MuleyMadness Hunting Forums

When one looks at the average wait for the prime Utah elk units, one quickly realizes that he can only hunt in one of these units a few times in his life. The general season, however, is very crowded.

What I'm wondering is, are there any units for archery elk in utah that are an easier draw, but still have a good success rate? Obviously the bulls are going to be smaller, but the success rate has to be there. If I can go out and bag a 300" bull every 3-4 years, I'd be a happy guy with my favorite meat in the freezer.

Are there any units that fit this description?

Unless you are really lucky that is about impossible. The main reason is you have a 2 year waiting period before you can even apply after you draw a tag. Than means you want to draw a tag with 0 or 1 point. Even the easyest areas to draw take 5-7 points. So If you can get an LE archery tag every 10 years you will be doing really really good.

I meant to say, besides the waiting period, are there any units that have a decent success rate, where the average draw wait (for residents) is 4 years. I take it you are saying there are not, that the minimum draw wait on even the easier units is 5-7 years. Even still, 5-7 years is better than 12-13. What units are you thinking of?

According to my research, the following elk units in Utah have lower wait periods (average wait for residents to guarantee an archery tag, with average success rate over last 3 years):

La Sal: 5-6 years, 42% success
Filmore Oak Cr. South: 4 years, 50%
Paunsagunt: 4-6 years, 32%
Cache North: 5-6 years, 11%
Cache Meadowville: 4-5 years, 47%

Can anyone recommend any of these units, or advise against any of them? Only Cache North has a success rate too low for me.

Anyone think it doesn't make sense to go for the "easy draw" units? (Maybe because the general bull draw tag is almost as good if you work hard, so you might as well save your points for a prime unit?)

Hope that clarifies my question.

The waiting period is 5 years not 2 years.

3fingerbrown, of the units you listed, the two I believe give you a real good chance at a 300+ bull with a decent chance at a 350 bull are the North Cache and LaSal units. The others, Fillmore Oak Creek/Pauns have very low elk populations, the Oak Creek was recommended by the DWR to be turned into an any-bull unit. The Meadowville unit has now been absorbed into the South Cache LE unit. Other good units with decent odds are: Diamond Mountain/Three Corner. If you can draw a tag every 10 years you are doing real good.

I wouldn't mess with the Pauns IMO, it's on the downhill for sure as far as Elk are concerned.

Agreed with above guys though.

Yea, i agree with muleymadness i have hunted my hard the last 2 years on the pauns, with my dad, and uncle and i was very disapointed with the elk heard there.

i hike North Cache a lot and can tell you there are elk here and you see them but when the hunts are on its like they have a summer home somewhere. I know i could get you to a few elk every year but closing the deal with a bow mightr be a little harder and that could be the reason for the lower results.

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I wouldnt be too disapointed in the low elk numbers on the pauns. That is the best news for the deer herd you can hear!