San Juan Deer ?

Robiland

Robiland

Very Active Member
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2,143
So I have the points, or close to it) to draw in the next year or 2 (maybe more) and want to do some research on San Juan elk ridge deer LE unit, since I know I wont draw the Pauns any time soon with my 17 points. I cant decide if I should do the archery or the rifle.

What I am looking for is Quality of deer and Quality of the hunt. Did you see lots of deer or just some here and there. How were the roads, camping and so forth.

If you did the archery or the rifle, I'd LOVE to hear from you.

Thanks

Landon
 
Pretty sure the quality of deer is down quite a bit, but I think the quality of the hunt is still there. You’ll look through lots of bucks on both hunts, probably a lot more on the archery. Your expectations will dictate the “quality” of bucks you’ll see…
Roads could get nasty with bad weather, but with a atv/utv, not much would be off limits. Endless places to camp with a tent, lots of places for trailers as well, but coming in from Bears Ears, you can’t really get past the Notch with any sizable trailers, if any. Coming in from the Causeway, you can bring pretty much anything, just a long haul. The Bears Ears way in is no short trip, so I would definitely plan on staying/camping in the unit.
My brother had the rifle tag in 2014 or 2015, and I had the rifle tag last year. Both great hunts! Both done opening day…
Good luck!
 
I hope a few people respond with their first-hand experience hunting the area.

However, since you are interested in the experience, you just have to decide if you want to chase almost docile deer, with velvet, in the heat... Here's a great video from Youtube you might like about that...

Or, do you want to chase the slightly-spooked, hard-horned, maybe rutty bucks in the cool fall weather, despite them being a bit harder to find...

There's your experience difference. Great opportunity for trophy bucks on either hunt.
 
BrowningRage said:
I hope a few people respond with their first-hand experience hunting the area.

However, since you are interested in the experience, you just have to decide if you want to chase almost docile deer, with velvet, in the heat... Here's a great video from Youtube you might like about that...

Or, do you want to chase the slightly-spooked, hard-horned, maybe rutty bucks in the cool fall weather, despite them being a bit harder to find...

There's your experience difference. Great opportunity for trophy bucks on either hunt.
Click to expand...
Awesome Video!!!! Thanks for sharing!!!
 
BrowningRage said:
I hope a few people respond with their first-hand experience hunting the area.

However, since you are interested in the experience, you just have to decide if you want to chase almost docile deer, with velvet, in the heat... Here's a great video from Youtube you might like about that...

Or, do you want to chase the slightly-spooked, hard-horned, maybe rutty bucks in the cool fall weather, despite them being a bit harder to find...

There's your experience difference. Great opportunity for trophy bucks on either hunt.
Click to expand...
Whoa! Somebody has some serious film making skills! One of the best videos Ive seen in a long time. Nice buck too! Well done all around!
 
Robiland said:
So I have the points, or close to it) to draw in the next year or 2 (maybe more) and want to do some research on San Juan elk ridge deer LE unit, since I know I wont draw the Pauns any time soon with my 17 points. I cant decide if I should do the archery or the rifle.

What I am looking for is Quality of deer and Quality of the hunt. Did you see lots of deer or just some here and there. How were the roads, camping and so forth.

If you did the archery or the rifle, I'd LOVE to hear from you.

Thanks

Landon
Click to expand...
Shoot me a PM with your number, I'm happy to give you some info
 
BrowningRage said:
I hope a few people respond with their first-hand experience hunting the area.

However, since you are interested in the experience, you just have to decide if you want to chase almost docile deer, with velvet, in the heat... Here's a great video from Youtube you might like about that...

Or, do you want to chase the slightly-spooked, hard-horned, maybe rutty bucks in the cool fall weather, despite them being a bit harder to find...

There's your experience difference. Great opportunity for trophy bucks on either hunt.
Click to expand...
Well done, congrats all around.
 
There’s a couple of monsters on the Utah hunting fishing and camping Facebook page. They say come off the San Juan this past week. Ones a non-typical.
 
I know of 2 toads that were killed down there on the archery hunt so far. Either one of those bucks would be worth my 20 points.
 
You’re gonna want the archery tag. By the rifle hunt, they have already started pushing off the top headed for lower country. At that point, it can turn into a giant guessing game on where they are… that’s not a game you want to play after investing 15+ years on a tag.
 
D33RHNTR said:
You’re gonna want the archery tag. By the rifle hunt, they have already started pushing off the top headed for lower country. At that point, it can turn into a giant guessing game on where they are… that’s not a game you want to play after investing 15+ years on a tag.
Click to expand...
I agree with D33 you definitely want the archery tag…
 
Way down, my bro has an archery tag this year and my sister in law has the multi season. I might post a picture of the one she missed from 12 yards with the story later in the hunt. I don't want people figuring out the location until we have it on the ground with the muzzy. Too many hunter will recognize us with pictures and they know where we were hunting. Way too many people out combing the roads for bucks all day long. Spike elk hunters cruising everywhere. It's obvious everyone knows the few good spots on the mountain. One group alone has about 10 to 20 guys circling the best areas. At least 2 tags were turned back in just before the hunt. My brother took one of them.
 
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The Elk Ridge unit is rough and wild - good bucks definitely hang out there. The San Juan side is up/down and more steep. Good bucks hang out up high.

Guess it depends on what your looking out of the hunt. Challenge or increasing your chances of filling out by being able to reach across and tap one at 300 yds.

A solid 175" deer is a real expectation.
 
OK!

We Have a LR Out Here As Well!

I'd Hunt The Early Archery Hunt!

They've Took a Couple Of Nice Bucks Already This Year!

Same BS every Year Though!

90% of The Hunters & Guides Camped on a Couple of Bucks!

Find Out Where They Are & Go Hunt Somewhere-else & Get away From The BS that goes on!

As The Velvet Comes Off It Gets Tougher in That Country!





Robiland said:
Orem
Click to expand...
 
elkassassin said:
OK!

We Have a LR Out Here As Well!

I'd Hunt The Early Archery Hunt!

They've Took a Couple Of Nice Bucks Already This Year!

Same BS every Year Though!

90% of The Hunters & Guides Camped on a Couple of Bucks!

Find Out Where They Are & Go Hunt Somewhere-else & Get away From The BS that goes on!

As The Velvet Comes Off It Gets Tougher in That Country!
Click to expand...
So you would definitely hunt it hard early then. Try to get it done the 1st week. Where do all the people sit/camp for the bigger bucks?

Landon
 
RoadlessHunter said:
When I get some time I will send some details. He missed a couple nice bucks, but the unit is full of management bucks. We still have have a multi season hunter and will be headed down for the muzzy hunt.
Click to expand...

I'm more curious why lundellhunting7 thinks it's funny...
 
RoadlessHunter said:
When I get some time I will send some details. He missed a couple nice bucks, but the unit is full of management bucks. We still have have a multi season hunter and will be headed down for the muzzy hunt.
Click to expand...
Good luck! Keep is posted. I was told that on the opener, there were a ton of guides. That makes it hard and ANNOYING!!!
 
He's probably laughing about the management buck comment. 95 out of every 100 deer that are wider than their ears on the San Juan are management bucks. Occasionally you find a good one. This is the buck that my sister in law missed from 12 yards. Major buck fever and her first ever hunt.

20220829_075549.jpg


20220829_075758.jpg
 
Unsy said:
I had the archery tag this year, it was a fun hunt and frustrating at times. The deer I killed was being hunted by a couple different guides. I seen 4 deer pushing 200 or over, lots of 160 class deer. It took me 18 points to draw. Definitely a fun hunt and beautiful country.
Click to expand...
Congrats on a great hunt… Let’s see your buck?
 
OK & Thanks!

Just Curious On How The Hunt Went For Him?

I Seen A Decent Bull 150 Yards From CHAPDOG'S Tent One Morning & I Think He Hunted Right From His Tent That Morning,He Wasn't At His Tent But Both Vehicles Were in Camp!



Unsy said:
I don't remember seeing that truck.
Click to expand...
 
One More Thing Unsy?

Did You See The Guy Running Roads On His Wheeler With a Nocked Bow in One Hand & Driving The Wheeler With His Other Hand?
 
elkassassin said:
OK & Thanks!

Just Curious On How The Hunt Went For Him?

I Seen A Decent Bull 150 Yards From CHAPDOG'S Tent One Morning & I Think He Hunted Right From His Tent That Morning,He Wasn't At His Tent But Both Vehicles Were in Camp!
Click to expand...
Yeah, I don't remember seeing that rig. I spent most my time on the south end of the unit. I was basically hunting one deer the whole time I was there.
 
Did he have a Wide Load sticker on his butt? :ROFLMAO:
Those SJ bucks can sometimes throw crazy racks.
Congratulations. Very cool buck.
 

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