Hunting in October in the Uinta's - Keeping water thawed Etc?

[Roughwater]

I may be DIY hunting Elk in the Utah Uinta's in October (6-18th). I never hunted there. Planning on hiking in and setting up a spike camp of sorts. I expect the cold weather there will be a shock as I'm 68 and the weather around here up till now has been in the 90's during the day and 70's at night and though it looks to soon be cooler it probably won't be by a lot.

I read the average high in Oct is 35 and the average low is 10F in the Uinta's. So thinking it will be below freezing a lot. Am planning to carry a water bladder in and fill it up near the camp via a filter. I am concerned the water may freeze setting in or near the tent. How best to keep water handy in that situation? Also, I bought a lite 0 degree down bag as I was concerned my other bags were both heavy and at best 20 degree. But I'm concerned with my 5lb Eureka 2 person 3 season (midori 2) Tent. I wouldn't mind having a lighter one maybe a little more suited to cold weather. Any affordable tent or Bivy suggestions that might hold up to snow and cold? Thanks.

 

[amp713]

First thing I'll say is Utah is burning up, it's an extreme drought year, super high temps and fires are still destroying homes and forest alike. Jump on ksl.com and keep an eye on fire watches and warnings because your area may not be open or could he burned down.

Second, unless it takes a big turn fast I think it will be a warmer year. I live at the base of the uintahs and killed my bull on Friday and it was HOT for last weekend of archery.

Lastly as far as water is concerned my bladder wouldn't always freeze solid but my hose would. Once its that cold I switched to water bottles as the rivers and streams generally manage to flow enough to no freeze up so use that as your water supply and find a way to treat it (I use steri pen) just my personal opinions on the matter. The uinta range is pretty large so you could be in a spot MUCH different than where I go so take it all for what it's worth.

 

[Roughwater]

Apprecite it Amp. Thats the kind of info I'm looking for.
I have the general season Anybull, anyweapon tag and a Cow tag also so I can go to a number of units but a couple different people directed me to the Uinitas so that's what I'm looking at the hardest. The cow tag though is only good in certain parts of certain units. In the case of the Uintas I can hunt a cow in most of the south slope but not the north. So thinking to hunt either the eastern end of the south slope near the highline trail that way I can access both north and south slopes or a place I've looked at in the Wilderness part of the south slope toward the western end.
Though I wouldn't mind at all hunting other units of lower altitude but I wouldn't know where to start. I hunted in Colorado several years ago, 1st rifle and it was dry even at high Elevation. So the grasses at high elevation with no direct source of water turned out to be kinda burnt and we could see no evidence of Elk feeding there. Do you think it could be similar in the high Unitas this year?

 

[amp713]

We just spent the archery season all over our area. Between the unlimited archery tags Utah gives out and the high number of control tags it's been getting more and more bleak for the elk hunt this year after labor day traffic and guys beginning to move cows off the range most of the elk had pushed down to tribal and private. As pressure decreases they will move back up but how far is very dependent on pressure they receive between now and then. Although I much prefer hunting higher and further away I would also look for pockets of low land that are not accessible by vehicle. If you want to message me more we can talk. I will be hunting a cow up there during the rifle hunt as well thanks to the control tag.

 

[johnhenry]

Average low of 10 in October??? No its not that cold unless you are top of King's. Maybe a night or two in the teens but chances are low of 20 most of the time. Keep your water in the tent and it will be fine. Inside a tent a 15-20 degree bag should be plenty

 

[Smash]

It was getting quite cold there in the beginning of September. It would be 85 in town drive up into the mountains it would drop to 65 and the nights were getting down to the high 20’s with frost on a lot of stuff by morning. The wind and hail storms didn’t make it feel any warmer either. I was fine with my 30* quilt and wearing my puffy at night but would like to have a colder for next year just so I don’t have to have the puffy on at night.


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[Conrad101st]

I have hunted there (Uintas) 7 or 8 times. Most years are dandy.

Second year (2008 or 2009) was absolutely cold as hell. Like 5 degrees every night and a howling sleet storm first few days.

4th year (2010 or 2011) we got 3 feet of snow in the high country on Friday night before opening day. Hunting backcountry was basically fubar for a few days until it melted off.

Be prepared. Other years we sun ourselves in short sleeves.

Keep your extra water bottles in the tent.

 

[Roughwater]

Amp, John, Conrad and Smash,

Appreciate the info. Sounds like it could be most any temp but likely cold at night so I should be fairly well prepared except maybe for the 3 ft of snow. I will keep the extra water in the tent. I feel like I'm good as to tents and sleeping bag. I picked up a Eolus 800 Fill Power 0°F Ultralight Goose Down Sleeping Bag at Hyke and Bike. It wasn't a bad price and they give new customers a 15 dollar discount. It will shave a couple lbs off my pack and squash down nicely and I also saved a couple lbs on a tent I bought today. I had been looking for a week or more even at tents up in the 300 dollar range. I ended up with a 50 dollar 2.5 lb tent that had the highest customer satisfaction of any tent I had looked at. It is the River Country Products Trekking Pole Tent, Ultralight Backpacking Tent, 2 Person All Weather Tent. I'll silicone it good when I get it. It should give me room for me and my gear. I also picked up a lifestraw and ultralight stakes. Again I appreciate all of your advice.

 

[muddydogs]

Best to plan for 0 to 70, sun, rain and snow. I've hunted the general area in 2 foot of snow that fell overnight, enough rain that I thought I was going to have to build a boat and 70 degree short weather.

Make sure you check the fire restrictions before you head out, check to see if the area is even open. I called the local Distract for the area I hunt and they have lifted fire restrictions but my area tends to make its own weather and will get a little rain when nothing else is.

Don't think that you will be able to hike past the crowds, its general rifle season so your just not going to be able to get away from everyone, by hiking in you'll get away from the truck and trailer crowd but your just going to hike into the horse and crazy backpack hunter dudes.

With as dry as it has been keep track of water sources and plan on camping by a good source. Most years a guy can take a chance on what looks like a marginal water source off a map but this year chances are that source will be dry.

 

[farmermail]

Roughwater: Have hunted the north slope just about every year since 1999 for Elk, Deer, and Mountain Goat in 2015. Regarding weather, as others have said, early October in High Uintah can bring anything, and sometimes in the same day. Don't camp/park by beetle kill or dead tress, they will fall and it can get really windy. Bring a chainsaw with you, almost evey year we have to cut a tree out of the road getting to trailheads. If you are setting a spike camp, I do suggest going in at least 4 miles or so (plenty of trails to do so), most trail head hunters stop around 3 miles. Keep in mind, during the rifle hunt, there will be a lot of horse camps on most trails, normally 6+ miles in. I don't suggest going in that far, as you will be pretty crowded. As muddydogs stated, probably not going to outhike crowds. That isn't necessarily a bad thing, as there is a good population of elk there, and once the shooting starts, they move around a lot. More than once (seems at least once every year) I see a bull killed next to a camp just off a road. Good luck, and hope you have a great time.

 

[muddydogs]

Roughwater: Don't camp/park by beetle kill or dead tress, they will fall and it can get really windy.

Ya good luck finding a place without dead trees. Defiantly watch for overhead hazards.

 

[Roughwater]

Thanks much Muddydog and Farmermail,

I will heed your advice. I will bring a chainsaw then. Right now, South slope is the plan as I have a cow tag too only good on the south slope. Appreciate the advice about the water sources. I plan to stay within 5 miles of the trailhead. The place I am looking at I'm not even sure I can physically get into it but if I can I don't expect a crowd in there. I hope to get to the area with 3 or more days to scout and set up a camp etc. Maybe if "A" plan is not doable I can go to B, C or D plan as I've marked at least a half dozen areas within the South slope that appear to have some merrit. I do think it will be fun and will definitely challange my 68 year old body but I'm in no hurry so I'll rest often and be the turtle but I'll get there. I'll find things to do when I can no longer hunt elk but a Elk hunt to me is like Christmas to a child. I think I look forward to it more than anything else in life. It's about the only thing any more that motivates me to exercise. Anyway, thanks ya'll.

 

[Muttman]

I hunted 9 hard days on the north slope!
With the dry year we having all the elk seemed to always be around the creeks (water sources) wallows & springs I’ve known about that elk hit each year we’re dry this year!
Unless the weather changes drastically in 2-3 weeks you might still be hunting in T-shirts! Haha
I was able to harvest a nice 6x6 down low in the quakies!!
Good luck

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[rayporter]

in regards to water, cover it with something at night. also an old injun trick is to turn your container upside down - ice will form on the bottom of the container. inside your tent with a cover it wont freeze easily.

 

[Roughwater]

Thanks Rayporter and Muttman. I'll definitely keep those suggestions in mind. Nice bull muttman.

 

[bkraushaar]

Roughwater: Have hunted the north slope just about every year since 1999 for Elk, Deer, and Mountain Goat in 2015. Regarding weather, as others have said, early October in High Uintah can bring anything, and sometimes in the same day. Don't camp/park by beetle kill or dead tress, they will fall and it can get really windy. Bring a chainsaw with you, almost evey year we have to cut a tree out of the road getting to trailheads. If you are setting a spike camp, I do suggest going in at least 4 miles or so (plenty of trails to do so), most trail head hunters stop around 3 miles. Keep in mind, during the rifle hunt, there will be a lot of horse camps on most trails, normally 6+ miles in. I don't suggest going in that far, as you will be pretty crowded. As muddydogs stated, probably not going to outhike crowds. That isn't necessarily a bad thing, as there is a good population of elk there, and once the shooting starts, they move around a lot. More than once (seems at least once every year) I see a bull killed next to a camp just off a road. Good luck, and hope you have a great time.

From your experience, are the elk talkative

I hunted 9 hard days on the north slope!
With the dry year we having all the elk seemed to always be around the creeks (water sources) wallows & springs I’ve known about that elk hit each year we’re dry this year!
Unless the weather changes drastically in 2-3 weeks you might still be hunting in T-shirts! Haha
I was able to harvest a nice 6x6 down low in the quakies!!
Good luck

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In your experience on the North Slope, were the elk responding to bugles during Sept? Or were they quiet?

 

[farmermail]

Seemed to be cyclic, some years crazy bugles, others dead silent. I do suggest calling as a strategy.

 

[Silverback]

Never hunted the wilderness like that but when I was in the Marines we did some cold weather training. Everything came into the sleeping bag with me at night. Camelbak bladder and hose especially, breakfast, boots so they weren’t frozen in the morning. It was uncomfortable but I got used to it. Camelbak went under the jacket so it didn’t freeze during the day. My experience, your mileage may vary. Also having Nalgenes like others suggested so if your shit does freeze you’re not screwed.

 

[copay]

Roughwater I know this is a bit of a old thread but how was the weather? I'm trying to figure out what I need to have with me for the beginning of October hunt. Thanks

 

[bkraushaar]

Roughwater I know this is a bit of a old thread but how was the weather? I'm trying to figure out what I need to have with me for the beginning of October hunt. Thanks

Not sure if this is helpful, but a couple years back I camped on the North Slope around Oct 10th. I hiked in one evening in typical cool fall weather, very pleasant. I woke up to 12-14" of snow. I think keeping an eye on the 8-14 day NOAA forecast should give you a good idea of whether you're preparing for "fall" conditions, or winter conditions.