Paunsaugunt multi-season

[GlassinTheWasatch]

Well, after 27 years I finally drew my limited entry deer tag: pauns multi-season. Just bonus points for the last few years waiting for my boys to be available to join me on my hunt. We are so pumped! There are too few things in life that get you too excited to sleep…but this is one of them: being able to spend time with my family hoping to find a great buck is my definition of heaven. I know that this hunt isn’t a guarantee, and I’ll likely be battling guides, loads of UTVs, and a huge unit that we don’t know well…but couldn’t be more excited for the chance! I’ve loved the advice this forum has given in the past…if you have any tips or info that might help as we begin to scout - it would be appreciated! Thanks a bunch and good luck to everyone this year!

 

[D_Hoyt]

This is the year to have that tag. The antler growth is going to be phenomenal.

 

[elkassassin]

Best Of Luck On Your Hunt!

That Tag Isn't Coming Around Too Often!

 

[yoteduster]

Congrats on a great tag...my best advice for now is to start learning the unit from top to bottom asap.. Spend as much time there as you can..every day off every weekend as much as you can before the season starts..talk to the biologist try to figure out the deers migration routes.. These two things could be the major keys to your success...

 

[GlassinTheWasatch]

Congrats on a great tag...my best advice for now is to start learning the unit from top to bottom asap.. Spend as much time there as you can..every day off every weekend as much as you can before the season starts..talk to the biologist try to figure out the deers migration routes.. These two things could be the major keys to your success...

Yoteduster - thanks for the advice. One trip down…many to go. It is a huge unit and lots to learn.

 

[elkantlers]

I'm going to have to disagree with one thing. This is a guaranteed hunt unless you screw it up. lol
I drew the muzzleloader hunt in 21'. I was very lucky to draw a random tag with only 7 points, but unlucky as it was the worst drought year in a long time. The antler growth was not there but I still had a ball and ended up shooting an 8-year-old 170's buck on the next to last day. I was seeing 50+ bucks a day and some pretty nice ones that I think on a good water year would have been dandies. Look over all the elevations and hunt where you see the most deer. I hunted exclusively on the Middle bench and know a guy that hunted the top only. There are deer all over.
You're in for a real treat. That's for sure.

 

[wweaver79]

If your still working and not retired the first thing you need to do is have a conversation with your employer about being patient and flexible with you during these trying times. You can only use once in a lifetime every few years or they remember.

 

[GlassinTheWasatch]

I'm going to have to disagree with one thing. This is a guaranteed hunt unless you screw it up. lol
I drew the muzzleloader hunt in 21'. I was very lucky to draw a random tag with only 7 points, but unlucky as it was the worst drought year in a long time. The antler growth was not there but I still had a ball and ended up shooting an 8-year-old 170's buck on the next to last day. I was seeing 50+ bucks a day and some pretty nice ones that I think on a good water year would have been dandies. Look over all the elevations and hunt where you see the most deer. I hunted exclusively on the Middle bench and know a guy that hunted the top only. There are deer all over.
You're in for a real treat. That's for sure.

Thanks elkantlers - if we mess it up it won’t be from lack of effort! I know we will be competing with guides and hunters that basically live down there…but we will get to it! Only one quick trip so far…

 

[GlassinTheWasatch]

If your still working and not retired the first thing you need to do is have a conversation with your employer about being patient and flexible with you during these trying times. You can only use once in a lifetime every few years or they remember.

Working it right now…

 

[Bigwiffy]

Get it done with your bow day 1. It will get progressively harder each day that goes by. Multi season sounds cool, but can be an absolute curse.

 

[elkassassin]

Well HOWDY Wiff!

It Takes A PAUNS Thread For You To CHIME In?

Get it done with your bow day 1. It will get progressively harder each day that goes by. Multi season sounds cool, but can be an absolute curse.

 

[GlassinTheWasatch]

Get it done with your bow day 1. It will get progressively harder each day that goes by. Multi season sounds cool, but can be an absolute curse.

Well...that is our hope!

 

[Homer]

You've only had 27 years to learn the unit....lol

 

[GlassinTheWasatch]

You've only had 27 years to learn the unit....lol

Sorry for asking.

 

[Bigwiffy]

Well HOWDY Wiff!

It Takes A PAUNS Thread For You To CHIME In?

When I didn't make the Legend thread my butt got hurt......and to be honest I dropped my phone in the Ranch dressing container at Golden Corral.

 

[elkassassin]

You Dropped it On Purpose Again Didn't You?

Then Licked It Off,Again!

When I didn't make the Legend thread my butt got hurt......and to be honest I dropped my phone in the Ranch dressing container at Golden Corral.

 

[Homer]

Sorry for asking.

no offense....I'm just the same.....just couldn't help myself

 

[Founder]

What a year of hunting you’ve got ahead of yourself!

 

[D_Hoyt]

While we are on the topic of the Paunsaugunt, I want to put out a quick notice that the BLM will be doing a Travel Management Plan (TMP) on that hunting unit to close a bunch of roads because they got sued and entered into a settlement agreement with the special interest environmental groups.

They are going through the same process on the Henry Mountains, San Rafael Swell, and Dolores River right now. I try to keep www.publiclands.utah.gov/tmp up to date on the current TMP happenings. If we don’t stand up and push back on these closures I guarantee everyone that hundreds of miles of roads will be closed in every one of the 11 travel management areas under review. We lost access to 317 miles in Gemini Bridges and Labyrinth Rims, over 500 miles in the San Rafael Desert, and we stand to lose up to 949 miles of roads in the San Rafael Swell.

Get informed. Get involved. Access for all.

 

[elkassassin]

They Can't & Won't Enforce Any Of It Much!

They Blaze New Trails Every Year On The South Slope & Every Time There's A New ATV Map issued By The USFS Them Blazed Trails Are On The Map & Marked & Numbered!

Stand A Road Closed Sign Up & The Next DRAT By Will Either Tear The Sign Down,Go Around The Sign & Extend The Closed Trail!

Maybe There Will Be Enough DRATS In Them Areas They Can POLICE Themselves?

What Amazes Me With This, Is After It's Too Late They're Gonna Try & Fix It!

They'll Go in & Spend Millions & Billions & Now That It's Too Late It Fixes Nothing!

 

[elkassassin]

And One More Question I Have!

When They Close A Road/Trail!

Are They Gonna Bring A CAT In & Make a 6" Dirt Berm?

Are They Gonna Stack 3 or 4 Twigs In The Trail/Road?

Are They Gonna Stack 2-3 Little Rocks Up?

I've Seen Very Few Roads CLOSED Properly!

Most DRATS Are Running SIDE X SIDES With Clearances Up To Be 18"-24" That Will Go Through,Over & Around Any Of The TINKER TOY Closures I've Seen!

 

[Bwht4x4]

I had the Pauns muzzy tag in 2022. My best advice is don't wait for the muzzy or rifle hunts. Scout hard and hit it hard during the archery hunt. My buddy had the archery tag last year and killed a 240 buck.

 

[elkassassin]

WOW!

I had the Pauns muzzy tag in 2022. My best advice is don't wait for the muzzy or rifle hunts. Scout hard and hit it hard during the archery hunt. My buddy had the archery tag last year and killed a 240 buck.

 

[gundog2]

I would try to forget this idea that you are competing with guides and outfitters. Yes they are there, but this is a premium hunt and I would not let others bother me. I refuse to let hunting become a competition with other hunters. I compete with myself. That’s it. I don’t know about the OPer, but it wouldn’t be hard to beat my best buck if I had this multi season hunt so I would just soak in it.

 

[Bwht4x4]

If you spend the archery season up on top you'll likely not be competing with a ton of guides/outfitters. The top is a huge dense area and it's easy to get away from people. If you wait until the muzzy or rifle hunts and hunt lower you'll be in a cluster fug of trucks, SxS, helpers, guides, outfitters, and lookie-loos all in the same chained areas looking for the same 170 inch buck. If you hunt the archery season up on top be prepared for thunderstorms that are downright scary! PM me if you want some spots on top to check out.

 

[Zim]

If you spend the archery season up on top you'll likely not be competing with a ton of guides/outfitters. The top is a huge dense area and it's easy to get away from people. If you wait until the muzzy or rifle hunts and hunt lower you'll be in a cluster fug of trucks, SxS, helpers, guides, outfitters, and lookie-loos all in the same chained areas looking for the same 170 inch buck. If you hunt the archery season up on top be prepared for thunderstorms that are downright scary! PM me if you want some spots on top to check out.

Know any good areas on top between bedding & burns? I’ll be tree stand hunting. Have bow hunted the Kaibab 3 times and am comfortable hunting this way. I use Lone Wolf climbers.

 

[PleaseDear]

Hey Ken---->

If you are coming out scouting this summer and want to stage anything, you are welcome to leave it here @ my home.


I'm a pinch North but ~`` just in case.



Robb

 

[Vanilla]

I wouldn’t even know how to go about utilizing a multi-season tag on the Pauns. The seasons are so different on such a huge unit. Best of luck to you!

That unit is magical. Have a great time.

 

[BearBait49]

I'd put all my eggs in the archery basket . It's been a minute since I drew the archery tag on the unit but the Paunsaugunt is a phenomenal
place to have a tag in your pocket! Looking forward to seeing how it turns out. Congrats on the tag

 

[Zim]

Hey Ken---->

If you are coming out scouting this summer and want to stage anything, you are welcome to leave it here @ my home.


I'm a pinch North but ~`` just in case.



Robb

Thx Robb, I’ve been entering data 24/7 trying to get ahead at work so I can maximize my time out there. This was actually supposed to be my scouting year, until I got the heart problem. So instead I will be driving out August 1st, take wife to visit the ditch, then scout a full week before my opener. I’ve not had time to plan much anything else yet. Am doing repairs on my ebike.

I’ll have some time next week so I’ll start by familiarizing myself with the burns. Plan on locating game trails to/from those and finding good ambush trees. Never had much luck on mature bucks at water tanks, but will try those as well.

 

[PleaseDear]

Just a heads-up; they/DWR change the dates to use Trail Cams.


So be careful putting any up.


Robb

 

[PleaseDear]

https://wildlife.utah.gov/trailcams

Robb

 

[Zim]

Just a heads-up; they/DWR change the dates to use Trail Cams.


So be careful putting any up.


Robb

I stumbled on that article yesterday. I have a few cams but don’t use them much. I think they alert game more than anything. Plus just the scent left going in to check photos. None were used for any of my top end critters. I won’t even bring mine.

 

[elkassassin]

I Was watching Some DRAT Hunters At A Distance Setting Up A Couple Of Trail-Cams At A Distance Through My Spotter On A High Spot Looking Down On Them!

Right Before They Left The One DRAT Takes A Whizz About 15 Feet From The One Cam!

JFP!

 

[BrowningRage]

Archery may be the best time to kill the Big One...

But remember...

Archery bucks are Uuuuuugly.!!

Don't shoot the messenger...

 

[cannonball]

Get it done with your bow day 1. It will get progressively harder each day that goes by. Multi season sounds cool, but can be an absolute curse.

Amen to that!! It was a curse for me. The difference was during my year of hunting, the ML hunt was in November. Passed up some really nice buck waiting for the monster. I just knew the biggest one would come during that November hunt. It didn't.

 

[fin little]

Amen to that!! It was a curse for me. The difference was during my year of hunting, the ML hunt was in November. Passed up some really nice buck waiting for the monster. I just knew the biggest one would come during that November hunt. It didn't.

Exactly my experience, I passed bucks during the rifle hunt that would have been my best ever. I just didn’t want to miss the late muzz. Late muzz was the most fun though. They say don’t pass on the first day what you would be happy with on the last.