Deer Herd Conditions - Utah

[rimrockmuleys]

I'm looking for your realistic opinions (based on scouting this summer) of the mule deer herd by the five regions:

Northern
Northeast
Central
Southeast
Southern

I know that the DWR has shortened the seasons in the Southern and Southeast regions to try to get the buck numbers back up. I also understand the Northern and Southern regions were hit pretty hard during last years rifle hunt. I'm curious to know if you've seen any differences between regions...not looking for your honey hole. Trying to figure the best region to hunt in the years to come.

Rimrockmuleys

 

[Blanding_Boy]

Rim--

If you are looking at 'the years to come' then your question might be how has the fawn production and recruitment for each of those areas. I travel the state doing field work in all of those regions. I can say that the fawn crop the past two years has been great in all of the regions and is looking to shape up that way this year as well. Amazing how a little moisture helps things as well as all the predator management wildlife services is doing. If you are looking at what those buck fawns will become then you need to look at areas with large tracks of public lands--limted entry areas and or private land units. Those areas that have little or know public lands get hammered. Those areas that have good winter range and those areas that have good genitics.

my realistic opinion

 

[SMELLYBUCK]

I go on the family muzz hunt in S. Utah and the rifle buck hunt in N Utah every year. I attend both but hunt whichever I have a tag for. The last 2 yrs have been harsh in S Utah during the muzz hunt and I think this year will be better. My friends that archery hunt in the south are seeing more bucks this year than last year. I've been hunting N Utah for 5 yrs now, and I'm seeing more bucks than ever in that region- big & small. Should be a good year.

 

[Gator]

BB how can we get a law passed that will allow NR to shoot coyotes during hunting season, Just think if another 300 or 400 dogs are killed a year how many more deer that would put into the herds.

 

[RuttCrazed]

Why can't NR's shoot coyotes in Utah? I thought they were unprotected and anyone was allowed to hunt them all year without a license, like a jackrabbit.

Rut

 

[ktg]

Yep, kill 'em all.
As for herd conditions, I expect the F&G to have their annual 'This year looks better than last year' arcticle in the paper. Then again, with all the tags sold, maybe they'll tell the truth this year.

 

[ktc]

Go to their website "g". The article is already there.

 

[cantkillathing]

South eastern abajo mountains are horrible once again, there was lots of little buck last year, but they got slaughtered during the rifle hunt, every one filled there tags with a 2 point, I don't understand why the people just have to shoot a two point, if they would let the young buck grow a little. Also the great land owners who party hunt, shoot 5 deer and then find tags didn't help the herd. There is some fawns and some small bucks but I am sure it will be another 2 point slaughter house down here.

 

[DallanC]

>South eastern abajo mountains are horrible
>once again, there was lots
>of little buck last year,
>but they got slaughtered during
>the rifle hunt, every one
>filled there tags with a
>2 point, I don't understand
>why the people just have
>to shoot a two point,
>if they would let the
>young buck grow a little.

Contrary to popular belief, some people eat'em. Young and tender is much better than old tough and stringy when it comes time to eat'em.


-DallanC