What's the best Utah Regions?

WIDOW_MAKER · Apr 20, 2004

I just want to here some opinions of where deer are in utah.
I've always hunt southern region. Are the other regions as good as the southern?

Weasel · Apr 20, 2004

The best region is right in your own backyard! You have a better chance to scout and learn it, and the game well. Look at the photography board. All year long folks post pics of big deer from northern and northeastern Utah, but when archery season opens there is a mass exodus of hunters heading to southern Utah. The southern tags sell out first but there are tags left over for northern Utah. I go out in the field and see license plate tags from up north down here in the southern end of the state. I can't afford to travel up north, so if I don't draw a tag here, I don't get to hunt at all. If I had the money, I'd apply for northern or northeastern zones just so I'd get a chance to get out in these last few years I have left. If most of the deer, and the biggest ones at that are being photographed up north, what makes anybody think they need to hunt down here?

elk_horn · Apr 20, 2004

When the archery season starts???? you dont need a nothern tag ... just go... the archery tag is statewide.

BUCKSPY · Apr 20, 2004

Wyoming and Colorado.

antlerrick · Apr 20, 2004

I think that most of the stories come from the southern region of the state, so the hunters from the north assume they need to hunt the southern areas to harvest big deer. The southern regions are probably no better than anywhere else...Like it says, your own back yard is probably the best region to hunt!
a*r

Remember: A bad day hunting is better than a Good Day at Work!!

BCBOY · Apr 20, 2004

I think the best area in the state has got to be the Pauns. Just buy yourself a chuteplane and you'll easily whack a buck over 200.

YollaBolly · Apr 20, 2004

Keep in mind that the shootplane does NOT hover! And...you need the two seater to be able to shoot yotes flying at 26 MPH. Pilots never have any fun. And, just so you dont get your panties in a wad, remember you can NOT fly less than 48 hours before a season starts and also during the season. These things are a real threat to our deer herds.

graybeard · Apr 20, 2004

Buckspy, you beat me to it. Utah's best region is across the border in any direction. If you guys want to save the deer in UT start shooting the fawns. Leave the adults and sub-adults alone. It's the only way.... Steve

huntsonora · Apr 20, 2004

Isn't there an island in the Salt Lake? Maybe that is the best place to hunt big deer. LOL

Drum

30inchbucks · Apr 20, 2004

LAST EDITED ON Apr-20-04 AT 07:58PM (MST)[p]The best regions are where there are no 4-wheelers or chuteplanes allowed. Just kidding I was just a dreaming there was such a place. LOL It's obvious that the best regions are the areas that are difficult to access unless you plan on walking. If your able to find such places anymore.

YollaBolly · Apr 20, 2004

Steve or Drum, wasn't there a proposal not so long ago to auction off a hunt where a hunter would hunt Antelope Island with a dart gun, be able to score the rack and attach a plecktron (sp) to the antlers, and then go pick up the cast sheds after the buck lost its headgear?? I hear that some monsters inhabit the area. Sounds fun to me. I'd bet some folk with more money than myself would be interested in such a folly. What do you think? Ethical or not?? Rick

BUCKSPY · Apr 20, 2004

I don't know about ethical, but its definatley twisted. What sort of screwball would want to dart a buck and pose with it.
Jesus H. Cripes! What in the hell is wrong with just going out and paying your dues and hoping to get lucky someday. Its alot of the enjoyment of hunting big bucks to dream and fantasize in the off season. Its definatly a hell of alot more than just inches and a set of antlers for the wall.

I think back at the time when I hadn't killed any really nice bucks and how it seemed like I almost ached at times for a big buck. I lived, ate, slept, and dreamed big muleys since I was a teenager and wanted one more than I've wanted anything in my life. When I finally killed what I consider a big buck, I walked on clouds for weeks if not months. Its not a feeling you would want to cheat yourself out of by hairbrained darting schemes or shortcuts.

Of course thats just my opinion. I could be wrong.

WIDOW_MAKER · Apr 20, 2004

I agree with you BUCKSPY. I dream of getting a big bull elk, even though I shot one and lost it. Still, I wouldn't wanna shoot a dart. I'll keep on trying, no matter how long it takes. It's funner!!!

Daxter · Apr 20, 2004

I wouldn't say that any region in Utah is the best. Big bucks are where you find them. If you can get on private land that is managed well, or into roadless areas you can find nice bucks in any of the states 5 regions. I think that there are less hunters per amount of available land in the southern region, but I also think that there are more roads in the southern region. It is really just a matter of spending some time. Last fall in the Northern Region that had 10,000 tags left after the first draw I saw 21 bucks in one morning scouting in a wilderness area with a friend. There are good bucks in all 5 regions if you are willing to put in the time and effort.

WIDOW_MAKER · Apr 20, 2004

Where in the state does it seem to be improving the best?

graybeard · Apr 21, 2004

Rick,
There are some huge deer on Antelope Island but I don't recall hearing any darting ideas. The SFW was trying to get a governers tag and a public tag but it never went through. I think the public shot that idea down because 50% of the tags would go to some millionaire. Steve

NvrEnuf · Apr 21, 2004

Very well said BuckSpy. I couldn't agree with you more.

NvrEnuf

littlebuck · Apr 21, 2004

I dont think there is a 30" buck in utah please try another state. Northern Ut is real bad this year. If you have to hunt in Ut go south.

elk_horn · Apr 21, 2004

LAST EDITED ON Apr-21-04 AT 09:02AM (MST)[p]No! There are 30" bucks ... we have scouted them in the summer... but alot of them you have to have a cwmu tag

fin little · Apr 21, 2004

I think your right grey beard there was a proposal to auction a buck off Antelope Island. The general non hunting public( the people that control our destiny) gave a resounding no. It gives a little insight to how high dollar bid tags are percieved by the 80% of the people who dont hunt but are not opposed to hunting either.

RuttCrazed · Apr 21, 2004

elk_horn,
You are going to have to prove to me there are 30" bucks in Utah, please send GPS coordinates to all the public land 30" bucks immediately (pictures will not be accepted unless GPS coordinates are included).

Thank you,

Rut

crazy4muleys · Apr 21, 2004

There are no deer in southern Utah, Not One. The pictures you see are obviously fakes. Now seriously, Big deer are where you find them.

Daxter · Apr 21, 2004

3 of the 5 RACs in Utah voted against hunting deer on Antelope Island. It did not go to a public vote. SFW had estimated that the DWR could raise $70 to $100 K on the auction tag and the application fees from the people that would apply for the public lottery tag. After deer hunting was denied, enviromental groups tried to use the same reasoning to get rid of the bison hunts on the island too, but for some reason that movement died out.

elk_horn · Apr 21, 2004

RuttCrazed..... you didnt read my post!...if you drew a cwmu permit.... specificley on the 2bear unit and was allowed to scout, you would see 30" bucks..... also where we muzzleloader hunt...on public land I have seen 4 deer at 30" or better the last 4 years.... one in which my son got a 50 yard shot but the powder didnt go off...( it had been raining)... I was there and seen the buck at 50 yards broadside looking right at us....but if you think Im telling you where we hunt... your crazy... but I will tell you it was High Uintahs....

fin little · Apr 21, 2004

Thanks for the correction Daxter.

graybeard · Apr 21, 2004

Daxter, what do you mean it didn't come to a public vote. The RACs are for the public to sound off. That's exactly what the RAC meetings are for. That was one of the few permits Don Peay, hence SFW, wanted to go through but didn't. Steve

Daxter · Apr 21, 2004

I just meant that it didn't go to a public referendum like lion hunting did in California. The general public did not vote on whether they should give tags on antelope island. Anyways, yes the RAC meetings provide a forum for the public to give input, but it was the members of the RAC that made the final votes. By the way, if you just counted total votes in the state and didn't look at the decisions of the RACs independently there were more votes in favor of adding a deer hunt than against it. Even if all the RACs vote in favor of something, or against something doesn't mean that the wildlife board will vote the same way. It is an interesting system, I don't know how effective it is.

graybeard · Apr 22, 2004

Agreed!!! It all comes down to the wildlife board..... Steve

Ant · Apr 27, 2004

I think the often overlooked Central unit is pretty good. A buddy of mine has pulled a couple of nice bucks out of there and I missed one about three years ago. Not book bucks but good mature deer.