Forkyfinder
Well-known member
- Joined
- Dec 13, 2023
- Messages
- 3,444
Yeah - he dipped willingly.
Utah Paunsagunt Archery Deer
- Thread starter Zim
- Start date
Hem
Well-known member
Its a damn shame when good members leave.
BuzzH
Well-known member
Yes, and how he's getting screwed by the system even though he's had a ton of good tags.
perma
Well-known member
Zim
Well-known member
Finally got time to write up a conclusion to my Utah Pauns hunt. There were several reasons for the long delay. First of all, I am not retired. I still work full time. For me to take off six weeks for this hunt and subsequent NP vacation with the wife, I had an enormous amount of work to make-up when I returned. And all that had to be done so I could have time for my six week fall Illinois whitetail season. At 65, I just don’t have the energy for all this anymore. On top of this, I knew many would not believe what I saw since I am from Indiana, and didn’t have photos. Also, I don’t have much motivation when I already know I’m going to be attacked by know-it-alls and young haters who know they will never draw this tag in their lifetimes. I ended up gambling and not filling my tag. However, I have to say this was one of the top 3 hunts of my lifetime. Definitely have no regrets selecting this one to spend my points on, and would do it again if I had it to do over. The primary reason was I got to see several world class deer, and got within shooting range of several. Every day was a true adventure. I ended up hunting all but two days. Just was physically spent those days. I identified an area to hunt that was in extremely close proximity to where I could camp, and work at a restaurant doing data entry mid-days. This resulted in extremely little time devoted to driving my vehicle. The least of any hunt in my life. Also, the terrain was excellent for my physical limitations. I’m 65 with two torn Achilles, a blown out right meniscus, and heart failure. A huge fringe benefit was between the terrain and temperature, I was completely free of foot pain for 5 weeks! This has not happened for twelve years. I had way too many shot opportunities and stud sightings to count. These included two deer I expect many to call me a liar about. Because one was right at the 40” mark, and the other a heavy 230”-250” with everything, including incredible mass, and too many stickers to count. Both these scores were confirmed by the very cool Mossback guide who was among those scouting or hunting the area. I won’t name names because I don’t expect he’s supposed to be helping non-clients, lol. This guy was very polite and refined where I should be setting up in an awesome saddle. He knew the 40” buck frequented this saddle. His client was tagged out, so I expect that’s why he told me about it. The rack was thin but still……40” lol. I employed several strategies, and on the third to the last day that wide buck stepped out from behind a cedar tree and sky lined himself 22 yards from me set up in my Ghost Blind. I seriously think my heart stopped. The problem was, these bucks busted me anyway, despite the mirrored panels. It was so quiet, any sound carried out far. This one was actually just too close when I spotted him. I could not draw my bow as he was locked on me. I worked this saddle most of my hunt, especially weekdays, as there were recreational ATV users heavy on weekends. I could hunt it both mornings & evenings, but mornings were best. I had action virtually every day there. I like to try unique strategies, and after my hunt, wondered how setting up a tripod stand nestled inside one of the cedar or juniper trees would work. My bet is it would be pretty effective, but I’d like to hear comments. I can’t recall how high the tripod stands I saw at Rural King were, but I’m guessing 12’. There were plenty of trees I could have set up in, and if high enough, I could have killed several 180”+ bucks as most these deer funneled tight. I had a couple Lone Wolf climbers, but they were not suitable for my favored area. I found the high timber bordering Bryce Canyon NP just too open. Did run into several shooters up there though, two easily over 32”. The evening I glassed the 230”-250” NT turned into a fiasco when another hunter and his entourage spotted him as well. The following morning the dude was back, with three other trucks road glassing/hunting for him. I got there before sun up and hiked in solo. None of the six guys left their trucks. None of us saw that buck again, but the Mossback guy had previously. He knew the exact route the buck used, and confirmed my score again. It was great just to see him and be there myself. In the last week of my hunt, I met two locals with the tag, one asked me for help, because his target buck in another area had been harvested. He hunted with me for three days, with moderate success, and was respectful of my prime saddle. He ended up shooting a beautiful symmetrical 199” during the muzzleloader season, he send me a photo of. He had one of those multi-weapon tags. The other guy had a camper set up in the bottom, West of my saddle. He was stalking the same deer on their feeding route, but lower down before they got to my setup. Also a great guy, we were respectful of each others spots. Can’t say the same for one other idiot, who had a cull tag. His side-by-side chauffer was driving his loud rig up and down the road, following my truck around. At one point he pulled up 18” from my license 4Runner plate. While I was hunting 200 yards down the road. They were glassing my target deer in the morning, and knew exactly where I had set up. The saddle was jam packed with deer that morning. Most of any day I hunted it. But the Utards blew them all out in short order. For 30 years, I refrained from using the term Utard. That is now no longer the case. I got a first hand view of a certified pro in action. On my last day, I had a huge nontypical, but only about 28” wide, I’d not seen previously, walk right down broadway and into one of the cedar trees I’d trimmed out for my blind. He liked the fact I had cut the thin exterior branches away, so he could rub up the trunk and thicker branches. I sat there and watched him tear it up for must have been 10 minutes, before working his way to my setup. As he walked a trail behind a shrub tree, I drew my bow at 40 yards, but he heard me and bounded back the way he came. I could not range him as I was already at full draw. So I let the arrow go. A clean miss. After pacing it off, I found he had walked farther back than what it looked like, and was in fact at 50 yards. Oh well, at least I got my second shot. Both deer moved as I released, so I didn’t have much chance. I must say, the DIY hunters I spoke with that chose to burn their points on muzzleloader or rifle hunts didn’t see any bucks of the caliber I was hunting. They were into more 170” type bucks. So I was very glad I chose my archery hunt. The only bad thing was I didn’t get to go there the year before, and spend 2-3 weeks scouting as planned. This was due to the heart issue. If anyone draws this tag and would like some tips, I’m glad to help. However, I can’t help anyone with a mzl or rifle tag as the deer have moved by then. I don’t want to give any advice if you are just thinking about burning your points here. Just be aware I’d highly recommend the archery season. If you have an actual tag in hand, I’ll give you some very specific advice. Good luck all in the draws this year!
seeth07
Well-known member
What a cliffhanger! Thought we would be on the edge of seat forever
BAKPAKR
Well-known member
Thanks for coming back to share the rest of your story. I wish you would have connected with a monster but you certainly didn’t waste the tag.
