Final Day For Utah Big Game Applications!

That's right ladies and gents, today is the final day to apply for your big game permits in the state of Utah!

If you haven't done so yet, apply in the next few hours here.

Find this page too late? Have no fear. You can apply to get a Bonus Point for 2 more weeks! The deadline for Bonus Points runs out March 16th, 2017.

There's also the chance of getting a leftover permit, over the counter Bull Elk permit, or the Antlerless draw period as well.

Successful Utah Limited Entry Elk Hunt

Big congrats to our hunter last fall. Jim, from California. Smacked this nice bull on an archery hunt here in Utah! 

Here's the quick story of his limited entry archery hunt. 

"Thanks Adam, hopefully I will need your help in the future. We stayed on the mountain for a few days after that and saw no other hunters take an elk. Several stopped buy and everyone was having trouble. Real fortunate to get that bull!  Don't know if I ever told you what happened. Here is how it went down. Lucky me!

On day two I was at the wallow again and called him and 6 cows off the mountain across the canyon he was bugling on. I was pretty shook when I saw he was a shooter and cows all around. Missed him low at 37 yards!! So mad at myself! He regrouped across the canyon so I kept throwing various cow calls at him intermittently. Then I quit calling thinking he might get curious. After about an hour of messing around like that he came out 95 yard below me in the bottom and was just feeding, head down broadside. I was able to get 82 yards from him. Held my 80 yard pin just under his back and got him through both lungs. It was a really great experience and I can't believe I got a second chance at him

I have you to thank for that trophy bull that's for sure.

Jim"

Utah Big Game Applications

Well ya'll it's almost that time again. Mark your Calendars for January 30th! The Division of Wildlife Services will start accepting applications for Utah's Big Game tags. Here is a quick link for you http://wildlife.utah.gov/.

Be sure to not wait until the last minute! We know lots of guys that forget and miss this every year!

-UtahScoutingServices

Bones are starting to grow!

Utah Bulls and Bucks are starting to put on their velvet for another record breaking year. Here's a taste at some rutting action from last fall!

Credit Card Charges Utah's Big Game Draw

If you applied for the Utah draw and happened to be lucky enough to draw, you should currently see a pending charge on the card you used for your application. For those who drew, congratulations and our condolences to those who didn't. Best of luck next year!

If you did happen to draw be sure to contact UtahScoutingServices for your big game scouting needs! We are prepping for the upcoming scouting season and are sure it's going to be a good one! We've gotten some great moisture this past winter and spring so the antler growth should be fantastic! Be sure to contact us with any questions!

Vortex Diamondback Spotting Scope Review

 

Vortex Optics is just now releasing their newest line of spotting scopes. This will go hand in hand with the other Diamond back products such as the binos and rifle scopes. UtahScoutingServices had the chance to use the optics during the recent hunting expos here in Utah. You can view the product here on the Vortex Optics Website. It is currently available for back order through most hunting outfitters such as Cabelas.

There are four options available. Either a 20-60x60mm or a 20-60x80mm with either objective available in either a strait or angled model. The angle of the scope really just comes down to preference. If you prefer to look through a scope strait on such as a rifle setup. Or if you like to look down through the scope.

First off the scope itself is great quality and comes with the legendary Vortex Warranty. Lifetime coverage, no questions asked. The body is extremely durable and has a convenient slide out sunshade like that of it's older brother, The Nomad. The diamond back is replacing this older model. The upgrades to the scope are amazing. The clarity is on a whole new level and the light gathering ability is impeccable. Obviously with the 80mm objective you have a greater light gathering ability which is preferable during those low light situations. This scope is great for someone who doesn't plan on carrying a lot of weight during their scouting expeditions. The 60mm objective is going to be more suitable for someone who plans on taking the scope into remote locations. For a backpacking situation the 60mm is going to be the better choice. Though the larger objective 80mm is only about a pound larger than the smaller version, it does cost $100 more. This scope is perfect for someone not wanting to break the bank on a $3,000 setup of Swarovski optics. But is still interested in good quality optics with a great warranty.

The optics feature multi-layer coating, XR lens coating, waterproof and fog-proof design. As well as an ArmorTek exterior which make the body scratch resistant. And protects the exterior lenses from oil and dirt.

UtahScoutingServices Rating:

4.5/5 Value
5/5 Warranty
5/5 Quality
4/5 Optical Clarity

Turkey Hunting

Wild Turkeys photo credit Ted Steinke

Utah's annual turkey hunting is approaching quickly. UtahScoutingServices has been actively searching for the big boys out there. We will soon be posting up some trail cam pics and videos of what we've found.

In recent years Utah has seen a booming population of wild turkeys. This has led to the OTC (over the counter) tags available for purchase. Right now there are plenty of hunters participating in the LE (Limited Entry) hunts state wide. If you forgot to put in for the draw, or would rather not deal with the hassle this is a great option. You can buy one of these tags at any local division authorized license retailers, or on the Division's Website.

In Utah you are able to harvest any bearded turkey. Many of the hens along with toms have beards as well. This makes the opportunity to harvest even better.

Be sure to pick you up a tag and enjoy the outdoors this spring! Nothing like hearing a fat gobbler coming into the calls! 

News For Utahs Big Game Hutners

The Utah Division of Wildlife has come out with new data on Utah's big game herds. Things are mostly looking up for the deer population according to Utah biologists. You can read the latest news release on the data here.

The bad news is that the Biologists have recommended fewer total general deer permits for Utah hunters. As well as fewer limited entry deer permits. The major reason for this is the declining buck population on the North side of the Book Cliffs unit. If you have ever hunted or scouted this area of the unit you know that it is not only fairly accessible, but it has large open spaces that make it a prime location for rifle hunters. For whatever reason the deer in the area haven't been able to keep up with substantial fawn production to replace the lost bucks. If these guys were only willing to put a little sweat into their hunts, they might locate a lot nicer bucks a couple miles away from the roads. That's the benefit of this hunt though. You can shoot a real decent four point buck just off of the road. Than again, this is why we will see a decline in permits and possibility continuing decline in the buck/doe ratio for the area.

If you feel strongly about the issues at hand it is important local hunters make their voices heard. There will be local RAC meetings to discuss these and other issues. Info on how, where, and when to attend can be found on the divisions website. We recommend attending these meetings and making your opinions known to the board. Nothing will ever change unless you are willing to stand up for yourself and the wildlife.

-UtahScoutingServices

SFW Utah

This is a pretty controversial subject among hunters in Utah. What's your opinion?

SFW Salt Lake Tribune Article

Live to Fly

I'm more than a fan of fishing. Specifically ice fishing really speaks to me. This photo by Kurt Poeker titled "Live to Fly" really captures the love between man and fish.

Team Realtree Outdoor Energy

If your looking for a new energy drink give these guys a try. My favorite so far is the low carb cream soda. Taste much better than the average energy drink.

Camo

Camo, an ultra-important aspect to maintaining your invisibility to big game in the woods. In my opinion the type of camo doesn't matter as much as the simple part that you have some period. Wearing camo is a game changer. It can be the difference between being successful or not.
My advice to you... get some camo! The pattern doesn't matter that much. Really wearing earth tones and rubbing some dirt on the clothes to break up the pattern would be better than nothing.
Obviously the high end stuff such as Sitka and King's would be great! But not everyone has the money for those brands. Personally I've bought plenty of shirts at the local K-Mart and been pleasantly satisfied. The biggest part is making sure you silhouette is broken up.

Elk Eating Trees

This is a video I shot of an elk munching on an aspen tree. This bull was extremely enthusiastic. He came in easily to our bugles and was really fun to watch.

 

Trail Cameras

Having a trail camera is an essential part of scouting for big game. Having many trail cameras is really the key. Locating and pattering the animals is one of the main tasks you will face when scouting for big game. You first need to find a heavily traveled path. It's important though that the path isn't traveled as often by humans as it is by animals. Look for greens that have been eaten down and tracked upon. Find a clean water source. Wallows are very important for elk hunting. Once the rut rolls around the bulls have to wallow everyday. Their body temperature gets so high that they really have no choice. It's one of the quickest ways for them to cool down. Here are some photos from some of my trail cameras.

Girls with guns

Gave the wifey a new pistol for her bday. Nothing like a hot girl holding a gun right?

Big Game Distance Scouting/Glassing

Is anyone out there a fan of the Manti La Sal National Forest? This is one of my favorite spots in the Utah mountains. There are large numbers of elk and monster sized mule deer that roam these green hills. Here's a quick shot I snapped in the spring of 2011.

This is the kind of area you look for when searching for big game. There is a lot of great cover for animals, fresh water supply, and great sources of food. Another great thing about this spot is the large meadows. One of the best ways to find out what animals are in an area is to glass meadows like this from a distance.

There are a lot of great optics out there that can really close the distance and help you determine what types of trophies are hanging around the area. I plan on reviewing some of them on here soon.

Scent Control

One of the biggest factors that comes into play while hunting and scouting big game animals is scent control. Now I'm not just talking about spraying yourself with a sent cover up. There is a whole lot more that goes into this than that. In my opinion the biggest part of this is paying close attention to wind direction. Out back east this might be an easier task, but in the Rocky Mountains this requires consistent diligence. One second the wind is perfectly in your face and calling in a large six point bull. The next, the wind is blowing the smell of your sweaty face and all you see is his monstrous antlers disappearing into the distance.

Now there are products out there that most definitely make your job easier. There are plenty of people that will tell you that scent cover ups don't work, in my opinion that's just hogwash. They most definitely work, but you can't rely on scent cover ups alone. I even have my own recipe for a pretty good home made scent cover that I plan on posting up later.

As far as manufactures there are countless. But which ones actually do the job? Well from my experience there are a couple of big dawgs leading the pack. The one at the top of my list is Primos Silver XP. There have been multiple times I experience a horrible shift of wind with a trophy elk within bow range and was able to maintain the proximity. The silver in their mix really seems to help with total scent and bacteria control.

There are other simple options such as sage or pine oil which do a half decent job as well. As I mentioned before I have a home made recipe that works wonders. When I get some more time I plan on posting the instructions on making this DIY option in your own kitchen or garage.

Scout My Utah-Big Game Scouting Advice and Help

This page is dedicated to helping others learn the way of the outdoors. Whether it be survival skills, hunting, trapping, fishing, or trapping we will cover it. I have literally spent thousands upon thousands of hours of my time growing up in the Utah mountains. During that time I have made many mistakes, and learned countless things. I would like to share some of that information with you. I also want to spend time reviewing products that I have personally used in the field, products which make your hunt that much easier and sometimes that much worse (those are the ones to avoid!).

The other reason I am creating this page is to give people a location to go to when they need to know about specific areas. I have covered so much land in my life and so many areas spanning across Utah's big game areas. If you have drawn a specific tag for some of Utah's big game please feel free to contact me regarding your tag. I will give you as much free information as possible. In case you aren't already aware people hoard their knowledge regarding their "honey holes" and secret mountain places to find big game. I have built up a large knowledge of lesser known areas that I am willing to share with people wanting to learn. If you have any questions regarding any aspect of hunting or scouting please contact me: scoutmyutah@gmail.com

Now if the free information I have available just isn't enough for you, there are more options. I am willing to put in the time to scout for your specific tag and animal in Utah's wilderness. For instance if you are an out of state DIY hunter who just doesn't have the time or money to do the pre-scouting needed, I will scout your tag for you. This will include maps of the area, photos of trophy big game in your area, gps locations of  where they are hiding, and recommendations for your specific hunt. The pricing on this really depends on the amount of time you are wanting me to spend in your area. Either way it is only a fraction of the costs generally associated with big game hunting. Nothing that comes close to the tens of thousands of dollars you would spend on a guided hunt. Plus you have the pride associated with a DIY hunt and knowing it was you that put the animal down on public land!

Here is a video of a bull I called in fall of 2012:

 

Please contact me with any thoughts, recommendations, and questions you have regarding Scout My Utah!