Book cliffs deer migration

The book cliffs deer herd is one of the largest in utah. The alternative deer management plan provides the guidelines for which decisions on hunt recommendations are made. Thats when biologists studying the red deserttohoback mule deer migration corridor noticed something odd in their gps tracking data. The bookcliffs deer herd was very low at the turn of the century, but rebounded dramatically. I would like to thank everyone that gave advice and encouragement on this site. For mule deer, an incredible 150mile migration the new. The early hunt is managed for hunter opportunity and usually occurs during the early part of the deer migration, thus few olderage class bucks are found during the early hunt. Gis, where it will be overlaid with maps of critical habitat, migration routes, land ownership. The state increased cougar hunting quotas and reduced deer permits in response for 2020. Large mammals found in the book cliffs include coyotes, mountain lions, bobcats, mule deer, elk, black bears, pronghorn, american bison as an extension of the henry mountains bison herd and bighorn sheep. Deer migrate each year to their winter ranges in the first week of. The does reappearance marks a stunning turn in an already astounding journey that began in 2016.

There are lots of 150 class bucks with 2224 inch spreads on the unit to choose from with quality up to 170 class for those who put in the time both scouting and during the hunt. A new website launched by the utah division of wildlife resources allows the public to access migration data from thousands of land animals, fish and amphibians. Natural resources reporter angus thuermer profiled the many mule deer studies conducted by the wyoming migration initiative and the wyoming cooperative game and fish research unit, with an emphasis on the outreach and privatepublic partnerships that fund our research. We specialize in trophy bull elk, mule deer, bison, bear and lion. In the stateowned book cliffs roadless area, where bull elk permits are limited to 30 per season, the hunter success ratio is 75 percent. Dwr launches new website highlighting wildlife migration. This is the place to go to get a nice representative mule deer buck.

In april 2017, the utah division of wildlife resources began a statewide initiative to identify, preserve and enhance essential movement corridors for terrestrial and aquatic wildlife species in the state. Migration is the underlying mechanism that allows this landscape to support the deer populations, said hall sawyer, a research biologist with western. Conversely, the data can show where animal movement is truncated. Nov 03, 2016 some of the bucks filmed during the 2016 rifle deer hunt at the book cliffs in utah. Ive heard 170 180 which doesnt seem great for a 16 bonus points hunt. We are hunting for buck deer and we hunt an area that gets very little hunting pressure during deer season as it is accessible only by foot or horseback. New website allows people to look at utahs wildlife. Utahs limited entry units, starts on the jan 29th the.

It has been common to see as many as 40 to 50 bucks in a 5 day. The deer come up and over the ridge, which is 8000 feet high and many miles long, in order to get to the winter grounds low on the other side. Limited entry book cliffs bull elk hunts and wasatch bull elk. The first recorded sighting didnt happen until the early 1900s at the mouth of spanish fork canyon. Unbelievable mule deer winter range deer migration. Habitat the vast expanse of the book cliffs herd unit is public land managed. If you are looking for a deer of a lifetime, then it is probably better to go guided unless you get some time to scout and learn the country. Particularly during the rifle hunt, youll see unreal numbers of bucks. Some of the country is pretty tough alongside the pink cliffs and bryce canyon national park and the success rate, while high, isnt quite as high as the book cliffs. The wind would do strange things, a lot of doesfawnssmall bucks to work around, thick brush in some places, no cover in others, dry crunchy conditions, and hunting pressure. Courtesy corinne springer moose hang out in range creek canyon on the book cliffs. Where to hunt mule deer in utah for 2015 hunting the west.

Talking mule deer is the official podcast of the mule deer foundation and covers mule deer and blacktailed deer biology, hunting, and conservation issues. In part eight of our series, we stop in at utahs book cliffs. Olson said the map shows sections of heavy deer movement. Mule deer, elk and western big game hunting articles and. Slope diamond mtn bull elk any weapon, book cliffs bitter creek south bull elk multi season, south slope bonanza diamond mtn pronghorn must rsvp. The green river in desolation canyon is a major migration route for waterfowl and a favorite winter. The book cliffs unit probably provides one of the most enjoyable hunts in the state. Search for a hunt by wildlife species including buck. It is a unique hunt and can be quite difficult or extremely easy.

Book cliffs roadless deer eastmans hunting journals. Utah trophy bulls, bulls, bear, book cliffs mountains. Unbelievable mule deer winter range deer migration duration. The book cliffs unit probably provides one of the most enjoyable hunts in the west. A cold rains storm much less snow will put them right into migration mode and it only takes less than a day for them to get to their winter grounds. Nov 25, 2016 daves paunsaugunt utah hunt 2016 muzzleloader. Wearing a radio collar, this doe might be among the deer that provides information about the affect proposed changes to seep ridge road have on deer in the book cliffs. Biologists are tracking deer, elk, bison and pronghorn movements in utah areas of concern and public interest such as the book cliffs, paunsaugunt plateau and on the parker mountain range.

Book cliffs mule deer are traditional in their migration and winter areas. Buck mule deer hunting in the book cliffs, this is a limited entry unit. We hunt general season deer in the northeastern region of utah. Utah hunt planner utah division of wildlife resources. There are some big brutes that will hang out on or near the top but they could be few and far between. There are only 3 areas with vehicle access and all of them will be loaded with hunters. Elk migration draws attention but public should keep its distance. The quality of the hunt is reflected in the heavy demand for permits. You do have a legitimate opportunity to kill a 200 inch mule deer here, but everyone knows it.

Sporadic cloud cover wasnt going to make this hunt any easier. Book cliffs highway proposed in mule deer winter range. Research hunts and units before you apply in the big game drawing, and any of utahs other hunt drawings. There are definitely big deer there but i wouldnt burn points on it. We offer elk, deer, antelope, bighorn sheep, buffalo, cougar and bear hunts. Running northsouth on seep ridge between willow and bitter creeks, this proposal will create highway traffic through crucial winter range and a migration corridor in the book cliffs limited entry mule deer hunting unit. New website allows people to look at utahs wildlife migration patterns by carter williams, posted mar. The state estimated a deer population of 372,500 in 2018 and 2019, up from about 363,650 in 2017. Maps for the region book cliffs wildlife management unit.

Majority of the deer harvested on the early hunt are younger bucks around 2. In d11, after migrating from the summer ranges on blm and. The book cliffs in utah in october is anyones guess. Ive looked into this unit before since i have enough bonus points to draw but have shyed away because of true trophy potential atleast from what ive heard. Utah has the following basic limited entry deer areas. Some of the bucks filmed during the 2016 rifle deer hunt at the book cliffs in utah. Introducing duramaps, a rugged, tearproof, waterproof hybrid fabric.

The week before the season starts you will see zero deer in this unit. The deer in the utah book cliffs live a sheltered life. It can be a physical hunt with a large roadless area included in the deer unit. I have seen it down there when there is not a single deer to be found up high, and this is in early october before the rifle hunts start. In 1986, there were 29 applications for every permit issued, according to the udwr. Deer migration patterns in alaska, alaska department of fish. Aug 01, 2018 book cliffs mule deer are traditional in their migration and winter areas. Numerous opportunities for both are found on blm land south of book cliffs near westwater, and are marked on the map. I dont know which of the 2 is considered the roaded side. Utahs conservation permit program annual report fiscal. Moose make a surprising move into utahs range creek the.

Wyoming migration initiatives fundraising model profiled in high country news. At the end of your article you mention to drop you a line and you could see if you could put me on the buck of my dreams. In january, 2009, utah division of wildlife resources officials transplanted 31 bison from the henry mountains bison herd to the book cliffs. The largest member of the deer family was not found in utah when pioneers arrived and, biologists say, migrated on its own from idaho and wyoming. The book cliffs area is an exceptional trophy elk and mule deer unit. The book cliffs are well known for being a sought after hunting destination, and for good reason. Deer migrate each year to their winter ranges in the first week of october regardless of snow or other weather conditions. We hunt the book cliffs, rattlesnake, nine mile and san rafael units.

Migration initiative utah division of wildlife utah. I have been told that the roaded side of the books cliffs is the one to go with. The unit has a large number of bucks and deer on it. In this dry country a deer may have to climb a mountain to get a drink. Our years of hunting,working, playing, and living in the book cliffs, year round. The book cliffs is my favorite mountain range in utah. Olson said the data shows two large migration corridors west of eagle mountain a town that didnt exist in the 90s, but is projected to triple in size over the next 20 years. The state estimated 375,000 deer in january, 2017, down from 385,000 in 2016. Vernal, ut uintah basin chapter banquet mule deer foundation. The deer come up and over the ridge, which is 8000 feet high and many miles long, in order to get to the winter grounds. This unit has a lot of deer, finding a buck over 180 may prove a little challenging. Roadless area deer move south udwr recommends the same avoidance periods for. Today, theres a limited draw hunt for trophy elk and mule deer here. Limited entry book cliffs bull elk hunts and wasatch bull.

The highway has severed or truncated migration corridors originating as much as 150 miles away, and it interferes with movement of tens of thousands of animals. This is a fun hunt if the hunter enjoys seeing a large number of 2225. An effort to identify and preserve wildlife migration corridors. Your book cliffs hunt will begin at the trail head with a short horse orientation, packing and cargoing your hunting gear and heading off by horseback and mule train on about an hour and a half journey into some very remote and rugged country whose inhabitants include elk, mule deer, black bear, coyotes, forest grouse and a whole host of other. It is a migration hunt where the deer migrate out of the unit and sometimes all the big deer migrate early. The size of the area, and difficult terrain, can make it a very challenging place to hunt.

All does will be slung back for processing, and this will be a good opportunity to see and help process deer. We will be capturing and gps collaring 40 elk on the book cliffs to better understand movements and migration patterns. We are gt outfitters, specializing in eastern utah big game. If there is a cold rain or even a early snow storm the deer will be off of the top and down to their winter grounds 12 miles to the north of the main road on the top. The summer had been brutally hot and dry with temperatures in the low 90s. Deer migration patterns in alaska, alaska department of fish and game skip to main content skip to site navigation skip to section navigation. Deer hunting in arizonas game management unit 12b huntscore. Feb 03, 2015 migration is the underlying mechanism that allows this landscape to support the deer populations, said hall sawyer, a research biologist with western ecosystems technology, a consulting firm. Duramap fabric map designed to last as long as your hunting memories. Apr 09, 2018 the does reappearance marks a stunning turn in an already astounding journey that began in 2016. Sep, 2019 book cliffs, utah limited entry mule deer unit. Most book cliffs deer migrate to the north, however some migrate south. Oil clashes with elk in the book cliffs high country news. The utah division of wildlife resources utah hunt planner is an interactive map designed to help hunters research hunting units.

Our new film shows how interstate 80 in wyoming is an almost impenetrable obstacle to movement of pronghorn, elk, and elk, including animals in the herd of worldrecord migrator deer 255. If the deer start moving down, you need to know where they are going. That hunt has been canceled for 2020, and the hunt listing has been removed from the electronic copy of the guidebook. The utah hunt planner also provides the legal hunting boundaries approved by the utah wildlife board. Hosted by steve belinda and jodi stemler, both passionate conservationist who bring a wealth of knowledge, humor and intrigue to mule deer conservation and help listeners underdstand what mdf does and what you can do to help mule deer. New huntdata site check out the new experience click here to jump. We know the 100s of thousands of public land acres like no one else could. Blm a great map to have if you are interested in mountain biking or motorized dirt biking. The book cliffs utah mule deer unit produces 150170 bucks yearly with a few larger taken. Mule deer hunting, elk hunting and western big game hunting. The purpose of the book is to give hunters, landowners, and oth ers interested in deer management and wildlife in general an overview of mule deer biology. Book cliffs elk and deer hunts fully guided trophy hunts. Information on sitka blacktailed deer migration pattern in alaska.