I , .'V ' X , i ' A !-V ' J " t - ' . , -. '.,..4-' ? ''.- . m - " " ' ' 4 ' ,e - - jv5H , r " ' -'i ' - - , - ,T ..;.; .. ....... - . -.. ' . -. .-'3 : " ' -' ; ' -. '. . t:. .- . - r..,..... - .'. . HRE BOOKCLIFFS deer hunted out? Not in some areas. Photo here shows type of terrain ! ByHarttWixom Vernal Expresss Outdoors Writer U s the big one coming up. Earliest Ight, Oct. 17! Nothing quite like the excitement of Rafter the venison. For many it is ilsoa contest to see who can find and tag home-the highest,, widest. Sanest pair of antlers. In fact, there just isn't anything in all of Utah's . idoors which sends many scurrying t of the cities. Unwary visitors might Dink it more of a mass exodus civil Jelaise drill what with all those weapons. At best it can be described as a statewide carnival. Get stuck on the irong left turn lane off a freeway canyon exit, from St. George to Snawville, and you could be there for tars. It goes- without saying most sirarods will also return with memories only, for statistics the past five years of where author has found big bucks. But as scene shows, scouting ahead is recommended. ; Scouring aireeas or deer i helpvul before the big hcjrsv buck-only hunting have remained at about 31-34 percent. This year shapes up as something of the same, albeit so far with one plus : all roads are still basically negotiable. It means the nimrod can get high into those hills where deer will likely be. Contrary to last year, there has been little accummulated snow to drive them into middle slopes. Continued storms could change that, but it is not probably the three feet of snow which greeted orange-vesters last year will repeat this time around. At least it isn't there yet. Leaves will likely go from the aspens and oaks, helping visibility. That can be said safely, what with annual statistics providing proof. However, an earlier season than usual (closest Saturday to Oct. 20) might leave some cover on all but the loftiest lumber. But, before I add any advice, the most important is scouting ahead. I'd give that credit, more than anything else, for my scoring every year of the past half dozen. From the scouting I've done this past year it would also appear to me there are more deer than the past half dozen, especially fork horns and similar sizes. In addition, I've also recently seen 4-pointers in the Stansbury's-quakie Stansbury's-quakie groves about halfway up, no little hike and north of Duchesne on Rock Creek over to the Book Cliffs. I've looked at them near Kanab, and Willow Creek above Ephriam. Deer numbers are quite obviously down in the Books, but there are pockets with antlers. Last fall I used horses to get well off the roads into a bevy of big bucks on Willow Creek, not on the Ute reservation I might add. These deer quickly (some of the earliest I know of) clear off the high mesas and ridges with fall frost. I know if I returned in the "average" deer opener they would not likely be where I last saw them, but they will migrate southward off the steep Diamond Ridge country. Even more will dump northward nor-thward along the gradually sloping terrain to about 6,500 feet altitudes by the deer opener. I'd forget lower McCook Ridge, where many deer once migrated, due to heavy oil activity. Last year some snared spikes. But, the better racks just weren't there until well after deer season closed. Deer populations seem up in Ashley forests north and south of Duchesne, and same on Uinta south slopes above Vernal. There are always deer there if you know how to work very slowly along timbered edges ana openings early and late in the day. I'm not one to ballyhoo the Wasatch. There are big bucks taken in here at higher elevations every year. Plenty winter near the mouth of Big Cottonwood Cot-tonwood Canyon. But, the pressure is tough to compete with. I'd rather drive farther from the masses, and have only a little competition. Actually, a few rifle-toters (as opposed to other fisherman who can't help you in any way) will stir deer up, make them move, give the quiet, patient hunter an assist. In this regard I also like to get on the back side of any range from major populations. In Tooele County, for example, that means hunting the Oquirrhs right above town. But, the Stansburys, on the West Desert side. It is a good principle to apply wherever you hunt. Try to particularly probe where others haven't.