My first post, Please go easy on me, haha. This is definitely a shot in the Dark. Truth be told I Really just want to do something nice for my Dad, who absolutely loves hunting. I have been living in Utah during the winters for 10 years now, have never hunted in this state, but have fished many, many places here. I am originally from NY state (Adirondacks). I am primarily a fishing guy, Though I have killed a few white tails and a lot of small game. I'm 36, I have worked the last 4 summers as a Sport fishing guide up in Alaska (I know how to deal with bears, LOL). My dad is 68, he can still cover ground pretty good though. What I am trying to do is get some info or access for my dad to come out here and hunt a mule deer buck or bull elk. Maybe on private land? Maybe a management deer/bull? Not looking to spend $5,000 plus for a single animal though. Not really looking for a "Trophy", seriously its going to be about the Father/ Son experience, and seeing some new country. Getting an "ok" buck/bull for him would be fine by us (think decent 4x4 or so, better if it is a possibility). I have put in a lot of hours already on the "Utah hunt planner" and google earth, researching the different units here and trying to figure out the draw system, drawing odds and what units to put in for in 2018. We have no preference points, as this is the first time I have decided to work on this for my Dad. A bull elk tag would be nearly impossible to get it seems... unless I was on the computer waiting to apply for a general season Bull tag at 7:59 am on that fateful day in July along with thousands of others. Or paying a land owner $$$$ for a tag they get to sell to outfitters. Man... Utah hunting seems to be more about money than it is about carrying on a pastime. Kinda sad, but there are a lot of nice animals here, and a lot of hunters too. The short seasons here seem to put crowds in the woods, and I am not so used to that, nor am I excited to see more orange moving around than animals if we do go DIY on public lands. Is this generally the case? I wouldn't know honestly.
I have put some boots on the ground in the past few weeks scouting some public lands in the Wasatch and Uinta areas, learning the public land locations and access points in those areas. I have also scouted a couple places near Strawberry. Now that we have snow though, finding places may be harder. I do have a good 4x4 truck, and I do have a snowmobile here that is registered, so my scouting can continue throughout the winter (if I'm not to busy ice fishing with it, haha).
Heres the deal... My dad has never hunted here in the west, but has killed many nice Whitetails back east, and in eastern Canada. I am hoping to find someone who might be interested in making a new friend and maybe do some hunt exchange stuff, or maybe even a couple decent guys on here who could help point me in the right direction for getting a good animal in Utah in 2018.
We own some pretty decent hunting property in the Adirondacks in Northern NY, but its not a "trophy" property. We don't get $$$ for people to hunt, we hunt with friends and family... like it was in the old days. Like it should be I guess. Its 220 acres of our land and access to adjacent 1500 private acres as well, and a bunch of state land near by. We own the areas with water, and have a good population of does and some resident bucks. The bigger bucks usually start to show up during the rut in November. We've gotten some nice White tails there over the years. Black Bear, Turkey, and grouse also. The deer aren't usually monster trophies like you see on TV or anything, but we get some good ones. The hunts there can be a bit harder as it is almost all forest. Taller trees, and not as much open country like here in Utah. We've got tree stands set up throughout the property, a food plot planted, wild apple trees, lots of tall oaks (acorns), Beech nuts etc. A cabin that I built to stay in, or a fifth wheel on the property a mile away from my Dad's house, a 2 acre trout pond with browns and brook trout.
NY Buck tags and Bear tags are 100% over the counter, no draw. You are guaranteed tags if you buy the license. You CAN hunt the Rut in NY as that happens during general rifle season in November. We are in the Northern Zone in NY.
Season Dates:
Archery- Sep. 27- Oct. 20, Late Archery Dec. 4- Dec. 10 (buck or doe for earlier season)
Cross Bow- Oct. 11-20 (buck or doe)
Muzzle Loader-Oct. 14-20 (buck or doe)
General Rifle- Oct. 21-Dec. 3 (buck only)
You could hunt here in Utah, and then head east to bag a white tail or bear, turkeys, during the NY general season. Anyone here in Utah have a little slice of paradise you would share in exchange for access to ours? We're Respectful, LAWFUL, hunters and fishermen, and would expect similar ethics from those who might respond. Pm me maybe?
Hey its worth a shot? Thanks in advance for any replies.
I have put some boots on the ground in the past few weeks scouting some public lands in the Wasatch and Uinta areas, learning the public land locations and access points in those areas. I have also scouted a couple places near Strawberry. Now that we have snow though, finding places may be harder. I do have a good 4x4 truck, and I do have a snowmobile here that is registered, so my scouting can continue throughout the winter (if I'm not to busy ice fishing with it, haha).
Heres the deal... My dad has never hunted here in the west, but has killed many nice Whitetails back east, and in eastern Canada. I am hoping to find someone who might be interested in making a new friend and maybe do some hunt exchange stuff, or maybe even a couple decent guys on here who could help point me in the right direction for getting a good animal in Utah in 2018.
We own some pretty decent hunting property in the Adirondacks in Northern NY, but its not a "trophy" property. We don't get $$$ for people to hunt, we hunt with friends and family... like it was in the old days. Like it should be I guess. Its 220 acres of our land and access to adjacent 1500 private acres as well, and a bunch of state land near by. We own the areas with water, and have a good population of does and some resident bucks. The bigger bucks usually start to show up during the rut in November. We've gotten some nice White tails there over the years. Black Bear, Turkey, and grouse also. The deer aren't usually monster trophies like you see on TV or anything, but we get some good ones. The hunts there can be a bit harder as it is almost all forest. Taller trees, and not as much open country like here in Utah. We've got tree stands set up throughout the property, a food plot planted, wild apple trees, lots of tall oaks (acorns), Beech nuts etc. A cabin that I built to stay in, or a fifth wheel on the property a mile away from my Dad's house, a 2 acre trout pond with browns and brook trout.
NY Buck tags and Bear tags are 100% over the counter, no draw. You are guaranteed tags if you buy the license. You CAN hunt the Rut in NY as that happens during general rifle season in November. We are in the Northern Zone in NY.
Season Dates:
Archery- Sep. 27- Oct. 20, Late Archery Dec. 4- Dec. 10 (buck or doe for earlier season)
Cross Bow- Oct. 11-20 (buck or doe)
Muzzle Loader-Oct. 14-20 (buck or doe)
General Rifle- Oct. 21-Dec. 3 (buck only)
You could hunt here in Utah, and then head east to bag a white tail or bear, turkeys, during the NY general season. Anyone here in Utah have a little slice of paradise you would share in exchange for access to ours? We're Respectful, LAWFUL, hunters and fishermen, and would expect similar ethics from those who might respond. Pm me maybe?
Hey its worth a shot? Thanks in advance for any replies.