Post by: bearpaw on June 12, 2019, 10:49:12 AM
In Utah half the tags are random draw and half go to random applicants. I have been holding out for one of the top units for big bulls but point creep keeps pushing the max points for the top units just a few years out of my reach and I haven't been lucky enough to draw one of the random tags. This year I decided I wanted to hunt, looking at draw history it appeared I probably had enough points to draw a premium tag in a mediocre unit, meaning I would be able to hunt all the seasons in that unit. Because my fall is very busy taking care of our hunters that seemed like a good choice, I should be able to hunt at least a few days in each season and still run my business. We have killed numerous bulls in this unit for hunters that have ranged from 320's to 350's, the largest bull I know of taken in this unit is a 389 bull, so it's not a unit for 400 class bulls, I would like to find a 340 or better bull but will take a bull based on how I think he'll look on my wall not how high he scores. I plan on taking horses because I can't hike the mountains like I used to and it's so much easier to get elk out with horses.
Archery Season
A long time friend "John" in Utah called and told me his oldest son Cairo drew an archery tag for the same unit, he is going to put out trail cams this summer to watch for big bulls in a part of the unit he has hunted for years and knows very well. We are planning a one week hunt during the archery season Aug-Sept, we'll work around Cairo's schedule, we are both flexible at that time.
Early Rifle Season
This is one of the best seasons, mid September, it catches the rut and bulls are usually bugling good. There's a lot of big open country and I've got a new 338/378 set up with a 5x30 Huskemaw, I'll start getting loads figured out with data posted by other members in the 338/378 topic. I'm going to block out time in our fall schedule for my son and I to hunt the first week of the early rifle season.
Muzzleloader Season
This is late Sept and early Oct, I can hunt at least 3 to 5 days, another friend in Utah has a top quality scoped muzzleloader set up to Utah specs that he said I can borrow, I'll take one of my guides with me to help spot and call, calling works so much better with two people.
Middle Rifle
Early to mid October, this opens the day after muzzy closes, I can probably hunt a couple days if there is a big bull I saw but didn't get in muzzy season.
Late Rifle
This is a mid November hunt, I can probably hunt for a week, this is my backup meat hunt, I'll shoot a lesser bull on this hunt so that I take meat home, we enjoy eating game meat and I want to fill the freezer with this hunt even if I don't see a bigger bull.
I've been looking forward to this elk hunt for many years, I'm pretty excited about finally getting a tag.
Post by: X-Force on June 12, 2019, 10:52:11 AM
Congrats and good luck
Post by: NoBark on June 12, 2019, 11:04:48 AM
Post by: bearpaw on June 12, 2019, 11:19:24 AM
Post by: stlusn30-06 on June 12, 2019, 11:24:18 AM
Awesome. Good luck!
Post by: 2MANY on June 12, 2019, 11:31:42 AM
Post by: WapitiTalk1 on June 12, 2019, 11:32:31 AM
Post by: bearpaw on June 12, 2019, 11:33:46 AM
BOOM! That is awesome Dale :tup:. Will be following you along on your Utah hunt(s) vicariously though Hunting Washington. Man, wishing you nothing but the best of luck putting a big, stinky, snot nosed, mud caked, red-eyed, Utah bull's nose in the dirt!
Wow, just reading your post gets me more excited! :chuckle:
Post by: Rainier10 on June 12, 2019, 11:54:01 AM
Congrats man.
Post by: HUNTINCOUPLE on June 12, 2019, 01:14:53 PM
Post by: Brushbuster on June 12, 2019, 01:18:40 PM
Post by: RB on June 12, 2019, 02:37:37 PM
Post by: Machias on June 12, 2019, 02:49:25 PM
Post by: hunting4sanity on June 12, 2019, 02:50:09 PM
Looking forward to pics and a report on your hunt. I obviously didn't have any luck with the draws this year in Idaho (or anywhere else) or you'd have heard from me to line up your help.
Post by: huntnphool on June 12, 2019, 02:52:55 PM
Post by: bearpaw on June 12, 2019, 06:03:47 PM
Post by: mburrows on June 12, 2019, 06:36:15 PM
Post by: Mfowl on June 12, 2019, 07:29:56 PM
Post by: Brushcrawler on June 12, 2019, 07:59:55 PM
Post by: elkrack on June 12, 2019, 08:01:46 PM
Post by: 280ackley on June 12, 2019, 08:26:11 PM
Post by: sjhgraysage on June 14, 2019, 09:17:01 AM
Will you be able to get to Utah for any pre season scouting the unit?
I'm looking at using my Utah elk points in the next couple years so following along. :tup: :tung:
Post by: trophyhunt on June 14, 2019, 10:00:43 AM
Post by: Karl Blanchard on June 14, 2019, 10:07:50 AM
Post by: bearpaw on June 14, 2019, 10:08:02 AM
Sounds like an epic adventure coming this fall!
Will you be able to get to Utah for any pre season scouting the unit?
I'm looking at using my Utah elk points in the next couple years so following along. :tup: :tung:
I know the unit very well from guiding other hunters in the unit. Our hunters have got 320's to 350's class bulls, I'm hoping for a 340ish but will take any bull that will look good on my wall, especially during bow season, a bow kill would be great. If I get down to the last season I'll take a smaller bull so the freezer still gets filled. The biggest bull I've seen in the unit was probably 360-370ish, the biggest bull I know of being taken was a 389 in one of the same areas I like to hunt. It's not one of the units that puts out 400 class bulls, but it has a good elk population, I like hunting the unit, and I can fit the numerous seasons around my busy fall schedule. I can be to many places in the unit with a horse trailer in 3 to 4 hours from my Idaho home.
My friend who lives near by is putting out trailcams in July to see if he can find any exceptional bulls, his son also has an archery tag for the same unit, we plan on camping and hunting together in archery season. I'm uncertain how much preseason I will do since I already know the unit so well and my friend will already have cameras out, I may just wait and show up a little early before archery opens, archery season will also serve as scouting time for rifle which opens the day after archery closes, but we'll see, I might have to go look at some elk early?
The top bull we killed on NW Hunter TV several years ago at a hidden waterhole I plan to hunt some in bow season. The other two bulls were killed in rifle season in another area I plan to hunt several times during the various seasons, I've seen a lot of good bulls in that area, there are always bulls there.
Post by: yorketransport on June 14, 2019, 12:22:54 PM
Post by: Pathfinder101 on June 14, 2019, 12:39:49 PM
Post by: deerhunter_98520 on June 14, 2019, 10:00:58 PM
Come on now, you should get at least a 380 class bull on the opening day of archery; you're a trained professional! :chuckle:
No pressure at all :chuckle: goodluck dale, hope ya have a great hunt :tup:
Post by: bearpaw on June 15, 2019, 01:01:10 AM
Come on now, you should get at least a 380 class bull on the opening day of archery; you're a trained professional! :chuckle:
I really hope you are right! :chuckle: :tup:
Post by: Boss .300 winmag on June 15, 2019, 08:19:48 AM
Come on now, you should get at least a 380 class bull on the opening day of archery; you're a trained professional! :chuckle:
Anything less than 400” from you really disappointing, all the years of scouting the unit, your expert eyes on judging antler size, etc......
Really if you think about it this could make or break your business, who would want to book a hunt with a professional guide that can’t get himself a monster bull in a slam dunk unit.🤣
Post by: bearpaw on June 15, 2019, 09:17:53 PM
Come on now, you should get at least a 380 class bull on the opening day of archery; you're a trained professional! :chuckle:
Anything less than 400” from you really disappointing, all the years of scouting the unit, your expert eyes on judging antler size, etc......
Really if you think about it this could make or break your business, who would want to book a hunt with a professional guide that can’t get himself a monster bull in a slam dunk unit.🤣
:chuckle: I know you guys are poking fun, but I am going to explain how I'm a bit different than some hunters. Size is generally not the most important thing to me personally, anyone who has been in my home knows this, I have some mounts of animals that score OK and other mounts that some hunters would have thrown in a horn pile in the garage or just thrown out. My hunters have taken most of the biggest animals I have hunted including the former world record cougar. My Idaho moose barely eeks out a P&Y score, most of my hunters have killed larger, but that moose is one of my fondest memories, we grunted him in and I stalked even closer, the bull quit rubbing and stepped out broadside at 15 yards, I made the decision to take him because I was packing a bow that day even knowing I could kill a better bull with my rifle on a different day, I've never regretted that decision.
Almost all of our kids first animals are mounted due to the fact that those were their first kills. Yes, in between some of the bigger bucks are shoulder mounts of a spike, a fork horn, a couple 3x3's and a doe. That doe is one of the prettiest deer mounts in my house and when I go sit in my trophy room I relive the hunts of those small bucks as fondly as the bigger ones. For my family the memories, the beauty of the animal, and filling the freezer are three of the most important reasons for hunting and for putting an animal on the wall. It really doesn't concern me what anyone else expects, I've mentioned what my personal expectations are, I'd love to find a bull over 340 but know there are very few bulls over 360 in this unit, during the archery season I'll take any good 6x6 if I can get him with my bow, an elk is something I've never taken with my bow. During the early rifle season and muzzy season I'll be more selective, I've got mounted bulls from rifle and muzzy hunts, but once I get to the late rifle hunt I'll take a small bull so that we will have enough elk meat in the freezer to get us through the year.
The best part of this hunt is going to be camping with my long time friend John (who guided for me 20 years ago) and his son who has a tag, and then my son is coming on the early rifle hunt, that will be a special time. Then for the muzzy hunt and the late rifle hunt I'll take along one or two of my long time guides. Earlier today I called and lined up the horses for all the hunts, I'll even be able to take along some of my favorite horses, it's going to be a blast and we'll look over a bunch of elk, but when I applied for this unit I knew I was bypassing the opportunity to hunt a premium unit with 380 to 400+ bulls, but there are other hunts I'm hoping to do in the coming years in between my business obligations and I knew I would probably draw this tag this year so I applied for it. It's hunting and I fully understand Ill end up with whatever fate and my available time will allow. Even if I don't get a big bull, this hunt will hopefully be my most memorable elk hunt due to the long anticipation and the other people involved with the hunt.
Here's to the unknown this fall... :brew:
Post by: Boss .300 winmag on June 15, 2019, 09:37:35 PM
Come on now, you should get at least a 380 class bull on the opening day of archery; you're a trained professional! :chuckle:
Anything less than 400” from you really disappointing, all the years of scouting the unit, your expert eyes on judging antler size, etc......
Really if you think about it this could make or break your business, who would want to book a hunt with a professional guide that can’t get himself a monster bull in a slam dunk unit.🤣
:chuckle: I know you guys are poking fun, but I am going to explain how I'm a bit different than some hunters. Size is generally not the most important thing to me personally, anyone who has been in my home knows this, I have some mounts of animals that score OK and other mounts that some hunters would have thrown in a horn pile in the garage or just thrown out. My hunters have taken most of the biggest animals I have hunted including the former world record cougar. My Idaho moose barely eeks out a P&Y score, most of my hunters have killed larger, but that moose is one of my fondest memories, we grunted him in and I stalked even closer, the bull quit rubbing and stepped out broadside at 15 yards, I made the decision to take him because I was packing a bow that day even knowing I could kill a better bull with my rifle on a different day, I've never regretted that decision.
Almost all of our kids first animals are mounted due to the fact that those were their first kills. Yes, in between some of the bigger bucks are shoulder mounts of a spike, a fork horn, a couple 3x3's and a doe. That doe is one of the prettiest deer mounts in my house and when I go sit in my trophy room I relive the hunts of those small bucks as fondly as the bigger ones. For my family the memories, the beauty of the animal, and filling the freezer are three of the most important reasons for hunting and for putting an animal on the wall. It really doesn't concern me what anyone else expects, I've mentioned what my personal expectations are, I'd love to find a bull over 340 but know there are very few bulls over 360 in this unit, during the archery season I'll take any good 6x6 if I can get him with my bow, an elk is something I've never taken with my bow. During the early rifle season and muzzy season I'll be more selective, I've got mounted bulls from rifle and muzzy hunts, but once I get to the late rifle hunt I'll take a small bull so that we will have enough elk meat in the freezer to get us through the year.
The best part of this hunt is going to be camping with my long time friend John (who guided for me 20 years ago) and his son who has a tag, and then my son is coming on the early rifle hunt, that will be a special time. Then for the muzzy hunt and the late rifle hunt I'll take along one or two of my long time guides. Earlier today I called and lined up the horses for all the hunts, I'll even be able to take along some of my favorite horses, it's going to be a blast and we'll look over a bunch of elk, but when I applied for this unit I knew I was bypassing the opportunity to hunt a premium unit with 380 to 400+ bulls, but there are other hunts I'm hoping to do in the coming years in between my business obligations and I knew I would probably draw this tag this year so I applied for it. It's hunting and I fully understand Ill end up with whatever fate and my available time will allow. Even if I don't get a big bull, this hunt will hopefully be my most memorable elk hunt due to the long anticipation and the other people involved with the hunt.
Here's to the unknown this fall... :brew:
Well played bearpaw.👍
Here’s to a most memorable hunt with family and friends. Cheers. :brew:
Post by: bowhunterforever on June 17, 2019, 01:51:08 PM
Post by: jackelope on June 17, 2019, 02:19:23 PM
Post by: pianoman9701 on June 17, 2019, 02:28:39 PM
Post by: bearpaw on August 11, 2019, 10:08:25 AM
My friend in Utah tried to get in the area we plan to bow hunt a week ago and there was still too much snow. He finally got in yesterday, they saw two raghorns and a few cows, no big bulls spotted yet, he also said the two raghorns were both bugling. He's taking his camper up later this week for a base camp during archery season. I'm going to watch the weather, I don't want to hunt elk when it's too hot due to meat spoilage concerns.
Post by: trophyhunt on August 11, 2019, 10:24:36 AM
Post by: mfswallace on August 11, 2019, 10:28:15 AM
Post by: baldopepper on August 11, 2019, 11:58:55 AM
Post by: Fl0und3rz on August 11, 2019, 12:02:59 PM
Congrats Dale, looking forward to following along. :brew:
:yeah:
Post by: wheels on August 11, 2019, 12:27:30 PM
Post by: Ironhead on August 11, 2019, 01:03:26 PM
Post by: bearpaw on August 30, 2019, 12:14:22 PM
My dodge truck I normally use for interstate travel was in the shop getting the front end rebuilt, fuel system revised, and the in-tank fuel pump replaced. Because one of my guides was unavailable for a hunt I headed to Utah in one of my hunting suburbans towing one of my vikings to guide the hunt. It's a father and son for an archery elk hunt, the son's first ever hunt, we planned to hunt an any bull area with OTC archery tags. On my way from WA I had a little trouble with the engine missing going over 4th of July pass so I added some fuel additive and it seemed to run better. I made it to my destination without further problem but the area I had planned on hunting there was no rutting activity. In the meantime my hunters flight had been cancelled and delayed for a day so their hunt was reduced from 6 days to 5 days. I contacted them and told them I thought we should hunt a different part of Utah where waterhole hunting would be more effective and my friend had been hearing a few young bulls bugling, I told them there would be more elk but with their OTC archery tags they would be restricted to cows or spikes in that unit. they said that was fine.
I decided to take my ford f-350 on this trip but before I got to Salt Lake a brake seized up and was smoking so bad I thought the truck was going to catch on fire. it was Sunday and no repair shops were open so I waited and let it cool off and drove slowly back to swap back into the suburban. This made me several hours late, so instead of meeting for the morning hunt I met them for an afternoon hunt, now we were reduced to 4.5 days of hunting due to their delay and my delay, but finally we were on the mountain hunting. We spotted one raghorn bull that evening and made plans for the following morning hunt. Right off in the morning we spotted several groups of elk and formulated a stalk that didn't work and then another hunt in which we called in a 5x5 bull which we couldn't shoot with their tags. Then later we called in three spikes (all of them together in a group) which they could shoot but the aspens were too thick and neither hunter could take the 40 yard shot in the heavy cover.
Over the next couple days we had more failed stalks and hunts and no luck at the water holes. There is one little waterhole that I watched a cow come into a couple days before so last night I put them on that water hole and I sat up high where I could watch the whole area. About 10 minutes before the end of shooting time I saw the cow headed in on a fast water walk. She suddenly stopped about 120 yards from the natural blind we had built and stared, then she turned and ran down about 200 yards and stopped again. She stood a couple minutes then suddenly whirled again and went out to 300 yards and stopped. By now we were out of shooting time so I went and picked up the guys. We discussed what had happened and determined that she probably winded them because she came in from a different direction than we had expected. We didn't get any elk and they wished they could stay longer because we saw a lot of elk, but the father has a tight schedule that wouldn't permit extending the trip, so instead I think they will be back next year for another hunt and they are both going to try and draw big bull tags.
During this bow hunt I saw about 20 bulls including two different big bulls that I plan to check back on when I come back down again hunting for myself. I also told my friend about these two bulls. They have a big bull of their own spotted but if it don't work out this weekend they might try going after the two bulls I spotted.
Between my friend and I we've probably seen about fifteen 6x6 bulls and we currently have three very good bulls in the 330 to 360 class spotted, hopefully we can get one or two of the big ones between the two of us this season.
I've got to run back to WA to finish some projects but broke down in the suburban, the fuel pump went out! Two fuel pumps and a seized brake in a little over a week!
So I'm sitting in a repair shop while they fix the suburban then I'm headed back to WA after I get the f-350 into the shop to fix the brakes.
It's been a crazy week and a half with auto repairs. :chuckle: :chuckle: :chuckle:
Post by: trophyhunt on August 30, 2019, 12:22:33 PM
Post by: bearpaw on August 30, 2019, 12:33:52 PM
Damn, sounds like fun! Except the car problems, hope that gets better.
:chuckle: me too, I had them check the suburban brakes too, found out why it's pulling right, going to be here a little longer while they install pads, rotors, and front bearings that were about shot too! Best to get it all done while I'm here!
Post by: WapitiTalk1 on August 30, 2019, 01:07:31 PM
Post by: wheels on August 30, 2019, 03:15:53 PM
Post by: HillHound on August 30, 2019, 03:24:57 PM
Post by: bearpaw on September 02, 2019, 09:01:38 AM
I'm waiting to see how my friends did this weekend, but it seems like most of the bigger bulls were still bachelored up last week and not talking at all. The rut should break loose in the next week or so.
Post by: idaho guy on September 02, 2019, 09:54:17 AM
Post by: C-Money on September 02, 2019, 10:07:58 AM
Post by: bearpaw on September 02, 2019, 10:32:31 AM
My friend just texted me, they are headed home after 4 days hunting, mostly the same issues I had, the bulls aren't rutting and they could only get a bugle at night. He said they saw a lot of elk including a new monster bull, I'm anxious to hear more about this monster bull.
Post by: Gringo31 on September 02, 2019, 02:29:56 PM
Post by: DOUBLELUNG on September 03, 2019, 11:23:13 AM
Post by: gasman on September 03, 2019, 01:50:49 PM
Post by: bearpaw on September 10, 2019, 09:26:18 AM
Here's an interesting story though:
My friend and his son were calling in a good bull last weekend and a bear started stalking them while calling, they had to keep calling to keep the bull interested, but the bear kept coming. Finally the bull saw the bear and split, my friend said they started waving but the bear kept coming, he said he finally had to holler at it to get it to turn and go away. His son hasn't gotten a bull yet and he can probably only get away for one more day of hunting before bow season ends. He did however apply as partners with a friend who got a nice 6x6 bull last weekend so their weekend hunt was a success after all.
Post by: bearpaw on September 21, 2019, 04:53:17 PM
Post by: RB on September 21, 2019, 09:58:20 PM
Post by: bearpaw on September 22, 2019, 11:03:24 AM
The next day I decided to hunt a different 6x6 I had seen in late August, but I couldn't find him either. I did spot a raghorn first thing the second morning and then mid-day I stalked within 50 or 60 yards of a 4x4 I heard in a wallow. I also managed to get some cows to answer me a few times early afternoon but no bull sounded off and I never got to actually lay eyes on the elk in the heavy cover so don't know if there was a bull with them or not. Later I heard one bull make a dinosaur growl (lol) across the canyon but he never bugled. I needed to get back to business so I cut my trip short after two days, figured I was better off to work a few days and give the elk a chance to start bugling.
When I go back I may hunt a different area that my friend likes, I'm still undecided about that. For now I am licking my wounds trying to figure my next best move?
Post by: bearpaw on November 18, 2019, 04:30:09 PM
Post by: teanawayslayer on November 18, 2019, 04:43:50 PM
We have had a really busy hunting season and it prevented me from hunting again until the last day of the last season. I was too tired and couldn't drive straight through so I was 2 hours late getting into the hunt area. I focused on trying to figure out where the bigger bulls I scouted earlier had gone. I couldn't find any fresh sign of them so in the afternoon I headed over to the area where I had passed one of the raghorns, all I found were cutoff legs, I think someone else got him in the last few days. So it is tag soup for me on this hunt, mostly due to just being too busy to hunt for myself, but a guy has to take care of business.I worked at a hunting lodge for a few years guiding in the southern states. It is definitely tough trying to find time for yourself when your business is hunting. I had a lot of fun and there’s nothing better than sharing your passion with others! It is a tough one to swallow. Good on you Dale!
Post by: trophyhunt on November 18, 2019, 05:16:55 PM
Post by: TheStovePipeKid on November 18, 2019, 06:28:38 PM