Where to burn my Utah elk points?

[Umpqua Hunter]

I am in the current max point pool for Utah elk. I understand the last guy drew out of the pool ahead of me. There are 8 left in my pool. I have held out for San Juan early rifle, but I could potentially be 8 years from drawing since there is only one tag going to the max point holder. If you were me and wanted to draw this year which would you do? I have my opinion, of where to apply but would like to get other's perspective. Please PM me if you'd rather.

Southwest Desert early rifle I should draw.

Boulder early rifle I should draw.

Book Cliff/Bitter Creek South early rifle I should draw.

Mt. Dutton early rifle I should draw.

Panguitch Lake early rifle I should draw.

Fish Lake early rifle I should draw.

I would likely not draw the following since they have less than 2 nonresident tags, and no tag set aside for the max point holder.

Pahvant early rifle

Beaver early rifle

Monroe early rifle

 

[WapitiBob]

Burn max points on FishLake I'll drive down there and personally kick you in the butt.

Seasons roll back next year.

 

[Don K]

personally kick you in the butt

Look out Umpqua hes making it personal

 

[Umpqua Hunter]

Burn max points on FishLake I'll drive down there and personally kick you in the butt.

Seasons roll back next year.

Ha ha....I'd probably let you

 

[Umpqua Hunter]

Burn max points on FishLake I'll drive down there and personally kick you in the butt.

Isn't Fishlake an MRS Blue Chip though?!?!

 

[woodtick]

Haha UH man with that many points I wouldn't dare tell you what unit to look into, couple of really great options there but man alive I'd hate to give you a peice of my mind! Fish lake is definitely not a blue chip IMO though!

 

[RUTTIN]

I've been told by a cousin that works for DNR that Southwest Desert is the place to put in for, I don't know anything about any of the units other than hear say from other people. I have saw some good Bulls on the Boulder and know of people that have killed good Bulls there. I have also heard of good Bulls coming off of the Dutton. I definitely wouldn't burn points on fishlake!



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[luckynv]

I would be on the phone with the biologist for each area. I think Southwest Desert that they jump back and forth to Nevada. I have always heard that Mt Dutton has monsters. Panguitch has always peaked my interest. Book Cliffs holds monsters but can be tough to hunt. No info on Boulder. Good luck and God bless

 

[woodtick]

I've been told by a cousin that works for DNR that Southwest Desert is the place to put in for, I don't know anything about any of the units other than hear say from other people. I have saw some good Bulls on the Boulder and know of people that have killed good Bulls there. I have also heard of good Bulls coming off of the Dutton. I definitely wouldn't burn points on fishlake!



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I'm with RUTTIN, I'd say the SW Desert, I've shot a few cows down there and there is definitely no shortage of elk or monster bulls in the unit!

 

[WapitiBob]

I archery hunted FishLake in 2010 on 5 points. Hunted 17 days, passed several bulls at 10-20 yards and chose to come home empty. I sat in front of the restaurant at the marina and talked to 3 guys that hadn't called in a single bull. One worked for the Game dept and was not a happy camper. Yes you can kill nice bulls but unless I had a leash on AntlerRick or BigJohn from MM, or a guide that spends a lot of time up there I sure wouldn't burn max points.
I felt I had more Elk encounters in NM 34 but the avg bull was a lot better in Fish. These were also the smartest Elk I've hunted to date. They didn't hang up at 100 yards, they started skirting you at 200. But man o man, did they get stupid the last day (Sept 17 iirc); the day before rifle season.

 

[Ikeepitcold]

I would be on the phone with the biologist for each area. I think Southwest Desert that they jump back and forth to Nevada. I have always heard that Mt Dutton has monsters. Panguitch has always peaked my interest. Book Cliffs holds monsters but can be tough to hunt. No info on Boulder. Good luck and God bless

X2^^^^

Have you contacted any outfitters yet?

 

[Umpqua Hunter]

X2^^^^

Have you contacted any outfitters yet?

I have no lack of info, including from outfitters, but more info never hurt.

WapitiBob the archery dates in Utah can be tough. For years I agonized over pulling the trigger on the San Juan archery hunt but could never get the nerve to do it. Fishlake certainly isn't on my radar, dang I could have hunted there like 10 or 12 years ago.

 

[woodtick]

UH, I returned your PM and I wouldn't waste my time on an Archery tag in Utah unless I got lucky and drew with 0 points or won it in a raffle. The dates and moon phases on this hunt can play hell with the rut(no offense Wapitibob). I'd stick to your guns you've got the bankroll to draw an awesome tag and have a really great hunt. Just make sure the moon phase is right this year, I drew on a full moon phase and ended up with 50* temps at night and my hunt was extremely tough!! The muzzleloader has the best dates in my opinion for full on rut activity but if you hit it right with the rifle it can be off the charts.

 

[Umpqua Hunter]

Tick...interestingly, in the San Juan max point pool, I typically have 1 in 5 (20%) odds since usually a few applicants just buy points. Strangely, there is no other top end hunt, including muzzleloader where I can have better odds, unless I apply for a hunt that has a max point tag which I would likely draw. So to stay in the thick of the draw, I need to hang in for San Juan at 20% odds or apply for a hunt like Boulder or SW Desert that has a max point tag, which I would almost certainly draw. I do this every year, feel out the options to see if something is bubbling to the surface

 

[30Hart]

UH, No brainer wait for the San Juan tag though with the right outfitter the SW Desert is a close 2nd out of your options.

 

[Elkhunter96]

Book cliffs bitter creek is actually pretty easy to hunt with a rifle. The only downside is the size of the unit and elk can be found on most of it. I killed a really good 5x5 on an archery hunt there a few years ago.

SW Desert has some big ones for sure. Fishlake is not a blue chip unit. No way, no how, not even close!

Personally, I would wait for either pahvant, beaver or San Juan. Those 3 are far and away better units with better bulls.

 

[shedhead]

I would agree with the opinions of others, wait for San Juan, Pahvant, Beaver, or possibly Dutton (with the right guide). All are world class hunts. One that may be worth a look if you want to spend the effort is the Book Cliffs, Little Creek roadless area. I have a few friends that have hunted it the past couple years and all have been on some big bulls in the archery hunt, just couldn't close the deal with a bow. One of those bulls was killed on the rifle hunt and went 383". There are some great bulls in there, just have to work a little more than you may have to on the San Juan or other top unit. I agree with the others, don't burn max points on Fishlake. My friend drew an expo tag and killed a 393" bull on fishlake a couple years ago, but he said that was an exceptional year for that unit.

 

[RUTTIN]

Utah will also restructure the hunt dates next year, ie: move the dates back. The archery hunt should end somewhere on like the 17th of September next year, that may also play into consideration for waiting one more year to draw and put the hunt dates a little more in your favor. Just a thought!


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[Zim]

God I hate what Utah & the band of wealth managers did to the archers. Those dates totally suck.

 

[PointsHunter]

UH, I'd bet you have a pretty good idea where you're burning those points! For what it's worth, I'm pretty familiar with both Fishlake and Dutton. Both are good units, but not anywhere close to your points level. Personally, I take your chances and keep putting in for San Juan. Only other I would consider with your points is Boulder.