I am thinking about applying for UT, elk and deer. I know my chances of drawing a decent unit are very slim and I will be way behind on PP's. However, my thinking is that many years down the road I will have more money set aside for hunting and thought about trying to get good tags and using a outfitter. Basically drawing a good tag with access issues (hopefully these tags are easier to draw) but still having good trophy potential. Does this back up plan sound OK? Ideally I would like to draw a decent tag and DIY but I am now just starting to study UT and Im not sure if there are any OK units with realistic odds of drawing.
Should I start applying???
- Thread starter AT Hiker
- Start date
NDHunter
Veteran member
Man, I really have my doubts about UT being worth it. I've got 3 points there now and am seriously considering just dropping that state. For antelope, you're better off just going to WY. For deer, a lot of the good units are maybe once in a lifetime tags. For elk, unless you get super lucky in the random draw, you'll probably need 15-20 points to draw a decent tag (not a top tag). Then you'll have to sit out for a few years before you can even start applying again. By then, it could take 25 points or more to get another elk tag. Man, I'm really talking myself out of applying!!!!!
It used to be that you could get away with buying a hunting license every other year to apply but I thought I read somewhere that that is changing this year. I looked in the regs quick but couldn't find it. Anybody know if that's the case?
If you want to go the outfitter route, you might be just as well off to get a tag in Colorado or Montana and go on a private ranch.
It used to be that you could get away with buying a hunting license every other year to apply but I thought I read somewhere that that is changing this year. I looked in the regs quick but couldn't find it. Anybody know if that's the case?
If you want to go the outfitter route, you might be just as well off to get a tag in Colorado or Montana and go on a private ranch.
2rocky
Active Member
- Sep 10, 2012
- 290
- 0
UT is my "Long Shot" Application each year. I never have my heart set on it but when I draw it, I'll go.
I work with people who have drawn a good deer hunt with well under Max points. It can happen.
In the meantime I've found Western Deer and Elk hunts I can do annually between 3 states until I draw that primo unit. The experience will pay off once I do.
I work with people who have drawn a good deer hunt with well under Max points. It can happen.
In the meantime I've found Western Deer and Elk hunts I can do annually between 3 states until I draw that primo unit. The experience will pay off once I do.
Alabama
Veteran member
Just remember there are 2 types of deer tags: limited entry and general. Limited entry tags are hard to draw, but general tags can be had every 1-4 years depending on the unit. There are some monster deer coming out of these general units.
RUTTIN
Veteran member
Just remember someone has to get lucky and draw, and you can't draw if you don't put in!
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
missjordan
Veteran member
I'm applying the same theory you are, I'm 23 years old and just banking on the fact in the future I'll have the money when I get out of school and start working full time, if it takes 20 years to draw a tag then so be it. The length of time doesn't matter to me. I have three bonus points for deer and elk so I view it as a waiting game for now. I also get to hunt elk and deer every year so I'm Willing to wait for a premium - ish unit. Plus utah is cheaper to apply for than some other states
Musket Man
Veteran member
My first thought is NO. With the long draw odds and point creep in UT starting out now with 0 points its not worth it and there are alot better places to spend your money where you can hunt alot more often. My general plan is if I cant draw a tag I want with 3-5 points I dont apply. I have no desire to build alot of points, I want to hunt. That said I decided I would have 1 "dream state". I choose Nevada. If I hadnt choose Nevada I would have most likely choose Utah. There is nothing wrong with putting in for long shots but I wouldnt do it in alot of places of you will end up spending alot of money every year and not drawing many tags. The only one that can really answer your question is you.
Zim
Very Active Member
^^^
This.
If I were getting in on the ground floor, no way I do Utah. They sold out the nonresidents years ago, finalized by raping 150 or so primo tags for the Salt Palace Expo. Draw odds went Powerball for everything, even for common species like deer & elk. I'm hoping to burn my 18 deer points this year, and if so, will seriously consider dumping the balance of my 6 points across the board for everything else. The odds report will tell you why. What a joke Utah has become since 1997 when I got lucky on a Book Cliffs elk tag with no points. Drawing that one tag has been the only thing that has made that train wreck tolerable the last 18 years.
1 in 1,000......1 in 2,000.......1 in 3,000? Really? This is a no brainer decision. Invest your money elsewhere than in Don Peay's Ponzi scheme. Hell you can just throw a dart at a US map to find a better place.
Last edited:
Elkhunter96
Active Member
Utah is a must apply state. Plenty of elk units that can be drawn with 8-15 pts as long as you're willing to hunt late season or archery/muzzy. I wouldn't wait for the early rifle hunts, those take way too much time in my opinion. Utah is a ton cheaper than many of the other states I build points in...plus it's been the top b&c elk state for a while now and top 3 deer state.
Thanks guys! Great insight, yet Im still stuck on my thinking. I guess I need to come up with a formula like UH and decide how much $$ I will have invested before I can realistically draw a tag. Good news is I have two friends in UT, they just moved there but maybe when I do draw I will at least know someone out there that could help me in the planning if I do not choose the outfitter route.
Zim
Very Active Member
That 8 point elk tag you mention will fall prey to full point/year creep once the 6 point "multi-species point saver" crowd hits that level. There's a huge jump in applicants in that pool, the vast majority of which will draw nothing but a hope and a prayer. Do the math.
How crowded are those general tags and is there a decent amount of public land? I would be willing to wait up to 4 years to hunt UT. Just to say I hunted it and gave it my best. But I dont want to wait 4 years for a tag equivalent to a region Y tag in WY.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
NDHunter
Veteran member
I'm not sure how crowded those hunts are but if a guy was going to some of those hunts every few years, it would make UT look much better.
I honestly believe that states like NV and UT are once in a lifetime elk tags unless you get extremely lucky. Is it worth it to spend at least $100 a year for 20+ years for one elk tag? Maybe??? What if you draw that primo tag and then you get a week of warm weather and animal movement is minimal and you hardly see anything?
Good point, hence my dilemma. What is it worth to me? I could definitely use that money towards a WY or MT pack trip but something about trying to hunt in every state has a draw to me. Even if its just once.
Zim
Very Active Member
This is exactly what happened to a friend of mine in Utah. He saved for 10+ years for an archery tag then DP moved up all the archery hunts out of the rut to accommodate the auction tag buyers who want to hunt with a rifle during the rut. Gotta increase those winning bids. My friend hunted hard, fought the heat and no bugle and went home empty handed, while his bull was shot down during the rut by some fat cat with a big wallet and belly hangin over his belt.
Last edited:
Musket Man
Veteran member
Elkhunter96
Active Member
I've done the math Zim, seen the results. Many of the true green chip units for archery and muzzy tags have not seen the point creep that many of the top units see. Reason being, too many applicants put in for the once in the lifetime hunts on the next to impossible draw units or are just putting in for points.
I've also had buddies and family with the exact opposite results, they beat the odds to draw the harder units. All I know is your odds of drawing are zero if you don't put in. Even as a nonresident, Utah is one of my top states to apply for. Cheaper than NV, AZ, ID, WY, etc.
I've also had buddies and family with the exact opposite results, they beat the odds to draw the harder units. All I know is your odds of drawing are zero if you don't put in. Even as a nonresident, Utah is one of my top states to apply for. Cheaper than NV, AZ, ID, WY, etc.
QuazyQuinton
Active Member
I'm in the same spot, having zero points and trying to decide if I should jump in. This is how I see Utah.
Pros: Some of the best hunting in North America
Relatively inexpensive to apply and build points
A great variety of species to hunt in Utah
Con: Dismal drawing odds across the board for the good hunts
I think you have to answer the question of what you're looking for. If you want a state where you know you can plan on drawing a tag after a certain number of years, don't look at Utah. If you want several chances at some long-shot, once-in-a-lifetime, great hunts, then you need to decide if you want to spend the money. You know what they say about lotteries being a tax on people who are bad at math....
Don't ask me what I'm going to do; I haven't decided.
QQ
Pros: Some of the best hunting in North America
Relatively inexpensive to apply and build points
A great variety of species to hunt in Utah
Con: Dismal drawing odds across the board for the good hunts
I think you have to answer the question of what you're looking for. If you want a state where you know you can plan on drawing a tag after a certain number of years, don't look at Utah. If you want several chances at some long-shot, once-in-a-lifetime, great hunts, then you need to decide if you want to spend the money. You know what they say about lotteries being a tax on people who are bad at math....
Don't ask me what I'm going to do; I haven't decided.