utah deer management hunts

Management buck deer hunt: More hunters can hunt on the Paunsaugunt and Henry Mountains premium limited entry units after board members approved a management buck deer hunt for the units.

The management hunt runs Nov. 2 to 6 on the Henry Mountains unit and Nov. 7 to 11 on the Paunsaugunt unit. If you draw a permit for the hunt, you may not take a deer that has more than three points on either of its antlers. You can hunt with a rifle, a muzzleloader, or a bow and arrow.

"This change will give more hunters a chance to hunt on these premiere units while still protecting the larger bucks on the units," Aoude says.


why may i ask????

9er
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ridgetop
Yep, bad idea. Nobody put in for this dumb hunt. :thumb
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MuleyMadness
The Mighty Dollar, plain and simple in my opinion. They say it's for more hunter opportunity and also I would assume some complaints from Outfitters or people thinking the gene pool needs help might be partial factors also.

But would I want this tag? NOPE, pointless to waste my points on this. There are some big/pretty 3-points out there but what a joke IMO. 5 days and you loose all points, yea right.
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proutdoors
Lets see, you get to hunt the rut on two of the best deer units in the world, have very few people out there with you, can draw with fewer points than a 'real' tag, doesn't sound so bad to me. Anyone who has spent time on either/both of these units knows there are lots of bucks that will NEVER been killed by regular tag holders. These bucks are taking up space that 'desirable' bucks could be using and/or more does to increase fawn production. Will it help the gene pool? NO! But, it WILL thin out the number of bucks running around that are not desired by the people who wait a lifetime to draw a premium deer tag.
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MuleyMadness
Here is the real question, PRO and others would you burn YOUR points on this tag??
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MULEY7MM
How would you count those Stag bucks on the paunsagaunt ?
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MuleyMadness
More than 3 points on stags for sure. They need a stag hunt though.
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MULEY7MM
They should of done a stag hunt for the management hunt :-k
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Default Avatar
I won't burn my points for it. I agree with Pro on the Pauns there are alot of mature 3 points that aren't going to get shot with the LE tags. The problem is most of these 3"s are pushing does that I for one would rather see being pushed by mature 4 points. I've seen this numerous times this year. Like I said before this should be a youth hunt.
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proutdoors
"MuleyMadness" wrote:Here is the real question, PRO and others would you burn YOUR points on this tag??
Well, since I have ZERO deer points, I am considering it. :-k That way i might get to hunt the Henry/Pauns before I die. I have NO problem with shooting a 32" 3X4 on the Henries with a tag I drew with 0-5 points. :thumb
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AGCHAWK
JBird, you brought up a GREAT point. As with most trophy units, folks that draw those tags will not take a big three point...they are lookin' for that "buck of a lifetime". Especially when it takes years to aquire enough points to even start getting excited about the drawing. (Of course, some folks "settle" for em if/when they get down to the last day or two of the hunt and still have not filled thier tags)

I have never hunted either unit but have been around long enough to know what they are all about. Weeding these bucks from the gene pool is NOT a bad idea whatsoever. As we all know, there are some monster 2 and 3 points that will never become monster 4+ points. It's just not in thier genes....and you don't want those types of bucks spreading thier genes through a trophy unit.

Now, Brett brought up an even better point....would you want to loose your points on a draw like this? I guess if I were in Pro's position it wouldn't be a bad proposition whatsoever. However, someone who has been collecting points for years may not want throw them away on a management hunt.

Myself, I think this would have been a great opportunity to create a QUALITY youth hunt for the youngsters. I know there are a LOT of young hunters out there that would absolutely LOVE to harvest a big 2 or 3 point Muley. Heck, what better way to get a young man or woman started Muley hunting?

In other words...what I am trying to say is, a management hunt is not a bad idea and would go a long way in ensuring future trophy calibur bucks throughout both units. However, I think it could have been done a bit differently.
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Wasatch Wonder
To me this managed hunt seems rather torturous. Let's say I qualify and get a permit to venture into the Henries. How painful would that be to be there legally carrying a rife, and to have to find the restraint as those monsters pass by, only to pull the trigger on a 3 point? Maybe I could make myself feel better and refer to it like an east-coast hunter, you know, call it a 6 pointer!
It's a fairly good idea for the hunt and will probably grow on me more after a few years. I do agree with many who have chimed in so far. This could have been handled differently for sure. At least the state is trying a different approach to protect the trophy potential there. As much as we tend to gripe and moan about the Utah DWR, how many other regions in the country cause people to salivate like some of the regions in Utah? I tip my hat to them for producing so many trophy bucks and bulls the last couple of decades. They seem to know what they are doing.
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DeadI
I have 4point and would definatly put in for this hunt if I was to put in for deer. But for guys that have alot of points then probably not. I see nothing wrong with puting the hammer down on a 20"+ 3x4 or smaller.
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swbuckmaster
This is a great idea and if it will work for deer it would have worked for elk given the chance

The only loop hole is people will b&m when someone kills a broken buck instead of a buck that is truly a management buck. Having the hunt in the rut is a bad idea. The big bucks will be broken. Just like the bulls were broken. What the heck was the division thinking? Don’t they learn form their mistakes?

Why didn’t they just let them hunt them during the regular rifle hunt?

Great idea management hunt! Bad idea hunt dates!

As far as points I won’t burn my pile on the henneries Ill wait two more years and go kill my buck in my dreams. I however would consider it if I was younger and had no points.
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ridgetop
I disagree that there are alot of broken bucks out there. I have seen thousands of big bucks and sheds and very few of them are broken. I guess I'll just have to put in for that tag myself to see how many I see. :)
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MuleyMadness
I know of a couple BIG 3-points on the Pauns that I wouldn't mind taking for sure.

But taking one with a rifle during the Rut isn't much of a challenge.

Do both sides have to be THREE??
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9er
"MuleyMadness" wrote:I know of a couple BIG 3-points on the Pauns that I wouldn't mind taking for sure.

But taking one with a rifle during the Rut isn't much of a challenge.

Do both sides have to be THREE??

keep an eye on him for me will ya!! =D>

and as far as weapon choice, its any weapon, so you could go after him with your bow if wanted brett!!

9e
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IDHunter
"MuleyMadness" wrote:Do both sides have to be THREE??
I'm wondering the same thing. The way I'm reading it is that the buck can't have more than three points on "either" antler. If that's true, a 3x4 wouldn't be legal. Does anyone know for sure?
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Default Avatar
"proutdoors" wrote:
MuleyMadness wrote:Here is the real question, PRO and others would you burn YOUR points on this tag??
Well, since I have ZERO deer points, I am considering it. :-k That way i might get to hunt the Henry/Pauns before I die. I have NO problem with shooting a 32" 3X4 on the Henries with a tag I drew with 0-5 points. :thumb
If i had less than desirbale points to hunt a descent unit and take a "good" buck, heck yes i'd like to hunt the Henry's or Pauns for a big managment buck.
I think it's a great idea, especially how they kept it away from the same time the LE tag holders are trying to hunt trophy deer.
There are bucks dying of old age on the Henry's that noone will even take a second look at because of bad genetics, my boy would LOVE to go smoke a big old 2x3 or other management buck within definition with his less than a handful of bonus points.
As for me....i'll get there eventually with my 13! [-o<

What i worry about is will this invite even MORE poaching?? ](*,)
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MuleyMadness
Here ya go 9er, this is a PAUNS buck. Actually the thing that bugs me is this guy actually has more than 3-points on one side. He has had a double eyeguard every year.

So technically you can't/shouldn't shoot him, but would people really look at the eyeguard and not shoot. (???)

I hope so, but makes me nervous. And he is BIG, I'd love to have this guy but he is older and on his was down hill.

http://www.muleymadness.com/forum/download/file.php?id=5249&t=1" alt="" />
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Default Avatar
I haven't seen the actual "rules" for the plan yet, are they going to count eye guards as "frame points" when they say no more than 3 points per side Brett?
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AGCHAWK
Man Brett, I never get tired of seeing pics of that big boy! Unfortunately you are right, he does not fall into the "3 point" catergory. And, I am guessing that most folks with one of the LE tags would pass on him because he is not a 4+ point buck either. I guess he is a "tweener".

Myself, I would be ticked to get a HUGE 3 point like that. He is certainly a beast.

To answer your question Brett, the way I understand it is that there cannot be more than 3 points on any one side. Much like our 3 point rule here in WA state. Again, looks like this big boy would be illegal on a management hunt.
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AGCHAWK
Skull, you posted your question the same time I did.

Again, I am NOT in Utah and am just going by past experience but any three point rule I have ever delt with did indeed count eye guards that were at least an inch long toward the 3 point minimum.
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Default Avatar
Great minds think alike Hawk!! =D>

If the eye guards (G1's) do NOT count, Brett's buck is a SMOKER buck for this new plan!! :thumb
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9er
very nice pics brett!!!!

you gonna show him to me when i draw the tag???

9er

imo, this should be a youth hunt, but i might take advantage of it so i can get back in the elk game
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AGCHAWK
Heck, I'd be happy with that beast whether it was a management hunt or an LE hunt! He sure would look awesome on the trophy wall!
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MuleyMadness
Sure 9er, but he heads WAY south during the hunt and the Kanab boys will keep tabs on him. :)

the way I see/read it you CAN'T take this buck. He has more than 3-points per side/antler.
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proutdoors
Eye guards do NOT count. A buck can have 3 points AND eye guards and still be legal.
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Default Avatar
I didn't think so....thanks Pro!!
Brett.......go kill that buck!!!!!!! :thumb
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MULEY7MM
how many points do you have Brett? Didnt you allready draw it once? i say go kill that beast :thumb
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MuleyMadness
Yea I had the tag in 2002, guess I could possibly get a management tag now eh. :)

Not interested, got my eyes on something better. :)

Serious on the eyeguards huh, guess I learned something new today. :thumb
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Default Avatar
How big of a buck did you kill in 2002 brett? Also what tag did you have archery,muzzle,or rifle?
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Default Avatar
Well Brett that big 3 is fair game this year becuase he doesn't have extras but he is way old and not as impressive as years past.
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NotEnufTags
I've heard other people describe their main frame 4 x 4 bucks as 5 x 5s because of the eye gaurds. I've always felt that they were wrong. To me a buck could have triple eye gaurds on each side but would still be considered a four point buck if it were otherwise, a typical mature buck. The eye gaurds don't count towards the casual description of the buck. I do realize that in scoring anything over 1" counts as a scorable point but I wouldn't include eye gaurdsin my side total. Am I wrong on this?
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AGCHAWK
No, you wouldn't be wrong at all....unless you are talking to an easterner or southerner who primarily hunt Whitetail.

Funny, we have a thread here somewhere regarding this same thing. I hunt both Whitetail and Mule deer and when I am describing my bucks I never count the eyeguards on the Muleys...but ALWAYS count them when talking about my Whitetail.
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I say they make that tag for people who are under the age of 18 and haven't had much hunting experience. That would give them a chance to hunt because a lot of kids don't get to hunt because they don't draw out, like me, i had to buy a spike tag so I could hunt big game.
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killerbee
i think the reason they are counted on white tails is because they are much more prone to have eye gaurds that are 5-6 even 8+"
but i always say the reason easterners count both sides and we dont is because are deer are big enough we dont have to add them together to make them sound bigger lol
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NotEnufTags
"MuleyMadness" wrote:I know of a couple BIG 3-points on the Pauns that I wouldn't mind taking for sure.

But taking one with a rifle during the Rut isn't much of a challenge.

Do both sides have to be THREE??
Heres a quote fromthe DWR site

The management hunt runs Nov. 2–6 on the Henry Mountains unit and Nov. 7–11 on the Paunsaugunt unit. If you draw a permit for the hunt, one of the antlers on the deer you take may not have more than three points on it. There's no restriction on the number of points the other antler can have. You can hunt with a rifle, a muzzleloader, or a bow and arrow.

So draw the tag, find a bruiser 3 x 10, and call your taxidermist.
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kinzysdad
I wont burn my points on this hunt. BUT, I have a 14 year old son who I will put in for it. I would love to have seen the DWR restirct this to a youth hunt.
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MuleyMadness
The management hunt runs Nov. 2–6 on the Henry Mountains unit and Nov. 7–11 on the Paunsaugunt unit. If you draw a permit for the hunt, one of the antlers on the deer you take may not have more than three points on it. There's no restriction on the number of points the other antler can have. You can hunt with a rifle, a muzzleloader, or a bow and arrow.
Thanks for that info, that certainly makes it more appealing. I'd also like to see them give an early season archery only Management tag and the last season date they already have.
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NotEnufTags
Thanks for that info, that certainly makes it more appealing. I'd also like to see them give an early season archery only Management tag and the last season date they already have.[/quote]

Glad I could provide some useful info. Love the site. It's quite addicting. Thanks for all the time you put into it.
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Default Avatar
It important to understand that in Utah a management buck is one with no more than three points on one antler not counting the eyeguard. With that in mind, one could take a 2x3, 2x4, 3x5, 3x6 or any other combination as long as one antler does not exceed three points. Just imagine an old buck, heavy and gnarly, with three long points on one side and with the other side having a four point main frame with some trash attached. It happens on the Paunsaugunt and in the Henry Mountains not only during the management hunt, but also during the regular hunts. Just having a chance to hunt either unit would be a prize in itself. With such a liberal season, a hunter would be able to sort through many deer and surely see bucks better than ever. Yes, it would hurt passing up the big four points and non-typicals, but with the odds of drawing one of the regular season hunts so low, the Management Hunt would offer in my opinion, a chance of killing a very worthy buck representative of the great state of Utah. As always, the hunt would be what you make of it.
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