Most Enjoyable Unit to Hunt in Utah?

xitnet · Jan 17, 2015

With 10 Non-Res. points and going on 62 years old, I would like your guys opinion on the the most enjoyable (beautiful) unit to hunt in Utah? Like everyone else, would love to kill a big deer but at this point, a pleasure trip with a rifle, muzzleloader or bow in my hands would be fine. Bad knees have somewhat limited my mobility but I'm still good for a 4-5 mile hike in reasonable country.

I've been fortunate enough to kill a couple of 200" class deer and would love a third but a fun hunt in gorgeous country would be just as good.

Thanks in advance for any advice.

Jimmy6 · Jan 17, 2015

LAST EDITED ON Jan-17-15 AT 07:20PM (MST)[p]Pauns has it all from high mountain pine to desert. A beautiful place to visit even if you're not packing.

Plus you can hunt monstermuleys in the foot steps of John Wayne. He filmed lots of movies right there.

goofyelk · Jan 18, 2015

10 points, NR, I'd go muzzle loader , San Juan.

xitnet · Jan 18, 2015

Been flying around on Google Earth and San Juan looks nice. Also have a friend that lives close and he said come on up and he'll help me out.

Thought about the Pauns but the draw odds don't look too good. Might not be for San Juan either.

What about the country east of Beaver?? Like I said, don't care as much about killing one as having a good time in some beautiful country. My wife is going to join me on this adventure so I'm really looking forward to us having some quality time together.

Thanks!!

2lumpy · Jan 18, 2015

East of the town of Beaver is the Beaver Unit and it's a good unit, pretty too but it's up and down, way up then way down. Not all but most of the unit is fairly up and down with a few flats here and there.

The Monroe Unit is a little further east of the Beaver Unit, east of Highway 89. The Monroe is around 10,500+ ft. high so it's up there too, however it's primary flat on top with a few deep canyons but mostly low rolling hills on the top, as compared to the Beaver, its a table top!

The number of larger bucks on the Beaver or the Monroe wouldn't compare to the Pauns or the San Juan., of course, there some large bucks on all of these mountains.

The Beaver is more of a pine forest with shale rocks above the timberline, the Monroe has more quaking aspen trees on top, it is forested to the top.

Both the Beaver or the Monroe should be a guaranteed tag, ten points however is a lot to spend on either of these units, I guess it depends on how bad you want to hunt, I understand the 62 age business. I'm 67 and I've been burning my points around the country because I'm not sure how much longer I can get up and down these hills. At our age, crappy stuff can happen any day.

They say there's not reason to worry about old age, it don't last that long. Not funny. Jerks! ;-)

I am reluctant to make a recommendation for fear you'll be upset with me if you aren't happy with the hunt, if you base your decision on anything I might have shared, so please get every thing from me re-confirmation from others, that know more than i do.

All the best.

DC

huntinfanatic · Jan 19, 2015

Bonus points or Preference points?

rmanwill · Jan 19, 2015

Hard to beat the San Juan for a fun hunt. Good genetics also. Seen several bucks I would have loved to try for if I had a tag this year will hunting other species.

You want a fun hunt and have a freind near the unit that is willing to hang out and help you. You will enjoy the country and will be able to see numerous animals in the unit.

This year while hunting I seen hundreds of elk (numerous 335 plus class bulls), numerous great bucks, turkeys, bears and a cougar.

Zeke · Jan 19, 2015

>Hard to beat the San Juan
>for a fun hunt. Good
>genetics also. Seen several bucks
>I would have loved to
>try for if I had
>a tag this year will
>hunting other species.
>
>You want a fun hunt and
>have a freind near the
>unit that is willing to
>hang out and help you.
>You will enjoy the country
>and will be able to
>see numerous animals in the
>unit.
>
>This year while hunting I seen
>hundreds of elk (numerous 335
>plus class bulls), numerous great
>bucks, turkeys, bears and a
>cougar.

That sounds like you had yourself a helluva trip! FUN!
Zeke

Robiland · Jan 19, 2015

LAST EDITED ON Jan-19-15 AT 02:34PM (MST)[p]The only animal missed was the wolf that was killed by beaver this year.

BUT, I would say hunt San Juan. I think thats perfect for what you are asking. Great area.

fullthrottle · Jan 19, 2015

South Slope-Diamond is the hunt you need to put in for. Pretty country, chance for some nice bucks, not to rough, and you actually have a good chance to draw the tag. Pauns and San Juan you have very little chance to draw.

xitnet · Jan 19, 2015

Appreciate all the information. Was worried about having enough points for the Pauns or San Juan. I'll take a look at South Slope-Diamond.

Bonus points or Preference points? Not sure. I've applied for 10 years so whatever they call those points. Does it make a difference?

2lumpy,
Thanks for the insightful post. Age is the main reason for wanting to go ahead and do the hunt this year if possible. At our age, we never know if our health will be good enough to wait many more years for a tag. If I was 30-40, I would wait around another 15-20 years for a Henry's tag. I'll also take a look at Monroe.

Thanks everyone!

jester · Jan 19, 2015

Your points must be "BONUS points (LE hunts) right! Unless i believe
you only put in for points!
jester

xitnet · Jan 19, 2015

LAST EDITED ON Jan-19-15 AT 10:27PM (MST)[p]Yes, I've put in for the Henry's the last 10 years. Guess I'm confused. Are these the good points or bad points.

Can I use these points for any unit in the state?

2lumpy · Jan 19, 2015

I'm not as familiar with the Regs for Non-Residents as i am with Resident Regs but I do not believe you can use your Limited Entry points on the General Season units (Monroe and Beaver are both General Season). I believe you can only us Limited Entry point on the Limited Entry units, which are more difficult to draw, but generally hold more older bucks. The Henrys is a Limited Entry Unit. It's a mess, no doubt!

A quick call to the UDWR office at: 801-538-4700 would clarify which units you can use your points for.

DC

txhunter58 · Jan 19, 2015

That is correct, you can use your 10 bonus points on any limited entry unit in the state. If you applied for the Henrys unit, they issued you bonus points. For general units, you would have preference points. You can't use bonus points for general units, but the general units are relatively easy to draw anyway.

The only units you would have better than 10% odds on would be Filmore/oak creek, south slope/diamond mt, and west desert/Vernon. At least that was the status last year. The odds change every year.

txhunter58

venor, ergo sum (I hunt, therefore I am)

fin little · Jan 20, 2015

Just to make it more confusing, you can also use those bonus points on one of the new general season unit late muzzleloader hunts. Provided they are giving enough tags to allow non res permits.

bowhunt · Jan 20, 2015

With 10 Non Resident Deer points, there is 1 LE Deer hunt that you should draw:
South Slope Diamond Mountain Archery.

you have LONG and I mean LONG odds of drawing any other hunt.

So, if you are set on hunting this year, that is your hunt.

Good luck!

rangerdye · Jan 20, 2015

There's a chance you could draw either the archery or ML Vernon tag or the Oak Creek archery as well, depending on how many people jump units. A member on another forum put together a spreadsheet that is very helpful when looking at you odds for next year.

His website is http://utahbiggameodds.blogspot.com/p/drawing-analysis-v20.html

Spreadsheet download is in the right-hand column.

xitnet · Jan 20, 2015

Appreciate the information guys. Guess I didn't realize there was a difference in the point system. You would think LE points would be good for any unit.

I did as 2lumpy suggested and called UDWR. This is what I found out:
1. Bonus points are only good for LE hunts.
2. Preference points are only good for general season hunts.
3. We can apply for both hunts and gain a bonus and preference point if not drawn.

New LE hunts for this year with Non-Resident tags in general season units:
1. Unit 8A, Oct 3rd-15th any weapon.
2. Late season muzzleloader hunts, Oct 28th-Nov 5th. Units 7, 20, 30 and 456.
3. Late season muzzleloader hunt, Nov 15th-29th, Unit 2D

There is a lot to look at. Also need to figure out where these units are and what the weather will be like during those times. If anyone can suggest any of the above units, it would be much appreciated.

One more question. In the past I could find the draw results showing how many bonus points each applicant had. Example: Henry's, one bonus point might have 1,000 applicants while 10 bonus point might have 200. Anyone know if they still have this posted anywhere. For the life of me and my limited computer skills, I can't find it.

Thanks!!

xitnet · Jan 20, 2015

LAST EDITED ON Jan-20-15 AT 12:00PM (MST)[p]Thanks Rangerdye but I can't get the pages to open. It may be my 10 year old computer. I'll keep trying.

Got it open..... Thanks

rangerdye · Jan 20, 2015

>Thanks Rangerdye but I can't get
>the pages to open. It
>may be my 10 year
>old computer. I'll keep trying.
>

If you use Gmail you can open the file right in your browser instead of excel. Make sure to read his tutorial page as well for details about what you're looking at.

xitnet · Jan 20, 2015

Got it open....Thanks!

BrowningRage · Jan 20, 2015

Well my friend, your best bet will be to put in for an archery tag. It looks like you could draw the South-Slop/Diamond Mtn tag with 10 NR points. It also looks like you might be able to draw the West Desert/Vernon unit as well.

It also seems like you might get a South Slope Diamond Mtn Muzzy tag. There have been very few Diamond Mtn hunts shared here on MM during my tenure. The only one I remember was a rifle hunt with 3 members of a family taking 3 awesome bucks (one was like 190" plus).

Also, and if this is the case I would do this one, I think you would be a good shot at the high point-owner for a Paunsagaunt Management Hunt... It reserves 1 Max Point Tag and there are not too many NRs that put in at your level... Worth some more investigation.

The biggest issue with NRs is that most of the units do not reserve any "bonus tags" or "max point tags" in the units. Most NR tags are strictly a lottery between all who put in for it (even though with 10 points you sort-of get 11 entries). If you NEED to draw a tag this year, you will have to look for not only a unit that you will be top dog with points, but it also reserves a tag for the highest point-owner. Otherwise, it'll still be a lottery, even if you have the most points.

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

xitnet · Jan 20, 2015

Appreciate the insight BrowningRage.

What's up with Fillmore Creek? Doesn't seem to be a very popular LE unit.

fullthrottle · Jan 20, 2015

Fillmore unit is a rugged SOB, generally not one of the better LE units. Of course there is big buck potential, a couple get hammered every year. But I would say judging from your comments it's not what you are looking for. There is a reason it is easier to draw.

2lumpy · Jan 20, 2015

+1 fulltrottle. Fillmore/Oak Creek a mean unit to hike, very few roads, especially for archery, due to the fact that the deer almost all at the very top of the unit and no vehicles can get you up there.

DC

xitnet · Jan 21, 2015

Well, sounds like Fillmore is out. Would of have been fun 20 years ago. Looks like if I could wait a couple more years and get 12 NR point, a lot more opportunities might open up.

Probably wouldn't take a buck anyway unless it was a 180+ type deer. Just wanted to enjoy some new country but would like to have a chance to see some 180+ type bucks. I've taken 12-15, 145-165 class mule deer over the years mostly with a bow here in Texas plus a net 222 and 193 non-typical. So it's not about the kill. Might just take a camera hunt on the Henry's in between seasons so I won't bother the tag holders and post the pictures here.

Sure appreciate all the advice and help from the forum members. You guys rock. Of course at 61, that's classic rock.

Thanks!!