Help with Central Utah tag...

190MuleyHunter · Sep 30, 2004

I've been lurking in the back ground for some time and I can't help myself but to post on this chat board. Why? Because I am very impressed with how willing hunters are here to help other hunters. Hunters are known for keeping thier secrets to themselves. So you all have inspired me to post here.

I'm hardcore hunter wannabe that hasn't have the ability to get as serious as I'd like. This season I was fortunate to draw a buck tag in Central Utah. It's not the panseguant but I think there are still 30" bucks to be had.

I have hunted the mountain range between Levan and the Manti region last year. My hunting partner spend every day of the hunt in that area and didn't see anything to get your heart going.

Any info you might have on the Central Utah hunt will be very welcome.

Thanks in advance.

190MuleyHunter · Oct 5, 2004

*BUMP*

Ok, maybe its harder than I thought to get some help on this site. I could use some coaching I guess to get the fish to bite in this site.

I'm going out this weekend and next scouting. I'm willing to discuss what I find if I can get some helpful wisdom. I have a few areas in mind. My hunting time is limited since my wife's due date is on opening day. (The one thing I tried to avoid in my life. But it was complicated this time). My second boy is on the way and I am excited but feel I'm hunting on a leash.

So any helpful tips are very welcome. I don't mind doing some work to find the deer. I don't need a monster but a 25" buck or bigger is what I'm looking for.

Thanks fellas!

HornyMan · Oct 5, 2004

Check your inbox!

groundshrink · Oct 5, 2004

Can't stand to see that no one is willing to come forth with any info. Don't know the Northern part of this unit very well at all. The Central part a little. Wouldn't hunt the whole unit -even as a last choice, myself. Deer numbers are way down. People are frustrated. The best areas on the south end of the unit have gone CWMU which I think will eventually make a great place to put in for. A high deer fence from Gunnison to Nephi that would protect against some of the road kill would be a great help, also. It's the Coal run from Salina to the tracks in Levan. Don't get me wrong not bashing a good employer/work opportunity - it's just the way it is. Lots of traffic 24 hrs a day takes it toll especialy in winter. For what it's worth the drought has been vicious on this area that is quite dry anyway.
I'd like to see some organization, or a team of them work together and get that fence in place??? Could it happen??

DoubleDuecer · Oct 5, 2004

I think your best bet would be to stay away form levan canyon altogether to many hunters there to get a chance at a decent deer maybe a 2 point or spike if your lucky. your best chance if you wan tto hunt around Levan is to go all the way tot eth top of teh mountains up chicken creek and just as you drop off the other side there is a road going to the north just fallow that road to the end. I've seen some nice deer there. Your next best chance i would say is to go west of Nephi, I've gone coyote hunting there all last winter saw some nice bucks. I'm from Nephi so i know the area pretty well. If you need anymore help just let me know.

190MuleyHunter · Oct 6, 2004

Thanks for the great information. Last year we went up chicken creek and saw a lot of people. It was quite the ATV convention. I even saw people from out of state which I found to be surprising. I think I will send you an email to ask you more questions.

Thanks!

redfrog · Oct 6, 2004

Where are you finding that the numbers are down for the central area. If anything they are better then ever. I have seen 4 to 5 times and many bucks than i did last year and last year i saw more than the year before. I love hunting the central area its a shame i did't draw a tag this year and now im stuck with a northeastern tag. I was hoping to take a deer i've been watching for the last 3 years but now i won't get the chance this year. Hope he is there fore next year.

190MuleyHunter · Oct 11, 2004

Just signing on to report some findings or should I saw lack of findings over the weekend. I spent some time on the west side of Diamond fork at elevations of 8,000 feet (basically the upper most elevations you can reach in that region) and only saw 8 skin heads running around. I saw more elk hunters on four wheelers who were on restricted trails to foot traffic than I did deer. And a number of other hunters on horseback. The lack of deer sign in that area was very discouraging.

We moved out of that area by the afternoon to another drainage that seemed more promising but still only saw one more skin head after spending the rest of the day hiking that area. And that was without seeing any other people in the area. The weather was quite warm and deer were most likely bedded down. But nothing came out in the evening even though we stayed out long after the sun had set.

Very puzzeling! We got to the point where we would have like to have seen any animal, even a small 2 point would have been a welcome site.

I doubt we will be going back to those areas. Maybe try some place higher. But its not like the deer migrate 25-50 miles to find a higher peek to hang out on.

Foreman4x4 · Oct 11, 2004

Anyone heard rumor of the DWR killing a bunch of deer (400-600) around Fountain Green, apparently looking for CWD after it was found during last years season?

SneakAttack · Oct 11, 2004

I heard the same rumor. Wonder if that will brought up in the RAC meeting tonight? Oh wait, sorry, forgot who we were talking about.

'It's all about the gut pile'

bigmuleys · Oct 14, 2004

I live in central Utah. I am from mona,utah. There are so many good spots to hunt it isn't even funny. Up on Mt Nebo at least 5 to ten thirty inchers are killed every year.Red cliffs is about the same. Up chicken creek in levan my dad and grandpa shot a really heavy 4x4. It was thirty five inches wide. And really tall. There are a lot of people that hunt up there. Hike off into the deep canyons and you should find a big buck.Nebo is so steep and thick it is hard to sneak up on deer. There are gigantic bucks up there. I am so disapointed. I didn't even draw for the central region. I am stuck with northeastern. Good luck!

7remmag · Oct 15, 2004

I have put a lot of time in scouting and hunting in the the central region (nebo area) so far this year. I have seen a few nice bucks but have yet to see one of the "big boys" we are all after. The way the rifle hunt is setting this year(being at the end of the month) we could poossibly see some snow and that would make an awesome hunt. It would definately increase our chances at something good. Good luck on the hunt!

eyeguard · Oct 15, 2004

Yo 190,

I'm in the same boat dude. 'Cept my wife is due with our 2nd boy on the 28th. I'm still grounded from the hills though because we're moving over opening weekend. I've promised myself I won't get into this kind of a mess ever again (even if it takes going on the ML hunt instead of rifle)! Good Luck to you regardless, and let me us know how you do with the limitations you're facing with time and where you're able to hunt.

EG

"A man can be hard to find in the mountains, but you're welcome at my fire anytime."

groundshrink · Oct 15, 2004

Hey - here's a thought for you Big M - ask for the same help 190 is asking for you may just get a great deer in the North Eastern!
When I posted before I was reffering to the exteme southern most part of this "central" area, sorry about not being clear on that. Far as I know they did shoot a bunch of valley deer by Ftn Green, but not the numbers posted. Call 435 835 8441 and ask Brad - he's the Warden he'll know for sure. I have to admitt that the one post has me a lot more interested in the Nebo area of the Central Unit!

190MuleyHunter · Oct 15, 2004

Sweet! My post has reached fire status.

I really appreciate the posts from all of you. You have made this a great thread IMO whether you have been up in the hills scouting this year or not. Some great comments have been made.

I will be headed out again this weekend to scout if my pregnant wife who's due date is the 23rd will allow me to leave her. Not a fun situation for me to be in but an interesting one. I just hope I don't screw up! Hopefully if I can get up high enough, I will get cell service. And I do plan to get high, only problem is it will make a long trip back down.

I will report what I see and hopefully something worthy of a report. Here's to hoping a little luck will be on my side!

eyeguard · Oct 15, 2004

Yep, Good Luck! Sounds like you're gonna need it.

Be forewarned though, my first son was born on the 30th, 6 years ago. I thought I could get away with just a half a day of hunting on opening day (she wasn't due for another week), and the Mrs. still hasn't let me live it down. Not sure if I ever will.

You got some cajones to be taking a chance like that. Like I said you'll have to let us know how this one turns out (with the hunt, and the baby). It would be sweet if you could tag out on a nice buck opening morning, and have your son born later that same day. Definitely memorable I'm sure.

EG

"A man can be hard to find in the mountains, but you're welcome at my fire anytime."

Clyde Hollinger · Oct 16, 2004

LAST EDITED ON Oct-16-04 AT 08:10AM (MST)[p]I gotta tune in on this one! "5-10 thirty inchers killed off of Nebo every year", um.... ok?! That's my stompin grounds, and if you're hearing of that many 30" bucks coming off of there, it sounds like you are hearing 5-10 really good stories, BS stories at that. Not saying there's not a 30" there. But, there's not that many 30 inchers there, especially dead ones! Deer numbers are way down this year up there. And one of the reasons is due to uninformed people swarming the place looking for the 30 inchers that aren't there and taking too many of the smaller bucks. There were at least 5 deer killed on Nebo last year that were left to rot, because the people who shot them did not want to pack them out. (All were eventually caught/cited and admitted to leaving the deer, because they were too tired and too far in to pack them out!) Ask anyone who hunted the Red Cliffs this year, (archery and muzz), how many deer, let alone bucks they saw. Not many at all. The deer are hold up in areas they aren't gernerally in, due to drought, and pressure. Hopefully you can find a decent spot to hunt this year 190. And I hope I didn't give you a big let down. Hopefully, you don't head up Nebo being mislead, only to be let down.
Good Luck!
Elk