Vernon, Dmnd Mntn, Pauns Mngmnt???

[BrowningRage]

I know its early to ask, but I figure what better time of year to ask than when everyone just got done with their LE hunts..??

So, having narrowly missed Book Cliffs Rifle tags and then a Book Cliffs Multi-Season tag, I find myself in possession of 12 Bonus Points. I have decided that I am now beyond the Book Cliffs threshold and am looking at greener pastures elsewhere.

It looks as though next year I could draw a Diamond Mtn Rifle tag (I know where it is and have been by it but never in it), or I could be in the BP Pool for a Rifle tag on the Vernon (been there once in 2011 for winter range viewing) or the Paunsy Management Tag (never been there).

So, I'd love a little input from you guys as to which one you would put in for. Now, since caliber of buck will come up I will say this, if I were on Diamond Mtn or Vernon, my top-level buck would be a 180" deer. Meaning, crack of dawn on opening day, I wouldn't hesitate on such a buck. Knowing that the Paunsy buck would only be 3 on one side, I would hope for a "180-class" buck that was simply missing s tine on one side.

Knowing that, would anyone recommend one hunt over another..?? I would most likely have family in tow, and while it would be cool to kill a big buck with my kids there, I wouldn't have an expectation to do so as they are pretty young. They'd be happy to have me bring one back to camp.

I'd appreciate your input brothers. I have been leaning on a Management Tag for the last few months, but some photos of some Vernon bucks killed this year and a couple Dmnd Mtn bucks I've seen photos of have me wondering if that's the right way to go.

The Paunsy in the rut with a shot at a real slug of a deer with poor genetics, or a shot at a truly awesome buck with 4 or more points per side..?? Such a tough decision.

Thanks guys. PM me if you'd prefer.

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

 

[Extramile12]

Vernon sucks

 

[elkassassin]

Book Cliffs SUCKS!


Go Ahead!

Make Me take it down!

 

[Iron]

PM sent Rage

 

[BrowningRage]

I am aware of the situation with the Book Cliffs. Hence my choice to "move on to greener pastures".

Why does Vernon suck.?? I've seen some photos of some great bucks taken out there this year. Plus, its pretty close to home here in Northern Utah.

Thanks for the PM also...

Any other opinions..??

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

 

[BowHuntr]

If your goal is to kill a "big" buck I would choose the unit you could spend the most time scouting. If you are just looking to kill a buck while your kids are in tow, you could do that on any of those units you listed.

 

[nicediybucks]

LAST EDITED ON Oct-29-15 AT 11:25AM (MST)[p]LAST EDITED ON Oct-29-15 AT 11:21?AM (MST)

LAST EDITED ON Oct-29-15 AT 10:59?AM (MST)

I have to be honest with you. I have seen better general season bucks than what is coming off the Vernon. One thing Vernon is is totally over run with four wheelers and side by sides. People just make there own roads on just about every ridge out there. Vernon has bad genetics with a lot of crabby forked bucks and big two points. There are some really good bucks also, but when a guide service comes in year after year and takes the top end of bucks out they are just not recovering from that. I know I will catch crap for saying this, but it's true. There was a big buck that I watched all year in the hay and guess what he got shot by the guide service so they aren't even safe there now. I am not saying these guys are doing anything wrong just stating what I feel hurts the Vernon unit.

 

[dillon]

Paunsaugunt management hunts are fun, but in the end you are going to kill a 3xsomething buck. You should be able to find one in the 24-30 inch wide range. Do you think it is worth 12 points to kill a big three point? If I had 12 points I would put in for Paunsaugunt archery since I like to bow hunt more than rifle hunt.

It sounds like the Book Cliffs and Vernon are struggling.

Good luck.

 

[backinthegame]

The Vernon unit gets pretty much nothing but trashed on this site...but I had the archery tag in 2011 and was able to spend a ton of time scouting along with 9 days hunting before I killed a buck and during all that time on the unit I saw plenty of good deer including a handful of bona fide big, big bucks.

I'm not saying it's any kind of holy grail, but it's a good unit in my experience and holds some solid bucks.

I also archery hunted the Books in 2014 (Expo tag) and I realize you're more or less over them from the sounds of things, but in my experience if offered my choice in tags, at least for archery, I'd choose Vernon over the BC 10 times out of 10.

Not much experience with the management hunt on the Pauns, but it's a sweet unit too.

Good luck whatever you decide.

 

[NimrodNut]

BR, I'd go for an Elk Ridge archery tag! Not sure how many points it will take, but I bet you'd draw in the next 3 years.

 

[RoadlessHunter]

12 is not even close to the top on San Juan archery. Its possible to draw in the next 10 years maybe.

 

[Extramile12]

When people have to shoot 2 points on a limited entry unit. You know it sucks maybe they aren't had core hunters but that's sad

 

[jray]

LAST EDITED ON Oct-29-15 AT 06:50PM (MST)[p]I hate to say it but I think you'll be hard pressed to get a crack at a 180+ buck on Vernon unless you want to pay a farmer to hunt his hay fields. There are still a couple dandy bucks killed there each year but you can say the same about every general unit in the state. I honestly can't believe Vernon and the Books are LE units.

I wish the state would have included Vernon in the management hunt program. In my opinion Vernon needed a management hunt a long time ago and maybe it would be a decent unit today. I live 20 minutes from Vernon and you couldn't give me a Vernon tag.

 

[BrowningRage]

In all honesty, I think 12 points for a Management deer off the Paunsy could be points well spent. I've had some MM members send me photos of Management Deer they have harvested over the past two seasons. I'd be very happy to kill any of them. Wide, Heavy-horned bucks that just didn't have it in them to be 4-points or better. Not to mention this photo from the Paunsy this year that has two awesome Management Bucks in it:

In addition to all that, I enjoy filming wildlife, and I feel like I could fill up my memory card with great bucks while trying to locate my Management Buck. I'd be down there right now if I had the tag this year. And something tells me the bucks are probably ruttin up a storm already.

I'm hoping in the next few days somebody who had the management tag this year will respond to this thread.

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

 

[stringstalker]

Have you decided on a unit?

 

[BrowningRage]

I think I have pretty much ruled out Diamond Mountain. I emailed some guys who had shared pics with me, and they let me know their deer were on private.

I'm heavily in favor of the Paunsy Hunt. I realize I'd have to kill a 3xsomething, but there's a good chance I'd end up killing a 3xsomething at the end of a Book Cliffs or Vernon hunt anyway, so why not at least have a chance at a Gagger "Management Deer".

I'm sure they aren't everywhere, but there's got to be some 30" 3-points down there. And, I'm guessing that having a Management Tag might afford me a little more assistance from MMers and other hunters on the unit, seeing how they are all in for the true trophy animals... Maybe even some outfitters would impart knowledge of a big 3 that they wouldn't want a client to kill.

IF I decide next year is the year to be hunting, I'm leaning heavily on the Management Tag on the Paunsy. But, I won't ultimately decide until February.

I appreciate all of the input and PMs I've received. You are a great bunch of guys around here.

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

 

[PointHunter]

Browning Rage,

I have not spent much time on the Diamond so I will not comment on it. However, I have spent tons of time on the Vernon and some time on the Pauns.

I would highly recommend the Vernon if your goal is 165-185 class buck and family in tow. This is a very realistic goal.I know there are a lot of guys that are really down on the Vernon. Yes, the quality and quantity of bucks is not what is used to be. That being said, year after year, 75% of the hunters hunt the same 10 square mile area. You can see why the quality would be down in that area.

There are lots of huge ole management bucks on the Vernon as well. Pauns would be super fun, but you would be limited at the management tag.

PointHunter

I sent you a PM as well

 

[Gunnie3035]

>LAST EDITED ON Oct-29-15
>AT 11:25?AM (MST)
>
>LAST EDITED ON Oct-29-15
>AT 11:21?AM (MST)
>
>LAST EDITED ON Oct-29-15
>AT 10:59?AM (MST)
>
>I have to be honest with
>you. I have seen better
>general season bucks than what
>is coming off the Vernon.
>One thing Vernon is
>is totally over run with
>four wheelers and side by
>sides. People just make there
>own roads on just about
>every ridge out there. Vernon
>has bad genetics with a
>lot of crabby forked bucks
>and big two points. There
>are some really good bucks
>also, but when a guide
>service comes in year after
>year and takes the top
>end of bucks out they
>are just not recovering from
>that. I know I will
>catch crap for saying this,
>but it's true. There was
>a big buck that I
>watched all year in the
>hay and guess what he
>got shot by the guide
>service so they aren't even
>safe there now. I am
>not saying these guys are
>doing anything wrong just stating
>what I feel hurts the
>Vernon unit.

what he said ^^^

 

[Extramile12]

The whole Vernon unit is hurting. Yes the area where 80% of people hunt sucks but everywhere out there is in trouble. Go pauns I've put in for that hunt for a couple years I think it would be a riot!

 

[JakeH]

The antler growth on Diamond is very weather dependent, on the dry years the head gear just isn't as big. Also there is a ton of private up there, unless you have a lot of time to scout and really get to know the area I would steer clear of it.


Jake H. BIG BONE HUNTING Page on Facebook.

 

[Bill_in_MI]

>In all honesty, I think 12
>points for a Management deer
>off the Paunsy could be
>points well spent. I've had
>some MM members send me
>photos of Management Deer they
>have harvested over the past
>two seasons. I'd be very
>happy to kill any of
>them. Wide, Heavy-horned bucks that
>just didn't have it in
>them to be 4-points or
>better. Not to mention this
>photo from the Paunsy this
>year that has two awesome
>Management Bucks in it:
>
>

>
>In addition to all that, I
>enjoy filming wildlife, and I
>feel like I could fill
>up my memory card with
>great bucks while trying to
>locate my Management Buck. I'd
>be down there right now
>if I had the tag
>this year. And something tells
>me the bucks are probably
>ruttin up a storm already.
>
>
>I'm hoping in the next few
>days somebody who had the
>management tag this year will
>respond to this thread.
>
>
>"Therefore, wo be unto him that
>is at ease in Zion!"
>2 Ne. 28: 24

Browning-

I had the premium LE puansy rifle tag. I think I might have killed the buck you photographed in your post (second from the right). He was a stag buck that taped out right at 180" gross including a few inches of legal points on his bases. Reach out to me.

Bill

 

[big6]

Browningrage lots of good input from the guys here. Just wanted to share that I read your post about having a good feeling they were rutting on oct. 30th. The bucks that I have seen are just starting to get into it the last few days so more than likely the rut won't be kicked in for the hunt. I live in kanab and durring the management hunt the bucks usually aren't super active yet.
www.hightopoutfitter.com

 

[bucksmut]

BR-Hopefully this isn't considered "Highjacking" your thread but I really want yours and others opinions as it sounds like you have thought this through with your 12 points.

How would your decision change with 3 extra points for this year(so 15 going into the draw)? What would you do? That is the situation that I am in and I am unsure.

I had been putting in for Henry's but realize that might be a pipe dream or 10+ years. Some friends are pushing me to do Archery Pauns as I have archery hunted quite a bit and like it but I know the limitations that can present and sometimes that unit is a year dependent thing as my Dad had the Rifle tag their once a few years back and it was a tough year and he didn't find a buck worth shooting.

So ideally I would like to hunt a unit where 180" is a doable benchmark with some upside potential for something bigger. I have looked into the Alton as well and that is an option. What would be your play here? Archery, muzzy, or rifle are all options. Thanks

 

[bucksmut]

Also I can relate to your situation as well because that is how I have ended up with 15 points and it doesn't get any easier to decide-funny thing is my original goal was to pull a decent mule deer tag then move on to elk but after each point year I kept upgrading in my mind the unit that I felt I was capable of drawing.

So it went from a CWMU to book cliffs, then book cliffs to Pauns, then from Pauns to Henry's, now I am considering waiting out the Henry's and ultimately might take a buck that I could have had on a "lesser" unit ten years ago with lots of points for elk and hunting opportunity in between. Lots of different things to consider.

 

[fishnfool1958]

maybe I can shed some light for you.
I drew the pauns management tag 2 years ago , and here is some things I learned.
1st I saw lots of bucks , however I found getting one is not as easy as you may think. I figure maybe 1 in 20 is a wall hanger. And maybe 1 in 10 of those is a legal management buck. And they are there. However you have to get them to stand still long enough , and at the right angle to count points, and believe it or not , they don't always cooperate.LOL

2nd the migration and the fence along the hyway tends to concentrate the deer, they are not spred out all over the pauns unit , but are on the migration routes. It is an incredible sight to see and well worth the trip. But be aware this also concentrates the tag holders also.
3rd if you choose this hunt , I would stay away from the beaten path along the hyway migration routes, and get out and glass and find the straglers with less pressure.
I don't want to discourage you at all, Just trying to help you make a dicision based on what you are looking for, I put in with 12 points , but only because failing health and vision issues left me with an unknown future or if I could hunt . And I didn't want to waste my points.
That being said, I really enjoyed the hunt , and seeing all the deer. I could have come away empty handed and been happy. And I do believe if you put in some time and effort , you can score a great buck.
I ended up with a decent 25" 3x4 , which I was fine with. I have killed 3 bucks at 195 to 220 over my years , but on this hunt I was just looking for one last decent buck , and it did that.
Feel free to email me @ [email protected] anytime, If you want to talk more