Experience on the limited entry late muzzleloader...

I did not have the late ML tag, BUT,
I did spend all of last week on a CWMU with a deer tag holder...and some cow permits.

The deer rut has not hardy even started much yet.........
Really, it's just getting going...
They need to move this hunt to the 2nd week of November IMO.

goofy elk said:

The deer rut has not hardy even started much yet.........
Really, it's just getting going...
They need to move this hunt to the 2nd week of November IMO.

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I was out on a general deer unit during the general muzzleloader elk (same season dates). Saw a good handful of younger bucks but nothing that I would consider "limited entry quality"... lots of young 4, 3, and 2pts. And only the youngest bucks were acting "rut-like."

I have a friend who is a Utah native but current non-resident, he's very familiar with one of the units & is leaning heavily towards putting in for one. So I'm curious as to the success and experience of the guys that drew this year to either strengthen or change my opinion.

Ill be interested to find out if anyone had success also. Ive been considering it but starting this hunt right after the rifle loses its LE appeal IMO. I agree with goofy that they should start it the second week of Nov.

I see why you guys are saying to push the hunt back a week but is the goal to have it in the peak of the rut for highest success chances at a mature buck or provide another opportunity for hunters to hopefully reduce the backlog of LE points?
I guess I differ in that I don't feel we should try to make every hunt as easy as possible and I'd vote to get the LE rifle elk hunt out of the rut too.

Yes. I think if they move it back just one week it would make it a much more attractive hunt and reduce some backlog. I believe the dwr created these hunts because the areas they have them in are of a higher buck to doe ratio. Not alot of tags are offered so moving it back one week (2 would be perfect) wouldnt effect much other than making a more quality hunt with a better chance at a mature buck (similar to the Cache Crawford Mtn hunt). If they moved it back one week I would probably throw my points at it for sure. Having the hunt literally right after the rifle hunt doesn't seem that great to me at all. Bucks are still spooky and the rut is probably still a week or two out. I would rather have the general muzzy tag and get my crack at them a few weeks before the rifle hunt.

3arabians said:

Having the hunt literally right after the rifle hunt doesn't seem that great to me at all.

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Dont kid yourself, it was AWESOME back when we could do it.

-DallanC

DallanC said:

3arabians said:

Having the hunt literally right after the rifle hunt doesn't seem that great to me at all.

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Dont kid yourself, it was AWESOME back when we could do it.

-DallanC

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Dallan I remember those days although I didnt partake in muzzy back then. Did they start the hunt a 2 or 3 after the rifle ended back then like this LE hunt now? I seem to remember it being a week or more after.

3arabians said:

Dallan I remember those days although I didnt partake in muzzy back then. Did they start the hunt a 2 or 3 after the rifle ended back then like this LE hunt now? I seem to remember it being a week or more after.

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IIRC, it was like the following Wednesday and ran 7 days. Originally the ML tag was literally an "Extension" of the rifle deer season tag. Of course we used to get actual winters then and would have pretty good snow come that first week in Nov.

-DallanC

Next years dates for this hunt is Nov. 2-10th.......

Not into the prime rut yet, BUT much better....:!:...
2016 will be a good year to have one of these muzzy tags in hand.........

goofy elk said:

Next years dates for this hunt is Nov. 2-10th.......

Not into the prime rut yet, BUT much better....:!:...
2016 will be a good year to have one of these muzzy tags in hand.........

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I think 2017 will be a couple days later than 2016.
I also think it would be good to have those hunts extend an extra 5 or 6 days past the end of the muzzy elk hunt.

I see where a 190" buck was killed on one of the Southern units.

I've seen a picture of one killed on a southern unit. From the story the hunter worked very hard to get it and had a ton of help from family, but it was an awesome looking buck.