Last time I checked, the "San Juan Hunt" was still a public unit. That being said, all hunters already have the "same chance" or "opportunity" to harvest a magnificent animal.
I am a DIY kind of person, so I applaud the guy that does it completely on his own.
However since the San Juan Unit is 4+ hours away from the bulk of Utah?s population, not to mention the non-residents that draw, many people don't have the ?time? to invest, to really get to know that unit, especially since it's one of the largest units. Add in the fact, that most guys/gals have waited 10+ years to draw, and most really want to make the most of their ?once in a life time? hunt, hence they start looking for help.
Help is defined different for everyone depending on their circumstances. It could come from many areas; maps, word of mouth, DWR Biologist, friend or buddy that has drawn in the past, internet (monstermuleys.com) etc?or from, dare I say it, a ?guide?. Some guys have a max of one or two weeks off a year, they may want to ?do it themselves? but again they don't have the ?time?, but do or may have the ?money?, to get help from someone that does know the unit, and can help that hunter (cuz you still have to hunt) increase their odds of harvesting not just a good bull, (cuz if you can hunt, you don't need a guide to harvest a good bull on the San Juan,) rather increase their odds of taking the bull they have waited so many years to take. If the use a guide, is it then a guarantee, heck no, it's still hunting, but it could and should increase the odds.
If you have never been down here, but are willing to DIY, I will give you some ?free? advice. So if you have a tag for this unit, pay close attention.
Once you get to Monticello, take the mountain road to the west, turn off it and take the road that goes over the mountain to Blanding?..now that you have made it this far, periodically stop, and?? 1st, Look/glass for Cows, they like to feed mornings and evenings, could be on a grassy slope, a good place to start glassing from on the San Juan, is the infamous rock pile (I can give you the GPS cord but its not hard to find, it's at the half way point over the mountain, you may need a parking permit though), if you do get there early enough you can usually get a seat with a rock as a back rest, and sometimes in the mornings someone will come by selling breakfast burritos. Start glassing everywhere. Once you locate cows you shouldn't have to wait to long for a bull or two or three to show up, all trying to get with that one cow, since the ration on the San Juan is about 2 bulls to every cow.
2nd, if you can't find cows, take out a map and look for water, or look for stream crossings, or ponds, add in some food and cover/bedding areas, they usually need these Things, if you find these things, you should again find cows, and therefore some bulls.
3rd, as your driving around on the mountain, look for other hunters stopped along side the road, pretending they are NOT looking at anything?.don't let this fool you, they really are, and just want you to believe that aren't, especially if there is a tripod with a spotting scope attached to it, pointed at the ground. Stop, get out, and start glassing?..my guess is you will see elk.
4th,?..and I only recommend this if the first three have failed??again periodically, get out of your truck and LISTEN for Bugles! You should hear some now and again?..it's what they like to do for some reason in the fall. Sometimes you might have to cow call or bugle a little to get them to start doing it, but they will. I have found that this is a great way to locate elk that many people don't know about. Doing these four things should help you harvest a good mature bull, its really all you need on the San Juan. Good Luck.
????If you don't have the time to DIY, and want to increase your odds of harvesting a great bull, (again no guarantee?s in hunting) I happen to know of several business that do some guiding for elk on the San Juan Unit that have helped many a hunter harvest some great bulls. To name a few,?.MossBack, Sunrise, Bayles, Black Timber Outfitters, and there are others. Anyone of them could do a fine job of ?helping?, they are all trying to run a business and I don't any of them charge ?outrageous fees? most are willing to work with guys on a budget to some extent.
Most people say that score doesn't mean anything to them, that they just want a good mature bull, well we all know that that is not really true, other wise we all wouldn't be asking every time someone posted a pic. Of a bull/animal, ?WHAT DID IT SCORE?? A good experience guide can ?help? the average hunter or even experienced hunter figure out the difference between; for example a 360 bull and a 380 bull?..because a bull in that size range can, and does, and is, impressive from all angles, and sometimes it's hard to tell the difference. Again, Good Luck.
Travis
Blanding, Ut.
