Elk, Northern slope of Uintas mountains

[schlaggerman]

Have hunted Utah many times for mule deer in the Lasal Mtns. but am planning on the OTC elk tag for archery this year. Am looking at the northern slope of the Unitas, northwest of Vernal. Looks like the name of this hunt is "Northern Slope Summit / West Daggett. Have a few questions for anyone familiar with the area. In the guide book it says "popular", how much hunting pressure am I going to run into for the early archery season? Are the elk generally up high or lower in late August? Is this oak brush country or aspen / evergreen mix? Backpack country or camp from a drive up campsite? Any suggestions for a jump off site? Thanks in advance for any info as I have never been in this country.

 

[Mr Drysdale]

I have Elk hunted the La Sals and also the Uintas. It was 12 years ago in the Uintas. Not much Oak brush where we hunted but a lot of dead fall and few trails. Rough walking at best. We base camped and walked in/up daily. Beautiful country. I saw my first moose and mountain lion on that trip. Lots of hunters on the opening weekend but thinned during the week. We were not successful but a memorable trip.

 

[lang]

Been 15 years since I hunted it. I'd say pressure use to be moderate, but there's a ton of country and if your willing to hike a mile or two you'll have no problem getting away from most crowds. There are always guys that want a chance at a branch antlered bull that all head to the Uintas. We hunted Apens and pines mostly, and hunted from basecamp. Elk were where there was food, water, shelter not at top or bottom or certain elevations. We found elk consistently a couple miles in from agriculture.

 

[schlaggerman]

Thanks for the info guys. Lang, not sure where you found agriculture near the north slope. Were you perhaps on the south slope? I'll have to look at Google Earth again to see if I can spot the agriculture, I could have easily missed it. I do see a patch work affect in the forest on the south slope opposite the Deep Creek drainage, northwest of Vernal. I was assuming this patch work design was logging activity, perhaps it is the agriculture you mention instead of logging.

 

[rammont]

I never hunted the east end of the Uintas just the western end of the northern side. One year I moved toward the south end of the Flaming Gorge but I only hunted for two days, I should have spent the entire hunt there, it had far better sign than the west end of the mountain range.

 

[ore hunter]

I know south unintas gets packed on the gen elk season,,pretty full last year.

 

[lang]

It's there, just right on the border with Wyoming usually and not much but enough to hold some animals.

 

[Maxhunter]

I've hunted the Unitas many times. I killed an elk every year during archery. The key is get off the road a ways. Finding a bull can be tough. I went up with a friend one year in rifle season to help him. It was a zoo but once we got off the roads we were pretty much by ourselves. I've never seen a lot of branch antler Bulls. The late cow season tag a good.

 

[schlaggerman]

Thanks Maxhunter, We do plan on packing in a spike camp to get up in elevation so we don't need to hike up everyday. This should put us hunting anywhere from 2-4 miles in off the roads. Far enough? Looks like we will probably be in the eastern half of the Uintas on the northern slope.

 

[Maxhunter]

About 1.5 to 2 miles and you'll be fine. Good luck!