2006 trophy, Nov. 1-5 hunt, 12,000-acre SB Ranch.

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A handful of trophy mule deer hunts just became available on three prime ranches in Utah. These properties offer an excellent opportunity to take a trophy-class mule deer. You do not need to draw a tag to take these hunts.

The hunt provider also offers a trophy deer hunt on a Wyoming ranch. He was holding these slots in Utah for customers who might not draw a Wyoming tag. His customers fared well in the Wyoming drawing, and that's why these hunts have just become available in 2007.

We have worked with the hunt provider for the past five or six years. He has consistently satisfied our customers on his guided hunts, which he offers with one guide per two hunters or one guide per hunter. He manages his properties conservatively. Hunter success has been good, considering that many of his customers have been quite selective.

One of the hunts takes place on the 12,000-acre BS Ranch, a Cooperative Wildlife Management Unit. The hunt provider did not allow hunters on the ranch in 2004 or 2005 and was the only hunter on the place in 2006. He took an 8x10 non-typical after hunting an afternoon and a morning. The buck scored in the 180s. He is taking four hunters in 2007.

"Hunters shouldn't expect to see a lot of deer on this particular ranch," he said, "but they should do well on good bucks."

Another hunt takes place in early September on a 13,000-acre Cooperative Wildlife Management Unit, the JC

 Ranch. Last year two early season hunters got a cactus buck and a 32-incher. Another outfitter sub-leased the ranch for an October hunt on the property, but did not do as well. This year the outfitter has decided to keep all of the hunting for himself . The ranch has some oakbrush ridges and sage knobs down low and some beatiful rocky sub-alpine ridges on the Wasatch Range up high. The bucks are usually in the high country in September, and they move to the lower area where there is good cover in October. The deer's antlers are hard by then, but sometimes they'll still have a velvet covering. This year the outfitter has decided to take five hunters total, and they'll all hunt in early September, when the bigger bucks are more vulnerable.

The outfitter also has the 6,000-acre Emory Ranch lease, which borders one of the most famous ranches for trophy bucks in Utah.

"We are really excited about this ranch," the outfitter said. "We are seeing some really good bucks there right now."

Book now for 2009.

2006 trophy, Sept. 6-10 hunt, 14,000-acre GR Ranch.

2006 trophy, Sept. 6-10 hunt, 14,000-acre GR Ranch