I was recently asked by a gentleman that has 16 non-resident elk points in Utah what elk units I would recommend, preferably archery. and I thought that this would be a good thing to share with all of you as well.
Utah archery disclaimer.
first I want to put it out there that unless you are a dyed in the wool archery-only hunter, I would personally stay away from archery elk in Utah. what most folks think of when they think of archery elk hunting is hunting elk in the thick of the rut. Utah is just not that way. archery season dates are Aug. 21–Sept. 17. which for most of the season and on a lot of years misses the rut. most large bulls that are harvested during archery season are heavily summer patterned and hunted over water or salt etc. and they are harvested early in the season since once the pre-rut begins toward the end of season bulls start to move heavily and long distances. and are just very difficult to pattern.
the best rut hunts for Utah elk are:
Sept. 18–Sept. 26 rifle hunts
Sept. 27–Oct. 8. muzzleloader hunts
my forecast for the Utah elk rut for the 2021 season.
this year in particular 2021. has seen a terrible drought the summer before leaving the range conditions in tough shape and elk went into the winter with below prime body conditions. coupled with possibly the driest winter I've personally seen, which will affect summer grass, I believe the rut of 2021 will be very hit and miss strung out and late in the season which does not bode well for archery hunters this season.
that all sounds bad but I thought I should say that because I get a lot of guys that have not realized that or been told otherwise for the state of Utah archery elk hunt.
my top three units I would be looking at regardless of season tho is.
Plateau, Boulder. this is a big unit with lots of elk. heavily timbered and hard to glass or hunt late season with long-range rifles. let elk grow too old ages, top quality hunt.
Plateau, Fishlake/Thousand Lakes. this unit will have your best odds of success on draws. holds lots of elk, not managed for as old of an age class of bulls as some other units but a top producer in the state. has some large tracts of private land and good access throughout but still has hard-to-reach areas that the elk really like to get to when the hunting pressure starts.
Mt Dutton. this is a unit that can be more difficult to access, with limited roads. this is more of a horseback hunting unit. which makes this unit more easily drawn but also with great elk quality. this unit has a great resident herd of elk all season. but it also late in the winter gets migrating elk that come here to winter from some of the top trophy units in the state. which in my opinion makes this the best late rifle hunt in the state. Nov. 13–Nov. 21.
