As the time to put in for permits speedily approaches, I'm trying to come up with a game plan for my hunting goals. Instead of waiting an eternity for a top end tag, I would like to focus more on hunting areas that hold unique genetics. I know the Henries has some crazy awesome management deer. I was wondering if there were any other units, or areas that might hold bucks with similar genetics as the Henry's? Limited or general, I appreciate any advice or ideas that you might be willing to share.
I think Oak Creek has some interesting racks. I think it is a relatively easy archery draw (hard hunt). You'll still wait a while if you want one with a rifle.
Oak Creek takes 9 points to be guaranteed a tag and it's probably one of the lowest success rates in the state.
But you can find different genes within the same mountain range.
For example, the Northern part of the range may grow more heavy, tall racked bucks, while the Southern part may hold more wider bucks with droptines and bigger eyegaurds.
Hunting unique genetics in a bucks antler type is pretty scientific if you ask me. I would imagine you could find several genetic antler types in the same canyon if the deer population was big enough.
I shot a big non typical back in 2008 and then I swear I shot it's son in 2010. He was a little 3x4 but had very similar antler style to my big buck of 08.
This is an interesting thread but could get nerdy pretty quick if we aren't careful.
Yeah, I'm just looking for someone that could point me towards a specific region or unit that could hold some freaky looking bucks like those from the Henries, but without waiting for the hairs in my ass! to turn grey, if you know what I mean. Don't want or expect anyone to give away top secret info. Just any info from one hunter to another,would be greatly appreciated.
Like what others have said, any place in the state can produce monsters like the Henries, if the bucks were given a chance to get older and hit their prime like the Henries.
IMHO, the 4 worse units for bucks to become monsters(genetic wise), would be Millard, Juab, Tooele and Box Elder.
All others have a better chance.
I'd say your 4 worst areas are probably some of the best areas in this state. Especially if your talking genitics.
Oak Creek unit is in one of those areas. Stansbury is in that area
Antelope island is in that area.
Heck the state record nontypical came out of box elder county.
I'd say your 4 worst areas are probably some of the best areas in this state. Especially if your talking genitics.
Oak Creek unit is in one of those areas. Stansbury is in that area
Antelope island is in that area.
Heck the state record nontypical came out of box elder county.
What would be the website that we could go see the state records? I had no idea the state record non-typical Being from Box Elder and being from the county I would love to see the buck.
Great question! I too am looking for a general season area I can hunt and shoot bucks like they shoot on the Henrys. Feel free to PM the GPS coordinates if you'd like. I don't need your honey hole, just an area that meets the above. Thanks!
The genetics are still in that area the buck above was taken because I saw a big non typical above a pig farm near Honeyville about 10 years ago. However deer in that area don't get the age very often to express their genitic potential.
Finding and hunting any "special" buck and then coordinating it with a special LE permit would be difficult in a DIY type hunt. Choosing a good general season area to hunt where you can spend the time to locate said buck and then actually having a reasonably good chance to hunt that area in a timely manor seems to me to be the best way to go. Pick a general area close enough for you to spend the necessary time scouting and leave the LE hunts for the guys that can afford guides and spend the money to buy these permits or time to wait for their chance in the open draw.
It seems that most units could potentially hold such beasts, but you need to find the areas in such units that are not heavily hunted.
Perhaps a general unit is not ideal and you should look into some of the CWMU's in those geographic units.
When we used to hunt the Ogden unit we found that the bigger bucks moved onto a neighboring CWMU pretty quickly once the hunt began. Trick was to catch them opening morning, headed for the border.
Why do you think the Henry mountains has so many big bucks? It's because they manage it for 50 or so bucks per hundred does! The bucks have good utah genitics and are allowed to get some age. Same with antelope island. You think bucks don't have the genitics to grow big in northern utah? You haven't looked at Deseret ranch or ensign ranch then. The genitics are there and they get some age on those ranches.
The only difference in finding bucks with age on general land is they are managed for 18 bucks to 100 does. Good luck finding one with age and good luck finding an area where someone who has put in some time will give out the coordinates to areas where they do.
I'll keep it quick, and hopefully not too controversial. Mass, is health X age.
Antlers are genetic only in the sense that they are programmed to a specific pattern(4X4), after that it comes down to epigenetics. Meaning outside influences are what dictate phenotype. This is why you see the same kinds of racks in the same areas over and over again, it is the same outside inputs in those areas influencing the genetics. Things outside of the standard 4X4 can be passed on if written in enough times, but it still requires those outside epigenetic influence to write those changes the first time they show up. And with standard epigenetic influences these will revert to typical over a few generations. The exception here to a large degree is old deer, we should expect more phenotypical variation(mutations) as deer get much older.
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