first time hunter/disabled Veteran

New hunter here (I posted in Roll Call as well). My name is Billy and I live just east of Price UT. Never been hunting before, and don't have friends or family that hunt either, so I'm as green at this as it gets. I've been reading through the forums for a few days now so hopefully I won't ask something that's been answered a hundred time already. I admit my complete ignorance up front, so any advise anyone wants to throw my way, especially any advise for a handicapped hunter, will be received gratefully.

I'm a disabled Vet and my VA comp is the only household income. Supports the family fine, but we're hoping hunting for food will help cut the monthly food costs. I'm not really into the idea of trophy hunting myself so much as just enjoying a hunt. I'm a decent shot with my rem 770 (I know, I should have bought the 700 instead) 270. I bought an OTC spike bull/any legal weapon tag for this fall and am probably going to use it in the Book Cliffs since I live right against them. I did put in for antlerless as well, but if I don't get a draw, I'll be watching for any leftover tags.

Anyways, I look forward to getting to meet other hunters, and hope eventually I'll learn enough to be able to contribute to helping other new hunters too.
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AGCHAWK
Welcome Brother! Glad to have you onboard.

I don't live in Utah so I can't help ya out a whole lot but I'm sure that there are folks on here that can.

Good luck and keep us posted!
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I just sent you a PM.

Brandon
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one hunting fool
Brandon, hey if that Antlerless tag does not work out for ya i may have some options. it depends on how mobil you are. but i have some friends that have some tags usually left over and may be able to take you up horse back if your not mobil enough. i will have to see if he has any tags left after the CWMU tags are drawn for antlerless.
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one hunting fool, I'm assuming that was meant for me and not Brandon? I'm Billy, the disabled Vet. That sounds great to me. I'll gratefully accept any possibilities that come my way, especially if they help me learn how to do as much of this as possible on my own.

As for mobility, most of the time I can get around on one leg and forearm crutches, but occasionally I'm stuck in my wheelchair. Mounting a horse would be an interesting task since my left leg cannot hold more than about 30 lbs, but I sure would like to find a way to do it. I'm striving to get the VA to amputate my lower leg and give me a prosthetic that can hold my weight, but until (or if that doesn't happen), I'm all in for learning ways to do anything I can in my current condition. My goal is to learn ways to do everything in life I want to do without having to inconvenience anyone by my needing help.
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one hunting fool
Billy you are right it was meant for you. Well i will have to do some thinking and figuring. I am sure there is a road of somesort out in the area i am think the owner usually gets around on just horse back. i will see what he and i can come up with and let you know for sure..
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one hunting fool, if you can work something out, that sounds great to me, and if not, no worries. I'm confident something's going to workout somehow.
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Well, I got a cow tag (OTC left over) for Nine Mile/Range Creek, which is right beside my house basically. I know it's a low success hunt, but it's worth a try. And I know I'll enjoy it (and my other hunts) even if i don't bring home food. I have a good idea of where to go along Range Creek, but might go for Nine Mile since I don't know that area quite as well and would like to see it.

For my buck hunt, I'll almost certainly be up in the far northwest area of the state. For my spike bull hunt, I'm still debating between eastern Book Cliffs near the CO border or Fishlake/Thousand Lakes. Another member also said he'd email some info on another area (I believe he said Manti) soon too so I may consider that. Biggest thing I'll be looking for is, of course, an area I can easily get around on crutches, crawl or drive across.

To those who've contacted me via PM with comments and advise, thank you! Oh, I also got my shoot from the vehicle permit in the other day.
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Nice, good luck to you. You sound determined so I'm sure you'll have success.
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Success = having a good, safe time with my son. Meat in the freezer would be icing on the cake!
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So on the advise of some other local elk hunters, I traded my spike bull tag in for a general season any bull tag, which allowed me to start hunting this past weekend with my handicapped season extension.

I found some fresh elk tracks around a waterhole in the tavaputs benches, and eventually crawled my way into a grove of aspens where I spotted a decent bull. Unfortunately, it spotted me just as quickly as I spotted it and took off before I could get a good shot.

Went back the next day with a (not so bright) guy from church, and got some loud grunts in response to the cow call. This is where I learned how not so bright this guy was, b/c instead of continuing to sit still and let the grunts continue to get closer, he jumped up and took off wanting to see the bull. That was the end of any activity for that day.

Went back again the next day and there were no new tracks around the waterhole. I decided to drive over to some other holes on the benches north of there when my transmission went out on me and left me limping home with only 1st gear. #-o

At least 1st gear continued working. It would have really sucked to have been stuck out there alone and unable to walk anywhere. Hopefully I'll get my hands on another tranny before the general season starts Oct 9th!
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