Monroe Muzzy Hunt

[tracker12]

Well sitting at the Salt Lake airport waiting for a ride home after my Monroe muzzy hunt. I had a great time and met a lot of great people. I met several guys on the mountain that gave me suggestions and took my number in case they found a decent buck. I hunted from Greenwich to Glenwood on both the east and west side. Saw plenty of deer but nothing I wanted to put a tag on. An average 4x4 and wide 3x3 temped me. Hunt was about what I was expecting but was disappointed in not seeing many mature bucks. Most likely due to the east coaster not looking in the right spot. I was able to put a guy on a spike elk that he got a shot at. Hope this is not my last trip to UT since it’s a beautiful place to visit.

 

[2lumpy]

Well sitting at the Salt Lake airport waiting for a ride home after my Monroe muzzy hunt. I had a great time and met a lot of great people. I met several guys on the mountain that gave me suggestions and took my number in case they found a decent buck. I hunted from Greenwich to Glenwood on both the east and west side. Saw plenty of deer but nothing I wanted to put a tag on. An average 4x4 and wide 3x3 temped me. Hunt was about what I was expecting but was disappointed in not seeing many mature bucks. Most likely due to the east coaster not looking in the right spot. I was able to put a guy on a spike elk that he got a shot at. Hope this is not my last trip to UT since it’s a beautiful place to visit.

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Dang, sorry to hear that, I was hoping, really hoping, you could find at least one buck big enough to take home. As folks say, there are big bucks on every unit in Utah, which is absolutely true but they are few and faaaaaar between now days. I live on the Monroe and I keep hoping we can see some kind of turn around on our deer herd.

What you experienced is why the bureaucracy has constantly been under attack by its sportsman since the 1970’s. The down ward spiral of the quantity and then natural followed by the quality continues here.

Hope you do come again tracker12, but don’t make the mistake of ever relocating here, the wildlife bureaucracy management practices are a perfect reflection of everything else Utah. You did not want to live here! Wyoming, Arizona, Idaho, Colorado, Nevada……… way better places to relocate. You can still enjoy the geography, flora and fauna without having to live with all the other crap that goes on here, if that makes sense.

 

[Camper_A1]

Glad you enjoyed your time in Utah. Sorry we couldn’t be better help finding a big mature buck to harvest. I hunted the regular muzzleloader and the rifle hunt with my son. He shot a 4 x 4 on the rifle hunt but not the quality you were looking for. I saw plenty of bucks but nothing that I would consider a big buck. I did fish lower box creek several times while I was down there and enjoyed that. Safe travels and come back and visit Utah again someday.

 

[yoteduster]

Sorry to hear that..but if your a true trophy hunter you'll go home more times than not with a un notched tag in your pocket..about all that can be said is better luck next time..I really hope you enjoyed your time while you were here

 

[slamdunk]

Great attitude about your hunt, very commendable.

Having said that, the Monroe would be a great place to start a deer herd, it's got everything it needs

 

[tracker12]

This hunt was very special to me for a lot of reasons. While I would have really loved to take home a good buck I was really looking forward to just another adventure. I could have hired a guide to improve my chances but that just didn’t interest me. As I mentioned guys from the forum and hunters on the mountain gave me tips and I saw deer in most of those locations. The area deer biologist which I’m sure some of you know was extremely helpful. I can’s enough about how much he tried to put me on deer. Even called me a couple times where he was seeing deer. One evening south of Monroe I had a herd of about 30 deer walk right by me. One doe I thought was going to sniff me. Was like 5’ away. Im used to whitetail being close but not mule deer. Also seen one doe and a small buck with collars. Lower Box Creek Reservoir was a sweet spot. Sat by the water and eat my lunch one afternoon there.

 

[middlefork]

Great attitude about your hunt, very commendable.

Having said that, the Monroe would be a great place to start a deer herd, it's got everything it needs

Why not start another thread about the management on the Monroe instead of snarking on Tracker12's hunt?

 

[elkassassin]

Gonna Play you A Song middlefork!

No Offense!

 

[Tikka]

Why not start another thread about the management on the Monroe instead of snarking on Tracker12's hunt?

 

[slamdunk]

Lol....I'm not even going to reply to that post.

I congratulated him on a great attitude for his hunt and it's outcome.

He's obviously not been following along with all the controversy about Utah's proposals to attempt in turning a few units around so hunters can have a result in their investment that they are happier about.

I've been on Monroe a lot, it used to be a mule deer mecca, now it is simply just as described by the OP.

 

[slamdunk]

This hunt was very special to me for a lot of reasons. While I would have really loved to take home a good buck I was really looking forward to just another adventure. I could have hired a guide to improve my chances but that just didn’t interest me. As I mentioned guys from the forum and hunters on the mountain gave me tips and I saw deer in most of those locations. The area deer biologist which I’m sure some of you know was extremely helpful. I can’s enough about how much he tried to put me on deer. Even called me a couple times where he was seeing deer. One evening south of Monroe I had a herd of about 30 deer walk right by me. One doe I thought was going to sniff me. Was like 5’ away. Im used to whitetail being close but not mule deer. Also seen one doe and a small buck with collars. Lower Box Creek Reservoir was a sweet spot. Sat by the water and eat my lunch one afternoon there.

That unit used to be amazing back in the day.

It is also an epicenter for mountain lion collaring and studies.

One of the widest, heaviest bucks I have ever laid eyes on was on that mountain lying directly below a cliff up on the radio towers, I'll never forget that incredible deer.

 

[elkassassin]

It'll Grow Them Just Like About Everywhere-Else In DRATville Will Grow Them With Some Proper Management!

 

[tracker12]

I did see lion tracks up above the Goat farm south of Monroe and I ran across a young man that was up above Annabelle looking for a couple dogs that would not come off a lion from the previous night.

 

[slamdunk]

I did see lion tracks up above the Goat farm south of Monroe and I ran across a young man that was up above Annabelle looking for a couple dogs that would not come off a lion from the previous night.

That mountain grows a lot of cats for some reason.

 

[Tikka]

That unit used to be amazing back in the day.

It is also an epicenter for mountain lion collaring and studies.

One of the widest, heaviest bucks I have ever laid eyes on was on that mountain lying directly below a cliff up on the radio towers, I'll never forget that incredible deer.

We used to archery hunt there before I was old enough for a tag… Still to this day vividly remember all the bachelor bucks in the sage meadows…
Good times back then…

 

[slamdunk]

We used to archery hunt there before I was old enough for a tag… Still to this day vividly remember all the bachelor bucks in the sage meadows…
Good times back then…

Absolutely!
Aside from the Henry's, Monroe was my "go to" for archery mulies back in the 90's.

 

[middlefork]

Sorry tracker 12 I tried.
Predator management- tried and on going.
WRI - tried and on going.
Aspen regeneration - tried and on going
Tag restrictions - on going
Highway fencing- lacking
Access unlimited.
A control/study unit to compare other unit/ideas

Yep nothing going on on the Monroe.

 

[2lumpy]

That mountain grows a lot of cats for some reason.

I think cats are just as prevalent on all our central units ( I can't honestly speak to other units, cats could be as prevalent on those units too.). The Monroe Unit is unique in that is so accessible, pretty easy to see what deer and elk are on the unit, it stands to reason the cougars are easier to see there as well.

I’ve seen approximately 20 live cougars on these central Utah mountains over the last 49 years, a third of the 20 were on the Monroe. 5 or 6 years ago I came out of my front door to see one of the kids out to their car, after a Christmas Eve dinner, there was a cat standing on my neighbor’s porch, under the porch light. Two years ago my grandson pulled into our driveway about midnight……. a cougar chased a group of deer through my front year, while he was walking up the sidewalk.

 

[slamdunk]

I think cats are just as prevalent on all our central units ( I can't honestly speak to other units, cats could be as prevalent on those units too.). The Monroe Unit is unique in that is so accessible, pretty easy to see what deer and elk are on the unit, it stands to reason the cougars are easier to see there as well.

I’ve seen approximately 20 live cougars on these central Utah mountains over the last 49 years, a third of the 20 were on the Monroe. 5 or 6 years ago I came out of my front door to see one of the kids out to their car, after a Christmas Eve dinner, there was a cat standing on my neighbor’s porch, under the porch light. Two years ago my grandson pulled into our driveway about midnight……. a cougar chased a group of deer through my front year, while he was walking up the sidewalk.

Yes i agree.
Lot's of cabin and summer homes up there with a high density of human population.
Beaver is very similar, right across the highway.

 

[elkassassin]

So?

Just About Everywhere I've Been In Utah The Last Several Years The Quakes Are Dieing!

Alot Of Years Ago Here Locally They Blamed The Elk!

They Perty Much Decimated The Elk Herd & The Quakes Kept Dieing!

I Can Tell You What'll Bring The Quakes Back/Get Them Growing!

We Had A Fire Here A Few Years Ago And If You Wanna See A Viet-Nam Thick Growth Of New Quakes Popping Up You Oughta See This BS!

These Are Popping Up Like CHEAT Grass!

6'-9' Tall Already & You Can't Even Walk Through It!

Alot Of The Quakes On Elk Ridge Are Dead/Dieing!

HINT: It Ain't The Elk Killing Them!

Sorry tracker 12 I tried.
Predator management- tried and on going.
WRI - tried and on going.
Aspen regeneration - tried and on going
Tag restrictions - on going
Highway fencing- lacking
Access unlimited.
A control/study unit to compare other unit/ideas

Yep nothing going on on the Monroe.

 

[PleaseDear]

Glad ya enjoyed your hunt and visit in our state.



Travel home safe,



Robb

 

[Robiland]

That unit used to be amazing back in the day.

It is also an epicenter for mountain lion collaring and studies.

One of the widest, heaviest bucks I have ever laid eyes on was on that mountain lying directly below a cliff up on the radio towers, I'll never forget that incredible deer.

That was my area growing up too. My family owned 300 acres up there at the time. Now it's been divided, unfortunately, but still within the family. I own 40 acres ontop. My property is on the east side. The peak road goes through my piece. And I've hunted the cliffs off the east side and west side. Used to hold amazing bucks.

 

[fishnut]

Sorry we didn't get you connected to a good buck. We just never turned up anything special this year. The numbers look decent but the quality was lacking for us this year. I think one of the issues on the mountain that doesnt get talked about a lot is the amount of ATV traffic we have up there all Summer now. The ATV jambaree puts a lot of stress on the deer heard in my oppinion. I'm not sure what we can do about this issue.

 

[Robiland]

Sorry we didn't get you connected to a good buck. We just never turned up anything special this year. The numbers look decent but the quality was lacking for us this year. I think one of the issues on the mountain that doesnt get talked about a lot is the amount of ATV traffic we have up there all Summer now. The ATV jambaree puts a lot of stress on the deer heard in my oppinion. I'm not sure what we can do about this issue.

I agree with the ATV traffic. It's so disgusting the amount of traffic. There are roads ALL OVER THE PLACE up there now. It's really sad to see from the 80's and 90's to now.

 

[elkassassin]

You Guy's are Gonna Believe Me One Of These Days On These F'N LAW BREAKIN BITTCHES On Their UTV's/ATV's!

 

[Camper_A1]

Just about every single trail on Monroe has a trail number on it, even if it goes 30 yards to a camp site.

 

[elkassassin]

And You Know why That Is Right?

The LAW BREAKIN BITCHES Blaze A New Trail & The USFS Marks & Recognizes The Illegal Trail On Next Years Map!

Just about every single trail on Monroe has a trail number on it, even if it goes 30 yards to a camp site.