Utah Otc Elk

[Aerosith]

This will be my first year giving the OTC early rifle elk season a chance, the season runs October 5-11. I am planning on going way back into the high uintas many miles from the roads/trailheads. I understand the elk density is low.
But I am wondering what peoples thoughts are on hunting pressure? What kind of bull should I hold out for? Do the elk bugle much?

 

[utcubby]

Tons of pressure, if you see one with antlers you should probably shoot it.

 

[BrowningRage]

Any antlered animal will be shot at by either you, or the guy 200 yards from you...

If you are packed in, pressure is reduced, but you should still consider any bull. Or at least any branch-antlered bull.

 

[Wapitiwilly]

A branched alter bull is doable but they don’t taste any better than a spike.
Fill your tag, fill your freezer

 

[yoteduster]

A branched alter bull is doable but they don’t taste any better than a spike.
Fill your tag, fill your freezer

Good advice right here

 

[mtnrunner260]

Are you taking stock?
Elk are heavy

 

[ColdBore]

Man, this is a discouraging thread.

"Anything with antlers that you see"?

Are all OTC hunts really that bad?

 

[Aerosith]

Are you taking stock?
Elk are heavy

I will have stock on stand by for a pack out, but not for going in.

 

[Aerosith]

Any antlered animal will be shot at by either you, or the guy 200 yards from you...

If you are packed in, pressure is reduced, but you should still consider any bull. Or at least any branch-antlered bull.

I wouldn't shoot anything smaller than a branch antlered bull. I am betting on the fact that the herd bulls should still be with cows those first couple days of season. Hoping for something decent 280"+.

 

[elkantlers]

I wouldn't shoot anything smaller than a branch antlered bull. I am betting on the fact that the herd bulls should still be with cows those first couple days of season. hoping for something decent 280"+.

I bet you are. Lol

I hope you find one.

 

[yoteduster]

I wouldn't shoot anything smaller than a branch antlered bull. I am betting on the fact that the herd bulls should still be with cows those first couple days of season. Hoping for something decent 280"+.

It's doable.. Better have a little luck on your side..if you do have some luck post some pics and let us know how things went

 

[mtnrunner260]

I will have stock on stand by for a pack out, but not for going in.

That's the way to do it. Cover country and you'll find one.

 

[Vanilla]

Man, this is a discouraging thread.

"Anything with antlers that you see"?

Are all OTC hunts really that bad?

This is a hunt that had a 13.7% success rate last year.

There are people that have this hunt dialed in pretty well and are successful more often than not, but even those guys aren’t usually holding out for bigger animals.

Pass something with antlers if you want, but that would not be advisable for someone that wants to fill their tag on a hunt like this.

 

[PleaseDear]

I like the hunt, it's better dates for me as I'm most years bow hunting Wyoming elk during September (I just got home from the last week up there) so this Early OTC Any Bull is perfect dates for me.


It's hunting, so some years nice harvest on a decent Bull and some years my heck, where are the elk.


Enjoy for sure the adventure,



Robb

 

[Muleman1]

Man, this is a discouraging thread.

"Anything with antlers that you see"?

Are all OTC hunts really that bad?

Yessir

 

[Muleman1]

I wouldn't shoot anything smaller than a branch antlered bull. I am betting on the fact that the herd bulls should still be with cows those first couple days of season. Hoping for something decent 280"+.

Yeah good luck

 

[PleaseDear]

I did this thread and it's not really too specific but fairly helpful with general type intel.

https://register.bowsite.com/tf/bgforums/thread.cfm?threadid=488147&forum=5

Enjoy,



Robb

 

[ColdBore]

Man, this is a discouraging thread.

"Anything with antlers that you see"?

Are all OTC hunts really that bad?

But then there's this.

My best archery bull. 24' general bull | Utah

2024 will go down as a special season for me. My buddy and i glassed this bull one night in early September and i knew from the moment i saw him it was him or nothing and i was willing to put all of my effort into killing him and only him and if i went home with a tag in my pocket i was ok with...

www.monstermuleys.info

 

[Aerosith]

But then there's this.

My best archery bull. 24' general bull | Utah

2024 will go down as a special season for me. My buddy and i glassed this bull one night in early September and i knew from the moment i saw him it was him or nothing and i was willing to put all of my effort into killing him and only him and if i went home with a tag in my pocket i was ok with...

www.monstermuleys.info

To be fair that is a private land bull in either central or southern utah. That is like comparing apples to oranges.

 

[utcubby]

I remember my first any bull otc hunt, older guy at the gas station shook his head and said “ It’s going to be a war out there”
I kinda laughed and drove up the mountain.
Opening morning I found out he knew exactly what he was talking about. This was 20 years or so ago when you could still buy a tag the night before.