I am a non resident of both Utah and Wyoming. I am contemplating to hunt either the Zion or San Juan, Abajo Mtns in UT or Region K or H in WY. Does anyone have any experience hunting these units? Even better if you have hunted the units in both states is one better then the others? I have enough points to hunt any of them just not enough time... Thanks for the help.
2017 Deer Hunt in Utah or Wyoming???
- Thread starter azarmbruster
- Start date
I would wait a bit and see how this winter is going to be on the herds. Wy is already seeing deer dying from the cold and deep snow.
JimP
Administrator
The Zion unit can be a hard unit to hunt. This last year there was access problems in areas and there is a lot of private. Same with the SanJuan's, Abajo Mountain. Lots of private and if you plan on hunting high you run the risk of seeing very few deer. They migrate off to Reservation land or private once a cold rain storm hits in September or October. But if you hit it right the hunting can be fantastic.
I have been keeping a close eye on the winter and sounds like it has be rough up north. I've got family that lives on the WY boarder in CO and at least as of now it hasn't been as bad as the winter of 08 but its still early in the winter. I sure hope mother nature takes it easy on those animal up there for the rest of the winter.
Thanks for that piece of advice Jim. I've heard about a lot of the access/private land issues in the Zion. I've also had a friend who has had great luck on the San Juan/Abajo's but have head its hit or miss too. Sure are tough decisions...
Naturebob
Active Member
I am from Az also and was going to burn My 8 points in Wyo. this year but I an concerned about the winter kill. I got a buddy in Casper and He says the eastern part of the state hasn't got it as bad. We have till end of May to see.. God where is that guy that thinks he knows it all, his name is buulll shiiitt Buuzzz or something like that...........BOB!
wy-tex
Veteran member
While winter has been tough in some spots it hasn't been bad all over Wyoming. All the talk of animals dying on the refuge needs to be taken with a grain of salt. You're talking about some winterkill when there are literally thousands of elk on the refuge right now. The sick and weak elk we saw bison hunting are surely dying but not massively. Yes deer are having a hard time but just wait it out for a couple of months. I have not heard of massive die offs on the winter range. If really worried make a call to the local biologists. They are doing winter range surveys and herd classifications. NW Wyoming has deep snow but it usually does this time of the year. While the mountains are getting snow the animals are out on winter range, most areas were looking ok going into winter. March and April will be telling months.
Lets not panic just yet.
Lets not panic just yet.
Wy-tex, do you have any experience with region k or h? Would you pick one over the other? The more I've looked into the winter conditions and talked to friends in different locations across many western states it does seem to be much worse in some areas then others and quite localized as well. From what I can gather there haven't seemed to be wide spread die offs across the west just some winter ranges having it a little rougher then others. I do feel that people underestimate the abilities of these animals to survive in harsh conditions but just as you said March and April will tell the true story.
the wanderer
Member
Azarmbruster, how many bonus points in Utah do you have to be able to draw the tag there? I know you're applying for a deer tag, but the I thought you could give some insight on Utah in general as a nonresident. I'm still trying to decide whether to buy a limited entry elk bonus point. I bought one last year with intention of one day making a trip to Utah, but after looking at the drawing odds it appears that there are only 1-2 non residents tags given out for each limited entry unit per year. It seems like even 15 years from now that the odds of drawing any of the limited entry units would be quite difficult. Am I missing something? Or is it really that hard to draw a nonresident limited entry elk tag in Utah? I'm not sure I want to invest $600-1000 in bonus pts if the odds are that bad. All I want someday is to be able hunt a unit with little pressure and a lot of elk. Not concerned with antler score. Any thoughts would be appreciated. Thanks
JimP
Administrator
You are going to find that hunting elk in any state where you are not a resident is going to take a long time to draw the tag in a premium or what Utah calls a LE unit. In Colorado it will take you 15-20 years to draw one, Arizona is about the same and Utah is no different. You can try Nevada or New Mexico with their no point draws but your odds are way out there but someone every year draws a tag that they offer.
Utah is a little bit better than Colorado in that they are on a hybrid bonus point system where if there are 2 or more tags offered for a hunt 50% of the tags will go to the top point holders and the other 50% will go to the general draw and even in the general draw the more points that you have the better your odds are. I haven't studied Arizona's elk draw but it is on a bonus point system also. Now Colorado is on a preference point system. If the odds say that it is going to take 15 points you need 15 points.
Now back to Utah, they have their "Any Bull" units. However these units are usually quite hard to hunt and will take years to figure them out. I was lucky when I drew my LE elk hunt in Utah. It only took me 9 points to draw my tag and my brother in law who is a resident drew with 10 points.
You can better your odd of drawing by switching from a rifle hunt to a archery tag, but that is up to you.
If you really want to hunt big bulls in Utah save your money and take a look at the CMWU ranches where there is a outfitter that will sell you a guided hunt along with a elk tag. But expect to pay $5,000+ but you will get a real nice bull.
For mule deer you are going to need 2 or 3 preference points to usually draw a general season tag for one
Utah is a little bit better than Colorado in that they are on a hybrid bonus point system where if there are 2 or more tags offered for a hunt 50% of the tags will go to the top point holders and the other 50% will go to the general draw and even in the general draw the more points that you have the better your odds are. I haven't studied Arizona's elk draw but it is on a bonus point system also. Now Colorado is on a preference point system. If the odds say that it is going to take 15 points you need 15 points.
Now back to Utah, they have their "Any Bull" units. However these units are usually quite hard to hunt and will take years to figure them out. I was lucky when I drew my LE elk hunt in Utah. It only took me 9 points to draw my tag and my brother in law who is a resident drew with 10 points.
You can better your odd of drawing by switching from a rifle hunt to a archery tag, but that is up to you.
If you really want to hunt big bulls in Utah save your money and take a look at the CMWU ranches where there is a outfitter that will sell you a guided hunt along with a elk tag. But expect to pay $5,000+ but you will get a real nice bull.
For mule deer you are going to need 2 or 3 preference points to usually draw a general season tag for one
the wanderer
Member
JimP, thank you for the reply. You helped me make my decision. I don't think it's worth it to invest the money over such a long period of time for such a small possibility of drawing a tag. I will stick to buying points in Wyoming. What I really like about Wyoming for any species that you can apply as a party the points can be shared. My kids are 3, 2, and a third one on the way, and if I don't use my points between now and when they can hunt I will be able to share the points with them someday.
JimP
Administrator
You shouldn't overlook Colorado. Most of the state is over the counter for elk rifle for 3 seasons and some of those units hold some real nice bulls. You can find a lot of 300 pt bulls in the rest of the OTC units but when you start looking for a 350+ bull you are going to have to have points. You can also buy points in Colorado fairly cheap.
Another thing about Utah is that they have a "Hunter Mentor" program where if you draw a tag you can let one of your kids shoot your animal as long as your kid is over the age of 12 or 14 I don't remember which.
Another thing about Utah is that they have a "Hunter Mentor" program where if you draw a tag you can let one of your kids shoot your animal as long as your kid is over the age of 12 or 14 I don't remember which.
luckynv
Active Member
ore hunter
Very Active Member
- Jul 25, 2014
- 699
- 114
points are cheap in Utah,but figure you will hunt when your kids are 35yrs old,,,if you still are able,,,Utah tags don't come often except for general deer isn't too bad.