Utah General Deer Units - Archery Specific

inarcher · Feb 4, 2019

Good day.

Submitted all my NR Utah apps yesterday...so this thread is not about the 2019 hunting seasons...but beyond, possibly as soon as 2020...maybe later?

The older I get, the worse my odds get of ever drawing a LE archery deer tag in Utah. Guess I can live with that reality, but I still want to bowhunt mule deer in Utah while I still can. Bought my second general deer point this year. Looking at the draw odds, virtually all general draw archery tags can be had for three points or less. Seems like a very good alternative while waiting and hoping for a LE tag.

The harvest stats provide a decent feel for hunter success per unit...which I read as more a reflection on deer quantity per unit. They do not provide any feel for unit deer quality though.

I'm not a hard core trophy hunter, but would like to hunt an area with decent age structure. Bigger is better of course, but I would be happy putting the stalk on a 150"+ buck or two.

Really just getting started on the research and there is alot to look at. This will definitely be an archery hunt and likely a solo hunt at that. Could be a base camp style hunt...or a bivy style hunt if the conditions call for that. I realize a 150"+ buck won't be easy, but trying to avoid the "needle in the haystack" scenario too. Most likely an early season hunt, but not opposed to a later season extended hunt either.

Hoping to get the voice of experience here. Any help narrowing down the unit choices (do's and don'ts) is greatly appreciated. I also realize what is good today may not be good tomorrow, but at least it is a start. Thanks in advance!

Paul (inarcher)

arns · Feb 5, 2019

I hate to tell you but you're not going to get much help in Utah on any general hunts and there is very few 150 class on most of general unit and if there is they are on private or some honey hole and will keep them for themselves.

deerkiller · Feb 5, 2019

LAST EDITED ON Feb-05-19 AT 02:10PM (MST)[p]There are 150 bucks on every GS unit in the state. It's not that difficult to find them. A 150 deer is no where as elusive as a 200 deer. Spend enough time in a unit, you'll find them. But you aren't gonna get many guys to just throw out what unit to hunt. If you do, I'd be very cautious about their info. It might not be as accurate as you'd hope. Narrow down a few units, and go spend some time in them. Pick a unit close to you that you'll be able to spend the most time in. You can have the best unit in the state, but if you don't invest the time to learn it, you'll have the same results as if you had picked the worst unit in the state (generally speaking of course). You?ll be able to figure out where you wanna hunt after some homework on your own.

RSC68 · Feb 5, 2019

ridgetops · Feb 5, 2019

LAST EDITED ON Feb-06-19 AT 01:39AM (MST)[p]>I hate to tell you but
>you're not going to get
>much help in Utah on
>any general hunts and there
>is very few 150 class
>on most of general unit
>and if there is they
>are on private or some
>honey hole and will keep
>them for themselves.

That really makes me sad when people make statements like this.
It couldn't be further from the truth.

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Gator · Feb 6, 2019

Start looking in a units close to ya, that way you will have more scouting time and less driving time.

"I have found if you go the extra mile it's Never crowded".
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c3 · Feb 6, 2019

+1 @ridgetops

@inarcher, I'm an elkaholic so not really into trying to find deer, but they are everywhere in the state just about. Pick a beautiful place to go camp, scout and hunt. Boulder Mtn, Manti, Uinta's are all cool places and have deer. Like others have said, it will take 3, 4... 20 something years to figure out a spot

Just go and enjoy. Don't be like me, where the big one is always over the next ridge or the next unit and you'll be good to go.

Cheers, Pete

Bocephus · Feb 6, 2019

Tough to argue the success on the extended Wasatch. Draw the Wasatch west tag and you can hunt them in the early hunt up high all the way through Nov. 30th through the rut. Can hunt them from Mid August through November.

inarcher · Feb 6, 2019

Appreciate the feedback guys.

I realize nothing beats laying down some boot leather to gain intel, but the fact I live in Indiana makes that very difficult. Honestly, I'm typically hunting a new location every year. Tried pre-season scouting trips, but have learned that extending my hunt dates an extra week on the front end is a better option for me. I feel that intel gained the first week of the trip tends to be more valuable than intel gained two months prior. Not retired yet, so vacation time is limited and does not afford the option of doing both.

To be clear, I did not expect anyone to give up their honey hole. Had five potential unit choices in mind prior to creating this thread. Two of the five have been mentioned to date. I know several units got hit extremely hard with winter kill a couple years ago....so that has factored into my short term decisions. Bowhunting mule deer in Utah is more of a bucket list destination for me....not something I envision as ongoing. Just trying to make the best decision for what could likely be a one and done event. Will keep applying for that coveted LE deer tag regardless!

The extended Wasatch is definitely intriguing due to the rut. I realize it probably varies year to year, but what would you say is "typical" November weather on the Wasatch?

Thanks,
Paul

justr_86 · Feb 6, 2019

If you're going to hunt the wasatch I'd suggest being in the best physical shape you can be. It's big steep country.

Crndgs8 · Feb 7, 2019

There?s plenty of opportunity to hunt 150+ deer on Utah general units. Are you planning to do much scouting? How much hiking can you do? I would say pine valley is one of the better general units. They are taking good bucks outta there every year. It's a big unit. Also Zion is doing well.

inarcher · Feb 7, 2019

Living 1,500+ miles away makes it tough to get boots on the ground. As mentioned, I typically would show up a week prior to the hunt and that is the extent of my physical scouting. That makes selecting the right unit up front so critical. I realize what I'm saying makes some guys cringe at the thought, but honestly, this approach has worked out pretty well over the years.

Hiking has never been an issue...yet (knock on wood). I'll be 58 this year..so the clock is ticking. Spent three weeks in the Colorado high country last August chasing bighorn sheep between 11,400' and 12,400'....so as we speak, I don't believe hiking to be a concern.

Both Pine Valley and Zion were on my short list prior to starting this thread. Appreciate the feedback.

theox · Feb 18, 2019

LAST EDITED ON Feb-18-19 AT 10:01AM (MST)[p]>There?s plenty of opportunity to hunt
>150+ deer on Utah general
>units. Are you planning to
>do much scouting? How much
>hiking can you do? I
>would say pine valley is
>one of the better general
>units. They are taking good
>bucks outta there every year.
>It's a big unit. Also
>Zion is doing well.
>

Pine valley is overrated and getting tough to draw form comments like this. It really is no better than any of the units around there. Dont get me wrong it is a good unit.. but zion, panguitch, beaver etc are every bit as good. It can also be a bit tougher on archery due to most of the unit is lower country and it gets hot so you have 30-45 minutes of first light and last light to get the job done, generally glassing during mid day is hard from heat waves etc and thickness of bedding areas.. It can be difficult hunting on archery especially if you dont know the unit well. If you are looking at archery and you are out of state. I'd honestly stick to Beaver or Panguitch(panguitch is nice because its a big plateau and its not as rugged as other units(but bring a GPS for panguitch) if you want SW UTah. You can get in to higher country 9000+ ft and hunt longer in the days etc 70* highs vs 90-100* makes a big diff. Plus you can get a spike elk tag on those units or just enjoy the possibilty of actually running into elk also. Zion is ok, but it has mostly private.

buckhorn · Feb 18, 2019

If you're in good enough shape to hunt the Colorado high country you will do fine anywhere in Utah.
You are getting some good advice here so I think you'll be OK. Some of the units are in close proximity to huge cities so they are bound to have more hunting pressure.
May I ask how many limited entry deer point you have?

inarcher · Feb 18, 2019

Appreciate the feedback! Honestly, I have been looking south primarily due to winter kill reports from the north a few years back. Understand what you are saying about the heat..especially combined with limited scouting potential.
Admittedly, while I am getting better at it, glassing is absolutely the weakest part of my game. Having deer on their feet is a big plus for me.

I only have ten LE deer points going into this year's draw. Given my age, I figure a random tag is likely my only option...and have been applying with that in mind.

inarcher · May 12, 2019

Well, based on the pending charge on my credit card, it appears the drought of drawing a LE Utah buck tag is over.
Not going to be completely convinced until I see the actual draw results, but it appears I drew the NR archery management buck tag in the Henry Mountains!

NEVADAGUY · May 12, 2019

Good for you!! I hope you have an amazing hunt?

Gator · May 13, 2019

You can have a amazing hunt if you put in some time to scout and hunt it.
You will see some monsters. Hope you find a great mangement buck.

"I have found if you go the extra mile it's Never crowded".
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Founder · May 13, 2019

That Henry Mountains management hunt will be fun. Good luck to you. Lots of good advice in the thread here for you.

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