Extended archery deer

bsevans5 · Nov 2, 2022

I'm in southern utah. Went 0-3 for dedicated hunter when the rifle season just ended. I was ready to be done till i saw a decent buck pop out at last light 750 yards away and heading away from me. Never turned for a shot. The sighting re-lit the fire to keep after it. There are only two small areas down here for extended archery and the dates ended in October (not to mention they're 99% private).

I have never hunted up north. I don't know where the deer winter or anything about where to start. I don't know that I can even get up there this month, but if I can get some decent direction from someone, I'm willing to make the trip. Any good intel on where to go? I'm not asking for honey hole, but don't want to go to a random spot that everyone else knows doesn't hold deer at this time of year.

CFMuley · Nov 3, 2022

Pick any of the main canyons that are in the extended area, pick a trailhead up one of those canyons, and start hiking. There’s literally deer everywhere along the Wasatch Front, but you’ll have to work for them.

bsevans5 · Nov 3, 2022

CFMuley said:
Pick any of the main canyons that are in the extended area, pick a trailhead up one of those canyons, and start hiking. There’s literally deer everywhere along the Wasatch Front, but you’ll have to work for them.

Thanks. There's so much approved country I didn't want to go to an area that everyone else knows has no deer this time of year.

Follow up question...when I'm hiking into an area I plan to glass/hunt, I will often hike in the dark to be at my spot at first light. Should I be doing that on these trails or hike in the light for safety and I may encounter deer on the trail?

ORIONTHEHUNTER · Nov 3, 2022

I honestly wouldn't worry about busting up the trail in the dark. A better strategy would be to drive around until you spot an influencer or insta hunters truck and follow them. Sneak in and shoot the buck they've named out from under them. Just make sure to let them pose with it for pics and give them a set of replicas so they can also get a mount.

BearCub · Nov 3, 2022

ORIONTHEHUNTER said:
I honestly wouldn't worry about busting up the trail in the dark. A better strategy would be to drive around until you spot an influencer or insta hunters truck and follow them. Sneak in and shoot the buck they've named out from under them. Just make sure to let them pose with it for pics and give them a set of replicas so they can also get a mount.

??? I literally laughed out loud.

elkassassin · Nov 3, 2022

My Memory is Poor!

But Not That Poor!

ORIONTHEHUNTER said:
I honestly wouldn't worry about busting up the trail in the dark. A better strategy would be to drive around until you spot an influencer or insta hunters truck and follow them. Sneak in and shoot the buck they've named out from under them. Just make sure to let them pose with it for pics and give them a set of replicas so they can also get a mount.

Founder · Nov 3, 2022

bsevans5 said:
Thanks. There's so much approved country I didn't want to go to an area that everyone else knows has no deer this time of year.

Follow up question...when I'm hiking into an area I plan to glass/hunt, I will often hike in the dark to be at my spot at first light. Should I be doing that on these trails or hike in the light for safety and I may encounter deer on the trail?

Go in well before light. There’s probably still a good number of deer very high. South facing slopes melt off quick.
CFMuley is right, just pick a trail going up and get after it for the day, then repeat until you find one.

Themaddness · Nov 3, 2022

Hidden valley park, bear canyon suspension bridge trail head. Head to the top of both. Both are in draper.

Wbrim · Nov 3, 2022

keep in mind, there’s people on most all of the main trails, and to find deer you should look to get away from people… hike a trail for a ways, then branch off to get away from all the hikers.

TheOneRidgeRunner · Nov 4, 2022

Be prepared for lots of people, not just other hunters. Many of the people you'll find on the trails won't be fond of you hunting.
Just use the trails to navigate up certain areas then get off them. With all the snow this week id be hitting the lower areas between Millcreek and Big Cottonwood canyons

bsevans5 · Nov 4, 2022

Wbrim said:
keep in mind, there’s people on most all of the main trails, and to find deer you should look to get away from people… hike a trail for a ways, then branch off to get away from all the hikers.

That's good to know. Thanks. I'm familiar with the cities up north, but not the wilderness areas much.

bsevans5 · Nov 4, 2022

Themaddness said:
Hidden valley park, bear canyon suspension bridge trail head. Head to the top of both. Both are in draper.

I appreciate the input. Are these areas I should expect to hike a couple hours to get to a good location? Just trying to make plans on how to tackle this if I can make it up. Thinking maybe end of next week and/or around Thanksgiving as it looks like we may be headed up that way for the holiday.

YZF_88 · Nov 20, 2022

ORIONTHEHUNTER said:
I honestly wouldn't worry about busting up the trail in the dark. A better strategy would be to drive around until you spot an influencer or insta hunters truck and follow them. Sneak in and shoot the buck they've named out from under them. Just make sure to let them pose with it for pics and give them a set of replicas so they can also get a mount.

I totally get this reference now! I just watched one of those guys ramble on YouTube next to a replica rack and pose with someone’s deer at the end. I kind of recognized the deer because the guy who shot it raced up past me to a glassing point in August last year. Later that morning he showed me his “magazine cover buck” and it’s the same one.

Gotta love the Front. Radio ear pieces and Instagram.

bsevans5 · Nov 20, 2022

YZF_88 said:
I totally get this reference now! I just watched one of those guys ramble on YouTube next to a replica rack and pose with someone’s deer at the end. I kind of recognized the deer because the guy who shot it raced up past me to a glassing point in August last year. Later that morning he showed me his “magazine cover buck” and it’s the same one.

Gotta love the Front. Radio ear pieces and Instagram.

Went up 2 weeks ago. Hard to compete with people that live up there, know the area...and that do this "professionally" (with radios, lots of eyes, video equipment, and a following)

JakeH · Nov 20, 2022

bsevans5 said:
Went up 2 weeks ago. Hard to compete with people that live up there, know the area...and that do this "professionally" (with radios, lots of eyes, video equipment, and a following)

No need to "compete" with them. Just go do your thing. Find deer and hunt them. Don't worry about what the others are doing.