Utah Antelope Units

[CoHiCntry]

I'm thinking about trying to draw an antelope tag for 2017 in Utah. The units I'm looking at are... Plateau Parker Mtn. (Muzzleloader), Pine Valley (Rifle), & West Desert Riverbed (Rifle). Looks like there's gonna be a San Rafael North muzzleloader hunt new for 2017, but I'm assuming it will take double digit points to draw. Not sure I wanna gamble and maybe not draw so this one is probably out. Does anyone know if there's a muzzleloader hunt for the Book Cliffs South unit?

Has anyone hunted any of these units the last few years or have any knowledge of them? Just looking for general feedback on these units. I would prefer to hunt with the muzzleloader & those season dates work better for me but I'm also considering the rifle hunts. I can always use my muzzleloader during a rifle season. Thanks...

 

[JimP]

Without points your odds are very slim in drawing any of the units that you listed, even for a ML. There is no ML hunt in the Book Cliffs for antelope but you can use a ML during the regular rifle season since it is a "any weapon" hunt.

I have hunted and know quite a bit about a lot of the areas but if you are just starting out with zero points don't expect to draw unless you get real lucky.

The Plateau Parker Mtn area is the premier unit for antelope in the state and this is where just about all the seed stock for the other areas come from. There are good years and bad years in this unit. If you happen to draw in the year that they are doing transplants then it could be a bad one, but if you get in there the year before the transplant then it can be fantastic. I hunted deer down there last year and found more antelope up in the trees than out on the scrub, but it is a huge unit and it doesn't take too much to hide one.

The San Rafael North is a great tag if you can draw it, there are very few tags let out for this unit and it is turning into a great trophy unit if you can draw.

The Book Cliffs South is a big unit but for some reason the antelope just don't multiply out there like I personally think that they should be, but there is good trophy potential and I have seen a few 80" bucks out there. I drove through there on Friday and saw a lot of antelope from I-70 and they looked like they are in good shape.

The other two I haven't done much in so I wouldn't be too much help there.

 

[CoHiCntry]

Thanks for the reply JimP. I should have mentioned that I have 8 points. Not quite enough to draw the Book Cliffs rifle tag. I think it took 9 last year. Thanks for the info on the Plateau Parker Mtn unit. I should be able to draw the muzzleloader tag but not the rifle tag.

 

[JimP]

It has been a couple of years since they did a round up on Parker Mtn from what I know so the herd should be in good condition. You have as many points as I have but I keep hoping for that San Rafael tag. I know the area fairly well and know of a hunter that took a real nice buck off of it a couple of years ago.

 

[CoHiCntry]

I've applied for the San Rafael rifle tag in years past hoping for a miracle. I want to draw this year so I'm trying to stick with units where I should have a really good chance if not a sure thing to draw. I burned my 10 Colorado antelope points last year so looking at Utah this year, Wyoming next year, maybe New Mexico somewhere along the line, then have enough points to draw Colorado again. Trying to get on a rotation to hunt every year instead of sitting years out collecting points. At least that's the plan for now!

 

[Zim]

Lots of us in the UT 8 point pool due to the system change back then. Every year I scour the stats looking for decent odds hunts on the bonus side for all species. Some of these better hunts are finally starting to get realistic in the 5%+ area. I seen a dandy lope last time I drove in the south entry road to Book Cliffs.

 

[Umpqua Hunter]

Yep, the difficulty with 8 points is that represents a huge pool of applicants that jumped in for antelope when Utah allowed nonresidents to apply for all hunts, rather than pick one (deer, elk, antelope) and one once-in-a-lifetime tag. I'm also in that 8 point pool.

I think I'd check out some archery tags if you hunt with a bow. There are a few that looked promising when I checked into it a couple years ago.

My approach would be to apply for a better draw Utah antelope unit and then go for a different hunt elsewhere as your "sure thing" tag this year. If you draw Utah antelope and that tag, you can return the Utah antelope tag along with $25 and get your tag fee back and your points reinstated. That's how I understand it anyways.

https://wildlife.utah.gov/utah-licenses/170-licenses/1655-surrendered-permits-and-refunds.html

Also remember if you draw antelope, you will not be considered for other tags. Once In A Lifetime tags and general deer tags are drawn after antelope.

 

[Zim]

If you draw Utah antelope and that tag, you can return the Utah antelope tag along with $25 and get your tag fee back and your points reinstated. That's how I understand it anyways.

https://wildlife.utah.gov/utah-licenses/170-licenses/1655-surrendered-permits-and-refunds.html

Also remember if you draw antelope, you will not be considered for other tags. Once In A Lifetime tags and general deer tags are drawn after antelope.

Haha you know this has been the case for years yet HF published it incorrectly forever. I even called both them and UDOW to confirm. So I've always applied without concern of overlapping hunts. With so many publications out there now, I think everyone knows this now.