bucks that are in the range you are looking for there. Never know when a better one might show up with alittle work.

Nice video BrowingRage. Couple good bucks videoed.

NimrodNut · Aug 5, 2013

I went out over the 24th of July for a few days. Comparing it to when I had an archery tag in 2009, it's definitely gone downhill. What was really alarming to me, however, was the low number of does with fawns. Of the 20-25 does I saw, only 2 of them had fawns.

Like stated by others, if you are looking for a 150 class buck with a bow and you are patient and have some time, there is no better place to go than in the Books! My 13 year old son, now 17, also drew an archery permit in 2009 and killed a 160-class 4x4 as his first buck. It was a great hunt and great memory for both of us.

Good luck in your hunt, let us all know how it goes!

swbuckmaster · Aug 5, 2013

Ya I'd turn the tag in. With 9 points you should be able to draw a premium le tag in 10-40 more years.
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No you waited 9 years to draw a unit where you have a chance to kill an easy general season quality buck. All kidding aside I'd hunt the tribe boundaries. Some of those bucks escape the rifle hunt and get some age.

who farted?