Someone clarify for me. I can, as a nonresident purchase an any bull archery tag Over-the-counter in Utah and use it for archery and the any legal weapon season for less than $500? Is there a downside to this, compared to Colorado?
Yeah, from what I understand the tag is for spike only in any premium elk unit. The few exceptions, other than the Uintas, really dont have any elk in them or are mostly private like Zion. At least that is how I understand it. I also dont remember the archery tag being good for any weapon but I have not bought one so I dont really know.
Archery is only good for archery and any weapon only for that season's dates. Your archery tag is either sex and bulls are spike only ( most units) or any bull( only 4 other units)
Quite a lot of the state is included in that open bull hunt, not just a few isolated units. The DWR page has a map that shows it all. However, there are little or no elk in pretty much all of it. I've hunted all of it but the Uintas, and it's a major crap shoot. Unless you want to go into the Uintas I wouldn't waste my time coming from out of state. Nine Mile Range Creek and Cedar Mountain (Zion?) probably have the best numbers of elk outside the Uintas, but Cedar Mountain is almost entirely private and Nine Mile mostly is as well.
Utah's OTC tags are a pretty poor value for the most part, otherwise they'd be way more popular. If a guy was looking to kill a cow with a bow it might be worthwhile.
I hunt the Uinta's every year and always see good numbers of elk. If you get off the beaten path you will find elk
i killed this bull this year in the north slope unit. We saw 13 different Bulls most of those are rag horns. There are a few nice Bulls killed every year but if you get a chance at a rag horn take it. The other thing about utah that sucks is the season dates. You can usually get a few bills to bugle the last week of the hunt.
Also you need to take note of when your unit closes if archery hunting. Spike only units close before any bull units. I hunt Colorado and live in Utah the dates are later and bulging bulls are more fun. OTC is a crap shoot anytime any unit. My advice is invest in the same unit for atlest three years to give yourself a fighting chance or roll the dice and hope for lady luck