One of the best deer hunters I know finds success by backpacking into some of the most remote and rugged mule deer terrain in Utah. He decided to get licensed to guide in this region, creating an opportunity that you might consider if you want a big muley and are in good enough physical and mental shape to handle a difficult backpack trip. He took one hunter in 2008, and he got the buck whose rack is pictured above. Please note that he is not holding the rack way out in front to distort the image. These antlers gross 197 Boone and Crockett points and net about 191. I've known the outfitter for 20 years and have hiked with him into the area a couple of times on summer scouting trips. I've hunted bighorn sheep in the area and emphasize that you must be capable to take this hunt.

Tim and I found about a dozen sheds during a day of scouting in July. Here are two antlers we found on one of the remote ridges.

This unit is composed of huge mesas and ridges, ideal habitat for a muley to get old and big. Deer numbers are low, but antler quality is high, so plan to sit and glass for long periods.

The deer tags are easy to draw. With 10 percent of the tags in the region offered to non-residents you'll almost surely get a tag if you apply. However, there are no left-over tags because any left-over tags in the non-resident allocation are issued to residents. So you must apply for a tag by the late January deadline.