We've worked with this outfitter for 25 years, and he has consistently produced a high success rate on truly trophy class bucks on conservatively managed private ranches.
He takes so few hunters on each property that many bucks reach full maturity, allowing hunters to be extremely selective. Because he takes so few hunters on his ranches, the costs of his hunting leases are not divided among a large number of customers, so the hunts are expensive. Still, for less than most Dall sheep or Yukon moose hunts, you can enjoy the very best mule deer hunt that we offer in an area where you do not have to draw a tag.
The ranches are managed under Utah's Cooperative Wildlife Management Unit system, which means hunters can buy a tag over the counter and hunt earlier and later than general seasons.
On some properties the hunting takes place in September, when many of the big bucks have antlers covered in velvet and, hence, tend to avoid heavy cover and feed during the first and last of the day in open areas. Every year hunters take some big bucks by watching water holes during warm weather. The antlers are fully grown in September and hard beneath the velvet. Still other hunts take place in October and a few in early November.
Normally you must book a couple of years in advance to get a spot.
The guides spend a great deal of time pre-season scouting and know right where to hunt for your buck. The deer are not tame and are not raised or hunted behind high fences. Yet hunter success is high because of all the factors in favor of the hunter.
Even though hunters are encouraged to hold out for truly trophy-class bucks, hunter success is typically high.
