Utah Mule Deer Archery Hunt (1st timer)

[add_a_berry]

Hey guys, new member here. Glad to be apart of this forum! It's been a great resource thus far.

I'm a bowhunter from the midwest (missouri). Looking at going out on my first western hunting experience in the high country of Utah chasing Mule Deer next Aug-Sept. I've never been to Utah or hunted Mule deer, but the way I look at it, there's no better way to learn than to jump in and get to it. Thinking about chasing Muleys makes me want to throw away every tree stand I own and move west to spot and stalk hunt from this day forward.

Jumping right in, first things first... I realize this is going to be an incredibly difficult hunt to plan and execute (both mentally and physically) so please don't mistake my inexperience of western hunting for being naive to the realities of the situation. I have done a fair amount of research online and elsewhere to understand what this venture is going to consist of and what I will need to increase my odds of filling a tag and having a good hunt.

I talked to some hunting buddies and an experienced hunter from Utah who has helped me put together a plan for applying for the draw and getting a tag. I have zero preference points and this is my first time applying so this is important. He gave me a list of about 5 general units where I could possibly draw a general season archery tag with no points in order of least likely to most likely % of a successful drawing along with some general info. Here is the list.

1. Platuea Fishlake
2. Filmore
3. Central Mountains - Manti
4. Wasatch Mnts East
5. Nine Mile

I guess what I am wondering is, what are your thoughts? (deer pop, access issues, private land, terrain, buck ratio, overall thoughts) I was told to apply for these units in this order according to first choice - last choice. Are these good units? Is this a good plan or should i change the order of preference? I have some general knowledge of the units but it would help to know from someone who has been there. This is my first time which means I'm really not trying to tag a booner or a trophy class animal although it would be nice, I just want to harvest a mature, respectable deer considering the time, effort and money that is going into this trip. Also I plan to start applying now for some limited-entry units so that I can build up some points for the future.

Lastly, do you have any tips on how i should hunt or maybe some special gear or things i need to be worried about/careful of while in the high-country? Like I said, I have a solid understanding and have done some research. From what I've come to find/read, the majority of the deer will be very high in the early season and it will be crucial to spend time glassing. However most of my own experience unfortunately is as a "flatlander" hunting from a tree stand in relatively easy country. I'm aware I will need to be in good physical shape as well and that is something I am and will continue to train for. Also packing water or having a water source up high will be an issue from what i hear. I'm really just trying to get a plan together although i know it will vary based on the unit i hunt. BUT, should I get up high as possible on the very first day and spend my time glassing faces and bowls? Glass mornings and try to stalk mid-day as bucks are bedded, and glass evening? or opposite? HELPPP lol

Any thought, tips, do's, don'ts, gear info, experiences, input very much appreciated!

 

[JimP]

I would change the order from what you have to switching 2 & 4 and eliminating 5. Nine mile is almost all private property and is a bear to get permission to hunt.

Also this year Utah changed how the point system works. If you draw a tag you will loose all your points and there are quite a few hunters that will put in for units with quite a few points so it could be a funny year in the draw. Also most tags will go in in the first and second draw and very few third and forth choices will be left, even for archery. Archery hunters in Utah have learned that if they want to hunt they need to put in for their main unit and not hope for the second go around. However there are a lot of archers that will just draw a tag so that they can hunt the extended along the Wasatch Front during November and December after the bigger bucks have moved into the area.

None of the areas that you mentioned are what a native would call the high country. Just about all of the units that you mentioned are under 10,000 and most of them are closer to 9,000 and all heavily forested with evergreen, and quaken aspen groves in the higher areas and gamble oak's, and pinon/juniper in the lower elevations.

Once you decided on a unit and draw a tag ask some more questions and I should be able to help you out. I have hunted all the areas that you have mentioned and may be able to give you a hand.

 

[Tim McCoy]

Couple things I watch out for when in the Mts. Wind and lightening. I want to be out of the trees in wind and down low for the other. You probably get more where you are at than we do out west. Either can happen anywhere, but in the Mts. they can sneak up on you fast, it can roll over one ridge and in 5 min or less, it's crazy. If you are on top when it happens, yikes. You can get a rare early storm with snow up hi too. So watch the weather forecast and odds are you'll have no issues.

I've actually had more problems with rain on early hunts than anything else but maybe bugs. Stranded for 3 days once due to mud, but that was only around 4k' hi. Carry chains and a good spare, two in some areas can be a good idea, if day hunting out of a rig and moving around a lot they can be handy. Folks familiar with the area will usually warn you if it's known to be hard on tires.

Can't help with UT deer, but when I do decide to cash in my gen season points, I plan to listen to everything Jim says.

 

[add_a_berry]

I would change the order from what you have to switching 2 & 4 and eliminating 5. Nine mile is almost all private property and is a bear to get permission to hunt.

Also this year Utah changed how the point system works. If you draw a tag you will loose all your points and there are quite a few hunters that will put in for units with quite a few points so it could be a funny year in the draw. Also most tags will go in in the first and second draw and very few third and forth choices will be left, even for archery. Archery hunters in Utah have learned that if they want to hunt they need to put in for their main unit and not hope for the second go around. However there are a lot of archers that will just draw a tag so that they can hunt the extended along the Wasatch Front during November and December after the bigger bucks have moved into the area.

None of the areas that you mentioned are what a native would call the high country. Just about all of the units that you mentioned are under 10,000 and most of them are closer to 9,000 and all heavily forested with evergreen, and quaken aspen groves in the higher areas and gamble oak's, and pinon/juniper in the lower elevations.

Once you decided on a unit and draw a tag ask some more questions and I should be able to help you out. I have hunted all the areas that you have mentioned and may be able to give you a hand.

Thanks for the help. What are the main units that would be considered high country? Thats really what I think I want to stick to. As Im trying to hunt early when they are still in the high country primarily. If I did hunt the lower elevation units what kind of deer numbers am I looking at aug-sept? Is it worth putting them in my app as my third, fourth, fifth choices or should i stick to applying for high country units and cut my losses and take a pref point and try again next year.

 

[ridgetop]

Being from Kanas City, I'm sure anything above 7,000' would be considered high country to you. Most of the deer in Utah live in the 6,500' - 8,500' elevation range.
If comparing to the Rockies in Colorado, then not so much.
Hunting stands of aspens is always a good bet, no matter which unit your hunting.

 

[JimP]

If you actually want to hunt what is the high country in Utah you are going to have to rethink your units. Take a look at 8 and 9A, these are in the High Uinta's will require you to pack in to get above 10,000'.

As for the the units that you mentioned don't worry about finding deer in them, there are lots of them and quite a few wall hangars also. The Central Mountains/Manti unit has a road that goes from one end of it to the other north to south, but off of this road are canyons that will tax any hunter as far as hiking up and down them and they hold some great deer. This would be the unit that I would put in for.

The Plateau/Fishlake also has a good road bisecting it, but it also has areas that you will know that you are hiking in the mountains.

But if you really want to hunt above treeline then I suggest that you take a hard look at Colorado. There are quite a few units where you can hunt at 10,000' + if that is what you really want to do.