Pine Valley buck Muzzlelaoder 2016

[elktaker]

I am looking to hunt Pine Valley Buck hunt next year.

I have 4 general buck points (was trying to draw Thousand Lakes unit) but I moved to Cedar City and decided next year I want to mule deer hunt.

I am looking for areas that I can hike in about 2 miles setup a spike camp and hunt within a mile or so from there. Preferably in the wilderness area that has limited access. I am looking for areas to scout come May or June. My father in law (non-res) is piggy backing on my points and my goal is to get him a 4x4. Really just looking for areas in the wilderness area that hold deer and very little pressure.

We decided on MZ so that hopefully I can scout and the deer will still be there pre-migration.

Any help is appreciated.

Other option is the Zion hunt which produces huge deer but odds for my father in law is pretty low.

kyle

 

[luckynv]

Hey Kyle, the access in Pine Valley can be tough. I have gotten several general Zion tags with either zero or 1 points muzzleloader. There is some public land on the south side of 14 that can be very productive and practically in your back yard. Also jump over to the new member section and introduce yourself and people will open up to you. Welcome to the forum!! God bless and good luck

 

[elktaker]

Hey Kyle, the access in Pine Valley can be tough. I have gotten several general Zion tags with either zero or 1 points muzzleloader. There is some public land on the south side of 14 that can be very productive and practically in your back yard. Also jump over to the new member section and introduce yourself and people will open up to you. Welcome to the forum!! God bless and good luck

I will shoot you a pm. I was originally looking at this area but though Pine Valley would give me better odds.

 

[Gr8bawana]

Boots on the ground is the best way to do research. Google Earth can be helpfull but it makes the country look a lot flatter that it really is.

 

[elktaker]

Boots on the ground is the best way to do research. Google Earth can be helpfull but it makes the country look a lot flatter that it really is.

That's the plan. I got all summer to find a decent buck (hopefully 2). I already online scouted with Caltop (awesome free online mapping program) and am ready for summer to get out on foot. Was shifting towards Zion unit but Pine Valley seems like a better hunt for my father-in-law from Ohio. Nothing like camping out a couple miles in the wilderness. Early snow could ruin the whole plan but cannot plan that.

 

[wisconsinvette]

I moved to Cedar in 2011 and have been hunting Pine Valley hard every year. There are some great bucks in the unit on public if you are willing to look for them. I have chased 150"+ bucks every year so stay after it. You may want to look into the Dutton. It isnt too far and has less pressure and some great deer come off it. I am very tempted to hop over there but I have found some good areas in the Pine Valley unit and knowing the unit is half the battle so I have stuck with what I know. Starting over though I would consider the Dutton equally with Pine Valley, especially if you want to hike and get away from people. I know a lot of guys that have hunted the Zion unit and have had troubles with deer moving to private. I wouldnt worry about early snow on the MZ hunt, I have not seen it since I have been here. That said in some areas the deer do tend to disappear come the MZ hunt. My dad (from WI) should draw a MZ tag next year. Cant wait.

 

[elktaker]

I moved to Cedar in 2011 and have been hunting Pine Valley hard every year. There are some great bucks in the unit on public if you are willing to look for them. I have chased 150"+ bucks every year so stay after it. You may want to look into the Dutton. It isnt too far and has less pressure and some great deer come off it. I am very tempted to hop over there but I have found some good areas in the Pine Valley unit and knowing the unit is half the battle so I have stuck with what I know. Starting over though I would consider the Dutton equally with Pine Valley, especially if you want to hike and get away from people. I know a lot of guys that have hunted the Zion unit and have had troubles with deer moving to private. I wouldnt worry about early snow on the MZ hunt, I have not seen it since I have been here. That said in some areas the deer do tend to disappear come the MZ hunt. My dad (from WI) should draw a MZ tag next year. Cant wait.

I have a few coworkers that hunt the Dutton for deer and I know there are quality deer there (I would say better than pine valley). I think that I will have better odds on Pine Valley because I can scout a lot more and get to know area better, because it is so close.

I have gotten a few remote/remote-ish areas to check out (from a coworker that has taken/helped others take nice archery bucks) come this summer and feeling good looking at maps at least.

I am very familiar with the Zion unit and Pang. I will gen bull archery hunt the Zion unit and most-likely will put in for the new limited entry late season muzzleloader hunt on Zion.

Also, this will mark the 1st year for scopes on muzzlelaoders and I just happened to be building a savage .45 cal muzzlelaoder and it may become friends with my Nightforce or leupold (with CDS) this summer (I was going with an adjustable rear peep for 1x). If the bullets I plan to shoot group, I should have energy at 600 yards for deer with BH209. Reasonable for 400 yards on a slightly breeze day. Obviously not possible with a non-custom muzzlelaoder and practice which is why I disagree with the masses having scope muzzlelaoders in the West. My father-in-law will use it first then maybe I will get to depending on time to fill his tag.

 

[highcountryhoy]

Hey Kyle, I just recently moved back to Laverkin so i'm not far from you. I'm also going to be applying for Pine Valley, but going after archery. I'd love to be some help, and I stay on the mountain when I'm not on the road working. Shoot me some contact info via pm and we'll try to get together. I know a few areas that can produce some great deer and I don't think it'll be too hard to get yall on a couple with the muzzleloaders.

DJ

 

[elktaker]

looks like Ohio's economy is down so no father-in-law, just me hunting which should make it a stress free fun hunt.