Im getting up there in points (age to) and was thinking of putting in for a late limited elk hunt. Anyone drawn one? How was it? Or is it better to go for something else?
Utah late elk hunts
- Thread starter Muzz
- Start date
Umpqua Hunter
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Umpqua Hunter
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Have you thought of going with a muzzleloader? Looks like you could draw Fishlake, Wasatch, and Manti and have a rut firearm hunt. Pretty hard to beat. With the season dates about as early as they have been, the muzzleloader season has pretty darn good dates this year (September 23 to October 1).
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Umpqua Hunter
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Don K
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PointsHunter
Member
I second the muzzy hunt in Fish Lake. Great dates this year and lots of nice bulls make it thru early rifle. A UT resident with 12 points may also have outside shot at Boulder archery hunt. For Late Season the number of quality rifle hunts isn't extensive with 12 points... Manti, Fishlake, Book Cliffs would be drawable options. Good luck, Muzz.
Umpqua Hunter
Veteran member
Yup...the worst is 25 points for antelope and sheep in AZ. I may just carry the antelope to 30 and try to set a world record for points..ha ha
I can draw antelope anytime but I want to go on a year I can invest a bunch of time into scouting.21 points? where the hell are you trying to draw?
man if I have to wait that long ill quit!! that is ridiculous! Im just looking for a good lookin 340 or so class bull. That is a monster and im not one who needs one of them big ole toads but it would be nice.
Just a unit I can kill a nice bull in and ill move on. I think ill kill one on public before I draw anything in this state. If I had the money I would just put in out of state somewhere, but due to my EX wife (satan) and child support im screwed in that department for a few years
man if I have to wait that long ill quit!! that is ridiculous! Im just looking for a good lookin 340 or so class bull. That is a monster and im not one who needs one of them big ole toads but it would be nice.
Just a unit I can kill a nice bull in and ill move on. I think ill kill one on public before I draw anything in this state. If I had the money I would just put in out of state somewhere, but due to my EX wife (satan) and child support im screwed in that department for a few years
MWScott72
Active Member
Geeze...25 points for a speed goat?? That thing is going to cost you like 20K when you finally shoot it!Yup...the worst is 25 points for antelope and sheep in AZ. I may just carry the antelope to 30 and try to set a world record for points..ha ha
MWScott72
Active Member
Muzz-
If you are really tired of the points game (as I was) and want a good hunt (as I did), do some research on the muzzy hunt. Plenty of bulls make it through the rifle hunt the week before, and the last couple of years, the rut dates have fallen perfectly into the muzzy hunt. Much better weather and most bulls aren't broken up bad yet. I got tired of waiting to hunt a rifle hunt, and decided to do the muzzy hunt this year instead. I had 12 points (as you do), drew the Manti unit, and had a phenomenal hunt. I didn't kill a 340" bull, but I assure you they are there - it just didn't work out for me. I did put a 320ish 6x6 on the ground on the 6th day of the hunt. I could have waited and tried to get on the herd bull I'd been after, but in the end, I didn't want to hunt until the very last minute of the last hour and day, then have to return home to work the following day with a crap load of equipment that would need to be hung up, dried, then put away.
If you look at success odds, many of the muzzy hunts aren't that far below the rifle. On the Manti it was something like 82% rifle success to 78% muzzy success, and I'll take those odds any day. Anyway, it's something to consider. You're pretty much a shoe-in with 12 points on the muzzy hunt on the Wasatch, Fishlake, or Manti. My research led me to the Manti, but there are good bulls worth chasing on all three units.
If you are really tired of the points game (as I was) and want a good hunt (as I did), do some research on the muzzy hunt. Plenty of bulls make it through the rifle hunt the week before, and the last couple of years, the rut dates have fallen perfectly into the muzzy hunt. Much better weather and most bulls aren't broken up bad yet. I got tired of waiting to hunt a rifle hunt, and decided to do the muzzy hunt this year instead. I had 12 points (as you do), drew the Manti unit, and had a phenomenal hunt. I didn't kill a 340" bull, but I assure you they are there - it just didn't work out for me. I did put a 320ish 6x6 on the ground on the 6th day of the hunt. I could have waited and tried to get on the herd bull I'd been after, but in the end, I didn't want to hunt until the very last minute of the last hour and day, then have to return home to work the following day with a crap load of equipment that would need to be hung up, dried, then put away.
If you look at success odds, many of the muzzy hunts aren't that far below the rifle. On the Manti it was something like 82% rifle success to 78% muzzy success, and I'll take those odds any day. Anyway, it's something to consider. You're pretty much a shoe-in with 12 points on the muzzy hunt on the Wasatch, Fishlake, or Manti. My research led me to the Manti, but there are good bulls worth chasing on all three units.
Alabama
Veteran member
View attachment 11787[/QUOTE]
That bull is worth 12 pts all day long! Great looking bull and great advice. Love those dark antlers.
That bull is worth 12 pts all day long! Great looking bull and great advice. Love those dark antlers.
Don K
Very Active Member
gonhunting247
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- Jan 21, 2014
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Umpqua Hunter
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What often helps me when I am in that predicament is to honestly look at how many years out I am from drawing the tag I want. Look at the drawing report online and count how many are ahead of you and how fast they are drawing out. If you are willing to wait, do it, otherwise pick the best option you can in the shorter term. Too many guys get hung up on tags they will never draw.
Another thing to keep in mind is there is no guarantee the draw system won't change for the worse.
I agree, The way the state is screwing up the hunts its just a matter of time b4 more wolves get in here and really screw things up. Then what? 13-14-15 points for a dink bull hunt? I don't think so.
Elkhunter96
Active Member
I actually think 2014 was a very good year and uptick on many units. Haven't seen as many big bulls taken off units like pahvant, the books in a while. Plus, look at the bull the lady with the governors tag killed.
Lots of things affect a hunting year and not every year is a peak year. Tough hunting conditions for a couple of years can lead to a phenomenal year. Same with a few years of drought or warm winters. Muzzy tags can be great hunts depending on the dates. Plus, they just added a few extra days to muzzy tag. You can have just as good of hunt on the books, sw desert, etc., as you can on Pahvant or San Juan if you put the time needed in with scouting, etc... Just my .02
Lots of things affect a hunting year and not every year is a peak year. Tough hunting conditions for a couple of years can lead to a phenomenal year. Same with a few years of drought or warm winters. Muzzy tags can be great hunts depending on the dates. Plus, they just added a few extra days to muzzy tag. You can have just as good of hunt on the books, sw desert, etc., as you can on Pahvant or San Juan if you put the time needed in with scouting, etc... Just my .02