The paunz

yoteduster

yoteduster

Very Active Member
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2,310
So..I have a friend that drew this tag for the rifle hunt he was down there a few days ago just driving around checking out the roads since he's never been there before.. He didn't really have the time to be scouting the animals and he figured it was too early anyway...so he ran into some outfitter dudes and they told him he ought to turn his tag in for this year cause the antler growth this year was the worst they've ever seen..I sort of laughed and said I don't think I'd believe anything a outfitter told me down there on that unit and he should check the deer out a week or so before the season starts..My question is has anybody else heard that antler growth was that bad down there this year???
 
I have the same issue right now. I drew the muzzy hunt on the Pauns for this year, and have heard rumors of the same thing. I went down two weeks ago and scouted roads and areas like your friend, and saw a half dozen bucks in several days. Some were very good! The people I have talked to have said that the MASS will be down, affecting scores, but there will be a lot of nice deer available still. I think what the outfitters are pumping is the top 5-10% mega bucks will not be there. I have talked to a couple people who should know, and they tell me if I think I can wait to draw again (it might be 3-5 years?) then it would be a choice I have to make.

I waited 24 years for this chance to hunt this amazing area, and have a CHANCE at a big deer. If it happens, it will. I have eaten tag soup before on supposedly super hunts, and I will give it my all. I'm not turning mine back!!!
 
If you have a Pauns tag, you go hunt.

Let's assume the information you've been given is correct, and the mass is going to be down, hurting the score 5-8 inches. If you're going to quibble and not be happy over 5-8 inches this year, you're never going to be happy down the road either. Score is just a number. If you're doing it for the number, you're likely to be disappointed anyway, so go and get it over with.

Did I mention that if you have Pauns tag you go and hunt? Because if you have a Pauns tag, you go and hunt!

And if you were in an area where the outfitters are hanging out, you're probably on the right track. Go hunt!
 
I have a MZ tag this year and I'm going to make the best of it. I haven't seen what I would call a true giant in all my scouting but I've seen a few that i would be plenty happy with.

Better tell your friend to make his mind up at least a month before the hunt or he won't be able to turn his tag in without losing his points.
 
I don't think he'll be turning it in and vanilla I told him the same thing,..if there is outfitters around they got a dandy pegged close by imo...
 
I have a friend that knows it quite well, the horn growth is down on the Pauns, the strip, but they did just kill a 265 off the Kiabab
 
Oh, YD. From someone who is an NR and has 21(?) and SWORE I was going to get drawn for a couple of good hunts in the last couple years. Well, I'm still waiting because the point creep is never in my favor.

As so many others have said, hunt this year because this year is a guarantee! The future, not so much.
 
It was near the end of August that year. 3-4 weeks from our muzzy deer hunt. An annual event we spent together yearly with family and friends for decades. Friday at work he was feeling wheezy, figured maybe a bad cold, possibly walking pneumonia.

Monday they made plans for chemo for stage 4 lung cancer. (My dad, years ago)

Go freaking hunt. Your not guaranteed "next year".

But yeah. The guides are professionals. Next year is just another client. Turning back tags isn't personal, they have no skin in the game. But if it sucks so bad, why are they there?

Go hunt.
 
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hossblur said:
It was near the end of August that year. 3-4 weeks from our muzzy deer hunt. An annual event we spent together yearly with family and friends for decades. Friday at work he was feeling wheezy, figured maybe a bad cold, possibly walking pneumonia.

Monday they made plans for chemo for stage 4 lung cancer. (My dad, years ago)

Go freaking hunt. Your not guaranteed "next year".

But yeah. The guides are professionals. Next year is just another client. Turning back tags isn't personal, they have no skin in the game. But if it sucks so bad, why are they there?

Go hunt.
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Exactly!
 
Snoopdogg said:
C'mon Hawkbill--you know the rules. Pics or it didn't happen!
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Here's a pic of said buck

Screenshot_20210822-090352_Chrome.jpg
 
There’s your picture Snoop, I not coming on here to discourage anyone from a unit. I am answering the question that was asked. I know guys scouting all of that country and each one of them has said horn growth is down. As Slam said the apples are gone, that makes it that much better
 
Hoss if you had that much money you would have a stool to sit on. Oh I forgot you are from Utah, you might have them pack in a lazyboy
 
If I drew a tag that took 24 points to draw I would dang sure make the time to scout. I would take at least four weeks off to scout for it. If my employer didn't understand the importance for time off then I wouldn't worry about finding a new job until after the hunt was over. If my wife didn't understand the importance for time off then I wouldn't start dating again until after the hunt was over.

There are no excuses for wasting a hunt that took a third of your life to draw.
 
Hey Bob?

You Your Own Boss?:D


deadibob said:
deadibob said:
If I drew a tag that took 24 points to draw I would dang sure make the time to scout. I would take at least four weeks off to scout for it. If my employer didn't understand the importance for time off then I wouldn't worry about finding a new job until after the hunt was over. If my wife didn't understand the importance for time off then I wouldn't start dating again until after the hunt was over.

There are no excuses for wasting a hunt that took a third of your life to draw.
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If I drew a tag that took 24 points to draw I would dang sure make the time to scout. I would take at least four weeks off to scout for it. If my employer didn't understand the importance for time off then I wouldn't worry about finding a new job until after the hunt was over. If my wife didn't understand the importance for time off then I wouldn't start dating again until after the hunt was over.

There are no excuses for wasting a hunt that took a third of your life to draw.
Click to expand...
 
bigbull said:
Here's a pic of said buck

View attachment 50312
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That’s one of the nicest looking big bucks I’ve seen in quite some time. Great four-point main frame!
Can you imagine how great he would look hard horned with a regular Hunter holding him instead of an auction tag guy.
Almost every giant buck pic like that has Tory Brock’s logo on it.

Is it confirmed a Kaibab buck? Which unit? Thanks
 
What I don't understand is why are they killing these great bucks so early..I've seen two wade lemon bucks these last couple of days they've both got god awful looking capes and fuzzy horns imo they are ugly.. They ought to wait awhile for they've got a good looking trophy
 
slamdunk said:
There were some fantastic bucks taken last year, and there will be this year as well.
That herd is the healthiest herd in the state if not the entire west, and this year won't be any different.

Just like Vanilla said......"go hunt"!
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Pauns is good, but nowhere near the best deer unit in the state. Not even Top 3 for top end bucks.
 
Paunz is and always will be top shelf for Utah unless something major changes from management, But By Gawd bless Wade Lemon and his band of big buck slaying ethical servants, as they navigate through a brutal season of unrest and uncertainty, even with an over abundance of questionable Federal PPP funding to WHL, and yet with out the help of any alleged attractants or bait piles the size of a subcompact vehicle, there gonna have to earn in and I hope they flat out have a banner year and there well on there way only 3 days in.
 
You must not spend much time on the Paunsaugunt. Biggest bucks in the state won't come off the Pauns in the next 5 years. I said it's a good unit, but not best for top end.
 
OwnMoreBone said:
I spent 11 days on the Pauns starting the 20th of July, we were seeing great bucks almost every day, sorry but if you spent the time you will harvest a dandy buck...
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No doubt there are great bucks. Just not many mega bucks. If I had my pick of any archery tag in the state Paunsaugunt would be 4th maybe 3rd on my list.
 
There Are Some Big Bastards on the Pauns!

Well!

If You Can Catch Them Before They Cross the State Line that is!

Or Hunt On Heatons Side of the Fence Early!
 
Bigwiffy said:
No doubt there are great bucks. Just not many mega bucks. If I had my pick of any archery tag in the state Paunsaugunt would be 4th maybe 3rd on my list.
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Definitely the big “wiff” on that one. I truly think you are trolling but if not, please tell us what 3 units are better than the Paunsaugunt in Utah?
 
yoteduster said:
What I don't understand is why are they killing these great bucks so early..I've seen two wade lemon bucks these last couple of days they've both got god awful looking capes and fuzzy horns imo they are ugly.. They ought to wait awhile for they've got a good looking trophy
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Probably because someone else will kill them while they’re waiting for them to become “good looking trophies”.
 
Oak Creek
AI
Henrys
Pauns

I'm talking top 5% bucks. Not numbers, hunt experience etc. You could swap Henrys and Pauns if that makes you sleep better tonight.
 
Vanilla said:
Bigwiffy is trolling. Don’t get caught up in the merry-go-round.
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That's my point, that is top end on the Pauns. 180ish 4 pt. You can say it scores 220 and put the fish eye filter on any decent buck. Give bogus measurements online, but the biggest buck in the state this year will not come off the Pauns. Ask guys that have hunted it, it's not an easy hunt to kill 190+.

Why is that trolling?
 
fin little said:
Pauns is a completely different hunt for diy hunters and guided hunters. There are alot of people spending alot of time ,with access to private, securing the top end bucks for clients. The get most of them every year. I'd say it rates different for guided and unguided.
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I couldn't agree more with this statement.

However, there are more 200" bucks taken off the Paunsaugunt in a single year (90% from outfitters) than any other unit in this state, including Henry's.

And...I wouldn't be surprised if that decreases this year due to no baiting.
 
Not trying to run anyone away from the Paunsaugunt, but in my experience that unit can chew you up and spit you out real quick if you go in with unrealistic expectations. If you are happy chasing legit 160-170" bucks with an outside chance at bigger than you will have fun as a public land DIY hunt. Founder hunted it, Slamdunk hunted it, along with a handful of others on here. How'd those hunts end up? They are archived look them up.
 

Paunsaugunt 2016 | Mule Deer

Hello all, was wanting to check and see if anyone had the luck of a 2016 Paunsaugunt hunt this year. How is the deer herd doing? It looked like a nice wet year. Any big bucks on the Pauns. Hopefully me and my 15 points will be lucky this year and draw a tag.
www.monstermuleys.info www.monstermuleys.info
 
Bigwiffy, I agree that the Paunsaugunt can and will chew a hunter up and spit them out, but that doesn't mean there is not multiple great bucks that get tagged every year, more than any other unit.
Sure a true giant will come off the Oaks or the Henry's, but not a half dozen or more!
 
I helped a friend with a Pauns Rifle tag last fall. I have also spent a lot of time down there over the last couple years as I prepare for my turn. (19) points and counting. I believe a 180"+ buck is an attainable goal. When on a unit like the Pauns, the chance of the WOW buck stepping out is greater than on most other units. IMO. A lot of it depends on how you choose to hunt and what you may or not know is in the area. Also IMO. After the Archery, Hunting a migrating deer herd changes the game.
 
Vanilla said:
If you think the “top end” buck on the Pauns is a 180-190 buck, then your experience on the Pauns isn’t what anyone of us here paid for it. (Which is zero, for the record.)

Killing a 190 inch deer on any unit is not easy. Big deer don’t get big because they’re easy to kill.
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For the Record, I dont think a "top end" buck on the Pauns is 180"-190".. I just said I think a buck of that caliber is attainable for the DIY guy.
 
slamdunk said:
Bigwiffy, I agree that the Paunsaugunt can and will chew a hunter up and spit them out, but that doesn't mean there is not multiple great bucks that get tagged every year, more than any other unit.
Sure a true giant will come off the Oaks or the Henry's, but not a half dozen or more!
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I agree Slamdunk, but I'm talking top 5% which is better elsewhere today. Great bucks on the Pauns, but the cream of the crop gets creamed every year by guides. Leaving the rest for regular Joe's. You have a chance at a 200" buck there but a better chance at 230+ elsewhere.
 
This is starting to sound like the comment sections for Huntin Fool or Epic. 160-170’’ bucks with 180+ potential. These numbers are used on many states and many units!!
Lol
 
Bigwiffy said:
Not trying to run anyone away from the Paunsaugunt, but in my experience that unit can chew you up and spit you out real quick if you go in with unrealistic expectations. If you are happy chasing legit 160-170" bucks with an outside chance at bigger than you will have fun as a public land DIY hunt. Founder hunted it, Slamdunk hunted it, along with a handful of others on here. How'd those hunts end up? They are archived look them up.
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You are high as a kite lol, you think the pauns can chew you up and spit you out? You obviously have never set foot on the oak creek which you rank number 1 which yes there are big deer on the oak creek but you aren't going to see them from a road like you can on the pauns, i bowhunted the pauns once and have helped on it numerous times and I grew up on the oak creek and hunted it a few times with friends so I have experience with both units. I shot a 180" buck opening day from my truck on the pauns because I was excited and after I shot it I saw 8-10 bucks bigger than him over the next 7 days that I was there.
 
pauns08 said:
You are high as a kite lol, you think the pauns can chew you up and spit you out? You obviously have never set foot on the oak creek which you rank number 1 which yes there are big deer on the oak creek but you aren't going to see them from a road like you can on the pauns, i bowhunted the pauns once and have helped on it numerous times and I grew up on the oak creek and hunted it a few times with friends so I have experience with both units. I shot a 180" buck opening day from my truck on the pauns because I was excited and after I shot it I saw 8-10 bucks bigger than him over the next 7 days that I was there.
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How was the meat off your buck after 8 days? That 22" 4pt in your avatar the buck?
 
Bigwiffy said:
I agree Slamdunk, but I'm talking top 5% which is better elsewhere today. Great bucks on the Pauns, but the cream of the crop gets creamed every year by guides. Leaving the rest for regular Joe's. You have a chance at a 200" buck there but a better chance at 230+ elsewhere.
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Ok, now we're on the same page....I can totally agree with that.

As I mentioned earlier, maybe with the apple piles disappearing it'll leave a few good bucks for us regular Joe's ?
 
I’d say Big Wiff is holding his ground. Let’s see the pictures and hunt stories of regular guys that love to hunt, waited 20- 25 years to draw and can’t afford a top end guide with scouts. I know a guy a few years ago drew the tag, hired a guide, six or seven outfits chasing one giant Deer. The Big Buck ended up wounded by a long range muzzle loader and I believe never recovered. He went on and hunted and saw some nice 180 class Deer, ate the tag. Are the guides and outfitters on these Bucks all summer
 
Bigwiffy said:
Oak Creek
AI
Henrys
Pauns

I'm talking top 5% bucks. Not numbers, hunt experience etc. You could swap Henrys and Pauns if that makes you sleep better tonight.
Click to expand...
You have the oak creek listed higher the AI? Not that you should even have it listed as an option. It's not a true hunting unit they just let someone come in and shoot one every year so they can sell one to a high roller.

But either way to list the OC over AI us just stupid.
 
JakeH said:
You have the oak creek listed higher the AI? Not that you should even have it listed as an option. It's not a true hunting unit they just let someone come in and shoot one every year so they can sell one to a high roller.

But either way to list the OC over AI us just stupid.
Click to expand...
Not as stupid as you throwing whole deer in the back of your truck to show a bunch of guys on the internet how strong you are....Swap OC with AI if you feel smarter
 

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