Stalking and killing bedded mule deer in the backcountry is a numbers game. Deep canyons filled with thick oak brush provide excellent mule deer habitat. Winter report, 2018 mule deer openings and free range. Elk and deer archery seasons run simultaneously and allow for a great combination utah hunting experience. We offer elk, deer, antelope, bighorn sheep, buffalo, cougar and bear hunts. After a 4 year wait, the book cliffs area of northeastern utah had finally opened for mule deer. The rocky mountain bighorn found in the pecos wilderness can be quite tame. The book cliffs are an enormous area that spans two states. Rocky mountain bighorn, elk, mule deer, and golden eagles all share the same home. In the interior, the mule deers traditional winter ranges consist of shrublands in the dry forest zone and on steep south and westfacing sites with broken terrain. Those areas are typically where deer and elk range during the winter months. The biologists will be using the data downloaded from the collars to plot areas of high use by mule deer and elk on th e winter range. This could preclude elk from areas they now inhabit. Drew out for the book cliffs last year with 8 points i think it was.
The gasdrilling boom on wyomings mule deer winter range, the severe and devastating winter of 20072008 in the rocky mountain west, and finally the economic downturn coupled with the possible over harvest of mature mule deer in parts of sonora. We specialize in trophy bull elk, mule deer, bison, bear and lion. Im fascinated by how we define wilderness, says emily noyd, backcountry ranger in yosemite national park. Always in demand, this book is the ultimate resource for mule deer hunters.
Mule deer thompson okanagan resource values catalogue. Today, theres a limited draw hunt for trophy elk and mule deer here. The story of coloardos mule deer colorado parks and. Mike eastman, the foremost authority on mule deer hunting, shares tips and tactics, advice on field judging information on high country areas, and supporting photos of big bucks including wyoming living legend, popeye. In part eight of our series, we stop in at utahs book cliffs. The utah hunt planner also provides the legal hunting boundaries approved by the utah wildlife board. I was blown away with how many bucks we saw together right off the road during the summer. Community update regarding travel we have relaxed our policies to allow you to book with 100% confidence beat the rush once the travel restrictions are. California borders this unit to the west, esmeralda county to the south, nye county to the east and an irregular northern boundary defined by county lines and roads.
It can be a physical hunt with a large roadless area included in the deer unit. Book cliffs the book cliffs holds the potential for a giant mule deer. We hunt the book cliffs, rattlesnake, nine mile and san rafael units. Little creek mule deer habitat little creek is classified as crucial summer range. Maintain a healthy mule deer population within the long term carrying capacity of the available habitat, based on winter range trend studies conducted by the. The population of mule deer in british columbia is approximately 140,000 to 180,000 within the south central interior and the northern ranges. Rookie, im far from the most knowledgable guy there is on the books, but i have spent a fair amount of time out there. Statistically, if you make enough stalks, assuming you follow basic rules of the game, you will eventually find success. Travel approximately 20 miles to a fork in the road. Blm a great map to have if you are interested in mountain biking or motorized dirt biking. Although sometimes beneficial to deer, in recent decades, wildfires on some lowelevation mule deer winter range have burned off much of the woody shrubs mule deer feed on. In utah, mule deer are weakened by the winter and its difficult for them to find. Radio tracking provides critical data as conservationists try to map mule deer migrations. The deer migrate from colorado onto the unit during the winter.
Our hunters will usually get the opportunity to look over dozens of 4x4s while they search for that one special buck. Whether you have drawn a coveted limited entry elk permit, a once in a lifetime mountain goat tag, or if you are just looking for some help on a general season deer or elk hunt, we have a hunt for you. Archery season in utah is one of only a few times where it is possible to hunt two species at the same time. The book cliffs area is an exceptional trophy elk and mule deer unit. Just want to let you all know about a proposal to create a 45 mile highway through the heart of the east tavaputs book cliffs that could place a big impact on the mule deer herd. Subscribe for new videos every monday and thursday. Float a canoe into a big bucks bedding area for the ultimate whitetail hunt.
Predators, new roads, overhunting and poor fawn crops had decimated the previously plentiful deer to the point that the area was closed to hunting 19962000. Anyway for the hunt we went down the thursday before to spend some time scouting. Will farrar takes a unique buck on the book cliffs in utah with a rifle. Winter report, 2018 mule deer openings and free range audad. Like i said before, its a place you have to experience to see and feel its beauty. Deer migrate each year to their winter ranges in the first week of october regardless of snow or other weather conditions. Mule deer habitat management zones and associated timber harvest opportunities within mule deer winter range in the cariboo region. About idahos mule deer initiative idaho, like other western states is experiencing overall declines in mule deer populations, although in some areas, mule deer numbers are stable or increasing. This is an extremely remote unit that holds a great herd of mature bucks. Research hunts and units before you apply in the big game drawing, and any of utahs other hunt drawings. Some of the bucks filmed during the 2016 rifle deer hunt at the book cliffs in utah.
Interpretive sites on the san bernardino national forest are varied, and each offers a unique insight to the national forest. The utah division of wildlife resources utah hunt planner is an interactive map designed to help hunters research hunting units. We guide some of the top limited entry elk and deer areas in the state of utah. A backcountry ranger shares her passion for wilderness. The deer come up and over the ridge, which is 8000 feet high and many miles long, in order to get to the winter grounds low on the other side. We are gt outfitters, specializing in eastern utah big game. Book cliffs highway proposed in mule deer winter range. Search for a hunt by wildlife species including buck. Add some of utahs best backcountry fishing in the mix and you have the makings for an amazing utah outdoor hunting experience. The best muley bucks from the boone and crockett club archives. When you hike or ride a mule to phantom ranch, pick up the phantom ranch junior ranger booklet from the canteen, campground, or ranger station.
Winter report, 2018 mule deer openings and free range audad hunt. Most book cliffs deer migrate to the north, however some migrate south. Double c guides mule deer hunting book cliffs, henry. Mule deer trail to john frazer cabin colorado alltrails. Hunted it almost every year for a long time before it became le, hunt coyotes out there every year and finally drew an any weapon tag for it in 11. Cross over the colorado river and stay on the main road, take a left into the town of debeque 4th street to the gas station take a left and follow the road to the end.
Maps for the region book cliffs wildlife management unit. Running northsouth on seep ridge between willow and bitter creeks, this proposal will create highway traffic through crucial winter range and a migration corridor in the book cliffs limited entry mule deer hunting unit. Roadless area deer move south udwr recommends the same avoidance periods for deer and elk. The purpose of the book is to give hunters, landowners, and oth. During winter months some locations may be inaccessible due to snow or closed, check with the local ranger station for updated conditions. Book cliffs mule deer are traditional in their migration and winter areas. Through our keepers of the outdoors series, well introduce you to people who protect and care for our wild places. In the winter, deep snow makes it hard for deer to move and find food. In contrast, the whitetailed deers odocoileus virginianus rack has tines branching off a main stem. Virtually all of the critical deer winter range in the book. The bighorns digestive system is very sensitive, please dont feed them people food.
Mule deer hunter information sheet unit group 201, 202, 204 206 location. Book cliffs roadless area by the utah division of wildlife resources. But first they have to put a radio collar on the deer. Protection of these parts of mule deer winter range is considered critical to sustain mule deer populations across colorado. To become a junior ranger at the south rim, pick up the south rim junior ranger activity book at the grand canyon visitor center. The rack on this buck mule deer odocoileus hemionus clearly shows a yshaped branching pattern. Conservation scientist holly copeland joins a team. The books not only has deer and elk, but it also has some free roaming bison, a few moose and a good rocky mountian bighorn herd on its west end. The wind would do strange things, a lot of doesfawnssmall bucks to work around, thick brush in some places, no cover in others, dry crunchy conditions, and hunting pressure. This layer shows critical and noncritical winter and summer ranges, fall holding areas, fawning grounds and migration corridors for deer odocoileus hemionus in cdfw region 2, north central region, ca. The trail is rated as moderate and primarily used for hiking, walking, trail running, and nature trips. The nevada wildlife record book celebrates the big game animals we have in our state and recognizes the achievements of the hunters harvest. Utah hunt planner utah division of wildlife resources. Mule deer critical winter range is a delineation of those parts of mule deer winter range that cdow considers to be of highest priority for protection from disturbance from development.
And with the exception of a few privately held parcels of land, almost 96% of the 2. The isu researchers also will be studying the juvenile survival rates of deer, and the physical condition of elk and deer. The concept of wilderness is so intangible, and its fascinating to me that to effectively govern that land weve. Because mule deer are important in idaho, the idaho department of fish and game idfg has committed additional personnel and resources to improving habitat and increasing mule deer. The book cliffs utah mule deer unit produces 150170 bucks yearly with a few larger taken. The size of the area, and difficult terrain, can make it a very challenging place to hunt. Mule deer gallery mule deer hunting turkey hunting.
This document provides the regional mule deer winter range committees recommendations on harvest approvals in the interim period between now and when individual winter ranges plans are completed. Unbelievable mule deer winter range deer migration duration. Soon the round valley herd will be leaving their winter residence in the lower elevations for their summer range in the beautiful mountain meadows. Numerous opportunities for both are found on blm land south of book cliffs near westwater, and are marked on the map. Utah mule deer guided hunts shane scott outfitting. By the time winter ends, deer are the weakest theyll be all year. The top 40 typical and nontypical mule deer of all time.
Come along as richard slaugh films the rutting muleys of the ut bookcliffs. Deer, too, would be affected by energy development. The book cliffs are well known for being a sought after hunting destination, and for good reason. Running northsouth on seep ridge between willow and bitter creeks, this proposal will create highway traffic through crucial winter range and a migration corridor in. The photo above is a ram i took in 1993 on the west edge of the books. The problem is you dont want to eventually be successful. Winter is also the time of year when the antlers of male deer, elk and moose drop off their heads.
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