Utah Archery Elk Ideas/Help for birthday trip with my son

[Pramo]

My son turns 13 next year and he can never hunt with me in Colorado due to school and sports. I'm thinking of taking him to South Slope Unitas any bull or maybe Fish Lake in southern Utah for a cow/spike hunt at the start of the August season for a week long trip. I've hunted OTC Colorado archery elk by myself for 6 years now with above 50% success in one of the wilderness areas. I'm not worried about fitness or gear my son has been doing scouting trips since age 9 where we camp at 12,000 ft and have covered 6+ miles in day. I'll also get a Utah GPS map chip and study all the maps before the trip.

Utah is the only place I can find with the early season dates and I know it will hot and and spot and stalk at best that's fine. I have also read the fishing is good and see there are all kinds of ponds on google earth on South Slope. My son loves to fish so I figure we can chase some elk in the morning and evening then fish during the day.

If anyone can give me some info on ideas or trail heads to look at that would be great.

Also any thoughts on should I do any bull OTC in South Slope or go LE cow hunt. Obviously killing any elk would be great but I just want a fun place for us to go, see some animals/fish and spend time with my boy.

If it's good info please PM me, I know nobody wants stuff all over the net and I'll return the favor

Thanks,
-John

 

[geebee]

I have no valuable input on this other than kudos to you for being a great dad and spending quality time with him! Good luck!

 

[mtnrunner260]

The utah archery tag is any elk on the open units like south slope.
You could see better bulls on the fish lake but can't shoot them.
Take to the regional dwr office or look online to see what lakes are stocked on the south slope. Will be tons.
Both options would be a lot of fun but I think the south slope would be the best overall trip in my opinion because of the chance at a branch antlered bull.

 

[Derek Anderson]

I will be hunting south slope next year. I live in vernal. Good unit, lots of elk, but a really tough hunt. Unless you know the area and where things are at, it will be a tough one for you. I am still amazedon't how thick ashley mt. Is.

 

[Pramo]

Thanks for the info so far and from those who sent me a pm

Good tip on checking the lake stocking reports. I never fished much or even like it but took my son when he was 5 and it was the only time he sat still and just loved it. Since then we end up fishing everywhere we go.

Right now my plan is also checking out some archery mule deer units with a draw but doubtful I'll find one. If I can't get that we go for elk, the fishing alone may have us head to south slope for elk.

Thanks again,
John