Central Mountain Mantis Elk

63Badger · Jun 21, 2022

Hi All!

After 22 years I was successful in drawing a NR LE Mantis Early Rifle Elk tag.

I am hoping that there may be some of you that are familiar with the area that would be willing to discuss the Unit with me. I have a couple areas that I am thinking of and would like opinions on those areas. Of course I am open to suggestions.

Like all, I would love to harvest a 350”+ bull but the truth is I really don’t measure the success of my hunts by the size of the animal I harvest near as much as I do about the experience of the hunt. Some of my best memories are of smaller animals. That all said I am hoping for an opportunity of something nicer than the rag horns I have killed in other States.

I will be getting there a few days before my hunt and I am trying to get at least one scouting trip in late July.

Also, I have OnX and am ok with Google Earth to do aerial research but am wondering about a paper map or two and am wondering your opinions of which you feel are better.

P.M or call me if you want and we can talk. Any help is certainly appreciated.

Happy hunting this fall to all of you!
63 Badger

AZGuy · Jun 21, 2022

I can’t give you any spots but I can tell you that you should be prepared physically. There are plenty of elk through most of the unit. Very very fun hunt.

63Badger · Jun 21, 2022

Thanks AZ Guy!

I am pretty confident in my physical shape and am working on getting stronger daily. I think I am good for the physical side of it but I guess will see.

One of my questions is about roadless areas. More than willing to cover ground and prefer it to be on foot. I’m really looking forward to the hunt. Everyone I have talked to has expressed how fun a hunt it can be. Which is a big part of why I chose to use my points there.

Appreciate your input !

Thanks again!

Deerlove · Jun 21, 2022

There's a big chunk of roadless on the south end. Just north of skunpah res. South Mary's nipple n white cliffs.

63Badger · Jun 21, 2022

Thank you Deerlove.

I will take a look at that area. I have been looking at the Nelson Mountains area to the north. So really haven’t looked at the south.

Thank you for the suggestion.

Horniac · Jun 21, 2022

Hey 63Badger,

I’ll be hunting a NR multi-season tag there starting with archery. Be happy to share any info that might help you if I punch my tag during the archery season...

Horniac

63Badger · Jun 22, 2022

Thank you Horniac!

I hope that you have a great hunt! If it works out that you do harvest one I would love to see a picture of what the Unit is producing this year and hear how it came together!

63Badger

hossblur · Jun 22, 2022

I think the biggest thing on that unit is shrinking down the area. It's so big, and has such good access, you could spend your whole hunt moving around.

Map the Arapeen trail, and stay as far away from it as possible. Sanpete really promotes ATV riding, there is lots of traffic riding.

63Badger · Jun 22, 2022

Thank you hossblur!

Information like you have shared is exactly what I’m looking for. I have no desire to compete with ATV’s. Nothing against them but I prefer a quieter setting.

Thanks again!

FairweatherHTR · Jun 23, 2022

I agree with hossblur. The country is vast and there are elk scattered throughout. When I had a muzzleloader tag the temptation was to move spots because we were hearing about other hunters getting into higher numbers of elk and rut activity. They move around so much during the rut. I hunted the north end and didn't need to get very far from roads to get into elk. The biggest bull I missed was wandering alone and would gross about 360, they are there. Also missed a 340 herd bull. I wouldn't say be too picky though as there will be plenty of other hunters in that unit early rifle. And quite a few were still trying to fill their tags on the last day when I was scouting for my hunt that opened right after early rifle. In a full week of hard hunting, I managed to get 3 good opportunities for a shot and got a 330 bull. All within the same general drainage. Fortunately, I never moved areas which means figuring out another area mid-hunt. Since it can be relatively warm that time of year which elk hate, they will be up rutting all night and timbered up right at first light and come out right before dark. I recommend go take a small backpack camp and settling down in a deep dark drainage that is full of bugles and listening to them all night. In the morning you may snipe one before the sun puts them away for the day. And you won't spend all your time hiking from a comfortable camp in the morning and then back out. Another potential huge time and energy waste could be a costly mistake.

63Badger · Jun 25, 2022

Thank you FairweatherHTR for the very good advice and congratulations on a great hunt. I would love to see a picture of your bull if you would want to share it.

My hope is that I can set up camp once and hunt from there as much as possible. In a perfect world I would find a main camp area that I could land, shut the truck off and not start it again until I was retrieving an Elk. If I am fortunate enough to find a good bull prior to my hunt I will most likely sit on it from a distance, watch what it does and pray that opening morning I am in the right place at the right time to make the most of an opportunity. I do have a couple areas reasonably close to the area that I’m looking at as a back up plan but only if I can’t find what I’m looking for where I am.

My hope is I can sight see after the hunt!

I truly appreciate your thoughts and think that my strategy is very similar to your suggestions.

Hopefully I can share a picture or two and a Story come the end of September.

Thanks again 63Badger

kk · Jun 26, 2022

It is a good unit. I don't know where you are thinking about hunting, but it is good throughout the entire unit. If you want to call me, I can help guide you to some areas. I will spend a lot of time on the unit all summer long. Hossblur is correct about the ATV traffic, but there is a lot of good spots close to the ATV trails.
Kurt 435-650-1156

Trix4me · Jun 26, 2022

What ever you do, don’t ignore kk’s offer!!!!!

63Badger · Jun 26, 2022

kk said:
It is a good unit. I don't know where you are thinking about hunting, but it is good throughout the entire unit. If you want to call me, I can help guide you to some areas. I will spend a lot of time on the unit all summer long. Hossblur is correct about the ATV traffic, but there is a lot of good spots close to the ATV trails.
Kurt 435-650-1156

Thank you KK! I will try to give you a call a little later this evening and see if we can connect. Much appreciated!

63 Badger

FairweatherHTR · Jun 28, 2022

63Badger said:
Thank you FairweatherHTR for the very good advice and congratulations on a great hunt. I would love to see a picture of your bull if you would want to share it.

My hope is that I can set up camp once and hunt from there as much as possible. In a perfect world I would find a main camp area that I could land, shut the truck off and not start it again until I was retrieving an Elk. If I am fortunate enough to find a good bull prior to my hunt I will most likely sit on it from a distance, watch what it does and pray that opening morning I am in the right place at the right time to make the most of an opportunity. I do have a couple areas reasonably close to the area that I’m looking at as a back up plan but only if I can’t find what I’m looking for where I am.

My hope is I can sight see after the hunt!

I truly appreciate your thoughts and think that my strategy is very similar to your suggestions.

Hopefully I can share a picture or two and a Story come the end of September.

Thanks again 63Badger

FairweatherHTR · Jun 28, 2022

The bull I got at 40 yards in an old burn on the north end.

FairweatherHTR · Jun 28, 2022

63Badger said:
Thank you FairweatherHTR for the very good advice and congratulations on a great hunt. I would love to see a picture of your bull if you would want to share it.

My hope is that I can set up camp once and hunt from there as much as possible. In a perfect world I would find a main camp area that I could land, shut the truck off and not start it again until I was retrieving an Elk. If I am fortunate enough to find a good bull prior to my hunt I will most likely sit on it from a distance, watch what it does and pray that opening morning I am in the right place at the right time to make the most of an opportunity. I do have a couple areas reasonably close to the area that I’m looking at as a back up plan but only if I can’t find what I’m looking for where I am.

My hope is I can sight see after the hunt!

I truly appreciate your thoughts and think that my strategy is very similar to your suggestions.

Hopefully I can share a picture or two and a Story come the end of September.

Thanks again 63Badger