My Dutton Deer

honkerdwn · Oct 30, 2017

LAST EDITED ON Oct-30-17 AT 11:00AM (MST)[p]LAST EDITED ON Oct-30-17 AT 10:50?AM (MST)

Now that the rifle deer hunt is over I'm curious as to others success on the Dutton this year. I wasn't able to go down on the opener but spent last Tuesday to last Saturday evening down on the south end of the unit. I had an enjoyable time seeing lots of deer everyday and covering lots of country. Although I didn't connect I did see quite a few little bucks and plenty of does with fawns. It had been a few years since I had hunted that unit and one tends to forget just how big and rough some of that country can be.
One exciting thing that did happen that had me on edge for a bit was I had a run in wit a Mtn Lion. I had been sitting by a tree on the edge of a meadow high up in some cliffs that plateaued. I don't know if he was sneaking in on me or just didn't know I was there. All I know is he was coming straight at me at about 20 feet! It all happened pretty fast and I'll just say details get a little "fuzzy" but he took off like his a** was on fire in the opposite direction. After doing a quick check of my drawers I figured I had seen enough of that area and headed out to find some new scenery.
Anyway, I'm curious how others faired in that unit. You see so much on other units but not much as far as the Dutton.
Hope all had a good year and thanks for chiming in and sharing.

HD

Here are some scenery pics

honkerdwn · Oct 30, 2017

Here is a pic of about the only thing I scored on. And this was daily!

Here is a pic of the lion track. I had a zoomed in picture that shows it better but it wouldn't load.

Wiszard · Oct 30, 2017

Unfortunately, the trash isn't much of a surprise. Amazing how many guys/gals just don't give a sh!t. The scenery pics are good. That country looks like it would hold some deer. What types of bucks were you seeing?

Steve

Cancer doesn't discriminate...don't take your good health for granted because it can be gone in a heartbeat. Please go back and read the last line. This time really understand what it says.

wapitiman · Oct 30, 2017

LAST EDITED ON Oct-30-17 AT 12:25PM (MST)[p]pm sent

yak4fish · Oct 30, 2017

I saw one decent deer after 6 hard days of hunting that I couldn't get close enough to to pull off an ethical shot into the sunset.Passed on a very small forked horn. My brother shot a forked horn 1.5 miles back!
Yes we picked up a lot of trash also. Had lots of fun saw lots of does daily I think the deer herd is growing on Dutton.

Bocephus · Oct 30, 2017

LAST EDITED ON Oct-30-17 AT 02:34PM (MST)[p]Tough, tough unit. Lots of area that should hold deer has nothing. I've spent lots of time on the unit and the past few years have been the worst I've seen. The late muzzy hunt will not help as there just aren't many bucks. One of the toughest general units in the state imo.

Deerlove · Oct 30, 2017

With that much trash you have some good carma coming your way.

yak4fish · Oct 30, 2017

Oh yah, we saw a large set of cougar tracks on the trail by Adams head!

honkerdwn · Oct 30, 2017

wapitiman pm replied to.

honkerdwn · Oct 30, 2017

Wiszard

Most of the deer I was seeing were does and fawns. Then scattered here and there were just two points. Not a ton of them only maybe three or four in the 5 days I was there. I did jump a better buck either a good three or small four but it was just a flash in the pines and he was gone. I wouldn't call myself a super trophy hunter but like most I would rather shoot a mature bigger deer than a little one. They will never get big if you keep shooting them small. Just my opinion is all.

elkassassin · Oct 30, 2017

There are a few Good Bucks on the Dutton!

Back Me Off to 1,700 Yards,650 is a Little Close & I'm Not Comfortable with it!

A GUT SHOT at 1,700 Yards will Still Make Some Good BRAGGIN Rights so I Can Say I At Least Hit Him!

Stonefly · Oct 30, 2017

Ya Bessy a very few. SSHHHH. Me and Littlebuck have hunted Dutton even before the fire. I always liked the south end, enjoyed the pics as we didn't draw a tag this year. and haven't been down sense Aug. and not planning on going sown till about the 18th of Nov.
Spent A LOT of time last year on The Rock chasing a few bucks and bulls. I posted 3 years ago about the increase in Lion Sign, mentioned it again last year. We SAW 2 lions while hunting Elk last year, 1 small lion on top near the fork and the other in center canyon, big sucker.
Over the last 10 years more and more people hunt the south end. I like it there myself. Showwalter, Mud Springs, Cabin Hollow,Flake and pasture troughs. Last year they clear cut all the junipers from center to west hunt 2 weeks before the hunt right on through the hunt. NEVER saw it as crowded as last year. We ended up hunting over by Seed Lakes, saw a few small bucks,maybe an interesting bull or 2. Hunted table, right to the end of the road on my tote gote and then over on down above circleville. saw 2 huge bucks with the spotter and couldn't figure a way to get near them, couldn't figure out how they got there,lol. Little buck and I are thinking that we might start putting in for a new area, My knees wont do snowbank canyon or the walk from pature trough to west hunt anymore.