cow elk slaughter

[justtryin]

LAST EDITED ON May-24-09 AT 10:41AM (MST)[p]LAST EDITED ON May-24-09 AT 10:41?AM (MST)

I'm looking for an honest fact based response. Why was it decided and how was it justified based on management principles that this "Elk Control Permit" is better than increasing the antlerless draw permits to a clearly defined number? If there is someone out there who attended the RACs and other meetings or was in some way involved in this policy I would like to know.

For those of you unclear to what it is read page 8 of the Anlterless guidebook. ( http://wildlife.utah.gov/guidebooks/2009_antlerless/2009_antlerless.pd ) In short I as an archer/dedicated hunter have 3 opportunities to get cow elk permits this year on the San Juan and other units. (I realize I could only harvest 2) That means in my household with me and my wife both being archers, both hunting the general seasons on the San Juan we are both eligible to purchase over the counter, an "Elk Control Permit" (guaranteed tag), then we can both purchase a spike tag and shoot a cow with our bows (guaranteed tag), and then potentially draw an antlerless elk tag. That is six tags between the two of us (although we would only be allowed to have four permits/harvest four animals).

I will admit I wasn't at the RACs or other meetings to voice my opinion or hear the justification from the division, but it seems to me they are making a huge mistake that is going to lead to a slaughter on the four units that fall under that tag.

 

[deadibob]

read the reply in the general hunting forum. That should answer it.

 

[Packout]

Those 4 units are areas in which the UDWR does not want elk herds. The units have either low elk numbers or hard to access private lands. If someone has a permit to hunt the units for their primary species, they may just come across the elk as secondary opportunity. The San Juan portion is not part of the San Juan elk unit, but covers an area east of the LTD Elk Unit. The area is largely private and the resident herd has caused $xxx,xxx worth of damage to crops every year, which the UDWR has had to pay as depredation claims. The Henry Mtns is managed for deer and buffalo. The elk herd there is very low and they want to keep it that way. The San Raf is the same, low elk numbers and not desired to have a herd there. The Nine Mile Herd is hard to control population numbers with limited access due to private lands.

My opinion is that this is a good thing, used on a very limited basis which affects maybe a few hundred elk. It is a strategy used to manage elk in an almost unmanageble situation. I don't know how many guys with a Henry Mtns deer tag will buy a cow elk permit.

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