What would be your dream hunt?

Travis Horner

New Member
Feb 28, 2020
31
92
Powell, WY
What intrigues me most about this list is the difficulty level of each hunt. I feel like in each of these hunts I am the underdog and those are the odds I like the most. My ultimate hunt would be on New Zealand's south island public land hunting for the red stag. My second is wondering around the mountains of northern Alaska DIY hunting for a trophy caribou. My third hunt is going to be on the home front scouring the peaks of the Absaroka / Beartooth wilderness glassing up a giant Mountain Goat. "He who is not everyday conquering some fear has not learned the secret of life." - Ralf Waldo Emerson
 

JimP

Administrator
Mar 28, 2016
7,070
8,345
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Gypsum, Co
Every year I cross my fingers in the hopes of drawing a Utah wild bison tag. These are bison that do just wander where they want to mostly on private land. I started applying for them when I was 16 many years ago and sill apply now that they are on a bonus point system. I did miss a few years when you needed to put the tag price up front since I was also applying for a LE elk tag and having to come up with around $2500 every year would of been tough.

Supposedly this year the Utah DOW is suppose to be offering OTC tags for the area around Wildhorse Bench south of Myton and Vernal. This herd is made up of bison that the DOW transplanted and those that wander off of the Ute Indian Reservation. It could be a tough hunt for most since the bison move onto private lands once they cross the Green River, along with Range Creek Canyon that has more Indian artifacts in it than just about all the museums put together. To get into this canyon you need to be escorted in.

But so far I have not seen the tags being available.
 
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Bonecollector

Veteran member
Mar 9, 2014
5,852
3,656
Ohio
Every year I cross my fingers in the hopes of drawing a Utah wild bison tag. These are bison that do just wander where they want to mostly on private land. I started applying for them when I was 16 many years ago and sill apply now that they are on a bonus point system. I did miss a few years when you needed to put the tag price up front since I was also applying for a LE elk tag and having to come up with around $2500 every year would of been tough.

Supposedly this year the Utah DOW is suppose to be offering OTC tags for the area around Wildhorse Bench south of Myton and Vernal. This herd is made up of bison that the DOW transplanted and those that wander off of the Ute Indian Reservation. It could be a tough hunt for most since the bison move onto private lands once they cross the Green River, along with Range Creek Canyon that has more Indian artifacts in it than just about all the museums put together. To get into this canyon you need to be escorted in.

But so far I have not seen the tags being available.
Escorted due to Indian reservation? Can you navigate any waterways to get there? Helicopter?
Or is is due to all being private land and no public land?
Inquiring minds... ;-)
 

JimP

Administrator
Mar 28, 2016
7,070
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Gypsum, Co
No the canyon that I am talking about is or was a private ranch. Google Range Creek Utah and you will see a lot of information on it. The owner deeded the property over to the state of Utah who then leased it or something to the University of Utah for the archeology uniqueness of the area. When they allow you into it they don't want you disturbing or taking anything out that you shouldn't.

The rest of the hunt is in the Nine Mile Canyon area that is mostly privately held but there is a access road through it from Welington, Ut on US HYW 6 to Myton to the north on US 40. This canyon also holds a lot of artifacts and is interesting in that it was a stage coach route from Welington to Myton and the Unita Basin. I worked on the phone line that ran through it that originally was a army telegraph line. A iron wire on the top of iron poles. The Indians would chop down the wood poles so they replaced them with iron ones
 
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Rich M

Very Active Member
Oct 16, 2012
758
566
I just want a peaceful antelope hunt with a couple buddies and the ability to spot & stalk a couple of herds without some guys crashing the party on us. Enjoy a few brews around the campfire at night while laughing and looking at the stars. That's my dream hunt.
 

sneakypete

Veteran member
Aug 9, 2011
2,811
249
Oakdale Ca.
My favorite species is elk (has been and probably always will be). But this year my wife drew a Snowy Range bull moose tag. I'm really looking forward to that...a premier unit with a two and half month season and only 100 miles from home. Doesn't get much better than that!
Stunning area, I hunted deer and elk years ago and I saw more bull moose than deer. We stayed at those cabins above Independence I think. Keep us informed.
 

RICMIC

Veteran member
Feb 21, 2012
1,966
1,706
Two Harbors, Minnesota
I just want a peaceful antelope hunt with a couple buddies and the ability to spot & stalk a couple of herds without some guys crashing the party on us. Enjoy a few brews around the campfire at night while laughing and looking at the stars. That's my dream hunt.
Rich, this is a totally affordable and doable hunt. You can beat the crowds by saving up some points for a limited hunt. Just do your research and find an area with sufficient antelope numbers, reasonable access, and limited tags. I only have experience with one unit, and only had one buck tag, but have gone back a number of times with doe tags while building points. We seldom saw anyone, and no one at all if we chose to walk in a ways.
 

Colorado Cowboy

Super Moderator
Jun 8, 2011
8,073
4,300
82
Dolores, Colorado
Stay
I just want a peaceful antelope hunt with a couple buddies and the ability to spot & stalk a couple of herds without some guys crashing the party on us. Enjoy a few brews around the campfire at night while laughing and looking at the stars. That's my dream hunt.
Stay away from opening weekend. I never hunt the first week of the season, lots of times I never see another hunter.
 
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