2010 Utah elk help

[ds2]

Ok, I have been putting in for California elk for many years unsucessfully. I have a ton of preference points but cannot make elkchallads or even tag soup with them. I am looking to put in with a couple of friends for Utah this year. The Utah website has a ton of information, but without knowing anything at all about the areas, it is very hard to narrow anything down, let alone key in on a couple of zones. Just askin for some Zones or areas to start researching. Will be looking to put in for cow tags. Thanks in advance to anyone that helps.

 

[shotgunjim]

Utah has arguebly the best elk hunting in the world. That is if you can get a tag. If you're just now starting to build points, I would'nt expect to drew a quality tag until about the year 2050, seriously. I have 12 resident points and I don't expect to draw anytime soon. I think somewhere around 17 points is max. There is a general season bull area but IMHO is not worth driving from Cali to hunt it, you would be better off going to Colorado and hunting one of their general areas where there is a lot more elk but not many big ones. A cow hunt in Utah my be your only option for now. All areas where cow hunts are held hold lots of elk. I think the Antlerless proclamations come out in March or April go to the Utah DWR website to get one mailed to you.

 

[ds2]

Not drawn until the year 2050? Heck those are better odds than California! Thanks Jim, I have the Utah guidebook on my desktop. I will review again and figure a couple of zones to concentrate on.

 

[XDHUNTER]

Out of state hunter have a better odds of drawing elk tag in Utah. specially the northern part of the state.cow elk i draw every year.
A friend of mine from Nevada drew a tag this year on 7 points.
You just have to know where to put your points.
Good luck on quest.....

 

[DLS]

If you aren't builiding points, you should be. It IS tough to draw, but can be done with less than maximum points. I drew an archery elk tag for the Monroe unit last year with 8 preference points, and that was a random tag. You can get a general tag without problems, or some of the lesser regarded trophy units without having to wait as long as for the most sought after units like Monroe, Beaver, Mt. Dutton, Pahvant and others in that region.

You cannot draw if you don't apply. As has been said on this thread already, you don't need to go clear to Utah to hunt cow elk, and if you're going to drive that far there are probably better states for a cow, like Colorado.

 

[WapitiBob]

The draw odds are on the web site. Download the pdf and see where you stand with each unit. Your only chance will be the random tags since you are not going to be in a max point pool.
UT has a bonus point system so you will have a chance in the random draw but the others with points will have a better chance.

 

[DLS]

Do keep in mind that maximum points in one hunt code may not be maximum for another hunt code. In plain English, the max points applicants for one hunt may be at 13 while they may be at 16 for a different hunt.