New bow hunter..need a little help for Utah public elk areas

I know that the central mountains hold a lot of elk but also a lot of hunter during Archery season. It has been 6 years since I have been able to archery elk in Utah but you may want to check out some the the areas in the central mountain. Good luck.

Thankx for such a quick reply. I've also heard that Monte Cristo, Strawberry Lake and Bear lake might be good choices..Has anyone hunted those area? I would like to go where there may be less hunters but I know it probably won't happen because the lack of public land hunnting areas. Is it worth heading out the first week elk season starts up, or should I wait closer to the rut?

Well what tag have you drawn? That will help me out a little bit. When I would hunt archery I would always wait until the week after oepning weekend. That way there tended to be fewer hunters out. I could tell you my secret little hole that always holds them no matter how much hunting pressure they get but I think my Dad and Father in-law would kill me!

Didn't draw a tag, just going to get an elk licence, so that lessens my search too. I'll start putting in for tags when i get more experience. I don't mind what elk I get..cow or bull..I'm in it for the meat first..a nice rack will come with time put in.

No need to tell me your "secret hole' my friend...I'm not looking for that, but maybe a poke in the right direction. You definately don't want the dad and father-in-law pissed at you. LOL

By the way your only getting this specific advice cause your a fellow service member! Good luck again! :thumb

Thank you for the help, I mean that. Good luck to you on your hunt. Speaking from an Air Force member, we appreciate everything you've done overseas. I'm a backshop maintenance worker for radar jamming pods on the F-16 and A-10 so i will never see the front lines when I go over, but I have the utmost respect for you guys and always wish you all return home safely.

Check your PM's smoothy.

monte cristo is not worth it! I have hunted there the last four years, and I am totally being honest.. From four years ago to last season, there has been more and more people going there and it has become totally crowded.. And there are tons of livestock and sheep.. That pisses me off the most.. I used to see elk on both sides of the highway up there.. And I actually shot a cow elk on the last day of the hunt two years ago.. And that was on the north, LE area side.. Lots of elk thereon the north side, but they are all scattered out.. And they dont come out til the sheep herders move the sheep out! And they leave them in that area til the very last possible day! But now I dont see any elk up there on the south end, except on the private land.. I have killed a couple of bucks up there on the muz. hunt and thats when I saw all the elk. So thats my two cents on monte cristo.. But good luck, its totally beautiful up there(except ofr the livestock)!! And I just needed to vent!

Send me a PM and I'll give you some areas to look.

Smoothy1975, have you tried scouting out any of the area's you've mentioned? Ive also heard that the Central Mountains are good. Hopefully not too crowded cause I'm hunting there this year with a buddy of mine. I saw A LOT of Elk and Deer and even a cow & calf Moose In the Uintahs up around the Mirror Lake highway a couple of weeks ago near Broadhead meadows and up by Trial lake. From what I hear though it gets pretty crowded up there but there are a lot of animals. There are some nice spots too near Wolf Creek that my other friend has hunted for years. Mostly though, you should try to find where they may be at when the hunt starts next month. Ill recommend somewhere Central though man, its mostly spike unit until the extended season. Let us know how you do.

Eric

If you're just looking to get a cow or a spike that is a very attainable goal here in UT. Strawberry is an excellent elk area with lots of elk. Get some topo maps or download the free PDF versions at USGS.gov. Locate some water holes on the topo maps and then go scout out a few water holes. Pick ones that are 1/2 mile or more away from the road. If they have decent cover the elk will be using them. Just don't get too upset when a big 6-point bull comes in and you have to sit there and just wish you had a LE tag.

Also a bit of advice... start putting in for the LE tags now. As you are a serviceman you have ut residency and the application is only $10 more than the hunting liscense you have to buy anyway. Not sure if you are staying in utah but it gets a lot more expensive to put in for hunts when you are a non-resident. You will probably have to wait 4-10 years for an archery elk limited entry tag so why not get that wait started now. Like I said its only 10 more than what you are already spending and if you are worried you will draw the tag before you have the experience to be sucessful then you can just put in for the bonus point which is $10 and you start building points for when you are ready.

There are plenty of good public land areas. If you are cool with killing a spike or a cow then there are loads of good hunting areas and a good chance you could stick something too. Also, using a bow cuts down dramatically on number of hunters in the field. I've hunted the Central Manti area many years with a rifle (lots or hunters), but as far as bowhunting is concerned - no matter where you go, there won't be that many hunters with bows. This is coming from an ex-rifle hunter who got sick of the crowds. Check out all the good limited elk areas for spike or cows, tons of elk in Utah!!!

Good luck!

:thumb