For years Utah has been known as the outdoorsman’s paradise, and to anyone who has visited the state this should come as no surprise. With seemingly infinite public lands to climb, bike and camp in as well as what has been dubbed “The Greatest Snow on Earth” the Beehive state has no shortage of ways to keep even the most avid adventurers both entertained and challenged.
Of all the great opportunities for exploration in the state of Utah, one which often goes not only unnoticed but is sometimes contested by others is hunting. Utah boasts a massive variety of sport hunting across a myriad of species making it some of the best hunting in the western United States. Animals which are commonly hunted across the state include mule deer, antelope, pheasant, ducks, geese, rabbits, sage grouse, forest grouse, chukar partridge, mourning dove and wild turkeys.
Those who set out for a hunt in Utah clearly have no shortage of options in terms of the species they chase after yet one animal has taken the throne as one of Utah’s most prized hunts- the elk. Utah’s elk population is so renowned that the local species, the Rocky Mountain Elk, was named Utah’s state animal in 1971.
Known for their astoundingly large stature, massive antlers and delectable meat, elk are a thrilling hunt for both greenhorn and veteran hunters. It is no wonder that Utahns and non-resident visitors alike will go to great lengths to bag one of these remarkable animals. Even with the excess of elk scouting and hunting strategies available to the public taking down an elk remains a daunting yet thrilling task. Utah’s elusive elk take a great deal of planning, knowledge and patience in order to find in the wilderness. The mountainous terrain, thick coverage and wet, muddy areas which trophy bulls typically flock to make tracking elk a strenuous task. Contrary to simply setting up a blind and waiting for hours on a duck hunt an elk hunt means trekking deep into the mountains by foot or off-road vehicle. On any given day hunters can hike upwards of 10 miles searching for the sweet spot which they know a trophy bull will rest in. Of course, these long distances are only more testing on a good day when you are hauling an elk out in your pack.
However, no matter the popularity of sport hunting in Utah many residents still see these elk hunts as cruel and inhumane. Modern hunting could easily be misinterpreted as bored businessmen blowing off steam from their work week by preying on innocent animals yet this is far from the truth. You may be thinking “It’s 2018, we have supermarkets, who needs to hunt for their own meat?” but hunting goes far beyond simply putting meat on the table and hanging a taxidermied kill on a mantle in your home. Legal hunts can in fact be extremely beneficial for both animals and the ecosystems they reside in.
