10-14-2005, 03:07 PM
10-14-2005, 03:47 PM
[cool]The only changes I've read or heard about are taking place at Flaming Gorge. The mack limit will be increased to to 8 with one over (whatever the minimum was-it still is-I think 28 inches, but don't quote me on that part). Obviously, the DWR wants more of the smaller macks taken out, because they don't want overcrowding, etc.
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10-14-2005, 06:37 PM
This is if the DWR homepage.
RAC meetings: Nine-day rifle deer hunt recommended for Southern Utah
Rifle deer hunters could hunt deer for nine days in southern Utah next fall under recommendations the Division of Wildlife Resources will propose at upcoming public meetings.
Those who attend the meetings can learn more about the DWR's 2006 big game hunting proposals and can provide their input and suggestions. Citizens representing Utah's five Regional Advisory Councils will take the public input received to the Utah Wildlife Board when it meets Nov. 22 in Salt Lake City to approve Utah's 2006 Big Game Proclamation.
Meeting dates, times and locations are as follows (please note that the Southern Region meeting will start at 5 p.m.): [ul] [li][#555555]Southern Region
[/#555555]Nov. 1, 5 p.m.
Dixie High School
350 E. 700 S., St. George [/li][/ul] [ul] [li][#555555]Southeastern Region
[/#555555]Nov. 2, 6:30 p.m.
John Wesley Powell Museum
885 E. Main St., Green River [/li][/ul] [ul] [li][#555555]Northeastern Region
[/#555555]Nov. 3, 6:30 p.m.
Uintah Basin Applied Tech. College
1100 E. Lagoon St., Roosevelt [/li][/ul] [ul] [li][#555555]Central Region
[/#555555]Nov. 8, 6:30 p.m.
Springville Junior High School
165 S. 700 E., Springville [/li][/ul] [ul] [li][#555555]Northern Region
[/#555555]Nov. 9, 6 p.m.
Bridgerland Applied Tech. College, Room 171D
1301 N. 600 W., Logan [/li][/ul]
Nine-day rifle hunt in the Southern and Southeastern Regions
Rifle deer hunters in the Southern and Southeastern regions could find themselves hunting four extra days next fall, including an extra weekend, under recommendations the DWR will present at the meetings.
"Deer herds in Utah are continuing a slow but steady climb, and we believe the rifle hunt in the two regions can be lengthened without a negative effect on the deer herds," said Craig McLaughlin, big game coordinator for the DWR.
In 1999, hunters in the Southern Region asked that the season be cut to five days on the Pine Valley, West unit to try and improve the number of bucks on the unit. Five-day seasons were eventually expanded to cover all of the units in the region.
Hunters in the Southeastern Region asked for their first five-day season in 2000.
"The problem is that five-day seasons don't do what they're intended to do," McLaughlin said. "Most of the deer taken during the rifle hunt are taken during the opening weekend, so a five-day season really doesn't save many deer. And five-day seasons take an opportunity away from hunters to get outside and enjoy the outdoors. We'd like to bump the season back to nine days and give deer hunters a chance to enjoy a few extra days of hunting."
McLaughlin says deer herds in Utah have improved to the point that the rifle hunt can be lengthened to nine days without a big effect on the herds.
"Deer numbers in Utah declined for several years because of the drought, but the herds started to rebound in the spring of 2003. And deer did even better in 2004," McLaughlin said. "We had a good, wet winter and spring that year, and all of the moisture that was received improved rangeland conditions for deer across the state. As the range conditions improved, so did the survival of deer fawns."
During surveys this past March and April, DWR biologists found an average of 70 fawns per 100 does across Utah. "We were happy to see that most of the fawns born in the spring of 2004 made it through this past winter," he said.
And more snow and rain fell this past winter and spring. "We'll start our post-deer hunt surveys in November, and I'm sure we'll see that a good number of fawns were born this past spring," he said.
In addition to counting the number of fawns, DWR biologists will also count the number of bucks. "If we find that the number of bucks per 100 does doesn't meet the minimum goal of at least 15 bucks per 100 does, we can address that next fall when we set recommendations for the 2007 hunt," he said.
"Lengthening the rifle season to nine days in the two southern Utah regions for one year is not going to have a big impact on the regions' deer herds, even if we find that the buck to doe ratio has dropped to less than 15 bucks per 100 does
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RAC meetings: Nine-day rifle deer hunt recommended for Southern Utah
Rifle deer hunters could hunt deer for nine days in southern Utah next fall under recommendations the Division of Wildlife Resources will propose at upcoming public meetings.
Those who attend the meetings can learn more about the DWR's 2006 big game hunting proposals and can provide their input and suggestions. Citizens representing Utah's five Regional Advisory Councils will take the public input received to the Utah Wildlife Board when it meets Nov. 22 in Salt Lake City to approve Utah's 2006 Big Game Proclamation.
Meeting dates, times and locations are as follows (please note that the Southern Region meeting will start at 5 p.m.): [ul] [li][#555555]Southern Region
[/#555555]Nov. 1, 5 p.m.
Dixie High School
350 E. 700 S., St. George [/li][/ul] [ul] [li][#555555]Southeastern Region
[/#555555]Nov. 2, 6:30 p.m.
John Wesley Powell Museum
885 E. Main St., Green River [/li][/ul] [ul] [li][#555555]Northeastern Region
[/#555555]Nov. 3, 6:30 p.m.
Uintah Basin Applied Tech. College
1100 E. Lagoon St., Roosevelt [/li][/ul] [ul] [li][#555555]Central Region
[/#555555]Nov. 8, 6:30 p.m.
Springville Junior High School
165 S. 700 E., Springville [/li][/ul] [ul] [li][#555555]Northern Region
[/#555555]Nov. 9, 6 p.m.
Bridgerland Applied Tech. College, Room 171D
1301 N. 600 W., Logan [/li][/ul]
Nine-day rifle hunt in the Southern and Southeastern Regions
Rifle deer hunters in the Southern and Southeastern regions could find themselves hunting four extra days next fall, including an extra weekend, under recommendations the DWR will present at the meetings.
"Deer herds in Utah are continuing a slow but steady climb, and we believe the rifle hunt in the two regions can be lengthened without a negative effect on the deer herds," said Craig McLaughlin, big game coordinator for the DWR.
In 1999, hunters in the Southern Region asked that the season be cut to five days on the Pine Valley, West unit to try and improve the number of bucks on the unit. Five-day seasons were eventually expanded to cover all of the units in the region.
Hunters in the Southeastern Region asked for their first five-day season in 2000.
"The problem is that five-day seasons don't do what they're intended to do," McLaughlin said. "Most of the deer taken during the rifle hunt are taken during the opening weekend, so a five-day season really doesn't save many deer. And five-day seasons take an opportunity away from hunters to get outside and enjoy the outdoors. We'd like to bump the season back to nine days and give deer hunters a chance to enjoy a few extra days of hunting."
McLaughlin says deer herds in Utah have improved to the point that the rifle hunt can be lengthened to nine days without a big effect on the herds.
"Deer numbers in Utah declined for several years because of the drought, but the herds started to rebound in the spring of 2003. And deer did even better in 2004," McLaughlin said. "We had a good, wet winter and spring that year, and all of the moisture that was received improved rangeland conditions for deer across the state. As the range conditions improved, so did the survival of deer fawns."
During surveys this past March and April, DWR biologists found an average of 70 fawns per 100 does across Utah. "We were happy to see that most of the fawns born in the spring of 2004 made it through this past winter," he said.
And more snow and rain fell this past winter and spring. "We'll start our post-deer hunt surveys in November, and I'm sure we'll see that a good number of fawns were born this past spring," he said.
In addition to counting the number of fawns, DWR biologists will also count the number of bucks. "If we find that the number of bucks per 100 does doesn't meet the minimum goal of at least 15 bucks per 100 does, we can address that next fall when we set recommendations for the 2007 hunt," he said.
"Lengthening the rifle season to nine days in the two southern Utah regions for one year is not going to have a big impact on the regions' deer herds, even if we find that the buck to doe ratio has dropped to less than 15 bucks per 100 does
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