Questions about Any Bull OTC any weapon hunts?

[Roughwater]

Hi,

I never hunted Utah or even considered it till this year. I didn't plan to even hunt elk this year till just a week or so ago so I missed all the draw options. Not much either in the leftovers to choose from.

I've gone online and looked at the hunt planner etc and a lot of good info there but I still have some questions.

As it stands right now if I hunt Utah it would be either a Any bull or Spike hunt.

One question I have is if I buy a Any Bull, any weapon permit which all have the same hunt code, do I need to select a hunt unit and if I do am I committed to hunt that unit and only that unit?
I was thinking I do since when I visited the Utah Division of whildlife site it listed units still available but some units like San Juan appeared to no longer be available? Thx in advance.

 

[JimP]

You don't need to select a hunt unit but you are restricted to the "Any Bull" general elk hunt areas. In other words you can not hunt a any bull on a LE unit or a spike only unit. Likewise if you purchase a spike general elk tag you are limited to the spike only units and the LE units that allow spike hunting. Without looking at the regs I do know of at least one unit that you can not hunt spikes on with a spike general elk tag during the any weapon hunt and that is the Monroe unit. I don't think that they have restricted any other unit to that. But if you planned on archery or muzzle loader hunting then you can hunt a spike on the Monroe unit.

The elk tags on the San Juan are for the limited entry hunts. If you wanted to hunt the any bull you would hunt the San Juan Montezuma Canyon unit which is a any bull unit but it has a lot of private along with quite a few CWMU's, but it does hold good elk.

For a list of how many permits are left you can go to this site, stick in your age and residence status and then check the elk tags that are remaining. Right now there are 2204 any weapon and muzzle loader tags left for any bull units.

https://secure.utah.gov/hflo/available-licenses.html.

 

[elktaker]

Unless you know where the elk will be during the hunt ( and it sounds like you are a nonresident?) i would look towards a different state for OTC.

Typically the units have access issues or low elk number (a few of the any bull units have less than 100 estimated animals). With that said I killed a otc bull the first year I hunted and missed one last year with my bow, but that’s 15 miles from my house and I spend countless hours scouting.

If you just want a hunt and the possibility of meat, I would look at the spike hunt as well. You may get to see a lot of elk on a limited unit but can only take a spike. Both odds of success is roughly 10 to 20% each year for spikes or any bull hunts.

 

[Roughwater]

Thanks elktalker,

I am a non-resident. If I do the anybull it would be the Oct 6-18th anyweapon hunt (Rifle). Home state folks always have the edge. I'm retired so I can spend the whole 12 days hunting and a couple more scouting if necessary. I don't mind hiking in a few miles and setting up a camp away from the crowds. Ive hunted Elk before and look at the % rate of succes but also at the number of hunters. Looks like a lot of elk in the Unitas but a brick load of hunters also. I have thought a lot about the Spike hunt too as having a chance to maybe see some monster elk might make the trip worthwhile even if I don't get a spike. But you all probably know it's hard to pass up a bull hunt even a low odds one. I haven't checked lately but a few days ago I could still get a 1st Colorado Rifle Bull tag in a 20% area. But I don't think there will be many less folks hunting in Colorado than in Utah. Also if I understand correctly I can get a cow tag as well if I hunt in certain areas which I am thinking of doing. I think it would up my odds a bit if I do. So I am leaning toward the Bull tag vs the spike. As to getting a "cow tag" I guess technically the tag/permit I'm talking about is one for the antlerless control areas within the general "Any bull" units, and are only good in those specific units and only good during the same dates as the Bull season I would be hunting in.

 

[elktaker]

If you are looking at the Antlerless control cow tags, they are only good on private lands. I am not aware of any leftover cow tags available on an any bull utah (for unit including public land). The East side of Beaver (which would be Spike only) had some cow tags, I believe, but they are likely gone now.

I have only hunted elk/deer in Southern Utah so I am not too familiar with the Unita hunt (heard it is busy and typically even if you hike you will find groups in deeper with horses).

Good luck, I am hoping to drop a bull this weekend the opener of archery but this year I will take a cow or Spike if one gives me a good shot. Out of elk meat! This is my target bull but not much else expect spikes and cows.

 

[Roughwater]

If you are looking at the Antlerless control cow tags, they are only good on private lands. I am not aware of any leftover cow tags available on an any bull utah (for unit including public land). The East side of Beaver (which would be Spike only) had some cow tags, I believe, but they are likely gone now.


View attachment 21942

Elktaker,

As to getting a cow tag in the Utah AnyBull, anyweapon season what I was talking about is getting a antlerless elk control permit. You can purchase a cow tag so long as you purchase a Bull or buck tag. Stipulation is it can only be used in a designated antlered controled unit and you can only use that tag during the same season your bull or Buck tag is for.

Here is what I cut and pasted from the Utah Wildlife resources web site:
If you obtained a permit (including general season) to harvest a buck, bull or once-in-a-lifetime species on any of the listed units (not including CWMUs), you have the option of purchasing an antlerless elk-control permit.

The antlerless elk-control permit allows you to harvest an antlerless elk in the same unit where you’ll already be hunting an antlered big game animal. Antlerless elk-control permits are not valid statewide. Please verify all hunt boundaries before heading into the field. You may hunt the antlerless elk only during the season dates—and with the same weapon—listed on your buck, bull or once-in-a-lifetime permit.

 

[elktaker]

Copy, I thought they switch them all to private. I tried to find them on the license Website like it says and there is no option for it. Let us know if/when you buy one if you can get them at Office or if I am missing where it’s listed to buy on the site.

 

[JimP]

Here is a link to the remaining anterless permits that are available in Utah. These permits are not the private land tags and as you can see there are only a total of 29 permits in 3 units. With no permits for the any bull units

https://wildlife.utah.gov/remaining-permits.html

And here is the list for the private lands only tags.

https://dwrapps.utah.gov/huntboundary/hbstart?SP=Elk&SE=Antlerless&HT=Private Lands Only&TB=true

 

[Roughwater]

Here is a link to the remaining anterless permits that are available in Utah. These permits are not the private land tags and as you can see there are only a total of 29 permits in 3 units. With no permits for the any bull units

https://wildlife.utah.gov/remaining-permits.html

And here is the list for the private lands only tags.

https://dwrapps.utah.gov/huntboundary/hbstart?SP=Elk&SE=Antlerless&HT=Private Lands Only&TB=true

I was just notified there are only 500 "Any Bull" tags left. Last time I looked there was 2200. So I got to go ahead and get my permit before they are gone. I was thinking to call the Utah game folks tomorrow about the cow tag in question but then just realized tomorrow is Saturday and don't know if I would get hold of anyone or not if I called. I am still thinking for me, maybe the spike hunt would be best it's kinda half dozen of one and 6 of another?

 

[JimP]

The only cow tags that are actually left are going to be the private land only tags where you are going to have to talk to the property owner and get written permission, and only hunt the cow on the private land. Perhaps the land owner will allow a bull to be shot but that would be between you and the owner.

As for a spike or any bull, it all depends on what you are after. Most of the any bull hunts can be hard hunts and as was mentioned there are any bull units that hold very few elk. The division want the elk off of these units so they put out liberal cow tags along with the any bull tags. There are a few of them that I have never seen a elk on, but I have seen evidence of them.

 

[elktaker]

Being a nonresident and on the wall between spike and any bull, I would go spike. If you don’t get a spike it will be lack of finding one not excessive competition. The any bull units that have huntable # of elk will be packed. Unless you just really want a branched bull.

I am 50% successful on spikes and 50% on any bulls. I scout once every other week all summer for any bulls and just went out and glassed during the spike season. Spike to me is an easier hunt. Find a premium unit with a lot of elk and hunt it. Plus you might get to some huge bulls to watch.

 

[Roughwater]

The only cow tags that are actually left are going to be the private land only tags where you are going to have to talk to the property owner and get written permission, and only hunt the cow on the private land. Perhaps the land owner will allow a bull to be shot but that would be between you and the owner.

As for a spike or any bull, it all depends on what you are after. Most of the any bull hunts can be hard hunts and as was mentioned there are any bull units that hold very few elk. The division want the elk off of these units so they put out liberal cow tags along with the any bull tags. There are a few of them that I have never seen a elk on, but I have seen evidence of them.

I just purchased my Any bull permit. You are correct as far as I can tell. When purchasing my permit I could find no option to find any tags other that what appeared to be private land cow tags. I will call UTah DOW on Monday and see what happened to the antlerless tags they talk about at their website.

 

[JimP]

The anterless tags are draw tags and if any are left over then they will go to the public on a first come first sold basis. But 99% of all anterless tags available for public land will go on the first draw and not even make it to the second draw.

The tags that are left and that most hunters do not want are the ones listed in the what's left list.

In the book what they are talking about is if you do draw a anterless tag for unit XYZ for a season that is listed as different dates than the bull tag you can hunt that anterless animal at the same time that you are hunting the bull. Or you can hunt it during the season dates that are on the tag.

 

[elktaker]

He is looking for the control tags. Typically on units the DWR does not want elk. I thought they replaced them with private cow tags but website states they still have them then when you go to buy one they are not listed. Not sure what he will find out.

 

[JimP]

OK, now I see what he is looking for. Of all the units that they offer control permits on I would only hunt one of them and that is the South Slope, Yellowstone. The others are mostly private or very few elk where the division what the elk gone from them.

I went into the web site and got to where I could purchase them. Just follow this link and click on OUR WEBSITE down on the bottom of the page and then enter your information.

https://wildlife.utah.gov/2015-plan-your-antlerless-hunt/39-hunting/hunting/1618-elk-control-permits.html

If I was hunting somewhere near where they are allowing them I'd pick up the 2 of them that it shows that I can purchase.

 

[Roughwater]

The only cow tags that are actually left are going to be the private land only tags where you are going to have to talk to the property owner and get written permission, and only hunt the cow on the private land. Perhaps the land owner will allow a bull to be shot but that would be between you and the owner.

As for a spike or any bull, it all depends on what you are after. Most of the any bull hunts can be hard hunts and as was mentioned there are any bull units that hold very few elk. The division want the elk off of these units so they put out liberal cow tags along with the any bull tags. There are a few of them that I have never seen a elk on, but I have seen evidence of them.

Thanks again Jim. I'm sure you are correct. Just wish Utah DOW would be more specific as to what they publish. Due to the fact that it looked like the tags could sell out soon I went ahead and purchased the Any bull tag. Not long after I did I read two different articles online about how hard of a hunt the Anybull season is. At first I began to feel bad about my purchase but then I decided I just have to get tougher and plan on hiking in and camping deep.

 

[JimP]

There isn't a state out there who writes their hunting and fishing regulations to where a normal person can read them and make any sense out of them, Utah isn't any different. About the only person that the regs make and sense to is the person that wrote them.

 

[Roughwater]

OK, now I see what he is looking for. Of all the units that they offer control permits on I would only hunt one of them and that is the South Slope, Yellowstone. The others are mostly private or very few elk where the division what the elk gone from them.

I went into the web site and got to where I could purchase them. Just follow this link and click on OUR WEBSITE down on the bottom of the page and then enter your information.

https://wildlife.utah.gov/2015-plan-your-antlerless-hunt/39-hunting/hunting/1618-elk-control-permits.html

If I was hunting somewhere near where they are allowing them I'd pick up the 2 of them that it shows that I can purchase.

Jim,

I followed the link you left me and went to the website again and still could not find the antlerless permit?

Above you say: If I was hunting somewhere near where they are allowing them I'd pick up the 2 of them that it shows that I can purchase.[/QUOTE]

If you are saying I should pick up both the bull tag and the Antlerless permit at a DOW office near where I am hunting one problem is I already purchased the Bull tag. But maybe I'll have to pick up the antlerless tag that way? Could it be something only a Resident can by? If so the info I read don't indicate that.

Anyway I'm going to call the Utah Dow tomorrow and hopefully talk with someone who can tell me if I can still pick pick up a Antlerless tag and if so where.

I appreciate you hanging in there with me.

 

[JimP]

Go to this link

https://wildlife.utah.gov/2015-plan-your-antlerless-hunt/39-hunting/hunting/1618-elk-control-permits.html

Then at the very bottom where it says

Obtaining an antlerless elk-control permit

Beginning July 26, 2018, you can obtain an antlerless elk-control permit on our website, or from a license agent or any Division office.

click on our website. Then on New and Returning Customers and just follow the instructions. I got into the area to purchase a elk control tag after entering my info and getting to the page that has Select and Add Customers and a large box with "Archery Elk Hunters" Then click on Get Licenses. The elk control license will be on that page

 

[Roughwater]

Go to this link

https://wildlife.utah.gov/2015-plan-your-antlerless-hunt/39-hunting/hunting/1618-elk-control-permits.html

Then at the very bottom where it says

Obtaining an antlerless elk-control permit

Beginning July 26, 2018, you can obtain an antlerless elk-control permit on our website, or from a license agent or any Division office.

click on our website. Then on New and Returning Customers and just follow the instructions. I got into the area to purchase a elk control tag after entering my info and getting to the page that has Select and Add Customers and a large box with "Archery Elk Hunters" Then click on Get Licenses. The elk control license will be on that page

OK,

But you realize I am NOT a Archery elk Hunter right? Or does that not matter?