LAST EDITED ON Oct-24-13 AT 09:00PM (MST)[p]I've hunted four different CWMU units since they started them. I've had friends and neighbors that have hunted a number of others, including Ensign.
I've had two Pauns rifle/muzzleloader/archery tags, I've helped a number of friends and family scout and hunt the Pauns since it became a limited entry unit. It is not like shooting fish in a barrel, if your looking for a really mature, large antlered deer. A few folks wander into a really big buck on the Pauns but believe me, it's all the best public land outfitters can do to find their clients the biggest deer on the unit. They work hard at it but still and all, not every client takes home a 190+ buck.
Having said that, based on my CWMU experience and the stories I've be told by others, there are only two CWMU I'd take over a Pauns rifle tag and that would be the Alton and the Deseret Land properties. The rest of the CWMU properties, for a public draw tag, absolutely never in a million years would I take over a Pauns rifle tag, even though I know you've never set foot on the unit.
How many CWMU units have you personal knowledge of? At least the on Pauns you can start scouting tomorrow and scout until the day you draw the tag.
How many friends and family can hunt the CWMU with you? One maybe two.
Can you take your horse, your ATV, your dune buggy on a CWMU? Not likely.
Can you camp where ever you want on a CWMU? Not likely.
How much pre-scouting will you get to done on any CWMU None. Not one minute prior to your hunt date.
How many acres are you going to hunt on a CWMU? On the Pauns, you have over a million acres of hunting property to freely hunt, on any day of your season.
How many 3 year old and older deer are there any CWMU? On the Pauns? More than a hundred, way more.
There a tons of ordinary guys who know the Pauns, you can, for sure, if you put any effort into it, find any number of guys who will give you good directions on where the deer frequent on the unit. Myself included. Total strangers helped me from the MM site, on more than one occasion.
The Alton and Deseret Land are two anomalies when it comes to CWMUs. They have the land and the large older bucks and the absolute best business plan so far as how they treat their public tag holders. They treat the public draw hunter very nearly the same as their paid clients, included free guide service, as I've been told. If I could draw one of those two CWMUs, I'd do it in a minute, but with 15 points there's no chance. They're harder to draw than the Henries.
Of course, like I said at the beginning, this just based on my experience and opinion, for what it's worth. Best of luck in the draw and your future deer hunt.
DC
