BigGameHoundsmen.com

Thinking of taking a job up in Vernal. What's the lion and bear hunting like? Ill be coming with my dry ground dogs here in Arizona. Just wanted a little input thanks.

Kenny 602-460-8078

Lot's of hunting pressure. Seasons are good. The terrain is rough in spots. The people are quite cliquish(in general not specific to the houndsmen). If you're Mormon you'll probably be okay. There are LOTS of houndsmen here. The lion hunting is pretty tough. The lion is public enemy #1 in Utah and all of the units around Vernal are on the harvest objective or split unit except one. And it shows. There are a few areas with decent cat populations but there is usually a reason for it. The GOOD part is that you can basically hunt year around if you have a kill tag in your pocket. The bookcliffs seem to hold quite a bit of game even though they are hunted hard. A lot of people have good days off schedules making the weekdays almost as bad as the weekends some times. People here love to hunt and fish so there are people EVERYWHERE, not just houndsmen. The bear hunting isn't awesome compared to other states I have hunted but there are bears. Every one here has dogs. If you have true dry ground dogs you may have better success than I did. I never tried my luck at actually PURSUING a lion on dry ground. Although, even a blind squirrel can find a nut every now and then. If it's the job you're after, go for it. There is just enough game to keep you interested. If you're thinking the hound hunting is awesome and there happens to be a job here, I'd look elsewhere. That's my very honest assessment. Some people may feel differently but that is my experience over the last 7 years I have been here. I'd volunteer to take you out and show you around but I am moving to Texas next week. I have a buddy that has a few dogs that is just getting into hound hunting that knows some areas. He'd be willing to swap some hunting knowledge for some hunting spot knowledge, I'm sure. PM me and I'll give you his number. There is lots of public land here, also. Some of it is accessible year around because the oil companies keep it open. You can call or text me if you want more information. 435-630-4160 Anthony Btw, it gets BITTER cold here in the winter, sometimes for quite long stretches of time. In the valley's anyway, in the mountains it doesn't get as bad but there is usually a lot of snow.

its nice to see people lending a helping hand when it comes to helping guys get out in the field. wish more people had the same attitude!!

The lion hunting sucks up there I was in vernal all last winter and caught one lion if it climbs a tree up there it is dead oh and if you want a chance of finding a track on fresh snow you better start at midnight looking for tracks or as soon as it is done snowing and as far as hunting the dirt it is one of the worst places it's hard to find tracks in the terrain up there with the exception of a couple places! There are alot of bears up there though but almost as many hounds men every truck either has a welder a fuel tank or a dog box in it! But the money is good up there but the winters are a cold nasty sob!

csl wrote:every truck either has a welder a fuel tank or a dog box in it!

HAHA! That pretty much sums it up...

lots of hunters... but there are cats in some places.. the places with cats have the most rocks. I have hunted that area for 18 years and there is no place like vernal... up hunting at, well hell don't even go to bed, if its a weekend don't even hunt. but there is game there to catch. Owe its bitter cold there in the winter. 0 to -25 some times, to dang cold to be on a sled.