12B West Muzzleloader

[Ruby]

Hi Everyone,

Somehow, I was lucky enough to draw a tag for the 12B West muzzleloader hunt this year and I’m absolutely stoked! As much as I would love to hire an outfitter, it’s not in the cards for me so I have been spending most of my free time trying to e-scout/learn anything and everything I possibly can for this hunt. Unfortunately, I won’t be able to scout a ton before the hunt. I will be out there for a few days a couple weeks before the hunt and a few days right before the hunt starts.

Is there any information that people would be willing to share for 12B West? I know this is a faux pas but this is probably the best deer hunt that I will be drawn for so I am not afraid to put my ego aside (and take some shots) and ask for help.

I’m not looking for any honey holes but any information on areas that would be good to camp with a trailer, general information that is good to know and areas to look into (I have looked at the game and fish website) would greatly be appreciated. Thanks in advance for any information shared.

Mark

[trphyhntr]

One time i was off the house rock road and watched a dude shoot a nice buck on that hunt 

[Ruby]

Awesome! Thanks for the information trphyhntr!

[Flatlander]

Those deer are notoriously migratory. They drop in there from Utah and the Kaibab. When you are scouting you should just be finding ways to get around in that country. It’s pretty remote. Finding deer won’t do you much good until right before and during the hunt.

[Ruby]

Thanks Flatlander. That was the gist of what I have been seeing online, especially the remote part with not much in the unit other then Fredonia for gas/supplies. I saw somewhere someone had mentioned it was worth bypassing Fredonia and going up to Kanab UT. I may have to check that out when I go scouting.

[Eli]

Be prepared logistically as well, as simple as that sounds. Bring an extra spare tire or two, gas cans, water, etc. spare rifle if you have it. It’s pretty remote and you lose a precious day or two trying to solve some of those things. Congrats on the tag!

[Ruby]

Thank you Eli. We will be sure to make sure we have backups ok these items.

[grey curse]

Wife had that tag last yr. We rented an Airbnb in Fredonia, best decision we did.  I can forward the place to you if interested.    Cheap, clean with no worries.    We had a Great hunt and seen some good deer.  Came home empty with two misses, one stud and a good 4x. (dang muzzleloaders).   You are going to see a lot of people, not just hunters but people driving around just looking.  Prey for weather,   Snow on the top will push them down on either side.  Think the hunt last yr was a week or two early to see good rut activity. 

[Ruby]

Thank you Grey Curse! We looked at that but the one thing that concerned us was the distance/time it would take us to go from Fredonia to the other side of the unit. Do you remember how long that took?

[Ruby]

7 hours ago, grey curse said:

Wife had that tag last yr. We rented an Airbnb in Fredonia, best decision we did.  I can forward the place to you if interested.    Cheap, clean with no worries.    We had a Great hunt and seen some good deer.  Came home empty with two misses, one stud and a good 4x. (dang muzzleloaders).   You are going to see a lot of people, not just hunters but people driving around just looking.  Prey for weather,   Snow on the top will push them down on either side.  Think the hunt last yr was a week or two early to see good rut activity. 

And yes please forward me the place. Thanks!

[grey curse]

It actually ended up being a great starting point to jump on hwy 89, 89a or ryan.   30 mins to far corners.   

[Ruby]

2 hours ago, grey curse said:

It actually ended up being a great starting point to jump on hwy 89, 89a or ryan.   30 mins to far corners.   

Awesome, thats much shorter than I thought it was. Thank you very much!

[CatfishKev]

Glass with binos on a tripod, in general imo this is probably the most important thing.  Glass the burn up top, not sure if the leaves drop yet by your hunt pretty sure they will be down.  Glass north facing slopes of all the fingers that drop off the west side.  Check and see if the oaks have and are dropping acorns on those fingers.  If they are that's a transition zone and a food source for deer dropping off the plateau for the winter.  You will find deer this way for sure.  Have good aim and make sure your shot counts.  

And here is the last most important thing. Come back and share your story with pictures.

Have fun, can't wait to read how it went.

[Ruby]

49 minutes ago, CatfishKev said:

Glass with binos on a tripod, in general imo this is probably the most important thing.  Glass the burn up top, not sure if the leaves drop yet by your hunt pretty sure they will be down.  Glass north facing slopes of all the fingers that drop off the west side.  Check and see if the oaks have and are dropping acorns on those fingers.  If they are that's a transition zone and a food source for deer dropping off the plateau for the winter.  You will find deer this way for sure.  Have good aim and make sure your shot counts.  

And here is the last most important thing. Come back and share your story with pictures.

Have fun, can't wait to read how it went.

Thank you Catfishkev! I haven’t ever been in the unit so I really appreciate the help. I will absolutely provide an update (hopefully successful) of my hunt!

[CatfishKev]

Just curious, do you know "how" to hunt generally speaking?  It's all about knowing how to glass honestly. Past that proper shooting techniques and knowing your range.  Are you experienced really is what I'm asking.