OB,

My friend and I are planning on applying for tags in order to hunt Elk in Utah this year. We are both avid hunters, but are elk Virgins. I am a Bow hunter, but he is not, so I think we will be looking at a short season window of October 6-18th.

Any advice on where to start? The amount of information is somewhat overwhelming. We are currently sifting through the 2018 Utah annual.
2018 Utah Guidebook

Have any of you been through the Utah process before? Are we foolish to think that we will get drawn in year 1 or is there a decent chance?

Any additional information is appreciated!

TIA!

"Know how to apply as a group Utah Admin. Rule R657-62-7 and R657-62-18
If you want to apply with your friends and family as a group, there are some important things to consider before selecting your hunt choices. Both residents and nonresidents can apply together. However, if you're a Utah resident and you decide to apply with a nonresident, make sure nonresident permits are available for each hunt your group is applying for. If nonresident permits are not available for a hunt your group is applying for, the nonresident and everyone else in the groupincluding the Utah residentswill not be allowed to draw for that hunt unit. Up to four hunters can apply together for multi-season premium limited-entry, premium limited-entry, multi-season limited entry, limited-entry, general-season deer, cactus buck and resident CWMU deer, elk or pronghorn permits. Group applications are not accepted for management buck deer hunts or once-in-a-lifetime hunts. If your group is successful in the drawing, all of the applicants in your group who have valid applications will receive a permit"

Question: Does anybody have any familiarity with applying as a group? We would be applying as a group of 2. Do we have less of a chance to get drawn as a group vs each drawing individually?

Utah is a great state for elk but from everything I've gathered it's a state that you will be building points in for a long time before drawing a tag, unless you get lucky in the random draw.

They do have a few OTC tags but everything I have read about them is pretty negative.

Let me follow this up by saying what I lack in elk hunting experience, I make up for in time wasted researching the western-preference-point and application game.

haha much appreciated!

The reason we are thinking Utah is because our church is taking a trip to Provo (I'm not Mormon ) in the Fall already. So my Pastor and I were planning on trying to get a hunt on either side of that.

Idaho isn't much further.

...I started to give you an answer and then I realized I have ZERO Utah experience. ...and frankly every western state is SO different in how they handle their units/draws/points/group applications that knowing how things work in any one state doesn't help you a lick in any other state.

Having said that, in most cases applying as a "group" often limits you to your lowest common denominator. This keeps guys with limited points from basically finding a high point partner and drawing without having to put in the blood, sweat, and wait-time that everyone else has to.

But refer back to my first statement. Just because that's been my experience in other states doesn't mean it applies at all to Utah. I simply don't know.

Thanks, Sean. Yea I'm finding out that we might as well plan on not getting drawn anytime soon! A priority point only ends up being $75, so not too bad.

I think Idaho or Colorado might be an easier option.... Utah is a hard tag to get with no pref points

I don't have much to add except to agree that it's difficult to draw. I have 6 points and my brother has 10. For party hunts they average the party members points. Can't give any hunting intel because we've never drawn. Depending on the area it can be 14+ points before you draw!! I haven't looked into any over the counter tags. Many people who are Utah residents can't even draw so they go to ID and WY to hunt.

There are OTC units North/south slope Unitas, Filmore Oak Creek, beaver west, Zion, nine mile creek and Kamas. I would assume there is a lot of pressure on the OTC hunts. One of the scouting services like gohunt or huntin fool should be able to help.

A guy I used to hunt with referred to bow hunting elk as "extremely expensive camping trips".

After my first archery elk hunt in CO this past season, I can see a lot of truth in his statement.

The biggest key for me would be to find a unit/season that will coincide with the rut when bulls are calling. Too early and you're SOL. Too late and it's likely rifle season.

Don't have any info to add about Utah other than the guys I used to work with that lived there hated the tag system and didn't think it favored residents fairly... not sure why (never asked) but that was their opinion.

Quote:

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The biggest key for me would be to find a unit/season that will coincide with the rut when bulls are calling. Too early and you're SOL. Too late and it's likely rifle season.

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In theory this is the right idea. The problem with it in reality is the elk are stupid and can't read a rut calendar. So they rut whenever the F they want. Like 2 years ago in Colorado when they apparently rutted in November in much of the state. ...because they damn sure didn't rut in September or early October.

Sean98 said:

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Quote:

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The biggest key for me would be to find a unit/season that will coincide with the rut when bulls are calling. Too early and you're SOL. Too late and it's likely rifle season.

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In theory this is the right idea. The problem with it in reality is the elk are stupid and can't read a rut calendar. So they rut whenever the F they want. Like 2 years ago in Colorado when they apparently rutted in November in much of the state. ...because they damn sure didn't run in September or early October.

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And during third season when that herd crested the hill with the lead bull bugling, it was glorious.

Right before I dropped him with my .300 Win Mag.

I love it when you talk dirty

ttha_aggie_09 said:

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A guy I used to hunt with referred to bow hunting elk as "extremely expensive camping trips".

After my first archery elk hunt in CO this past season, I can see a lot of truth in his statement.

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That's what's my dad keeps telling me but I'm hard headed.

aggie1819 said:

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ttha_aggie_09 said:

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A guy I used to hunt with referred to bow hunting elk as "extremely expensive camping trips".

After my first archery elk hunt in CO this past season, I can see a lot of truth in his statement.

---

That's what's my dad keeps telling me but I'm hard headed.

---

If you have the money and you like camping, what's the harm?

...I mean other than the severe emotional trauma, and subsequent rage induced issues you'll likely have if you're me.

First of all, the reward is well worth it (not that I know, yet).

That being said, the harm does read like the side effects from a new drug commercial.

"Side effects may include, but are not limited to:
-rage
-anger
-loss of appetite
-increase in appetite
-weight loss
-dizziness
-shortness of breath
-pain/tingling in legs
-sudden death
-more susceptible to genital raking (ask Ursus)

ttha_aggie_09 said:

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First of all, the reward is well worth it (not that I know, yet).

That being said, the harm does read like the side effects from a new drug commercial.

"Side effects may include, but are not limited to:
-rage
-anger
-loss of appetite
-increase in appetite
-weight loss
-dizziness
-shortness of breath
-pain/tingling in legs
-sudden death
-more susceptible to genital raking (ask Ursus)

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Sean98 said:

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aggie1819 said:

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ttha_aggie_09 said:

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A guy I used to hunt with referred to bow hunting elk as "extremely expensive camping trips".

After my first archery elk hunt in CO this past season, I can see a lot of truth in his statement.

---

That's what's my dad keeps telling me but I'm hard headed.

---

If you have the money and you like camping, what's the harm?

...I mean other than the severe emotional trauma, and subsequent rage induced issues you'll likely have if you're me.

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True!!! I am batting .500 with elk and .250 with black bear. All great times and I will continue to do it no matter how pissed I get!

https://buckrail.com/utah-man-accused-high-tech-hunting-hack/

It's easy to get drawn if you have a friend

Gee thanks. Presented that way makes it sound way more awkward than usual. What the hell are you doing in your elk camp? ;-)

I'm sorry, but that post is one that will never leave my mind. Not really looking forward to spending time in Grizzly country... especially since I might not have the balls (literally) to finish the hunt if attacked by a bear.