Mule Deer hunting near Boulder, UTAH

[ageewhy]

Hi folks,

I just returned from a 4 day backpacking trip in Capitol Reef National Forest in Utah. It was strictly a backcountry hiking trip, and my first time to the state. We had an amazing time and were blown away at the beauty of Utah...

Anyway, the reason I am posting is because on our drive back to Salt Lake City, we took Highway 12 from Boulder, Utah north to Highway 24. Along that stretch of road, which primarily went through Dixie National Forest I counted 49 Mule deer! Many of them north of the Boulder area... this immediately got my wheels spinning about trying to put together a hunt out there one year...

Is anyone familiar with this area? Im trying to navigate the UTAH drawing odds website to find out if this is a highly desirable deer unit or not. I think its in the "Plateau/ Boulder Kaiparowits" unit.

For all I know, counting 49 deer isn't that impressive for Utah. Is this a hard unit to draw for non-residents? Or can anyone point me toward resources to find more about this area? Just got my wheels spinning and would love to hear what other folks think of this area of the state for mule deer hunting opportunities.


Thanks!

 

[Silentstalker]

Attached is a pic of the 2015 draw odds. Looks like it takes 1 or more points to draw. That is a fun area to hunt deer and elk. It Limited Entry for mature bulls. We have killed a few deer and an elk down there. Pretty area. The fishing is awesome too.

 

[JimP]

That area is going to take a non resident at least 3 or 4 points to draw like a lot of Utah anymore. Even a resident needs around 2 points to draw, at least my brother in law needs that many since he didn't draw it this year with 1 resident point.

Then there is the area north of the towns of Bicknell and Loa which is the Thousand Lake Mountain hunt where you can forget about even thinking of drawing it with fewer than a dozen points for a non resident and perhaps even more, I haven't looked at the odds report.

 

[ageewhy]

Thanks for the quick reply fellas. Why didn't I start applying and building points for these years ago?!? I do have two follow up questions for those familiar with hunting Utah...

1.) Can you purchase a preference point for this season even if the deadline to apply has passed? (For example, in Wyoming and Montana I believe you can buy just a point in July)

2.) Does Utah offer any "Special tags" or licenses that may cost a big more, but increase your odds of getting drawn. (For example, Wyoming has "Special antelope" tags, which go into a separate drawing with better odds- but you pay about 50% more above normal out of state license prices.

 

[JimP]

No and

No.

Also if you want to apply next year wait until the end of the application period. You will need to purchase a small game hunting license and it will be good for a year. So if you apply at the end of the application period next year and then earlier the year after that you will only need to purchase one hunting license for two application years.

The only license that you might want to look at for this year is a anterless hunt for either a doe deer or a cow elk but if you don't draw those tags the points are separate from the buck and bull tags. And the application period is open right now.

 

[ageewhy]

Thanks JimP

No and

No.

Also if you want to apply next year wait until the end of the application period. You will need to purchase a small game hunting license and it will be good for a year. So if you apply at the end of the application period next year and then earlier the year after that you will only need to purchase one hunting license for two application years.

The only license that you might want to look at for this year is a anterless hunt for either a doe deer or a cow elk but if you don't draw those tags the points are separate from the buck and bull tags. And the application period is open right now.

 

[elktaker]

what season do you want to hunt?

Lot's of small deer on the unit for meat hunters a few big mature bucks found every year. You will see some very nice bulls which makes the deer hunt fun as well. I would not say it is anywhere close to the best general hunt deer unit in southern Utah, but there are pretty good potential for trophies on most with hard work (scouting and hunting). Has a lot of public land between the Dixie and Escalante.

Also Capitol Reef is not a forest its a National Park.