As the food sources dry up, mule deer are easier to find due to the lack of green vegetation holding them in specific areas. Through the introduction of wild horses from other herds, the range of colors within the herd is exciting and photogenic. I would like to thank everyone that gave advice and encouragement on this site. Virtually all of the critical deer winter range in the book. Idaho mule deer hunting outfitter guides guaranteed hunts. Mule deer critical winter range was created by combining subsets of mule deer winter concentration areas, highdensity mule deer severe winter range, and deer data analysis units daus. All minors under 18 years of age must have a release signed by a parent or legal guardian at the time of signing up for rides. The book cliffs unit probably provides one of the most enjoyable hunts in the west. The down side is that 90% of my time is spent in a pickup today i saw a buck that i had seen only once before. If youre lucky, you may also spot elk, mule deer, greater sagegrouse. In the northern book cliffs during the last five years, 62,700 acres of habitat have been treated by the utah division of wildlife resources in cooperation with the bureau of land management and other partners. The high density severe winter range was created by calculating the 2006 posthunt population estimate divided by the total winter range for each dau. The first time was last month and he was pushing 2830 wide and had almost no height to him at all.
Deer, too, would be affected by energy development. Book cliffs roadless area by the utah division of wildlife resources. Horseback mule deer hunts are the ultimate western hunting experience. There are some huge mule deer bucks taken in bc every year. Robbed of their beauty today, the numerous canyons that cut deeply into the book and roan cliffs are remote, solitary, and wild. This is the place to go to get a nice representative mule deer buck. Book cliffs roadless deer eastmans hunting journals. It has been common to see as many as 40 to 50 bucks in a 5 day period. If you are looking to hunt big mule deer then look no further. Mule deer hunting in bc bc mule deer hunts trophy bc mule. Extension of our rationale to other geographic areas must be done with caution and by incorporating applicable principles to new data and new knowledge about relationships of deer to habitat for those places. In january, 2009, utah division of wildlife resources officials transplanted 31 bison from the henry mountains bison herd to the book cliffs.
Effects of human disturbance on the nutritional ecology of mule deer winter can be a challenging time for north american ungulates. The book cliffs are well known for being a sought after hunting destination, and for good reason. Deep canyons filled with thick oak brush provide excellent mule deer habitat. Book cliffs mule deer are traditional in their migration and winter areas. They do not run as other deer, but have a peculiar and distinctive bounding leap stotting over distances up to 8 yards, with all 4 feet coming down together. We specialize in trophy bull elk, mule deer, bison, bear and lion. The area used by the deer in the summer consists of a mixed ponderosa. Virtually all of the critical deer winter range in the book cliffs east of the green river lies on roadless land omitted from the blms draft wilderness recommendation. 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. The management strategy for mule deer winter ranges in the cariboochilcotin is designed to guide. Prairie falcon nest in cliffs situated in the forest. To reduce competition with mule deer for crucial winter.
To reduce competition with mule deer for crucial winter range, cow hunts may continue in the mccook ridge area. Mule deer limitedentry draw tag the state of utah offers limitedentry drawings for buck mule deer. They point to western wyomings pinedale anticline, where a massive herd that winters on an intensely drilled mesa has suffered doubledigit losses during the past two years, according to a consultants report to. Wildlife habitat management institute mule deer odocoileus. The population of mule deer in british columbia is approximately 140,000 to 180,000 within the south central interior and the northern ranges. Roads often cross ranges that provide deer with important food in the winter. Elk, turkey, mule deer, desert bighorn sheep, chuckar partridge, gambles quail, midget. Southern idaho is known for trophy mule deer hunting.
Although hunter numbers and the subsequent harvest of big. The onset of winter signals the arrival of new opportunities for deer hunters. The antelope hunt will take place from casper on a private ranch with a very high success rate. I located a group of bucks in july with two shooter bucks. Book cliffs mule deer 212 monster archery hunt 2019 duration. Rmef grants to improve utah elk habitat rocky mountain. An antelope hunt can also be added to any of the mule deer, elk or combination hunts. They say that the timing of the migration for individual deer is based on distance from winter range and elevation. In this dry country a deer may have to climb a mountain to get a drink. Chapter 49ecological subregions of the united states.
Unbelievable mule deer winter range deer migration. Bearpaw outfitters offer guided, semiguided, and unguided mule deer hunts, guaranteed hunts, horseback drop camps, and diy mule deer hunting maps for doityourself hunters. Prepared by the cclup mule deer winter range strategy committee. August 12, 2011 rmef announces grants for conservation projects in utah missoula, mont. Deer migrate each year to their winter ranges in the first week of october regardless of snow or other weather conditions. South central oregon mule deer study preliminary results summary october 2011. A person must put an application to the state for a drawing of one of these permits. Some of the bucks filmed during the 2016 rifle deer hunt at the book cliffs in. Management strategy for mule deer winter ranges in the cariboochilcotin part a. We are licensed to guide mule deer hunters in nevada statewide and have statewide special use permits through blm and us forest service permits for the austin tonopah district.
The little book cliffs wild horses have a diversity of colors, band sizes and ages. I am in the kaibab every year on winter range and you will see as many if not more deer. After a 4 year wait, the book cliffs area of northeastern utah had finally opened for mule deer. The mule deer grow quite large, and it is not uncommon for a deer to exceed 325 pounds in weight fully dressed out. Book cliffs did you know that vehicles affect utahs deer herds more than hunters do when youre driving in deer country, blind curves are especially important places to slow down. Deer limited beaver deer beaver deer limited book cliffs deer limited book cliffs. We are gt outfitters, specializing in eastern utah big game. Most book cliffs deer migrate to the north, however some migrate south. Alaska brooks range dall sheep hunt with henry tiffany. We guide on utahs premium units and most limited entry units, such as. Its home to an estimated population of about 700 horses. 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. No riders under 6 years of age except on the lead around ride. The only hunts that i know of that split the road less area off into its own hunt are for the elk hunts.
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. We hunt the book cliffs, rattlesnake, nine mile and san rafael units. So i am lucky enough to have a job that puts me out in the book cliffs for 8 days at a time and i love it. Henry mountain, paunsagunt, west desert vernon, oak creek, book cliffs, thousand lake and the doloris triangle. 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. Not out of the woods yet coloradans love their longeared muleys, but decisions on their management cant be based solely on tradition, science or social trends. Western association of fish and wildlife agencies this paper provides a general overview of the current blacktailed and mule deer odocoileus hemionus population status and general abundance trends throughout their range in north america. Roadless area deer move south udwr recommends the same avoidance periods for deer and elk. Odfw mule deer and elk winter range for eastern oregon, 2009. As availability of food on summer ranges diminishes with accumulating snow, many ungulates in north america migrate to winter ranges to access available food. The down side to this is the deer are harder to find this time of year due to the palatable food being so abundant. The uintah and ouray indian reservation is on the west side of the book cliffs. The book cliffs area is an exceptional trophy elk and mule deer unit.
Rmef announces grants for conservation projects in utah. Unbelievable mule deer winter range deer migration duration. Approximately 69% of the unit is classified as winter range, 19% as summer range and 12% as yearlong range for mule deer udwr 2012. Venture to the northwest corner of the state and youll find a colorful herd of wild horses grazing across more than 157,000 acres in the sand wash basin herd management area, located about 45 miles west of craig. Cpw s mule deer management planning process, which takes into account not just biology but social and cultural factors.
Utah mule deer hunts ut private ranch mule deer hunting. The mule deer odocoileus hemionus is a deer indigenous to western north america. Wyoming range mule deer habitat management plan page 10 methods initial selection of potential project areas to visit was prioritized by mule deer winter use and identified crucial ranges figure 1, previous completed treatments, presenceabsence of elk, and contiguous patches of sagebrush located by aerial imagery. Unitah countyremove encroaching pinyon and juniper trees from sagebrush habitat to improve 520 acres on little mountain between vernal and lapoin. Management strategy for mule deer winter ranges in the cariboo. This is an extremely remote unit that holds a great herd of mature bucks. The little book cliffs wilderness study area is characterized by gentlysloping plateaus, various small canyons, and four major canyon systems.
Wildlife habitat management institute mule deer odocoileus hemionus may 2005 fish and wildlife habitat management lea. The purpose of the book is to give hunters, landowners, and oth ers interested. Rocky mountain elk foundation grants to improve utah elk. Terrain contains arid desert, salt flats, small mountain ranges, and rugged rock features. Potential effects of oil and gas development on mule deer and. Those familiar with the mule deer handbook handbook for timer and mule deer management coordination on winter ranges in the cariboo forest region 1986, the regional mule deer strategy 1996 prepared for the cclup and the integration report will find that the mule deer winter range management plans are a refinement of the direction given. Summer range is not necessarily exclusive of winter range. Little book cliffs wild horse area hma bureau of land. Utah is well known for trophy class mule deer, these hunts are some of our best mule deer hunts.
The abundant wildlife draws thousands of hunters to the backcountry areas of the book cliffs for biggame hunting. Coyote and mountain lion are the typical large predators. It begins about 50 air miles south of vernal, utah and extends south to the book cliffs divide. With public land mule deer units like the famous henry mountains and paunsaugunt it is easy to understand why utah fascinates trophy mule deer hunters across the globe.
Best mule deer hunting in utah 12 matching articles. This makes sense that the deer highest on the mountain and furthest from the winter range would move first. The guide ratio on this hunt is one guide per 2 hunters. Double c guides mule deer hunting book cliffs, henry. We now offer a two deer hunt across both states as well as multispecies hunts which include excellent opportunities for mule deer hunting success. Feb 22, 2016 come along as richard slaugh films the rutting muleys of the ut bookcliffs.
In 201 mule deer habitat 5 range trend desirable conditions indices were calculated for 22. Because mule deer are important in idaho, the idaho department of fish and game idfg has committed additional personnel and resources to improving habitat and increasing mule deer numbers. Chapter 49 ecological subregions of the united states. You do have a legitimate opportunity to kill a 200 inch mule deer here, but everyone knows it. Fighting invasive, encroaching vegetation and restoring native forage for elk and other wildlife. Deer digestive tracts differ from cattle and elk in that they have a smaller rumen in relation to their body size, so they must be more selective in their feeding.
Given the size and range of the mule deer in our area, hunting them on horseback is a must. This layer shows critical and noncritical winter and summer ranges, fall holding areas, fawning grounds and migration corridors for deer odocoileus hemionus in cdfw region 2, north central region, ca. In the interior, the mule deers traditional winter ranges consist of shrublands in the dry forest zone and on steep south and westfacing sites with broken terrain. Most of these acres are in crucial deer summer and winter range. Call our office with your questions and we will be glad to direct you to the right hunt. This could preclude elk from areas they now inhabit. I usually start scouting at the end of june when all the hills are green. This means that you should be able to hunt the road less area also if you would like. With better management, range improvement and predator control, 200 inch deer are being harvested every year. Mule deer are primarily browsers, with a majority of their diet comprised of forbs weeds and browse leaves and twigs of woody shrubs. To address range overutilization issues the division may continue to issue limited cow elk permits in the san arroyo and little creek areas. Bearpaw outfitters offer guided hunts, semiguided hunts, and diy mule deer hunting maps for some of the best areas in utah.
The book cliffs deer herd is summer range limited and exhibits slower herd recovery following significant population declines. Current snow conditions do not indicate deer will leave winter ranges early, but weather in the next two months can. Utah private land mule deer hunt with bucks and bulls guides and outfitters. 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.
About idahos mule deer initiative idaho, like other western states is experiencing overall declines in mule deer populations, although in some areas, mule deer numbers are stable or increasing. Mule deer advocates fear a similar fate awaits the book cliffs herd if gaswells and tarsands development grow in the high country. Winter report, 2018 mule deer openings and free range audad hunt. The deer in the utah book cliffs live a sheltered life. The unit that our ranch lies within is called the south slopediamond mountain unit. Utah book cliffs elk hunt with book cliffs hunting. Above, and separated by a bench or valley as much as. The several subspecies include the blacktailed deer. Mule deer thompson okanagan resource values catalogue. Feb 04, 2011 protection of these parts of mule deer winter range is considered critical to sustain mule deer populations across colorado. Book cliffs highway proposed in mule deer winter range. Utah mentor program book cliffs deer hunt duration. Main canyon, coal canyon, cottonwood canyon and spring canyon. Important winter range habitats include sagebrushsteppe, pinyonjuniper woodlands, mountain shrub, and ponderosa pine pinus ponderosa forests below.
Feb 04, 2011 muledeersummerrange is an esri sde feature class showing that part of the overall range where 90% of the individuals are located between spring greenup and the first heavy snowfall. Appendix 2 summarizes the risk ratings from the cclup mule deer winter range strategy appendix 3 is a regional map showing all winter ranges, snowpack zones and the planning status of each winter range. Mule deer have large ears that move constantly and independently, from whence they get their name, mule or burro deer. Bc mule deer dont receive as much attention as the deer in other corners of north america but thats only because bcs mule deer hunting mecca is a well kept secret. The way that it looks is that the hunt includes both a and c in the any weapon hunt. Wildlife, including mule deer, elk, wild turkey, coyote, various raptors, mountain lion, black bear, rattlesnake, and fox, populate the wilderness areas along the book cliffs. 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. Presently the common ungulates are mule deer and introduced elk. These four larger systems are also accompanied by many smaller side canyons. The altitude ranges from around 8000 feet to 4500 feet, the differing altitude providing a variety of colors and smells. Our guided mule deer hunts are done off of horseback. Little creek mule deer habitat little creek is classified as crucial summer range.
Our hunters will usually get the opportunity to look over dozens of 4x4s while they search for that one special buck. Most occur in mule deer range areas that are associated with the warm aspect of valley systems at moderate elevations. Roadless area deer move south udwr recommends the same avoidance periods for. 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.
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. I finally drew a muzzleloader deer permit on the book cliffs here in my home state of utah. Rocky mountain elk foundation grants to improve utah elk habitat. Book cliffs the book cliffs holds the potential for a giant mule deer. The size of the area, and difficult terrain, can make it a very challenging place to hunt. The summer had been brutally hot and dry with temperatures in the low 90s. The story of coloardo s mule deer colorado parks and wildlife.
Effects of human disturbance on the nutritional ecology of. Part of the southern edge of this wsa is dominated by the 2,000foothigh face of the book cliffs. Sporadic cloud cover wasnt going to make this hunt any easier. Mule deer, elk and western big game hunting articles and. Interim harvest opportunity recommendations the harvest opportunity recommendations are given for winter ranges for which a full winter. We offer elk, deer, antelope, bighorn sheep, buffalo, cougar and bear hunts. Come along as richard slaugh films the rutting muleys of the ut bookcliffs. Some of the bucks filmed during the 2016 rifle deer hunt at the book cliffs in utah. Unlike the related whitetailed deer odocoileus virginianus, which is found through most of north america east of the rocky mountains and.
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