Book Cliffs Muzzy 2019

OpeningDay · Jan 8, 2019

I know there has been a lot of doom and gloom about the Books this year. I still believe there to be some good bulls running around. We will be back at it this fall with the Smoke Pole. I know the unit pretty well and have had some good success helping others on this hunt. I still think a 340" to 350" bull is an attainable goal. I wonder how much all the negative talk from this year will push others away from the unit. Anyways, I am still a believer in the Book Cliffs. I guess I will find out for myself this fall. Is anyone else planning on putting in for the Books this fall??

OchocoKid · Jan 8, 2019

I might try again for the early rifle. I have 21 points this year and I've been shut out on the Book Cliffs the last 2 years.

I have to admit all the Debbie downer talk has me questioning it though. I'm still not sure.

Stay Thirsty My Friends

arns · Jan 8, 2019

One good thing about Utah is you can turn your tag back.If your dead set on Books I would spend a lot of time out there the first part of September and then make your decision.

OchocoKid · Jan 8, 2019

For some folks that would be great. for a farmer from eastern OR I'm going to have to have all my ducks in a row just to be there the day before season.

Stay Thirsty My Friends

elkassassin · Jan 8, 2019

>
>For some folks that would be
>great. for a farmer
>from eastern OR I'm going
>to have to have all
>my ducks in a row
>just to be there the
>day before season.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>Stay Thirsty My Friends

You Might Have To Lay Your Political BS Down for a few Days Prior to season!

We Never said there wasn't any Big Bulls left in the Book Cliffs!

But the Unit is a JOKE compared to what's it's capable of being!

Keep Slaughtering Cows!

Keep Slaughtering Spikes!

Keep over Hunting the Bigger Bulls that are Left!

Maybe we should start a 'Raghorn' Hunt as Well!

JFP!!!

I know so many people in so many places
They make allot of money but they got sad faces

It Ain't Easy being Me!

Elkslayer2015 · Jan 9, 2019

what season are you putting in for OchocoKid

OpeningDay · Jan 9, 2019

Bess,
I completely agree with what you are saying. I have also witnessed the steady decline in not only the elk, but the deer as well. Sadly, that can be said about the Roadless as well. I have always tried to get an actual count on how many tags are actually allocated. I haven't been able to find that #. When you try to add up the draw tags, expo tags, auction tags, landowner tags, depredation tags and every other type of tag allocated, I think the actual # of tags on the mountain could be quite staggering.

elkassassin · Jan 9, 2019

>Bess,
>I completely agree with what you
>are saying. I have
>also witnessed the steady decline
>in not only the elk,
>but the deer as well.
>Sadly, that can be said
>about the Roadless as well.
> I have always tried
>to get an actual count
>on how many tags are
>actually allocated. I haven't
>been able to find that
>#. When you try
>to add up the draw
>tags, expo tags, auction tags,
>landowner tags, depredation tags and
>every other type of tag
>allocated, I think the actual
># of tags on the
>mountain could be quite staggering.
>

Not Trying to disappoint you openingday!

But it sounds as if You've seen it as well first hand!

Yes the Deer Herd out there is JUNK!

Best of Luck!

I know so many people in so many places
They make allot of money but they got sad faces

It Ain't Easy being Me!

OpeningDay · Jan 11, 2019

If anybody out there had this tag or any other tag on the Books last fall, I would love to hear how your hunt went. If you dont want it public, feel free to PM. Thanks in advance.

Elkslayer2015 · Jan 11, 2019

I knew 8 people with tags out there

2 with deer tags they both killed a 4 point but the biggest one was 150 inch they where also scouting for the archery elk hunters also they seen a lot of cows hardly any bulls all the way up till the last week of the archery hunt my buddy had the archery elk tag in 2016 with me and he said it was worst then when we where out there the biggest bull he seen this year was a 310 bull at least we where seeing 320 bulls in 2016

4 where archery hunters that where my buddies and between them they only seen 1 350 - 360 bull but he went off the radar and from what I was told he got killed on the rifle hunt they seen a lot of cows but hardly any bulls and they spent about 2 to 3 weeks out there and the biggest one that was killed was a 300 6 point

2 muzzy hunter 1 spent the first week out there and all he was calling in was rag horns and small 6 point from the herds and that was really all they where seeing they where seeing tons of cows so he packed up and went home
the other muzzy hunter was out there for the whole hunt they missed a 340 bull opening day and then it went down hill from there they seen tons of cows but no bulls running with them mature bulls anyways finally they killed one 3 to the last day it was 320 bull

all these hunters are from the basin they know this unit really well and really avid hunters

if I where you I would strongly re think that unit or at least make the drive out there before you put in for it.

elkassassin · Jan 11, 2019

>If anybody out there had this
>tag or any other tag
>on the Books last fall,
> I would love to
>hear how your hunt went.
> If you dont want
>it public, feel free
>to PM. Thanks
>in advance.

Hey OpeningDay!

Thought You May had seen this already?

Maybe Not?

A Local Friend Here had the PREMIUM Book Cliffs Elk Tag this last year/2018!

His MM name is rubble!

It's down on the Utah Forum!

http://www.monstermuleys.info/cgi-b...z=show_thread&om=3678&forum=DCForumID30&omm=0

I know so many people in so many places
They make allot of money but they got sad faces

It Ain't Easy being Me!

slamdunk · Jan 13, 2019

I certainly wouldn't burn 21 points on the Books.
There are other units much better to wait this long for.
We hunted it in 2017 and was extremely lucky to find a 342" bull, and we looked at a lot of bulls before making the decision to take that one.

OpeningDay · Jan 14, 2019

ElkSlayer,
thanks for sharing your experience.

Assassin,
I have been in touch with Rubble and its easy to tell he has vast knowledge of the Books.

Slam,
Thanks for your response as well.
This tag is not for me, I was lucky enough to pull a Roadless tag back in 06' and scored on a 365" bull. With that said, I also now have 16 points for the Pauns Muzzy deer hunt, and like my cousin putting in for this Books tag, when you have put in for a specific unit for so long, researched, scouted and planned on hunting it, its hard to just start over and put in for a new unit. Again, I am still a believer in the Book Cliffs. To me, some of the prettiest country you can ever see.

why · Jan 14, 2019

have worked in books last 13 years this past year was worst this unit has ben in 20 years for deer and elk bear or cats .to many tags to many hunters. I also have ben a dye hard books hunter sinse 1980 .I killed a 362 bull in 05 roadless help with cusin deer hunts last 2 years 22 inch 140 class bucks that is best we seen .have not seen much game at all out there this winter I have quit on this unit do to lack of quality .the fish and duck have ruined north eastern Utah. elkassin is right it junk unit any more .

Cheater · Jan 15, 2019

I've been chasing the early rifle tag for a while, but think I'm going to apply elsewhere this year. I'm sure there will still be a few good ones taken, but there is too much negative chatter about the unit right now.

I'm interested to see how the draw odds shake out this year.

Elkslayer2015 · Jan 15, 2019

OpeningDay your right there will be one or 2 still around when the muzzy hunt starts it's really sad that the general units are producing about the same as a LE unit this unit needs help in a bad way

first thing they need to do is fence all the guzzlers off out there I mean all of them to keep the cattle out...

elkassassin · Jan 15, 2019

>OpeningDay your right there will be
>one or 2 still around
>when the muzzy hunt starts
>it's really sad that the
>general units are producing about
>the same as a LE
>unit this unit needs help
>in a bad way
>
> first thing they need to
>do is fence all the
>guzzlers off out there I
>mean all of them to
>keep the cattle out...

And Feral Horses!

I know so many people in so many places
They make allot of money but they got sad faces

It Ain't Easy being Me!

overthere · Feb 24, 2019

I agree on the spike hunt really has ruined the elk herd in the bookcliffs we used to pick up hundreds of elk horn a year and now where lucky to brake a hundred there is a few good bulls still I will let you know what bulls have survived the hunts

elkassassin · Feb 25, 2019

>I agree on the spike hunt
>really has ruined the elk
>herd in the bookcliffs we
>used to pick up hundreds
>of elk horn a year
>and now where lucky to
>brake a hundred there is
>a few good bulls still
>I will let you know
>what bulls have survived the
>hunts

What Have You Picked up So Far?

I know so many people in so many places
They make allot of money but they got sad faces

It Ain't Easy being Me!

OpeningDay · Jul 2, 2019

Anyone been out on the Books this year? I would imagine the snow is long gone now. I would bet its really green up there this year.
I am getting really anxious to get out there and look around.

elkhunterUT · Jul 2, 2019

Headed out there tomorrow morning to scout for my Father-in-law?s archery deer tag. Excited to see what the range looks like & how the herds are doing. Should be plenty of feed ??

OpeningDay · Aug 22, 2019

Wow. Its crazy how fast this years hunts are have crept up on us. If anyone has any intel on any Book Cliffs Archery hunters are doing, I would love to hear about it. PM's are welcome. We are headed up mid next week to check things out and see if any of my top secret spots are holding elk. haha. Good luck to those on the mountain. I would love to hear from anyone that has been up there lately. If anyone is going to be up there for Labor Day weekend, let me know. There is always a cold one waiting for any of my MM buddies. haha.

why · Sep 12, 2019

all I can say is I am sorry spike hunts took there toll my sister in law turned a early rifle tag back after 20year wait no elk and dinks .

OpeningDay · Sep 13, 2019

Why,
that is unfortunate that she turned the tag back in. Is she going to choose a different unit?

We have been out a couple times to scout and have turned up a couple nice bulls. I doubt these bulls will make it through the rifle hunt based on where they are living, but you never know. I am still confident that my knowledge of the Books and a little luck and we come out of there with a nice bull.

I guess us Muzzy guys are hoping for one more week of hot weather. haha.