I watched a big bull elk make tracks a few minutes later but, sorry, i suddenly became too busy to take pictures. There have been concerns about the current number of elk on the unit and impacts to aspen communities and limited summer range. Add some of utahs best backcountry fishing in the mix and you have the makings for an amazing utah outdoor hunting experience. This is an extremely remote unit that holds a great herd of mature bucks. Search for a hunt by wildlife species including buck. Flying j outfitters began in the book cliffs with its founder lawny jackson clear back in 1970 and. Any legally killed elk in wild elk habitat is an accomplishment to be respected. Double c guides elk hunts and elk hunting in the roadless.
Book cliffs get threeyear reprive backcountry hunters and anglers. The parks ungulate species elk, bison, pronghorn, etc. We all may have been a little excited to finally see an elk stand still long enough to shoot. Rule out the possibility the tracks were made by cattle. This is only a concern if you know that there are domesticated cattle nearby. The only hunts that i know of that split the road less area off into its own hunt are for the elk hunts. Genetically speaking, most bulls simply wont grow antlers that big. The down side is that 90% of my time is spent in a pickup today i saw a buck that i had seen only once before. I happened to accidentally stumble upon the herd feeding in an open field. Elk that know they are being followed will do their best to use wind to their advantage. The way that it looks is that the hunt includes both a and c in the any weapon hunt.
They are magnificent animals to observe in the wild and prized hunting targets. A 400class bull elk is about as rare as a 7foot man. Jul 06, 2017 the bull and his cows were in a box canyon surrounded by vertical cliffs, with us blocking his escape. Every year, some of utahs biggest mule deer bucks and bull elk come from this remote place. The altitude ranges from around 8000 feet to 4500 feet, the differing altitude providing a variety of colors and smells. Overall cow tracks are wider at the top and bottom, the toe area on an elk is much thiner. In 1995, the elk hunting world shook once more when an antler buyer purchased a head that he had seen in the back of a pickup truck. Predators, new roads, overhunting and poor fawn crops had decimated the previously plentiful deer to the point that the area was closed to hunting 19962000. No matter what youre looking for or where you are in the world, our global marketplace of sellers can help you find unique and affordable options. Book cliffs roadless has a high hunter success rate 50% to 81.
The world record elk of dark canyon the john plute bull. The book cliffs area is an exceptional trophy elk and mule deer unit. Double c guides mule deer hunting book cliffs, henry. Black elk tells black road of his vision, and black road advises him that he must perform the duty he was given in his vision and that first he must hold a horse dance. The blm, usu, and the dwr have cooperated in the design of a new study to look at impacts of herbivory to aspen stands in the book cliffs. Two utah families convicted of poaching over a dozen elk. For more information on elk hunting at high adventure ranch, please call 314 2099800 or fill out our contact form. The area offers excellent opportunities for hunting. The agency manages 42 state parks, all of colorados wildlife, more than 300 state wildlife areas and a host of recreational programs.
We hunt the book cliffs, rattlesnake, nine mile and san rafael units. Baylor hatch is with jared kelsey and branson hatch at book cliffs. Made some great friends and saw lots of elk and scenery. The book cliffs is a beautiful place to be in the fall. Nov 01, 2004 a small band of elk, say five to six, will often include a spike but seldom a mature bull. Wyatt said that as the book cliffs elk herd increased since 1994, most of the elk moved from the stateland allotments to wyatts grazing allotments, decreasing the forage available to his cattle. Black elk speaks cliffsnotes study guides book summaries. Ruggs ranch elk camp was a collection of comfortable wall tents situated deep in the rolling mountains of the 80,000 acre property. I have killed way more elk looking up the mountain instead of straight in front of me where the tracks are headed. Oil clashes with elk in the book cliffs high country. If you cant chase rams in the breaks, bull elk are the next best thing. This is exceptional big game trophy hunting and we are sure you wont be disappointed.
After a 4 year wait, the book cliffs area of northeastern utah had finally opened for mule deer. All methods of elk hunting accepted including bow, handgun, rifle and black powder. We hunt and guide big game in the majority of utah. One guide per hunter, lodging meals and transportation. Cattle tracks have a more circular appearance than elk tracks. We know the 100s of thousands of public land acres like no one else could. We specialize in hunting and guiding utah mule deer, elk, antelope pronghorn, cougar mountain lion, black bear, rocky mountain goat, desert bighorn sheep, rocky mountain bighorn sheep, moose, bison and turkey. I dont recommend trying to get close to these animals, however. It is a ruminant species, with a fourchambered stomach, and feeds on grasses, plants, leaves and bark. Research hunts and units before you apply in the big game drawing, and any of utahs other hunt drawings. Utah is producing some of the largest trophy bull elk. Many years ago, when bugling to attract bulls was still a novelty, a. The bull and his cows were in a box canyon surrounded by vertical cliffs, with us blocking his escape.
If you havent been to the book cliffs you should check it out. This means that you should be able to hunt the road less area also if you would like. In summer herds of deer roam the long, grassy valleys like wildebeest, and in the fall the air is alive with the music of bugling bull elk. Analysis this chapter represents the tragic situation of those indians who are making a lastditch effort to avoid agency life. Bulls scoring 320340 are reasonable expectations with a moderate possibility of a bull exceeding 350. How to identify moose tracks gone outdoors your adventure.
Now the fun begins staring at th computer, shooting the smokestick, getting in better shape, and dreaming. Next thing we know the big white bull comes running in to the meadow below us at 200 yards. Colorado parks and wildlife is a nationally recognized leader in conservation, outdoor recreation and wildlife management. The book cliffs bitter creek south is a good elk unit. For more information on elk hunting at high adventure. We offer elk, deer, antelope, bighorn sheep, buffalo, cougar and bear hunts. I had drawn my tag the year before and had taken a nice 7x6 bull at 7. If you have a chance, pick up a book called seasons of the elk. From the high elevations where the goats run wild, to the cliffs and crags.
Cpw issues hunting and fishing licenses, conducts research to improve wildlife management activities, protects high priority wildlife. Elk and deer archery seasons run simultaneously and allow for a great combination utah hunting experience. As the largest members of the deer family, mature bull moose create tracks that are at least 6 inches long. Team 3t book cliffs utah 2016 archery elk hunt duration. Hiking past elk early puts you where elk dont expect hunters to be. Book cliffs little creek, book cliffs bittercreek south, book cliffs south cisco and the oquirrhstansbury. Even more easy if it is a cowcalf operation the big moo cow tracks will be with the little moo cow. Biggest bull elk taken in the state of utah in the year of 2011 duration. During the summer, elk eat almost constantly, consuming between 4 and 7 kilograms 8. Book cliffs, bitter creeksouth the bitter creek portion of the book cliffs is a huge area that holds a very healthy population of elk. The widest point of a cattle track is near the center, while the widest point for an elk track is lower. The utah division of wildlife resources utah hunt planner is an interactive map designed to help hunters research hunting units. One of utahs most famous hunting areas is the book cliffs, a 200milelong.
Learning how to identify and track elk increases the likelihood of viewing one or bringing home a trophy. The elk is a large animal of the ungulate order artiodactyla, possessing an even number of toes on each foot, similar to those of camels, goats and cattle. A cow elk and a woman have one thing in common that men dont have. Apply for hunts with the utah division of natural resources. If elk have used the area, you will find tracks and droppings to indicate their visit. Access throughout the unit is very good with many oil and gas mining roads.
Search for a hunt by wildlife species including buck deer, bull elk, bison, mountain goat, bull moose, pronghorn, desert bighorn sheep, rocky mountain bighorn sheep, cougar, black bear, wild turkey, greater sagegrouse, sharptailed grouse and sandhill crane. My first thought when i saw antlers was young bull elk, then i quickly realized differently. Tracks can give you an idea of the sex and size of the animal. I would recommend getting packed in there especially for elk. I was just thinking that it might be helpful to some newold elk hunters to be able to identify a cow elk track from a bull how to you tell the difference when you didnt see what made it. I have 14 deer points, and plan on hitting the bc in the next couple of years on the archery hunt, but certainly wasnt expecting to pull a bull tag for another decade or more. A young cattle track might be the same size as an elks, but the tips of cattle tracks are more rounded. My friends dad rifle hunted it last year and they really enjoyed their hunt. Billy confessed to poaching four bull elk, four cow elk and two buck. Elk are the second largest of the deer in north america. Elk archery and deer archery seasons run simultaneously and allow for a great combination utah archery hunting experience.
When they first saw elk, the early settlers thought the animals were moose, so they called them elk which is a british word for moose both bull and cow elk have a distinctive lightcolored rump patch. Many years ago, when bugling to attract bulls was still a novelty, a pal insisted on shadowing a herd bound for. In fact, the largest nontypical elk on record, the spider bull, was shot in utah in. It produces 310340 bulls yearly with a few bulls 340 plus taken each year. We got up to a spot we wanted to be in and a big bull was bugling right above us. It took some looking but we got her and jared kelsey smoked her.
Moose tracks largely resemble the tracks made by other members of the deer family the simplest way to identify them is by measuring the size of the tracks. Book cliffs the book cliffs holds the potential for a giant mule deer. Unit 10 arizona species information antelope overview. Lots of elk, and good rutting action towards the end of the hunt. The size of the area, and difficult terrain, can make it a very challenging place to hunt. Our hunters will usually get the opportunity to look over dozens of 4x4s while they search for that one special buck. Bull elk tracks present a somewhat square outline as compared to the cow elk or domestic cattle. Mature bull elk tracks are about four to four and a half inches long, not accounting for the dewclaws.
Oct 31, 2004 a small band of elk, say five to six, will often include a spike but seldom a mature bull. Jul 07, 2014 2012 limited entry book cliffs bull elk hunt. How to identify elk tracks gone outdoors your adventure. The plute bull was the world record for over 30 years, and many thought that it would never be beaten. Abundant wildlife and rugged beauty have made the book cliffs wilderness one of. We are gt outfitters, specializing in eastern utah big game. Shane scott outfitting is a guide and outfitter located in richfield, utah. Jan 11, 2020 the plute bull was the world record for over 30 years, and many thought that it would never be beaten. If you are hunting where there are book cliffs or large cliffs above the fields. Scouting and heavyduty glassing are the methods to find big bucks. Limited entry book cliffs bull elk hunts and wasatch bull.
A young cattle track might be the same size as an elk s, but the tips of cattle tracks are more rounded. In the stateowned book cliffs roadless area, where bull elk permits are limited to. Deep canyons filled with thick oak brush provide excellent mule deer habitat. Frank young utah bison hunt 2017 frank young waited twenty two years for the opportunity to hunt bison in utah, and on may 31st 2017, he finally drew his onceinalifetime tag. Etsy is the home to thousands of handmade, vintage, and oneofakind products and gifts related to your search. Our years of hunting,working, playing, and living in the book cliffs, year round. Archery elk and archery deer season in utah is one of only a few times where it is possible to hunt two species at the same time. The animals have food, water, cover, and larger tracks of land to roam around.
This tag was an any weapon hunt, but frank committed early on to taking a bison with his bow. The book cliffs provide scenery ranging from the red rock often seen in southern utah to the usual green color of the northern alpine regions. Last year was a banner year for antler growth across much of the west, with great feeding conditions, three consecutive mild winters, and other factors that allowed elk and deer to achieve their best potential growth. I cant wait to share the journey with the hunt talk crowd. We are the oldest and largest hunting ranch east of texas with 3 square miles of land and hundreds of miles of game trails. We cut their tracks as they went through the trees and off the back side of the hill. The utah hunt planner also provides the legal hunting boundaries approved by the utah wildlife board. A small band of elk, say five to six, will often include a spike but seldom a mature bull. We held tight as another small bull was pushing cow along. Whether your bucket list is a giant bull elk in utah, or a arizona strip buck of.
The book cliffs are well known for being a sought after hunting destination, and for good reason. This is a story about my brother in law who like me had been putting in for an elk tag for the book cliffs in utah for what seamed like forever. In the stateowned book cliffs roadless area, where bull elk permits are limited to 30 per season, the hunter success ratio is 75 percent. Nov 27, 2006 book cliffs buck post by 79ford sun aug 07, 2011 1. How do you tell the difference between a cow and a bull. It can be tough to differentiate elk sign from young cattle tracks sometimes, once they get mixed up on the same trail. Frank made two scouting trips to the book cliffs early in the season. Limited entry book cliffs bull elk hunts and wasatch bull elk.
We specialize in trophy bull elk, mule deer, bison, bear and lion. Deciding whether you must hunt for a record bull elk, or if a nice tasty cow elk will do, will influence how and, possibly, where you hunt. Utah hunt planner utah division of wildlife resources. We have trophy bull elk hunting in the book cliffs. Two utah families convicted of poaching more than a dozen elk. The first time was last month and he was pushing 2830 wide and had almost no height to him at all. A herd of 10 may indeed have a 6point bull among it. If you want to hunt a recordbook antelope, this is the place. For an added bonus, more record book bulls come out of the 16s than any. The elk is also known as the wapiti, a shawnee word meaning white deer. He saw a few bison, but none of them were mature bulls that piqued his interest. Flying j outfitters began in the book cliffs with its founder lawny jackson clear back in 1970 and although many wildlife laws and policies have changed, one thing still remains the same in this remote northeastern section of utah and that is. Archery season in utah is one of only a few times where it is possible to hunt two species at the same time.
Rocky mountain elk hunting elk hunting at high adventure. Few elk winter in areas sampled by the south book cliffs range trend studies. Because of this, when looking at an elk track, if the top track is on the outside of the bottom track, its usually a cow wide hips. Antelope densities fluctuate from yeartoyear based on climatic conditions and the amount of predation exerted upon the herd by the plentiful number of coyotes. If you are interested in trophy bull elk hunting, then this fully guided book cliffs hunt is for you. Sep 21, 2010 team 3t book cliffs utah 2016 archery elk hunt duration. We saw turkeys, elk, wild horses, and tons of deer. Based on my cc charge, it looks like i lucked out on a random book cliffs bull elk tag in utah, for the late hunt. Swenson helped authorities track him down after he posted a photo to.