Our hunters will usually get the opportunity to look over dozens of 4x4s while they search for that one special buck. Hunting, fourwheeling, and backpacking are popular in this area. That old roustabout titian would have had a field day capturing the intimacy of its pictureperfect alpine meadows. Utah backpacking trips backpacking utahs slickrock canyon country is unlike exploring any other landscape on earth.
Main canyon, coal canyon, cottonwood canyon and spring canyon. The bookcliffs, which border grand junction, define our regions skyline and offer plenty of. Some trails lead below the white rim road to the rivers, but river water is silty and difficult to purify. These colorado cliffs look like books on a shelf outthere colorado. Bull elk book cliffs, bitter creeksouth multiseason all limited entry seasons bull elk book cliffs, bitter creeksouth muzzleloader sept. I measure him a couple of inches short, but will have an official measurement done in. Fauna includes wild horses, mule deer, elk, mountain lion, black bear, wild. Any experienceopinions would be greatly appreciated. I would say physical fitness and mental toughness are my strong suits, but obviously still have a ton to learn and have zero knowledge about utah or the book cliffs. The eastern book cliffs offer outstanding hunting, hiking, backpacking, and wildlife viewing in a highly scenic area.
This wonderful moab hiking tour offers you the opportunity to explore some of the most remarkable landscapes in utahs famed canyon country through a series of guided day hikes and a day of rafting. Cross the colorado river and drive past the public service power plant. Backpacking trips offer the ultimate adventure and the opportunity to experience maximum. As most people know utah is famous for the quality elk it produces each year.
The size of the area, and difficult terrain, can make it a very challenging place to hunt. Nikon m223 14x20 rifle scope, point blank reticle, matte black 8485 webygeek. It is also possible to day hike from either trailhead, returning the way you went in. Nov 27, 2006 if youre really big on the backpacking you might try the roadless area. Book cliffs loop saturday, december 16, 2017 since there really hasnt been any snow to speak of in the area so far this year, i thought it would be a good time to go for a drive up into the book cliffs just over the state line in utah so we could visit some rock art sites that i havent been to in a while and that diane hadnt seen before. Roads often cross ranges that provide deer with important food in the winter. We hunt the book cliffs, rattlesnake, nine mile and san rafael units. Research hunts and units before you apply in the big game drawing, and any of utah s other hunt drawings. Deep canyons filled with thick oak brush provide excellent mule deer habitat. With huge physical relief and so little vegetation to obstruct views in this desert environmentexcept for brief stretches of forest at the south and north rimstheres never a dull moment as you traverse a crosssection of a chasm stretching 277 miles long and. Im in the process of planning a trip down to moab for this weekend and got wondering what backpacking options are favorites of yall. Getting a tag for buck mule deer tag for the book cliffs is even harder.
Feb 22, 2016 mule deer utah book cliffs bonedout productions. It produces 310340 bulls yearly with a few bulls 340 plus taken each year. Utah backpacking trips the best way to explore utah s incredible diversity of landscapes is by hiking and backpacking through them. Utah offers various hunting opportunities for mule deer. The unit is reached by the sego canyon road north from thompson, the cottonwood canyon road north from i70 at an exit 5 miles northeast of cisco, and the hay canyon road on the northeast boundary. Its not difficult to spot mule deer, elk, black bears, and numerous hawks, reptiles, and. Above the canyons are high, wideopen mesas of sprawling slickrock sandstone, plus. We are gt outfitters, specializing in eastern utah big game. In the stateowned book cliffs roadless area, where bull elk permits are limited to 30 per season, the hunter success ratio is 75 percent. Backpacking utahs slickrock canyon country is unlike exploring any other landscape on earth. Wildlife, including mule deer, elk, wild turkey, coyote, various raptors. The utah hunt planner also provides the legal hunting boundaries approved by the utah wildlife board. All you need to do is to drive the main ridge from the colorado border to the end of the road out on steer ridge and walk out onto the finger ridges and you should find elk. In 1986, there were 29 applications for every permit issued, according to the udwr.
The book cliffs are well known for being a sought after hunting destination, and for good reason. These four larger systems are also accompanied by many smaller side canyons. About 70 percent of the book cliffs area is administered by the u. After a 4 year wait, the book cliffs area of northeastern utah had finally opened for mule deer. Elk and deer archery seasons run simultaneously and allow for a great combination utah hunting experience. Aug 03, 2014 sego canyon is narrow, isolated, and undeveloped, accessible only by an unimproved dirt road. Search for a hunt by wildlife species including buck. Whats the best three to fourday backpacking route in utah. In this empty northeastern pocket of utah, common animals that are frequently sighted are mule deer, antelope, elk, armies of squirrels and rabbits and to a lesser. The utah division of wildlife resources utah hunt planner is an interactive map designed to help hunters research hunting units. Utah features many extremely scenic, remote areas that are accessible only on foot and by being out for days at a time, camping beneath the stars in utah s serene backcountry.
Utah hiking spans everything from mountains to deep, winding sandstone canyons. The book cliffs provide scenery ranging from the red rock often seen in southern utah to the usual green color of the northern alpine regions. Research hunts and units before you apply in the big game drawing, and any of utahs other hunt drawings. Buckskin gulch is located along the utah arizona border, near kanab.
Utah backpacking trips the best way to explore utahs incredible diversity of landscapes is by hiking and backpacking through them. Im thinking about putting in for a muzzleloader tag in the roadless book cliffs unit. Best trails in book cliffs recreation area utah alltrails. What a great year for rocky mountain elk hunting like i have mentioned before i drew a limited entry elk tag for the book cliffs roadless area. Giant mule deer bucks on antelope island utah duration. We specialize in trophy bull elk, mule deer, bison, bear and lion. The quality of the hunt is reflected in the heavy demand for permits. A gate was constructed by the utes in the mid80s and the completion of the proposed transportation corridor would require the construction of at least ten miles of new road, through some of the most rugged terrain in the american west. Hiking trails provide the opportunity to leave the river and explore. Utah hiking and backpacking trails explore utah hikes. For deer, probably will not need a packer as you likely can get reasonably close on road or atv trail.
The kids and i returned to the book cliffs on saturday to finish something we started more than seven years ago. With a multitude of day tours, scheduled multiday tours, and custombuilt options. The 10 best backpacking trips in the southwest the big. If there is anyone that has hunted this unit either during the october buck hunt or early elk hunt, it would be highly appreciated for any and all information on what they seen during there hunt, pertaining to the elk, they seen, and in what locations, so that i might get a. Part of the southern edge of this wsa is dominated by the 2,000foothigh face of the book cliffs.
Large mammals found in the book cliffs include coyotes, mountain lions, bobcats, mule deer, elk, black bears. Im hoping to generate some feedback on this late season hunt in the book cliffs. The altitude ranges from around 8000 feet to 4500 feet, the differing altitude providing a variety of colors and smells. And with the exception of a few privately held parcels of land, almost 96% of the 2. The little book cliffs wilderness study area is characterized by gentlysloping plateaus, various small canyons, and four major canyon systems.
Predators, new roads, overhunting and poor fawn crops had decimated the previously plentiful deer to the point that the area was closed to hunting 19962000. Southern utah i wish i never went backpacking, said no one ever. I have heard that the overall deer numbers are slightly lower, but ive seen pics of some dandy bucks come out of there. If youre really big on the backpacking you might try the roadless area. Book cliffs ut bittercr south any legal weapon big game hunt. Utah features many extremely scenic, remote areas that are accessible only on foot and by being out for days at a time, camping beneath the stars in utahs serene backcountry. Grand and uintah countiesboundary begins at exit 164 on i70 near the town of. Add some of utahs best backcountry fishing in the mix and you have the makings for an amazing utah outdoor hunting experience. The 10 best backpacking trips in the southwest the big outside. Activities include hiking, backpacking, horseback riding, and photography. The book cliffs are a range of eroding, steepsloping cliffs, also called escarpments. The book cliffs deer herd is one of the largest in utah.
Reasons to protect utahs book cliffs roadless area backcountry. Island in the sky is a challenging place to backpack. The book cliffs are a series of desert mountains and cliffs in western colorado and eastern utah, in the western united states. 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. You will find that there are elk all over the utah book cliffs. Book cliffs the book cliffs holds the potential for a giant mule deer. My friends and i are planning a backpacking trip to utah, but were at a loss as to where to go. The book cliffs utah colorado geological feature mountains wilderness hiking natural.
Your guide to the grand junction bookcliffs rmhp blog. The landscape below the mesa top is a mixture of talus slopes and vast basins without any reliable water sources. Reviews 14180 photos 50757 recordings 10407 sort by. The high desert of the colorado plateau is best exemplified in this unparalleled wilderness, sculpted over millennia by wind and water. In january, 2009, utah division of wildlife resources officials transplanted 31 bison from the henry mountains bison herd to the book cliffs. For nonresidents the draw odds last season were 1 in 41 with a wait of up to years. Everything you need to know to start backpacking duration. Directions there are two routes to access the little bookcliffs wsa. Be thankful we dont live in utahunreal the campfire. Dreamland safari tours, a kanab, utah based outdoor adventure company, is the premier provider of guided southern utah tours. Bulls scoring 320340 are reasonable expectations with a moderate possibility of a bull exceeding 350. Double c guides mule deer hunting book cliffs, henry.
Book cliffs, bitter creeksouth the bitter creek portion of the book cliffs is a huge area that holds a very healthy population of elk. From grand junction take i70 east to the cameo exit. For this site the little bookcliffs area consists of the bookcliff range from the west side of i70 near debeque colorado and stretching around to nearly 18 road near fruita colorado. It was decided to backpack into the roadless area to get away from the. Buckskin gulch is located along the utaharizona border, near kanab. Archery season in utah is one of only a few times where it is possible to hunt two species at the same time.
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. Book cliffs muzzleloader elk what a great year for rocky mountain elk hunting like i have mentioned before i drew a limited entry elk tag for the book cliffs roadless area. Moab hiking adventure grand canyon backpacking trips. This map source includes coverage for all 27 management units in utah and is based on the official boundaries published by the utah division of wildlife resources. The book cliffs bitter creek south is a good elk unit. Utah backpacking in utah guided backcountry canyon trips. Utah hiking and backpacking trails backpacker magazine. This is an extremely remote unit that holds a great herd of mature bucks.
Almost all of my elk hunting has been bivy hunting 312miles back in the mountains. The only open country experience i have is a hunt a few years back in the montana breaks. Book cliffs ut bittercr south any legal weapon big game. For example, in the roadless portion of the book cliffs limited entry unit in eastern utah, odds of drawing a bull elk tag for resident applicants is 1 in 6, even with 8 preference pointsthat is, an eight year waiting period. Northern utah just north of salt lake city, davis county is known as the ultimate playground for fun, entertainment, and outdoor adventure. There are slot canyons and ancient indian ruins, too. Sego canyon is narrow, isolated, and undeveloped, accessible only by an unimproved dirt road. Most multiday hikes, including some of the best, feature stretches of hours at a time that are ordinary. Too bad the masters of landscape painting werent into backpacking, because theres a museum full of artistic inspiration to be had along the pine valley mountains 35milelong, 2milehigh summit trail. Best trails in little book cliffs wilderness study area. Book cliffs did you know that vehicles affect utahs deer herds more than hunters do when youre driving in deer country, blind. In late 2006 we hiked a small portion of an old pack trail leading up through the book cliffs. Hi, im michael lanza, creator of the big outside and former northwest editor at backpacker magazine. Utah is home to numerous national parks, including arches, bryce canyon, canyonlands, capitol reef, and zion.
Within minutes, you can enjoy a round of golf at one of ten courses, explore over 500 miles of trails and bikeways, ski worldclass downhill slopes, go sightseeing at antelope island state park and the great salt lake, or enjoy family fun at seven. Reasons to protect utahs book cliffs roadless area. It can be done as a long day hike, if you are in good shape, but is best as an overnight backpack. Utah hunt planner utah division of wildlife resources. The book cliffs are an enormous area that spans two states. The trail became too steep and rough for the kids, then ages 3 and 5, and on the way. Were looking for a three to fourday trip, so something in the range of 18 to 25 miles or so. Four season guides offers guided hiking tours and backpacking adventures across the incredible landscapes of the american southwest. Stretching 200 miles from grand junction, colorado to central utah. We offer elk, deer, antelope, bighorn sheep, buffalo, cougar and bear hunts. May 04, 2020 most multiday hikes, including some of the best, feature stretches of hours at a time that are ordinary.
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