Utah Elk or Wyoming Antelope

[RadSav]

I was offered a landowner elk permit in Utah yesterday - 17,000 acres, only five hunters for the year, average bulls taken over the past few years 325 P&Y, largest taken 400 P&Y.  Would be hunting with some of the industries most quality individuals.

To make the hunt with my schedule I'd need to cancel my bi-annual WY antelope hunt.  This year was planning on once again hunting with the wife.  This is a darn near 100% success hunt where the elk hunt would not.

I've really come to enjoy the WY antelope hunts a lot.  You see a ton of wildlife, the meat is outstanding, and the hunt is rather short keeping my payload upon return rather manageable.  Plus I am not a real big fan of hunting stupid elk even though I've tagged a bunch of them.  I also don't get much opportunity to take the wife out of state as we find it uncomfortable to leave the business in others hands during some of our busiest months of the year.  So what time we do get to spend together out-of-state holds more value than the score of the animals harvested.

But, how often do you get the opportunity to hunt private property out of state, especially Utah, without needing to draw?  Then to have a chance at quality animals without breaking the bank on a guide service, even more rare.  Sure makes it a tough decision.  I've already cancelled a Stone Sheep hunt and turned down an invitation to Africa with the same group of folks.  So I'm just not sure how many gift fish I should turn down in one year

Thought I would see what others thought.  What would you do?

[RadSav]

Option #3 would be to send the wife on the hunt and stay home and cover her job.  Might earn me a Brownie point or two

[Todd_ID]

Utah elk on a landowner tag is the only choice for my way of thinking. Unless you don't like the group of people going, or if it's a pressure-to-get-the-video hunt. That could be a OIL chance.

[Romulus1297]

You saw what I did for my wife Thanks for your thoughts 

[kentrek]

both 

[RadSav]

Unless you don't like the group of people going, or if it's a pressure-to-get-the-video hunt.

You know my view on video Todd, "Why would you want to mess up a perfectly good hunt by shooting video?"

[RadSav]

both 

Better chance of doing neither than doing both. 

[kentrek]

Then definitely Utah as long as you enjoy the people in your camp & it's not a caned kill ...but i am a narrow minded elk addict who prolly needs hunting diversity therapy

good luck 

[elkaholic123]

Option #4 go to Wyoming and I will represent you in Utah 

[D-Rock425]

I dont understand what we are debating here answer seems so simple.

[Bob33]

I would choose the antelope hunt.

[baldopepper]

Where is the ranch in Utah? (just the general area, you don't need to be specific if you don't want to be)  Some parts of the state are worth seeing even if you don't get an elk and others not so much.  I don't think you'll find the elk necessarily stupid, but I promise you some of those private ranches have some huge bulls.  A Wyoming antelope hunt is kind of a gimme, but a private ranch hunt in Utah is maybe a once in a lifetime opportunity.  One of those things you don't do and then regret for the rest of your life.

[bearpaw]

Rad, my experience in Utah tells me that you better do the elk hunt. If it's a quality hunt you won't regret the decision. Antelope tags are easy to get in comparison to quality Utah elk tags. 

[JPhelps]

I've got the best solution!!! You and your wife go hunt antelope in Wyoming and you send me to Utah

Rad, you are wondering why you didn't think of that

[LabChamp]

Utah all day