Utah General Elk hunt
- Thread starter muzz
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L
landshark
Guest
Only hunted until about 1:00 due to the weather moving in. Saw lots of cows, a few bulls, 1 spike that got spooked by 4wheelers and headed to the next state.
Will be going back out Wed.
Will be going back out Wed.
arch3614elk
Active Member
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I was able to get my spike only area bull Sunday morning. We came across twenty five head of elk early Saturday morning with one enormous 6x6 that was just screaming and grunting like crazy. This bull was HUGE! It was at least a 390 bull. This was by far the biggest bull I've ever seen in 20+ years of hunting. Then the bad weather came in. Sunday morning I was the only hunter in the canyon and right off the bat I spotted 3 spikes and was able to have mine down and back at camp by noon. By the way I only saw two other hunters more than a quarter mile away from a road and not on a four wheeler.
BUL_KRZY
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LAST EDITED ON Oct-09-07 AT 02:45AM (MST)[p]LAST EDITED ON Oct-09-07 AT 02:44?AM (MST)
LAST EDITED ON Oct-09-07 AT 02:34?AM (MST)
I was impressed with how good the hunt was this year. I saw a good number of elk overall and many more branch antlered bulls than I've seen on a general season hunt.
I was able to tag out on Saturday morning in Northern UT and then spent the day packing out my bull in some cold snowy weather! I owe a big thanks to my buddies for helping quarter and packout. It was a steep bugger to the ridge and then a decent stretch to the truck.
He's no monster bull, but he's a good general season public land bull.
As he lay, 1 shot kill
LAST EDITED ON Oct-09-07 AT 02:34?AM (MST)
I was impressed with how good the hunt was this year. I saw a good number of elk overall and many more branch antlered bulls than I've seen on a general season hunt.
I was able to tag out on Saturday morning in Northern UT and then spent the day packing out my bull in some cold snowy weather! I owe a big thanks to my buddies for helping quarter and packout. It was a steep bugger to the ridge and then a decent stretch to the truck.
He's no monster bull, but he's a good general season public land bull.
As he lay, 1 shot kill
PleaseDear
Long Time Member
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Ya done good BUL..!
Robb
Robb
HUNTINFORLIFE
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we got on to some good bulls on sunday but i was out with a couple buddys that had tags and i got with in 10 yards of a very nice 7 point bull but his right main beam was broke off right at the base. seen a few more bulls but they were just out of range and they wouldnt come in to any calls. hoping to find some bulls again tomarrow.
Silentstalker
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Nice bull Bull! Very nice general season bull for sure! Congrats!
J
Jake_Sorensen
Guest
We went were we have been scouting and seeing elk all summer long and were really excited to be hunting them in the fresh snow needsless to after 15 miles of hiking just to find some dip wads had driven quads around the fence, (I've never wanted to jam a knife in someones tires so bad in my life). We didn't even see any tracks in the snow, that evening we went to another spot and saw a ton of tracks but no elk. I think we are going to be looking for a new area.
Silentstalker
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You know if you take a picture of their bikes with the surrounding etc. and contact the Forest Service, it is as good as them catching them in the field. The ticket can be hefty too. Good luck in your search for a new area and hopefully some elk!
BUL_KRZY
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Thanks guys, I appreciate the comments. I guess I could tell the story as well.....
I had hunted the same UT general bull area for almost 15 years. Last year we decided we ought to try some place new. We saw good numbers of elk, but didn't choose to harvest anything. (we mainly saw really small spikes) Fast forward to this year. We decide to go back to this same "new" area as we had learned some things hunting it the previous year.
I setup at first light with a few inches of new snow and saw very little move. I had 4 cows and a rag horn come off the ridge above and walk right into me. The bull hung up at about 275 yds in the trees. I had only a small window shooting lane. When the cows busted me and they all took off, I took a shot at the rag horn. I don't claim to be an expert marksman, but I've always held my own at <300yds. Well, I missed this bull, but just to be safe I decided to track him and the cows back up and over the ridge. I found no sign of blood/guts and the bull stayed right with the cows through some might steep country. I followed their tracks off the other side and held up in some quakes to take a look around - it was a beautiful morning!
I'd been leaning against this big quakie for 5 to 10 minutes when I started to hear something behind me. I had been looking uphill as the wind was carrying my scent downhill. I continue to hear what sounds like something getting closer. I finally turn around far enough to see this bull at 40 yards and closing the gap. I have my rifle slung on my shoulder and don't dare move just yet. I let him keep coming. At 10 to 15 yards I finally quickly unsling my gun, the motion spooks the bull and he whirls and heads back downhill. He went about 30 yards with me whistling at him and turned around broadside to check me out. Bad mistake!
The ole Ruger .270 broke the silence and the 150gr Fusion did it's job with a fatal heart shot. The bull turned and ran downhill 30 yards, smacked a quakie, taking a 2" gouge out of it and fell over. I have historically been with my father each time I have killed a bull elk, this time I was alone. I thanked the Lord for being able to harvest this animal and for my father that taught me and continues to teach me so many things in life!
I field dressed the bull and began to skin and quarter as the snow began to fall. By the time we had everything packed out there was 8 inches of new snow on the ground and we were some wet cold dogs!
It was a great hunt, shared with great friends and many good memories!
I had hunted the same UT general bull area for almost 15 years. Last year we decided we ought to try some place new. We saw good numbers of elk, but didn't choose to harvest anything. (we mainly saw really small spikes) Fast forward to this year. We decide to go back to this same "new" area as we had learned some things hunting it the previous year.
I setup at first light with a few inches of new snow and saw very little move. I had 4 cows and a rag horn come off the ridge above and walk right into me. The bull hung up at about 275 yds in the trees. I had only a small window shooting lane. When the cows busted me and they all took off, I took a shot at the rag horn. I don't claim to be an expert marksman, but I've always held my own at <300yds. Well, I missed this bull, but just to be safe I decided to track him and the cows back up and over the ridge. I found no sign of blood/guts and the bull stayed right with the cows through some might steep country. I followed their tracks off the other side and held up in some quakes to take a look around - it was a beautiful morning!
I'd been leaning against this big quakie for 5 to 10 minutes when I started to hear something behind me. I had been looking uphill as the wind was carrying my scent downhill. I continue to hear what sounds like something getting closer. I finally turn around far enough to see this bull at 40 yards and closing the gap. I have my rifle slung on my shoulder and don't dare move just yet. I let him keep coming. At 10 to 15 yards I finally quickly unsling my gun, the motion spooks the bull and he whirls and heads back downhill. He went about 30 yards with me whistling at him and turned around broadside to check me out. Bad mistake!
The ole Ruger .270 broke the silence and the 150gr Fusion did it's job with a fatal heart shot. The bull turned and ran downhill 30 yards, smacked a quakie, taking a 2" gouge out of it and fell over. I have historically been with my father each time I have killed a bull elk, this time I was alone. I thanked the Lord for being able to harvest this animal and for my father that taught me and continues to teach me so many things in life!
I field dressed the bull and began to skin and quarter as the snow began to fall. By the time we had everything packed out there was 8 inches of new snow on the ground and we were some wet cold dogs!
It was a great hunt, shared with great friends and many good memories!
PleaseDear
Long Time Member
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Good read BUL--
Great follow-up on the raggy to make sure he wasn't hit.... ya kinda got 'rewarded' for being an ethical hunter!
Robb
Great follow-up on the raggy to make sure he wasn't hit.... ya kinda got 'rewarded' for being an ethical hunter!
Robb
gznokes
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I'm all for ATVs with hunting (occassionally using one myself)but it really is a problem when there is blatant disregard for the law with people going miles on foot trails that are meant for people hoofing it. I don't even see a real big deal when people go a reasonable distance off the trail to retrieve a downed animal. Silentstalker is right about reporting ATVs. If you take photos/video and mark the area with your GPS and get the number from their annual registration sticker to the forest service they will follow-up with enforcement.
The guy you call for the Wasatch Cache national forest is Andy Smith. He is in charge of trails and enforcement 801-733-2686
(The general number for access to any national forest rangers is 801-236-3400). He said the fine is $2000, plus a court date, plus the possibility of more fines for damages caused by the ATV.
The guy you call for the Wasatch Cache national forest is Andy Smith. He is in charge of trails and enforcement 801-733-2686
(The general number for access to any national forest rangers is 801-236-3400). He said the fine is $2000, plus a court date, plus the possibility of more fines for damages caused by the ATV.
huntFX4
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great bull BK!!
I had no luck. Hunted East Canyon along the trail as i had been told there were elk there. I just got to SLC with the military a few months ago and haven't had time for good scouting.
didn't even see a fresh track in the snow. with all the people shooting in the bottomland, i didn't see anything moving but deer and moose.
I had no luck. Hunted East Canyon along the trail as i had been told there were elk there. I just got to SLC with the military a few months ago and haven't had time for good scouting.
didn't even see a fresh track in the snow. with all the people shooting in the bottomland, i didn't see anything moving but deer and moose.
T
TylerT
Guest
Has anyone seen anything out west at all? I have went out about 6 times or so and only saw one bull from about a mile away. Tried to put a stalk on it and it took off. I have seen fresh tracks but no action. Any information good or bad would be great.
Balldragginmuley
Member
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I found a 6x6 and a spike the wednesday before the hunt with 9
cows and went to buy a tag on thursday and they were all sold
out. they were on the vernon.
cows and went to buy a tag on thursday and they were all sold
out. they were on the vernon.
swbuckmaster
Long Time Member
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I got invited to go hunting for spikes on opening morning by one of my friends. I have an archery tag so I say I will just sit in the truck and drive around enjoying the day. My friend?s bro tells me his gun only drops 26" at 900 yards. I call BS even if it does why would you shoot at it that far, cant you get any closer. He tells me it shoots 250-grain bullet at 3500 fps. This puts me on edge right of the bat. I can't stand unethical shooting.
Fast forward to opening morning he went out and shot at a herd of elk at 800 yards the first spike was wounded and ran in the trees. When the herd came out in the open he shoots again. The second spike fell down. He went over and looked for about 20 minutes and gave up says the snow is falling two much and he has walked two far. I was so freaking mad I didn't know what to say. He says they were going out to look for them after conference. Well he went out on Monday and killed a different one. This guy killed 3 elk in two three days. I have taken the steps to turn him in. I just can't sit by and witness people party hunting, unethical hunting, driving their quads in areas not aloud. I also will never hunt with him again.
Fast forward to opening morning he went out and shot at a herd of elk at 800 yards the first spike was wounded and ran in the trees. When the herd came out in the open he shoots again. The second spike fell down. He went over and looked for about 20 minutes and gave up says the snow is falling two much and he has walked two far. I was so freaking mad I didn't know what to say. He says they were going out to look for them after conference. Well he went out on Monday and killed a different one. This guy killed 3 elk in two three days. I have taken the steps to turn him in. I just can't sit by and witness people party hunting, unethical hunting, driving their quads in areas not aloud. I also will never hunt with him again.
Silentstalker
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Good job stepping up Scott. That is bull crap. Were any of the bulls found besides the last one? What a chump!
swbuckmaster
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So far he only found one. I simply can't figure out how you can loose two bulls in fresh snow that has been hit by a bullet that big. I would think there would be blood everywhere.
If I find the elk myself I will let the fish and game do an autopsy. To prove it was him. Hope he gets busted and learns a lesson.
If I find the elk myself I will let the fish and game do an autopsy. To prove it was him. Hope he gets busted and learns a lesson.
Silentstalker
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I hope he gets busted as well. Let us know if he does!
BLooDTRaCKeR
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Got my elk last friday. Tough hunt for sure. Only saw a hand full of bulls, One monster that I let go due to poor shooting light. That was a tough situation to let go but by far the right thing to do. The next day I went back to the same area to locate the big one and found a spike to shoot instead. When it comes to elk on a general season area, I will shoot the first legal bull because I love the meat! That spike will taste excellent!!
L
liv4hunt
Guest
Anymore success stories from Utah's general elk hunt??????
My Dad, 2 brothers, as well as an Uncle and a Cousin hunted the Uintas, all together they only saw 2 bulls. First bull was at least a 5 point, and it ran accross the road in front of them while they were driving to there afternoon spot, it disappeared before they realized what they were looking at!! The second bull was a 5x5 and my cousin missed him 2 times on a walk!! I don't know what happened to him? It was like a 60yd shot?
Those 2 bulls were the only elk seen all together in 8 days of hunting!!!!!!!!
Work to hunt!! Live to hunt!! And the rest spent keeping the wife happy!!
My Dad, 2 brothers, as well as an Uncle and a Cousin hunted the Uintas, all together they only saw 2 bulls. First bull was at least a 5 point, and it ran accross the road in front of them while they were driving to there afternoon spot, it disappeared before they realized what they were looking at!! The second bull was a 5x5 and my cousin missed him 2 times on a walk!! I don't know what happened to him? It was like a 60yd shot?
Those 2 bulls were the only elk seen all together in 8 days of hunting!!!!!!!!
Work to hunt!! Live to hunt!! And the rest spent keeping the wife happy!!
M
mlyhntr
Guest
my dad went out last weekend for the buck bull combo he got a 2 point buck. THe only elk he seen were through the spottin scope and they were all cows. We went out scouting the day before the opener and seen a small 5 point and a spike. They both got killed on the opener. my friend got his elk it was just a little spike but it was his first bull.
JakeH
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I hunted the NE area, and got a 3x4 on the 5th day after missing a 4 or 5 point the first morning, we also got 4 cows, and my brother got a 4x5 on the second weekend. We had 9 cow tags and 7 bull tags, and got 6 elk. Looks like its been a decent year to me, I know of 2 5x6's and a nice 5x5 that was killed as well.
Jake H. MM Member since 1999.
Jake H. MM Member since 1999.
