Today’s Limited Entry Elk Units

Vitalwave

Active Member
Messages
237
Elk season is around the corner…

Question for MM members who drew their limited entry bull tag in UT in the last five years or so. What was your assessment on bull quality? What is a good bull now days in this state on the top 5 age managed units specifically? Looking for those who hunted Monroe, Beaver, Boulder, Fillmore, or San Juan. Were you chasing 370” bulls all season on your hunt or was a true 350” bull hard to come by? What is the state of the union?

Some say many of the top units aren’t nearly as good as they were in the 2000’s. If so, where should someone looking for a high scoring bull set their goal with one of these tags in their pocket?
 
There are definitely units that don’t see the amount of big bulls that they once did at peak volume, but I think we have to put history into context.

There isn’t a unit in the state where all hunters ever chased 370” bulls all season.

My take is that any unit that ever produced that quality of a bull is still producing it and if you put your time in and maybe get a little lucky you can still kill one, just like always.
 
I hunted the Pahvant in 2020 - scouted like crazy and had trail cameras up. I saw 3 total bulls in all of my scouting that were right in that 360-375" class and nothing bigger than that. A few bulls in the 350" range and a lot of 315-330 class bulls.

Agree with what was said above - if you pass a 350" bull on any unit in Utah now, you are crazy (unless of course you have found a bigger bull, but I guarantee that you won't be the only one that knows about that bull).
 
if you pass a 350" bull on any unit in Utah now, you are crazy (unless of course you have found a bigger bull, but I guarantee that you won't be the only one that knows about that bull).

I agree with this today 100%. I also agreed with this 100% 10-15 years ago in the "glory days."

I don't think a 350 bull in Utah has ever been a bull you pass up unless you are chasing a specific bull that you know was bigger.

I think this has always been the case, and is nothing new.
 
I agree with this today 100%. I also agreed with this 100% 10-15 years ago in the "glory days."

I don't think a 350 bull in Utah has ever been a bull you pass up unless you are chasing a specific bull that you know was bigger.

I think this has always been the case, and is nothing new.
Very true - a 350" bull is huge no matter how you slice it! However, there are a lot of people that think because they have a San Juan tag (or other premium unit) they should kill a 375"+ bull. That expectation is so far from reality that it leads to a lot of disappointment for some hunters when they should be having the time of their lives.

Remove the inches expectations and shoot a bull that gets you excited - makes a big difference to approach a "high pressure" hunt that way.
 
Very true - a 350" bull is huge no matter how you slice it! However, there are a lot of people that think because they have a San Juan tag (or other premium unit) they should kill a 375"+ bull. That expectation is so far from reality that it leads to a lot of disappointment for some hunters when they should be having the time of their lives.

Remove the inches expectations and shoot a bull that gets you excited - makes a big difference to approach a "high pressure" hunt that way.

The 400" bulls out of San Juan I've seen taken (396 and 410) were from private land North and West of Monticello. Everything on the mountain while chasing "spikes" in Sept were all in the 340 range. The biggest I saw was around 360 right after arrowing the lead cow. That was in 2012.
 
Great feedback! Thanks!

I agree that people are expecting a lot out of these and other units. Probably has to do with the amount of time it takes to draw them. Point creep also turns into expectation creep.

I agree a true 350” bull is huge and rare in and of itself. It’s used as a benchmark for a reason.

I also agree with the comments that’s it’s not all about the inches. I even tell my wife that but she doesn’t believe me… :ROFLMAO:
 
I hunted one of those units last year. It was an awesome hunt with the rut in full swing. I had help and we hunted hard for 6 days before I pulled the trigger. Maybe passed on 100 bulls. I don't think I saw any bulls over 350. Even the Mossback boys were not finding big ones. Their clients top targets were maybe pushing 360.
In my mind, inches don't make a hunt. The experience was incredible and I'm happy with the results. For sure I think the glory days are gone.
 
Maybe with the new trail cam law, a few more of the bigger bulls may slip through each year and get to the 7-9-year-old age class that produces a few giants every year again. But maybe that is wishful thinking. There is so much pressure with guides and year-round scouting and hunting its not likely to get better any time soon. I have heard from people that hunted the Juan that it is the land of the 330 bull and to lower your expectations to 350 on the high end if you ever draw a tag.
 
Maybe with the new trail cam law, a few more of the bigger bulls may slip through each year and get to the 7-9-year-old age class that produces a few giants every year again. But maybe that is wishful thinking. There is so much pressure with guides and year-round scouting and hunting its not likely to get better any time soon. I have heard from people that hunted the Juan that it is the land of the 330 bull and to lower your expectations to 350 on the high end if you ever draw a tag.
I don't think the cams are going to do anything other than hurt the archery hunters. My hypothesis is it has to do with the growing popularity of cow and spike hunts on these units along with year after year 80%+ success rates of the rifle/muzzle hunts.

Interesting topic on the size expectations vs. reality of these top units.
 
Really.
This is very interesting and this isn’t the first time I have heard this.
So explain to me how it only hurts Archers.
Most of the archery season for elk is not during the active part of the rut. Its usually hot and the elk are nocturnal except for very brief windows of time in the morning and evening. Therefore, you are relying on ambush style hunting unless you can glass something up and make a stalk. Its pretty hard to know where to sit in ambush unless you know where the elk are hitting. That is the advantage in my opinion of trail cams for archery season.
 
Most of the archery season for elk is not during the active part of the rut. Its usually hot and the elk are nocturnal except for very brief windows of time in the morning and evening. Therefore, you are relying on ambush style hunting unless you can glass something up and make a stalk. Its pretty hard to know where to sit in ambush unless you know where the elk are hitting. That is the advantage in my opinion of trail cams for archery season.
Wait a minute trail cameras have never ever help in aid and take.

Sounds like the DWR had it right and I strongly stand behind them on this one.
Because what you just described that is one thing they do.
But this goes for any weapon.

Now in order to target the bulls you where describing above.
It will have to be done the old fashion way boots to the ground lots of time scouting.
 
Last edited:
Wait a minute trail cameras have never ever help in aid and take.

Sounds like the DWR had it right and I strongly stand behind them on this one.
Because what you just described that is one thing they do.
But this goes for any weapon.

Now in order to target the bulls you where describing above.
It will have to be done the old fashion way boots to the ground lots of time scouting.
I never argued that they didn’t work. I argued that they don’t work any better than some other technology that will never be addressed or become taboo.

I think some people beat their chest pretty hard about “boots on the ground” when in reality they are hypocrites using some other form of tech. I would be willing to bet a decent sum of money that you own and use one or more of the following on your hunts: spotting scope, binoculars, onX maps, truck, side by side, camo clothes, warm boots, scent killer, elk calls, etc.

The purist attitude among some Utah hunters is getting old. Unless you are out there killing stuff with your bare hands I don’t even want to engage in the trail cam debate any more. It’s a wore out subject.
 
I never argued that they didn’t work. I argued that they don’t work any better than some other technology that will never be addressed or become taboo.

I think some people beat their chest pretty hard about “boots on the ground” when in reality they are hypocrites using some other form of tech. I would be willing to bet a decent sum of money that you own and use one or more of the following on your hunts: spotting scope, binoculars, onX maps, truck, side by side, camo clothes, warm boots, scent killer, elk calls, etc.

The purist attitude among some Utah hunters is getting old. Unless you are out there killing stuff with your bare hands I don’t even want to engage in the trail cam debate any more. It’s a wore out subject.
I never argued that they didn’t work. I argued that they don’t work any better than some other technology that will never be addressed or become taboo.

I think some people beat their chest pretty hard about “boots on the ground” when in reality they are hypocrites using some other form of tech. I would be willing to bet a decent sum of money that you own and use one or more of the following on your hunts: spotting scope, binoculars, onX maps, truck, side by side, camo clothes, warm boots, scent killer, elk calls, etc.

The purist attitude among some Utah hunters is getting old. Unless you are out there killing stuff with your bare hands I don’t even want to engage in the trail cam debate any more. It’s a wore out subject.
Yes I have all those.
But while all my gadgets and tools boots Ect are at home and Im sitting on the couch or working.
They are not taking pictures for me.

Looks like I have to physically go do it now.

But hey say what you want remember you brought it up.
 
I only brought it up responding to @FairweatherHTR.

In my mind, a camera you have to physically go place and physically go check isn’t that much worse then seeing an animal a thousand yards away using a spotting scope. And scouting from a computer screen on onX or google earth isnt that much different from a camera either in my opinion yet no one is going to complain about that. One could argue in either situation the hunter isn’t truly present.

I’m past the camera stuff. I’m just excited for elk hunting! I’m up for the challenge with or without a few tools. We are getting close to game time!!!

In either case, I wish all those chasing bulls this year happy hunting!
 
I only brought it up responding to @FairweatherHTR.

In my mind, a camera you have to physically go place and physically go check isn’t that much worse then seeing an animal a thousand yards away using a spotting scope. And scouting from a computer screen on onX or google earth isnt that much different from a camera either in my opinion yet no one is going to complain about that. One could argue in either situation the hunter isn’t truly present.

I’m past the camera stuff. I’m just excited for elk hunting! I’m up for the challenge with or without a few tools. We are getting close to game time!!!

In either case, I wish all those chasing bulls this year happy hunting!
If you can't see the difference between a camera surveillance of an area 24 7 and actually being somewhere in person to physically see the animals even if it is from a mile away you are not being honest with yourself. And Looking at terrain on GE or Onx is not even remotely the same as having dozens of cameras out. Your being dishonest. Lol. I really don't want to get sucked into a camera debate again but your argument is ridiculous.
 
If you can't see the difference between a camera surveillance of an area 24 7 and actually being somewhere in person to physically see the animals even if it is from a mile away you are not being honest with yourself. And Looking at terrain on GE or Onx is not even remotely the same as having dozens of cameras out. Your being dishonest. Lol. I really don't want to get sucked into a camera debate again but your argument is ridiculous.
Thank you
The truth goes along ways.
 
I’m past the camera stuff. I’m just excited for elk hunting! I’m up for the challenge with or without a few tools. We are getting close to game time!!!

In either case, I wish all those chasing bulls this year happy hunting!
Okay I agree enough. Wish the best of luck to you.
Yes it’s almost Game time.
 
If you can't see the difference between a camera surveillance of an area 24 7 and actually being somewhere in person to physically see the animals even if it is from a mile away you are not being honest with yourself. And Looking at terrain on GE or Onx is not even remotely the same as having dozens of cameras out. Your being dishonest. Lol. I really don't want to get sucked into a camera debate again but your argument is ridiculous.
@JakeH Agree to disagree but dishonesty is a stretch. Just remember the way you feel about scopes being taken off muzzleloaders is the same way others feel about the tech they enjoy.

Enjoy your hunts this year!
 
I agree with this today 100%. I also agreed with this 100% 10-15 years ago in the "glory days."

I don't think a 350 bull in Utah has ever been a bull you pass up unless you are chasing a specific bull that you know was bigger.

I think this has always been the case, and is nothing new.
I was on a San Juan rifle hunt with a friend in 2001. Back then, you passed 350" bulls on that unit.
 
2001. Most guys calling for more opportunity now, didn't have points for LE Elk back in 2001. Some weren't even born. Most guys didn't even know how to hunt Elk in Utah in 2001. 350 bulls seemed plentiful, now a lot of guys don't know what a 350 bull looks like. 280 is 350 to some...
 
I never argued that they didn’t work. I argued that they don’t work any better than some other technology that will never be addressed or become taboo.

I think some people beat their chest pretty hard about “boots on the ground” when in reality they are hypocrites using some other form of tech. I would be willing to bet a decent sum of money that you own and use one or more of the following on your hunts: spotting scope, binoculars, onX maps, truck, side by side, camo clothes, warm boots, scent killer, elk calls, etc.

The purist attitude among some Utah hunters is getting old. Unless you are out there killing stuff with your bare hands I don’t even want to engage in the trail cam debate any more. It’s a wore out subject.


The "loss" of huge bulls, coincides with the rise of Moss, WLH, DC, etc success. Like was pointed out, now Moss is targeting 360 bulls. Eventually, that will become 350 bulls, but hopefully limiting the tech, will slow that. Near 100% success rates, and pressuring("scouting") and harassing elk year round isn't helpful. When every elk in the forest has thumb drives of pics dedicated to them, and huge bounties placed on them, leaving a few alone to hit 400 size, isn't good for the profit margin, thus, they get taken out. The water stamp on the pic of a 370 bull, is worth more than letting it walk to hit 400 next year.

400" bulls are a freak of nature, if one considers the odds of an elk having the genes to get there, then combine that with climate forces, and not being cut down legally(or illegally), they are pretty rare.
 
It takes a lot of years to produce 360+ bulls. As soon as they started increasing bull tags the number of 360+ bulls started sliding. Why did they increase bull tags? Hunters complained they couldn’t draw tags and some even complained that bull to cow ratios were to high.

Plain and simple, if you want 360+ bulls you have to cut tags and somehow put less pressure on top end bulls. Rut hunt with rifle and long range muzzles definitely contributes. There are a lot of tags issued to mossback type clients and they have really pounded top end bulls.
 
What is sad…for those that hunt monster muleys is Colo is doing the same exact thing with it’s mule deer. Colo was re-writing the record books with B&C entries until they started issuing more and more deer tags plus converting to rut rifle season dates. Older age bucks and bulls just can’t survive that type of hunting pressure!

Does Utah with elk and Colo with deer want to return to the glory days? There is a pretty easy scenario for their rebound but hunters must be willing to wait longer in line for tags.

I actually drew a prime Utah elk tag back in the glory days. Holy smokes was that amazing!
 
What is sad…for those that hunt monster muleys is Colo is doing the same exact thing with it’s mule deer. Colo was re-writing the record books with B&C entries until they started issuing more and more deer tags plus converting to rut rifle season dates. Older age bucks and bulls just can’t survive that type of hunting pressure!

Does Utah with elk and Colo with deer want to return to the glory days? There is a pretty easy scenario for their rebound but hunters must be willing to wait longer in line for tags.

I actually drew a prime Utah elk tag back in the glory days. Holy smokes was that amazing!
You are spot on. I think if they really wanted to it would be as simple as issuing the correct amount of tags relative to the success rates instead of trying to reduce the success rates to match the tags.
 
What is sad…for those that hunt monster muleys is Colo is doing the same exact thing with it’s mule deer. Colo was re-writing the record books with B&C entries until they started issuing more and more deer tags plus converting to rut rifle season dates. Older age bucks and bulls just can’t survive that type of hunting pressure!

Does Utah with elk and Colo with deer want to return to the glory days? There is a pretty easy scenario for their rebound but hunters must be willing to wait longer in line for tags.

I actually drew a prime Utah elk tag back in the glory days. Holy smokes was that amazing!
Just reducing tags is not the answer, especially in Utah where elk are managed by age and herd size objective. You lower tags to maintain age objective and less bulls are killed, but you still have to manage to herd objective so you end up killing cows. What results is an unproductive herd with tons of bulls on the landscape-look at the statistics on the Beaver unit as one prime example.

Reducing tags might generate a few more big bulls in the short term, but the long term result is a herd that crashes. Not the way!
 
I call “bull” on the too many bulls scenario. Obviously herd size and health is important. Im sure everyone agrees this is possible by harvesting cows. What was mentioned above about too many bulls is exactly what they were saying when multiple 400 class bulls were harvested every year out of multiple units many years ago. As far as I’m concerned having 400 class bulls available in multiple units is a sign of a pretty darn healthy elk herd.

More and more bull tags were issued and as everyone knows 400 class bulls are almost non-existent across most of Utah.

Where in the west have elk herds crashed where there were too many bulls? Can you honestly say that if quotas would have stayed the same years ago that utahs elk herds would have crashed? I don’t think so! What were the signs this was happening?
 
Really when you break it down to score, the difference between a 350" bull and a 360" bull is 5 inches more on the G5. With the prolonged drought throughout the west, it doesn't take much to reduce antler growth.

It may not be accurate, but just an observation that I see more broken bulls post rut after a bad drought year. Is the antler density related to the quality of the feed.


Maybe too much emphasis is placed on the "score" of an animal instead of the quality of the experience.

My oldest grandson is only 2 years away from being able to hunt biggame in Utah and I think I am more excited about that now.
 
There is a reason B&C lists a 375" bull as the all-time mark with their scoring system.

The "glory days" of the 2000's were never the norm. Animals of all sizes are cyclic. A lot of that is dependent on environmental factors. Some also considering our management, but IMO the correlation isn't that strong after a certain point.

It took 15 years to max out on my unit back in 2013. The 3-5 year period of quality was great during that time frame. Regardless of the reasoning I would not wait that amount of time to do it again. And I didn't. I switched weapons and drew the same unit much quicker. Quality wasn't what it was like back in 2013, but I killed a much older bull (7 vs 12 years).

I don't endorse the tag cut process being the answer. I would take the memories of opportunity over the OIL chance at a freak of nature.

The sky is not falling! There are still awesome bulls to chase in UT!
 
I call “bull” on the too many bulls scenario. Obviously herd size and health is important. Im sure everyone agrees this is possible by harvesting cows. What was mentioned above about too many bulls is exactly what they were saying when multiple 400 class bulls were harvested every year out of multiple units many years ago. As far as I’m concerned having 400 class bulls available in multiple units is a sign of a pretty darn healthy elk herd.

More and more bull tags were issued and as everyone knows 400 class bulls are almost non-existent across most of Utah.

Where in the west have elk herds crashed where there were too many bulls? Can you honestly say that if quotas would have stayed the same years ago that utahs elk herds would have crashed? I don’t think so! What were the signs this was happening?
You can't judge a unit on the number of 400" bulls that are out there.

It's safe to say the vast majority of bulls do not have the genetics to produce 400" antlers. Hell most probably won't see 350.

There are lots of reasons there are no longer 400 inch bulls running around as there was in the early 2000's. The main driver of that is simply the number of people out searching for them. Be it guides and outfitters. Or just Joe blow. Most are getting killed before they reach that size while the old mature 320-340 bulls are overlooked.

Simply cutting tags is definitely not the answer.
 
I agree that simply cutting tags by itself isn't the answer but it certainly is a step in the right direction.

Obviously everyone dreams of hunting bugling bulls and it's a sacrifice to reduce bull quotas. Taking rifle and muzzy seasons out of the rut when bulls are super vulnerable would be a giant leap in the right direction that would have 0 impact on tag quotas.

Getting rid of game cameras will definitely make it tougher for the load of guys mentioned above to locate monster bulls. Having multiple tags offered to high paying outfitter clients each and every year tends to weed the cream of the crop, top-tier bulls out of units. As all of us know outfitters with multiple guides have become highly proficient at producing whopper bulls. Spot lighting bulls at night during the season should be outlawed! Obviously cutting off roads so it's tougher to access remote country is also an option. Improving habitat and water definitely help. There are multiple options to consider.

My guess is there are other changes that may offer opportunity that may not impact quality? Wyo recently incorporated 5 pt only bull tags in several scattered units. Could 5x tags potentially weed out poor 5x bulls while preserving and improving 6x bulls....and allow more hunter opportunity? Could 5x units be alternated every few years? Only time will tell if that works? There are likely other options out there?

Utah was once the mecca for B&C bull elk and there is definitely potential. Can bulls live long enough to reach that potential with existing season dates, quotas, etc? I guess it's up to Utah to decide whether it's really worth making changes to produce whopper bulls?

I'm sure a mass majority of Utah hunters would rather have more opportunity than a better shot at a 400 class bull. It's pretty tough to please everyone!

Any way you look at it, having 400 class bulls available is a sign that all is well and an area has reached it's full potential. I really believe it is a fallacy that having high bull numbers is going to lead to an elk crash....that's a bunch of "bull"! I really wasn't going to post anything until I read that crap!
 
I call “bull” on the too many bulls scenario. Obviously herd size and health is important. Im sure everyone agrees this is possible by harvesting cows. What was mentioned above about too many bulls is exactly what they were saying when multiple 400 class bulls were harvested every year out of multiple units many years ago. As far as I’m concerned having 400 class bulls available in multiple units is a sign of a pretty darn healthy elk herd.

More and more bull tags were issued and as everyone knows 400 class bulls are almost non-existent across most of Utah.

Where in the west have elk herds crashed where there were too many bulls? Can you honestly say that if quotas would have stayed the same years ago that utahs elk herds would have crashed? I don’t think so! What were the signs this was happening?
I call bull on #cheatgrass.
 
JB1975, thanks for bringing up cheatgrass!

I invite you and anyone else to come see for yourself some of the large scale areas we have sprayed cheatgrass. Some of the older parcels are 6+ years after treatment and continue to look amazing! Come see for yourself!

I have game cams set up in a new sprayed area and immediately adjacent to where we sprayed. Which side do you think elk, deer, rabbits, birds, etc prefer?


Ask Sublette and Sheridan Counties in Wyoming how spraying thousands of acres of cheatgrass, ventanata, and Medusahead is changing the landscape in favor of wildlife and cattle. Hopefully it doesn’t take long for Utah to catch on!
 
I agree that simply cutting tags by itself isn't the answer but it certainly is a step in the right direction.

Obviously everyone dreams of hunting bugling bulls and it's a sacrifice to reduce bull quotas. Taking rifle and muzzy seasons out of the rut when bulls are super vulnerable would be a giant leap in the right direction that would have 0 impact on tag quotas.

Getting rid of game cameras will definitely make it tougher for the load of guys mentioned above to locate monster bulls. Having multiple tags offered to high paying outfitter clients each and every year tends to weed the cream of the crop, top-tier bulls out of units. As all of us know outfitters with multiple guides have become highly proficient at producing whopper bulls. Spot lighting bulls at night during the season should be outlawed! Obviously cutting off roads so it's tougher to access remote country is also an option. Improving habitat and water definitely help. There are multiple options to consider.

My guess is there are other changes that may offer opportunity that may not impact quality? Wyo recently incorporated 5 pt only bull tags in several scattered units. Could 5x tags potentially weed out poor 5x bulls while preserving and improving 6x bulls....and allow more hunter opportunity? Could 5x units be alternated every few years? Only time will tell if that works? There are likely other options out there?

Utah was once the mecca for B&C bull elk and there is definitely potential. Can bulls live long enough to reach that potential with existing season dates, quotas, etc? I guess it's up to Utah to decide whether it's really worth making changes to produce whopper bulls?

I'm sure a mass majority of Utah hunters would rather have more opportunity than a better shot at a 400 class bull. It's pretty tough to please everyone!

Any way you look at it, having 400 class bulls available is a sign that all is well and an area has reached it's full potential. I really believe it is a fallacy that having high bull numbers is going to lead to an elk crash....that's a bunch of "bull"! I really wasn't going to post anything until I read that crap!
I agree with you. We can do things like season dates, tag allocation, etc. to keep quality and provide opportunity.

My personal feelings is that size expectations vs time waiting to hunt has been bad for the sport. Throw in $$$ and social media and we've created everything that hunting shouldn't be about.

As long as there are high dollar clients the majority of top tier bulls will continue to be found/harvested by outfitters. $$$ is going to be the problem for creating a healthier balance between quality and opportunity.

I still don't like the trail camera law, but it is what it is.
 
I imagine it would be next to impossible to reduce or eliminate the high $$$ outfitter and raffle tags? I'm aware that these bring great revenue to the state which some of it possibly goes to on the ground habitat improvement projects. I would be curious what other's thoughts are regarding whether the $ generated is really worth it?
 
Thinking of next year, 21 non resident points and not getting any younger. 2nd Rifle Plateau Boulder or Plateau Fishlake 1st rifle? Any suggestion? Never hunted elk in Utah, 5 bulls taken in AZ, 340 biggest rifle, one P&Y. Can’t pull a bow anymore.
 
Really when you break it down to score, the difference between a 350" bull and a 360" bull is 5 inches more on the G5. With the prolonged drought throughout the west, it doesn't take much to reduce antler growth.

It may not be accurate, but just an observation that I see more broken bulls post rut after a bad drought year. Is the antler density related to the quality of the feed.


Maybe too much emphasis is placed on the "score" of an animal instead of the quality of the experience.

My oldest grandson is only 2 years away from being able to hunt biggame in Utah and I think I am more excited about that now.
Forget about the numbers, go have fun with your family and create forever memories. If you harvest, that’s awesome. All elk are great, some just have big antlers.
 
I had the hunt of a lifetime last year on a archery LE elk tag in Utah. I set a realistic goal for the unit, past on several bulls,and the first bull that I had a opportunity at that met my goal got the arrow. I killed a 302” 5x6 that was 6 years old. Another 20” or 50” would not have changed my smile on my face that day one bit. My smile can only get so big. It was a fun hunt and it will be a lifetime memory. I am for opportunity and not for waiting a lifetime for one tag, big bulls are not worth that trade off for me. I killed my biggest bull on a general any bull unit in Utah because I get the opportunity more often. I think there would be a lot more happy hunters out there killing 280”-320” bulls in the LE units than trying to grow 360”-400” for the select few that draw their once in a lifetime tag. No need to go back to the 2000’s model for me, I like the direction they are heading. If anything I would eliminate the age objective management and go to a bull to cow ratio management with opportunity as the objective for setting the proper bull to cow ratio per each unit.

Good luck to all this season.
 
Drew a ‘second’ tier unit in 2018 (premium tag). Had a goal going into it of a 320 bull on the archery hunt and a 350 bull on the gun hunts. Spent approximately 18 days scouting (hunted the unit for deer for years) and 21 total days hunting. Saw three bulls in the 350-370 range (by my non-expert estimation) during all this time. No luck on any of those bulls, had a chance but couldn’t capitalize. Killed a bull on day 21 that I thought was in the 330-340 range. I was mentally drained after spending half of the 21 days solo. Pleasantly surprised when he ended up scoring in the low 350s. However score is one of the last things I remember about that hunt!!!
 
I agree with this today 100%. I also agreed with this 100% 10-15 years ago in the "glory days."

I don't think a 350 bull in Utah has ever been a bull you pass up unless you are chasing a specific bull that you know was bigger.

I think this has always been the case, and is nothing new.
The glory days were already over 15 years ago. Mid-90's until the early 2000's there were some toads hitting the ground, those were the glory days and they really only lasted about ten years. Yeah there's still big bulls taken these days but the amount of top end bulls that were around in that time period will never happen in this state again, the DWR will make sure it doesn't.
 
Ban any kind of paid, guiding or outfitters, packers, helpers for money, on public land. After all that unfolds after that ban, watch quality bulls people want to see more often, return. No more pay a guy to hold the hand of a hunter to kill a big bull on public land in Utah. No excuses.... This may not be a popular idea with some, but it may be necessary.
 
Drew a ‘second’ tier unit in 2018 (premium tag). Had a goal going into it of a 320 bull on the archery hunt and a 350 bull on the gun hunts. Spent approximately 18 days scouting (hunted the unit for deer for years) and 21 total days hunting. Saw three bulls in the 350-370 range (by my non-expert estimation) during all this time. No luck on any of those bulls, had a chance but couldn’t capitalize. Killed a bull on day 21 that I thought was in the 330-340 range. I was mentally drained after spending half of the 21 days solo. Pleasantly surprised when he ended up scoring in the low 350s. However score is one of the last things I remember about that hunt!!!
Ban any kind of paid, guiding or outfitters, packers, helpers for money, on public land. After all that unfolds after that ban, watch quality bulls people want to see more often, return. No more pay a guy to hold the hand of a hunter to kill a big bull on public land in Utah. No excuses.... This may not be a popular idea with some, but it may be necessary.
I am not a fan of outfitters and guides. Many of them act like you have no right to be there and they own the forest or river!
 
They Were Still Doing Well Until about 2010!

Been Declining ever since!

You're Not Gonna Compete With The Boys That Guide & Outfit For a Living!

Too Much Greenback Involved!





The glory days were already over 15 years ago. Mid-90's until the early 2000's there were some toads hitting the ground, those were the glory days and they really only lasted about ten years. Yeah there's still big bulls taken these days but the amount of top end bulls that were around in that time period will never happen in this state again, the DWR will make sure it doesn't.
 
They Were Still Doing Well Until about 2010!

Been Declining ever since!

You're Not Gonna Compete With The Boys That Guide & Outfit For a Living!

Too Much Greenback Involved!
The states have not helped. They used to manage for big mature elk. Now they just issue tags for revenue. Quality of the hunt is not a factor.
 
Bearpaw Outfitters

Experience world class hunting for mule deer, elk, cougar, bear, turkey, moose, sheep and more.

Wild West Outfitters

Hunt the big bulls, bucks, bear and cats in southern Utah. Your hunt of a lifetime awaits.

J & J Outfitters

Offering quality fair-chase hunts for trophy mule deer, elk, shiras moose and mountain lions.

Shane Scott Outfitting

Quality trophy hunting in Utah. Offering FREE Utah drawing consultation. Great local guides.

Utah Big Game Outfitters

Specializing in bighorn sheep, mule deer, elk, mountain goat, lions, bears & antelope.

Apex Outfitters

We offer experienced guides who hunt Elk, Mule Deer, Antelope, Sheep, Bison, Goats, Cougar, and Bear.

Urge 2 Hunt

We offer high quality hunts on large private ranches around the state, with landowner vouchers.

Allout Guiding & Outfitting

Offering high quality mule deer, elk, bear, cougar and bison hunts in the Book Cliffs and Henry Mtns.

Lickity Split Outfitters

General season and LE fully guided hunts for mule deer, elk, moose, antelope, lion, turkey, bear and coyotes.

Back
Top Bottom