Utah General Deer Season Rifle potential?

[HuskyMusky]

What kind of hunt would one have during the rifle general deer season in Utah?

Looks like pressure could be high...

Looks like they take place OCT.21 to 29.


Not looking for a monster but would like a chance or 2 at a nice/decent 4x4.


Took a look at some of these odds and realized I have way too many points for GENERAL DEER. haha.

I've thought about doing an eastern MT deer hunt for a few years too. Those hunts occur more during the rut but I think pressure is high and trophy potential is low. May be comparing apples to oranges, but have been thinking about just doing a decent mule deer hunt for a few years now.

Also not sure if DIY flying in would be an option vs driving, I assume DIY I'd want to bring more gear than I could fly with.
Not sure what a guide would cost for one of these hunts or worth it?


Also how will this winter play out on these UT areas for general deer? or Eastern MT?

Thanks!

 

[bghunter]

I think it depends how hard you want to work. I hunted Beaver general deer and cow elk last year, found group of does with decent 4x4 but shot tasty fork as son was shining in my scope and I shot wrong buck.
Most of the hunters hunt from the roads and never leave their trucks. We were hiking every day and never had problems with hunting pressure.
We met many nice people there.

 

[Tim McCoy]

The winter is not over yet, but where I hunt in SE MT the deer have done fine to date. No idea about UT. Not hunted UT for deer yet, but have hunted MT quite a lot for deer. In MT, you can stumble on a big buck about anywhere, not many of them, but they are there. I'd focus on BMA's in MT that take reservations if I choose MT.

The SE MT ranch where we hunt, populations were recovering well. Had VG WT and small mulies, lots of small bucks all over. 140-150 top end for both species. Years ago it produced much better MD, not the case of late. A buddy about 150mi away from us had a large party, 8-9 of them, they got 3 160 ish bucks, a 170 and saw a much larger one after they tagged out, private ranch, all MD. They paid about 1,500 each for trespass fee, and with bucks like they saw, the rancher could get more I bet.

 

[JimP]

The winter has been hard on northern Utah but in the rest of the state it has been almost normal. It got hit hard for a while but then that was it.

The size of buck is proportional to the amount of work that you put in. For a decent 4x4 you are going to have to work for it and any unit in the state can be home to some real nice bucks. As mentioned most hunters drive the roads and never get further than what their rifle shoots from them. ATV's are the main mode of transportation but if you stick it out past opening weekend most of the weekend warriors are gone by Monday after noon and you'll have the place to yourself.

 

[HuskyMusky]

I'm thinking Utah might be a a serious idea for me in 2018, possibly 2017.

 

[JimP]

If nothing else for Utah get a point this year and then plan a hunt for next year.

Applications for actual tags is coming up fast March 2 is the deadline. If you want to just purchase a point then it is March 16.

 

[zpooch]

How much are the points for Ut?

 

[JimP]

You have to purchase a hunting license which is $80 I believe and then the application fee for a point is $10.

But on the hunting license if you get one now you can also use it next year for the application if you submit your application before the date that you purchased the license. Also in Utah you do not need a valid hunting license to hunt, just the permit tag.