There is a reasonably good chance that I will have reason to travel to Utah periodically over the next several years. That got me looking at elk hunting in Utah. A search here shows very little discussion of elk hunting in Utah. Is there a reason for that? The tag fees seem reasonable. Is the elk hunting just not that good compared to other states?
What's the deal with elk hunting in Utah? Hardly any threads about it.
- Thread starter wombat13
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.308 Norma
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That's an open-ended question, man. I'm in Idaho (right next door to Utah) and I'd almost bet that in general, elk hunting is better in Idaho than it is in Utah. However, there are some areas in Idaho where elk hunting is probably not as good as some areas in Utah.
It's the same with deer (mule deer) hunting. Eastern Idaho (where I've lived since getting out of the Navy in 1972) is really good for mule deer hunting, and a lot of mule deer hunters from western Idaho drive over here to hunt every year. When it comes to elk hunting though, a lot of western Idaho elk hunters head for central Idaho - which is exactly what a lot of us eastern Idaho elk hunters do.
At any rate, I really doubt elk hunting in Utah in general is all that great. You might find some up around Bear Lake (in the northeast corner of the state) or over in the Uintas (south of Evanston, Wyoming) but even at that, you're going to have to put a lot more time, effort and money into hunting elk than I'd be willing to put into hunting them.
Edited to say: when I posted this, I said mule deer hunting is "really good" in eastern Idaho - where I live. However, I think I should probably define "really good." Seeing as how in an average year, less than 1 in 3 Idaho deer hunters even get a deer anywhere in Idaho, by eastern US standards, Idaho deer hunting probably stinks! And Idaho elk hunting offers even worse odds if your only reason for hunting is to kill an elk.
BTW, my wife and I usually do a lot better than one mule deer every 3 years because we're both avid hunters, we've been at it a long time, and we live in the middle of the "best" mule deer hunting area in the state. Besides all that, because we've lived here for so many years (51) we know a lot of people who will let us hunt their land.
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irishlad
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If you're asking about bull elk, the limited entry tags take many years to draw. The general season tags are usually in areas without alot of elk and can be challenging. Cow tags are getting harder to get in some areas. But are usually filled.
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GooseGestapo
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re: Utah
There’s a LOT of competition for the limited amount of tags.
Especially non-resident. And they tend to mix up the dates for the hunts.
I was nearly successful in ‘21 season. My younger brother had hunted Utah and only lives 200mi from the zone we hunted. He also had 4 preference points to go with my single point. We now apply every year for preference points so that when the hunt concurs with the migration we can then pull a tag.
I hit a nice cow just about 2” below my aim at 150yds and ended up double lung shooting it. Tracked it for 1.1miles till we lost a blood trails (2) and tracks got confused with those in the rest of the herd it was with. We criss crossed continually for two days looking for it… no luck. But still saw elk, and I passed on a 400yd shot where it would have taken several days to pack out the carcass. Also had a 280yd shot but out of date map indicated it was private property. Found out later that Utah DNR had purchased the private tract and it was huntable…
The 14 day hunt saw a LOT of hunting pressure and most hunting pressure was on Saturday and Sunday. By the last two days there were few hunters out… but we were continually seeing elk, but they were still getting bounced by other hunters.
This year we didn’t get drawn anywhere we applied so we picked up a couple of leftover cow tags in western Wyoming. It’s tougher hunting but tags are easier to get. But getting harder every year. Elk seem more abundant, too. I have a good friend that lives in the area we drew permits and he knows the area. Season is also a LOT longer. Sept 26 to November 20 this year for our zone. But best hunting is in the last three o four weeks until the snow gets too deep and elk have migrated out to wintering grounds.
There’s a LOT of competition for the limited amount of tags.
Especially non-resident. And they tend to mix up the dates for the hunts.
I was nearly successful in ‘21 season. My younger brother had hunted Utah and only lives 200mi from the zone we hunted. He also had 4 preference points to go with my single point. We now apply every year for preference points so that when the hunt concurs with the migration we can then pull a tag.
I hit a nice cow just about 2” below my aim at 150yds and ended up double lung shooting it. Tracked it for 1.1miles till we lost a blood trails (2) and tracks got confused with those in the rest of the herd it was with. We criss crossed continually for two days looking for it… no luck. But still saw elk, and I passed on a 400yd shot where it would have taken several days to pack out the carcass. Also had a 280yd shot but out of date map indicated it was private property. Found out later that Utah DNR had purchased the private tract and it was huntable…
The 14 day hunt saw a LOT of hunting pressure and most hunting pressure was on Saturday and Sunday. By the last two days there were few hunters out… but we were continually seeing elk, but they were still getting bounced by other hunters.
This year we didn’t get drawn anywhere we applied so we picked up a couple of leftover cow tags in western Wyoming. It’s tougher hunting but tags are easier to get. But getting harder every year. Elk seem more abundant, too. I have a good friend that lives in the area we drew permits and he knows the area. Season is also a LOT longer. Sept 26 to November 20 this year for our zone. But best hunting is in the last three o four weeks until the snow gets too deep and elk have migrated out to wintering grounds.
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What caliber/bullet are you shooting? I’ve never seen a double lunged elk go very far.
GooseGestapo
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.30/06; 165gr Sierra Game King, m/v 3,000fps (24”bbl).
It’s the second time I’ve done it. 1st time was in Colorado in ‘03. That time, it was with a .338/06 shooting a 200gr Hornady Interlok. I hit the cow about 3” below the Spine and 8” aft of where I was aiming. Wind drift across a gulch at 150yds got me.
I’ve been very unlucky with elk hunting!
I hunted Wyoming in 2009. Only shot I had was on a cow wearing a radio collar! Wasn’t sure about shooting it being legal…. So I didn’t. Maybe the fourth time will be a charm…
irishlad
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Yes, not only can you shoot a radio collared elk but it’s important data for mortality statistics. There will be a tag with an address on the collar where you can send it or call to report it.
3” below the spine is not a lung shot. You hit her through the back straps which is not a fatal wound. Not immediately any way.
I can promise you you did not double lung the elk in the description from your post either. Especially not with a soft bullet like a SGK. I don’t know where you hit it but they absolutely will not go very far with a double lung shot. Generally less than 100 yards or so.
It’s real easy to think you saw where a bullet impacted. It’s usually fake news once you recover the critter. Elk are just like any other critter if you hit them in the vitals they die pretty quick. But a wounded elk will travel for miles and miles some times.
Better luck next season!
GooseGestapo
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Well, pieces of lung, and frothy blood suggested a lung impact.
You weren’t there. I was.
I’m also quite familiar with big game anatomy.
A degree in wildlife biology and 25yrs as a game warden.
I’ve lost count of how many deer I’ve killed. Somewhere over 300.
I also process my own deer, so I’m familiar with back straps.
You weren’t there. I was.
I’m also quite familiar with big game anatomy.
A degree in wildlife biology and 25yrs as a game warden.
I’ve lost count of how many deer I’ve killed. Somewhere over 300.
I also process my own deer, so I’m familiar with back straps.
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I don’t have a biology degree and I’ve never been a game warden. But when I double lung an elk with a .30-06 or a .308 they die and they die pretty quick.
So the mystery is not your knowledge of anatomy. It’s how the elk didn’t drop dead when you double lunged it?
I’m not questioning your anatomical knowledge. I AM questioning your shot calling ability.
