A little addition to the Elk hunt coming up.  Last night while talking to my neighbor about the luck of getting this tag, he said he has a brother in law who hunts this area A LOT!  He gave me his name and where he works and I’ll be calling him today.

Hopefully he can steer me in some direction that just might kick out a nice bull elk.  More to come after the discussion with him.

Bears Butt

July 31, 2013

Today was a travel day until about 3 p.m. and since then it’s been back on this black box looking up more information about this big old hunting unit called the San Juan!

I decided to go back to the DWR website and look up the CWMU’s for this area and sure enough I found another one…only this time it is on the West side of Monticello.  If all the boundaries are correct from the DWR office this CWMU covers even the property where Dennis kills his buck every year on the muzz hunt…not a good thing.  So, is the boundary incorrect as posted by the DWR or has Dennis been getting away with something?

Further investigation shows that the CWMU does not go as far West as Dennis thought it did.  This is a good thing providing the DWR boundary is correct.  At any rate, further to the West along a road that is open all year round, is a off shoot road that pretty much follows the forest service boundary.  This boundary is absolutely an area we can hunt and travel on.

So, feeling somewhat relaxed about that, I went in search of the local averages for temperature, rainfall and/or snow depth and this is what I found.

During the month of November and at the elevation of 9100 feet, they average a high of 37, low of 12 and precipitation in the form of snow 11.5 inches (2 inches of moisture)…it looks like our travel plans for 9,000 feet and above will be stopped unless things are below average this year.  Down on the valley floor (Blanding) at 6,000 feet above sea level, the average temps are 47 and 23 respectively, with 1.23 inches of moisture and 6.4 inches of snow.

If we do some interpolating, we should be able to hunt from 7,500 ft and lower, and expect an average snow depth of 9 inches.  Providing it doesn’t drift, we should be ok as long as we chain up and go slow.

My hopes are for a dryer than normal year, at least until this hunt is over and the weather allows us to look this country over really good.  Again, the pictures I’m seeing on the internet really show off this place really well!

Bears Butt

July 30, 2013

About 6:30 or so last night I got a call from one of my cousins who is very familiar with the San Juan country side.  He came over and we looked extensively at Google Earth on Sherry’s laptop.  He explained where “his rock” is (George Rock, and some time ago mentioned that he is in the process of carving it out to make a motel out of it), then on up the highway to a turn off that lead to a small water hole.  This would be a pretty good “out of the way” base camp if we wanted to use it.  From there we would have access to the North side of the Blue Mountains.

Then we followed another “main road”, across to the Monticello side of things and looked at the images there.  Talk about beautiful country!  People have posted pictures of the countryside that they have taken and placed them on Google Earth…magnificent country.

He pointed out another fine camping place next to a sizable lake pretty high up on the mountain, but warned about the possibility of heavy snow.  Something to definitely be concerned about.  Back down the road much closer to Monticello, he talked about an uncle of his that owns quite a bit of property and the likelihood of him letting us camp and hunt were very good.  He will get in contact with him and let me know pretty soon.

Looking at the pictures others have taken and posted on Google Earth really makes you realize this is perfect elk country.  A mix of cedar/pine/quakies and oak brush.  Some places very thick and others rather scattered.  I can hardly wait to get into there and see it for myself.

Earlier in the day Tracker called and said he would like to join me and Weasel on this hunt, even though it isn’t a muzzleloader only type hunt, he still wants to go and take pictures of that area of the state.  So with the three of us committed for sure we will have one camp trailer and at least 2 four wheelers to go down for the hunt.  Cousin Dennis said he would join us at our camp and go out with us as sort of the guide!  Keep in mind, more is better sometimes!

Bears Butt

July 29, 2013

I’m classifying these posts under “dream hunts” as I consider this San Juan Late Elk hunt just that…a “Dream Hunt”.  Hopefully not a night marish one either.

I posted on the Utah Wildlife Network forum my dilemma and received both pro and con advise about the hunt.  Now that that is behind me, I’ve pretty much made my mind up to accept the hunt as it is, buy the tag and get on with some serious computer leg work.

One of the responders “Nambaster” called me and we talked for a bit about the hunt, the weather in the area and assorted other things.  What I got from the conversation was that there is no need to go down there and try to pattern the elk, as they will be pretty much on their winter range by the dates for my hunt.  The next most important item was safety and getting around in that part of the country.  He mentioned snowmobiles….I’ve never driven one, but my mind quickly raced to our Crawfords Dream Hunt and seeing all the guys with snowmobiles coming back with drag wagons full of huge bucks!  Only they could get to where the bucks were without killing themselves (like we did).  With that still in my head, the gamble is still a pretty good one as we may just not get the deep snows and drifts that come with them during these hunt dates.  I question: How much does God love me?

I have also decided I need to begin getting into shape for this hunt.  If you are planning to come and help me, I suggest you do the same.  I’ll need a lot of help getting the meat out of the deepest, rockiest and steepest canyon down there.   I watched some Youtube videos and mostly paid attention to the terrain rather than the animals and the hunters bagging them.  It’s a beautiful place with just about every imaginable terrain possible.  The country holds every imaginable wild animal as well and I’d love to see a bear in the wild while down there.  That is one of the reasons I’ve been putting in for this tag.

With the help from Nambaster and others forthcoming, I think this hunt will be a memorable one even if the tag goes unfilled.  I have a lot of work ahead of me and my mind is made up!

Bears Butt

July 28, 2013

(39 years with my sweetheart!  I love you Sherry!!!)

Today has been a rather hectic one for me mentally.  I’ve looked over the map of the San Juan bull elk so much I think I have it about memorized.  I’ve been on several websites looking at different things about this hunting area and have tried to find as much information as I can about the elk herd.  But, I’m still lacking information that I think I need to make an informed decision as to purchasing the tag or not.  Remember, I only have until noon on Monday to decide.

What little bit I have found out is that the herd migrates from this area, so am I buying a tag in a huge area that has no elk on it?  Which way to the elk migrate?  Do they all go about the same place for the winter?

There are a couple of CWMU’s in the area and both of them are on the NE end and side of the place.  Do these CWMU’s  house all the elk when they migrate off the main mountain?

I asked on the Utah Wildlife Network forum for information about this area and one guy responded with something like “My cousins live in Blanding and they don’t even apply for the late elk hunt, that should tell you something”.  And the very next posting was from a guy who said “I would spend all my bonus points to get that tag”!

I have an email off to one of my cousins down that way who says he knows a land owner and will be getting back to me soon.

You know this just might be my last chance at bagging a nice bull elk and I would love to have a chance at something about 300 points in size.  But do I gamble the $300 for the tag?  I still have some thinking to do.

Bears Butt

July 27, 2013

Weasel and I went to the Logan gun range today for sighting in Fat Ducks and My 7mm Rem Mag rifles for the upcoming cow elk hunt.  We had just gotten there when our good friend Dancing Ramrod called.  He was sitting in front of my house and had a really nice gift of some Chorizo’s for me!  As we talked I told him that Winemaker was in the house and to ring the door bell.  He said he had already done that and no answer, yet the garage door was wide open and only one car was inside.

He told me he had the Chorizos and wanted to leave them here, so I told him to put them in the freezer, which he did.  We talked a short time and then he said good by.

No sooner had he hung up when my phone rang and it was Sherry calling.  I told her that Dancing Ramrod was outside and she said she saw him pulling away.  She did not hear the door bell as she was downstairs on her computer.  I’ll have to fix the down stairs door bell ringer, it probably has worn out batteries.

Anyway, she said she had just gotten off the phone with the Utah Division of Wildlife Management, a lady named Karen had called and said that I was chosen as an alternate in the big game drawing for the Late San Juan, any weapon bull elk hunt and that they had a tag turned back in and it was my choice to accept it or not!  ACCEPT IT OR NOT!!!!!

Sherry gave me the ladies phone number and I called right away!  I am not in a dream land, this is for real!  I told her I would have to wait until Monday to give her my credit card info, but I WANT THAT TAG!  She was cute about the whole conversation!  How about that?  With only 3 points going into the drawing I get chosen as an alternate and someone turns in their tag!  I’m going to the San Juan’s!!!!  It’s a late hunt that starts the first part of November and runs until around mid month.  Dates will be posted later!  I need someone to pinch me!

Bears Butt, THE Chosen One once again!

July 26, 2013

I just read an email stating that Brokenstick drew an out of state tag for the Limited Entry North Cache Bull Elk, Archery!  Congrats to Brokenstick on a tough to draw tag.

On the downward side of that tag is the toughness of the hunt itself.  Lots of steep and deep in there.  I wish I had lots of time to get into there and do some scouting for him, but unfortunately my time is tied up.

If anyone has any hints as to where he can look for a bull elk, please post it up, being from out of state he is going to need all the help he can get. Google Earth can only do so much, the rest is footwork and hours and hours behind a glass.

Once a good bull is spotted then the hunter instincts need to be as sharp as possible to get in close enough for the shot.  Should the bull go down, the trophy will be something to cherish for a lifetime but it sure won’t be an easy one.  Even after the bull is down the pack out will be torture!

Good Luck Brokenstick!  I’ll help where and when I can.

Bears Butt

June 26, 2013

I just got the word that it was alright for me to show these big old buck pictures taken by Mike Bass.  These bad boys moved into where we were hunting right after the season ended.  I think you will like them!

Very nice pictures Mike!  Thank you a million for letting me post them up on here.  My buddies will love them!  What an awesome place to take pictures.

Bears Butt

Dec. 19, 2012

Well, it took so very long for No Grimace and Baby Boy to draw the coveted Dream Hunt tags for the Crawford Mountains and now the hunt is over.  One of the longest hunts in Utah, it began November 17th and ended Dec. 2., 16 full days.  One would think it impossible not to fill their tag on a long hunt like that.

However, weather plays the biggest part on that hunt.  If the snows don’t cover the mountains in Wyoming, the deer have no reason to migrate out and into their usual wintering range, the Crawford Mountains area.  If the snow does come and drive the deer into the area and then it melts, the deer will move back out.  If it snows too much to allow traveling around the mountain, then the deer get stuck somewhere in between and suffer by not being able to get to the wintering area.

Let’s look at this years weather.  Snows did hit the high country in Wyoming and the migration did happen.  Upon our arrival into the mountains there were plenty of deer and as the hunt progressed many more bucks migrated into the area.  But as the middle of the season arrived, the weather was unseasonably warm, melting the snow and allowing the deer to move back into Wyoming and out of the hunting area.  If you were unable to fill your tag before the middle of the season, your picking of a big buck chances were diminishing quickly each day.

Well, let’s chalk it up as an “Oh Well, that’s the way it goes”.

I have posted up a lot of pictures of some of the animals we saw while hunting the mountain and now, this is the last of the series of stories and it’s time to show some of the really nice bucks we did see.  Most of them did not afford No Grimace and/or Baby Boy an opportunity for a shot, but some did.  Forgive me when I write about who did what and when, because the days all run together for me after being in the mountains that long.  I need to be more diligent like Tracker and take notes each day.  I’m not that ambitious however and just want to be in the moment at the moment.

Tall Boy

Big bucks come in all sorts of packages.  This guy is very tall, and typical of a 4X4, but not much for eye guards.  Only about 20 inches wide, but still a nice buck.

Being a betting kind of guy, I’d say this is the same buck Mr. Hardman took off the mountain.  It looks to have an extra tine on the right antler.  A very respectable buck no matter.  Was this buck seen early in the hunt?  I’m not sure, but either way neither hunter thought is worth shooting at the time.

Pretty Four Point

Typical 4X4 but no eye guards.

4X3

This is a classic Management buck.  Look at the length of the forward tine on the left side…WOW!  Nice buck.  Lots of character on the right antler as well.

One of the widest

You have seen this buck in previous postings.  This guy ended up 28 inches wide as reported by the man who shot it.  Very, very nice buck.

Baby Boys First Missed Shot

The Weasel posted this picture of the buck that Baby Boy had a chance at taking.  Unfortunately the shot was a running shot at about 100 yards, according to Baby Boys estimations.  The last time I saw this buck he was high tailing it for Randolph!  What is your estimate of the width?  30 is my guess.  Close to a 200 inch buck as well.

Buck On The Hill

We spotted this one laying down and after a whole lot of debate decided to pass on it.  The right antler is almost 45 degrees out from the base, while the left has the typical curvature.  Would you pass on it?  Here is a closer look even though it’s not a real clear picture.

If you haven’t already gotten the feeling about the quality of bucks found on this mountain you had better just keep putting in for the Henries or Pauns areas.

One Horn

This bruiser only had one antler left in tact.  The left side had been broken off just above a 5 inch eye guard.  You will see a better picture of it next.

Every hunter we encountered has seen this guy and had he had both antlers would have been killed the opening day.  What a big buck he was.  Tracker has a theory that the buck intentionally broke off the antler just so he could stay alive.  Not a bad theory Tracker.

Shooter

I’m pretty sure this buck was taken by the California hunter.  Nice 4X4, eye guards, tall and wide.  We wanted this buck in a bad way, but he was way too smart for us.

Big bucks don’t get big by being dumb.  With his harem of does this one walked rather easily out of sight and never to be seen again.  But then, we had already decided not to shoot it.

A tough judgement on this one.  Rather spindly, but still wide and tall.  They don’t always give you a chance to really study them before going out of range or out of site quickly.

Oh boy.  Perhaps we should have looked a bit closer at the one on the right.  But then we may have taken a prize away from another hunter in the area.

Drop Horn 2012

This picture was posted again by the Weasel.  I was way to involved with the m0ment to take any pictures.  At any rate, this buck had lots of character, what with matching paddle drop horns.  Baby Boy missed this one at about 70 yards standing.  And then less than an hour later we caught up with it again and he nicked it with a  shot, while No Grimace missed a running shot at it.  I picked up some blood where it was hit and we followed it until too dark to see.  We marked the trail and were going to go back in the following morning to find it.

On the way in the next morning it was standing with some does and another small buck in the exact spot Baby Boy missed it the evening before.  It was not hurt as it walked and ran as perfectly as any healthy buck moves.  The hunters had an almost perfect approach on the buck again.  One from above the other below.  The doe busted No Grimace and the buck ran off only affording No Grimace a running shot at 90 or so yards.  The shot missed cleanly and we never saw the buck again.

And last buy certainly not the least.  Here is Baby Boy with his VERY NICE buck of his dreams!

Baby Boy and His Big Buck 2012

Congratulations to both hunters.  Baby Boy with a fine buck and No Grimace with a tag still in hand.  Sometimes it’s better to save the tag and let a big buck spread its genes through the pool.

Thank you for letting me play.  Thanks to everyone who came to enjoy the camp and the fun involved with the hunt in every way.  A special thanks to the people we met while on the mountain and I hope to see you again.  Happy Hunting one and all!

Until next time!

Bears Butt

Dec. 3, 2012

And this is No Grimaces comments to several of us after the hunt was over.

The Final Chapter on the 2012 Crawford’s Muzz hunt!

Baby Boy got a very nice Buck on Monday, 26 Nov.  A great shot!

Bears Butt, Tracker, Baby Boy and I returned home on Thursday Evening.

Baby Boy and I went back into the Crawford’s on Saturday to try and get mine, however the big ones had taken to hiding.  We did talk to Walley, he had some more shots but had failed to fill his tag of late Saturday night when we talked to him.  We told him was a pleasure to have met him and wished him luck on filling his tag Sunday.

We seen a few small 4 points, hunted the mountains behind our camp Saturday morning, then went to the south range for the afternoon.

Seen a few bucks but nothing worth bringing home.  In Hidden Valley as we were leaving we had 4 bucks close, but none of the 4 points were any wider than their ears and no guard horns.  We made the entire loop again and ended up by Release Society hill at 450 when we spotted “One Horn”, he was 200 years laying down watching the ladies so I let one rip at him for closesure to the hunt.  Miss as normal and he was gone.

All in all I don’t feel bad for not shooting one, I did have a great chance at a very big buck but blew it when I went around to the front of the Yukon to get a better shot and he took off.  I have only myself to blame for that mistake.

I would rather have “One” live to be bigger next year for those Lucky folks that draw out, perhaps it will be one of you!

We had a great time, it was great to have so many come and play during the hunt, really appreciate Bears Butt and Tracker for the Guide service and putting us up as camp kings for 10 days, don’t get any better than that.

Thanks again for all the great company and hunting experience with you all.

Next year I hope we get to go up and be with some of you if you draw out.

Tracker and Butt, I need you guys to let me know what I owe for the gas and the tire we lost.  I need to pay my share!

Duck, Thanks for letting us barrow your trailer, it was nice.  It’s back down at its wintering grounds and I have your two battery’s and trailer keys.  I put the hitch in the trailer but need to know if you want me to bring it to your house in case you need it for your little trailer, if so I will get it down to you this coming week along with the keys and batteries.  Once again, thanks for the use of it and once it “Airs” out, it should be good as new.

Thanks again

Nogrimace

While camping in a limited entry area for as many days as we did, 10 total, with 15 in state tags and 2 out of state tags, eventually you will see most of the other tag holders.  With our camp situated along the main road leading into the mountain, most of the other hunters stopped at our camp.  Some did not and drove right on past, but those that did stop were in for a pretty good treat…just meeting us is a treat right?

And so a closeness comes from those who did stop in and say hello and exchange stories.  We may never see these fine people again, but we did get to meet them and when they tagged their deer they stopped to show them off if we were there.

Here are a few of them and even though I don’t have pictures of the guys with their bucks in a couple of cases you can clearly see the size of bucks these guys took.  Everyone of us has a different idea as to what a trophy is and for each of these guys, these bucks are magnificent.  Each has their own story and I will only share some of that, as they deserve to tell it their own way.

Garcia Buck

This unique buck has an extra tine on the right side, almost like it was growing a second main beam.  Could you have passed this buck up?  I would have been hard pressed to pass on it.  Very nice.  Congratulations to this hunter!  Certainly a Dream Buck!  You deserve it!

Fredrickson Buck

We had seen this buck the day before the opener and a man came up on the opening day and ran smack into it.  He made a great shot and took this big boy home.  I understand it was 28 inches wide.  Congrats to Mr. Fredrickson on a very nice animal!  You deserved this fine Dream Buck!

California Buck

This gentleman was from Northern California and I have to show two shots of this buck.  You can see the little cheaters coming off the right antler, but this picture does not show the width and height of this buck.  One very nice buck and it was a lucky buck as well.  No Grimace had a chance at this big boy, but the buck got out of Dodge before he could get a good sight on it.

Happy California Guys

Congratulations to the tag holder.  A lot of money spent, but what a wonderful Dream Buck to take back home!  There isn’t a hunter I know who would have passed on this big old bad boy!  Congratulations!

Hardman Buck

As you probably know, Mr. Hardman had a son drown in the Great Salt Lake while duck hunting, while this hunt was going on.  After the funeral, his other three sons, pictured here, talked him into going back to the mountain to finish his Dream Hunt.  It meant the world to him to be hunting with his sons and he knew his other son was there with them as well.  Part of the story he told me, or at least what I remember of it, was that as he raised his rifle for the shot on this big 4X5 buck, his sights fell into place quickly and steadily.  Like no other sight picture he could ever recall.  When the hammer fell, he felt like he could almost see the bullet traveling and hitting this buck.  Call it divine intervention if you like.  He ended up taking the biggest buck he has ever had the opportunity to shoot at.  5 long tines on the right antler and 4 long ones on the left side.  A beautiful buck Mr. Hardman!  Congratulations to you and to your sons for being there to support you!

Wally in camp

I could not finish this story without talking about the man on the left in this picture.  His name is Wally.  Without a doubt this man likes to hunt.  He was on the mountain everyday of the season.  He told us about several bucks over 30 inches wide that he was seeing but not able to close the deal on.  We know of two shots he took at two different deer without success.  Yesterday (Saturday Dec. 1), No Grimace was on the mountain and Wally told him the deer had all gone back into Wyoming and would not return until the weather forced them back.  I will probably not know if Wally fills his tag or not, but he is a great guy that deserves mention in this story.  Good luck to you Wally!

We also met the other out of state tag holder.  I did not get his name or any pictures, but he too is a die hard hunter out of Oregon.  He was hunting alone, which does not make me feel good, but everyone has their own way of doing things.  The day we came out (Last Thursday) he had not filled his tag as yet.  I’ll call him Mr. Oregon and wish him the best of luck.  Maybe you should have taken that first 4X4 you saw as you came into the mountain.  It wasn’t a bad buck in my opinion!

A camp high on the mountain was occupied by a local man from Plain City, Utah.  He too was a hunter with high expectations and he saw a lot of very high quality bucks.  To my knowledge he is still on the mountain and I wish him luck in filling his tag as well.

Keep checking back on this site to see how our hunters did.

Bears Butt

Dec. 2, 2012