Have you hunted the northern unit before? Any success? I looked into the buck/bull combination tag this year. (It seemed like it fit my school schedule best) The boundaries are the northern unit, I decided against it because it seems overcrowded without very much public land to hunt. However the convenience of it is tempting, I know a few locals who have tagged a few on the unit. I always ask what other peoples experience has been on that unit. It is generally the only General tag that doesn't sell out. Each year when I look at my odds I get more and more tempted to buy a muzzleloader.
I put in for:
General Central Unit Rifle
L/E Elk
Bison Bonus Point
....
Define "success". I define it as whether myself, my boys, my brother/dad/nephews have a good experience. So, yes we do have success. There's nothing about hunting with younger boys that says we "hunt". We do "camp with guns" and last year my younger brother got a NICE 4 point on the muzzleloader. Our family is pretty settled in Cache Valley and I know my way around the area fairly well. That's why the northern unit works for me.
Muzzleloader is kind of funky. I've never felt more "vulnerable" while hunting as you can ONLY pack your "primitive rifle" (unless you have a CCW and are carrying your other weapon for "protection"). It's somewhat fun as the guns kick like a mule and are beyond loud.
The biggest deer I've ever seen have been west of Tremonton, but you are somewhat limited in public land in that area (coincidence, I doubt it).
Honestly, I only hunt where I can pack an animal out. I'm pretty limited there (esp. last year, as I had knee surgery in Aug.). I hike about a mile or two, hang out for quite a few hours, then head back to camp through what looks successful to see animals.
My dad and brother have about 14-15 points or something and my dad has put in for bison on Antelope Island for the past 4-5 years. He's got to draw sometime in the near future?