Bow hunting the Book Cliffs?
Tyewire
5/8/10 8:02am
Hi Guys, I like many other newbies to this site am looking to gain some knowledge about a long distant hunting area. My father and I drew the Book Cliffs for deer this year. We are experienced bow hunters but have rarely pursued Mulleys.
We are from Oregon and have 2 weeks to dedicate to this hunt. Where. What I am hoping to gain from your knowledge is a good place to start. We love to hunt hard and are not apposed to packing in for a few days if that is what it takes.
Next is when. I have 2 weeks and a day to work with. Should we show up a few days early and scout or start when the season has already started to maximize our opportunity? Or even come the last two weeks of the season.
Our trophy goal are to have a great time together as always and enjoy what God has created. We are treating this like a once in a lifetime hunt. Sure we would love to kill a 180 class deer but a couple respectable 4 points and the memories will do us just fine.
I hope to return the favor and Thank you in advance for any help! =D> updated
We are from Oregon and have 2 weeks to dedicate to this hunt. Where. What I am hoping to gain from your knowledge is a good place to start. We love to hunt hard and are not apposed to packing in for a few days if that is what it takes.
Next is when. I have 2 weeks and a day to work with. Should we show up a few days early and scout or start when the season has already started to maximize our opportunity? Or even come the last two weeks of the season.
Our trophy goal are to have a great time together as always and enjoy what God has created. We are treating this like a once in a lifetime hunt. Sure we would love to kill a 180 class deer but a couple respectable 4 points and the memories will do us just fine.
I hope to return the favor and Thank you in advance for any help! =D> updated
27,506
I have always dreamed of hunting a mule deer with my bow. I hunted a mule deer one time with a rifle in the Snake River unit about 15 years ago and shot a small 4 point. I passed him 3 times and finally figured out he was a good as it gets.
I have been studying maps and reading all I can of the older post on the site to gain some knowledge. We have one Utah connection with a guy that lives there that has hunted with us in Idaho for elk. He is going to try and help out.
Thanks for responding, you ever want to hunt elk in Oregon or a black-tailed deer I would be willing to tell you all I know :))
Congrats on the tag.......I've put in for it and scouted it as well.......a fun type hunt for bowhunters. Just set realistic goals.
Do you think it would be a good idea to come a few day before the season starts? I have two weeks to spend on this hunt. Or maybe come the last two weeks of the season?
I really appreciate the info and will PM you with some more questions.
This will give you an idea of the kind of deer that you will see there.
I just don't want what happend to a buddy at work happen to you.
He had a muzzle loader tag for that unit a few years ago and within a few hours of his hunt starting he saw the best buck of his whole hunt and he passed on it because he hadn't had the time to scout and people were telling how great the bucks are out there. He still got a really nice buck but he said that it didn't hold a candle to the one that he passed up.
Hope that you have an awesome hunt here in a few weeks and we will be wait for the pictures to start rolling in.
Of course, coming from Salt Lake it might be faster to go through Green River and up Hay Canyon. Hay Canyon meets the divide road right at Winter Ridge. I've never been that way though, so I couldn't tell you any more than that.
From looking at the maps it looks like the GPS numbers for the spot you're looking for are.
Hope this helps.
I am waiting on a call on a place to hang or process meat as well as taxidermy (if I am lucky enough) So when I get some info I can post it or PM you what I learn.
That would be great let me know what you find out. Are you going to be coming in from the North or the South?
Sounds like it is sixes either way.
Wish that I didn't have over two months to wait for my hunt to begin.
Good luck to you also.
Great job, no worries I'd be happy with that buck also. Sounds like fun and a great time, congrats and thanks for posting the success story/photos.
First off I want to thank all the people who helped me out on this great site. =D> All info was useful and appreciated.
We had a fantastic trip. Saw more deer that I have ever dreamed of seeing in any hunting trip here in Oregon and the Books are beautiful. 10sign:
We scouted for a day and half and decided on the west side of the unit. We like everyone else saw all the nice buck along the road but decided to hunt on foot away from other hunters and vehicles. Don't get me wrong, I would never pass up a gift buck on the way back to camp, just not what we are used to doing. lol
We hunted hard everyday with 5 to 10 miles a day on our feet. We snuck on bucks 3 and sometimes 4 times a day. Mule deer are tough #-o
My cry in your beer story happened Friday. Got in the middle of 16 bucks and had the one of my dreams 30 yards broadside. Drew my bow, and the arrow fell to the ground. Not once but 3 times ](*,) . The lesson of the story is draw all your arrows with broad heads to make sure you have no problems. The blade was 90 to the riser and hooked my felt patch on the way up, thus pulling the arrow off the string. This never happened with my practice broad heads FYI. He was the widest buck of the trip and in my non expert opinion would go close to 180 and 30".
With only a few days left in the trip I took this great buck. Not a monster in most peoples eyes but, he is to me. He helped ease the pain a little of the day before.
We also meet some real nice people from Utah that represented the state well. Thank you to them as well.
As for my dad, he missed a real nice buck but has always taught me that a successful trip does not always end with a kill. He was happy and satisfied with the trip and so was I.
We left a few days early because of the severe thunderstorms. WOW!! Those were impressive.
Hoping to change that in just 51 days 20 hours and 58 minutes.
But whos counting right?
Glad to hear things worked out for you and your dad. Great Buck! It looks like re-locating your camp to the west worked! It was Brad's and my pleasure meeting you guys on the mountain. Did you ever encounter any bears? Best of luck in the future..
Adam Eakle aka Fstop
Best of luck to you! If you ever get the itch to hunt or fish over here, or for any reason need a place to stay. Please, please give me a call. just pm.
Tell Brad the walleye fishing in the Columbia is real good. :thumb
I was with friends out there hunting elk and deer! we did see some pretty nice bucks this year! Id say a banner year in the books. Our group ended up taking two bucks and an elk so far. We still have one hunter to fill a tag. he is being picky though and I think he will end up with a nice buck when its all said and done!
again congrats
Yes they did take a 227 Gross non tip out the west side in the roadless on foot. I am hoping I can get a pic so I can post it. It supposedly has two stickers with a drop point.