Utah LE elk hunt

[utah400elk]

Well, I have moved again for work so I won’t have a whitetail semi-live hunt this year. I did however draw a random tag for a Utah Wasatxh Muzzleloader elk hunt. So…semi-live Muzzy elk hunt it is.


This is the first time in a long time I am hunting elk without my son. He graduated last year and is in college. My good friend is with me…for the first 4 days, then I am kind of solo. My wife and chocolate lab came along for the adventure.

Using my GX460 for all my hunting and tried renting a trailer. We usually rent and AirB&B but way to expensive for this trip.View attachment 417608

 

[brymoore]

Good luck! I had the same tag last year. One of my favorite elk hunts.

 

[Dan-06]

What part of the state is your tag for?

 

[utah400elk]

Wasatch

 

[Dan-06]

I have 20 acres south of duchesne, bordering state land. Might be worth a look.

 

[utah400elk]

Today was opening morning. Good to awesome hunt.

We had a bull bugling right by the truck but I was sure he was going to be scared off because of all the vehicles. We did a mellow 1.5-2 mile hike into a canyon.

We got there a had a nice 330-340 7x7 bugling. As we moved into about 200-300 yards another hunter we hadn’t seen took a shot at him. He missed it cleared the canyon.

On the way out we stumbled into another herd. Had them at 20 yards at one point. Had two smaller 5x5
S in the herd and another bull glunking below. Never could see the other bull but passed on the two 5x5s.

The bull by the truck was still screaming when we were into the 2nd herd. He went silent before we could move in. Back at camp now resting for a big push tonight.

 

[utah400elk]

 

[duckhunt]

This is goung to get good.

 

[utah400elk]

It was an extremely long one lastl night. We did a death hike (my terms) that was 7 miles and 1500 verticle.

We ran into moose and that was the first time I saw a missed fall. There were four, a big bull and three cows. The last cow tried to run up the bank and tripped. She fell and rolled back down. She was embarrassed and just stood there looking at us (as to say I meant to do that).

The funny part of the day. This is like a meme. I put my pack down and had to take a shit. Just when my pack and gun hit the ground I had a funny feeling. I looked up and there was a huge 5x5 in its bed just looking at me. He slowly got up and moved off bugling. Sorry, no pictures. I was indisposed at the time.

Then a little porcupine right but the trail. I have not seen one in several years.

The next photo is from the top of square top mountain. The terminal of the death hike. Beautiful views of Starwberry reservoir in Utah.

The next photo is crappy but a good bull. Hope to have more good pics of him later today.

The final tally for the day was over 32,000 steps and it is what a long elk hunt day in the mountains looks like for me.