Utah Releases 2009 Elk Harvest Elk Stats, No Bull Age???

This is the first time in the last four years the DWR has not posted the age class of the elk taken on the LE ELK HUNTS. I would assume the average age is slightly down. I have spoke to outfitters from down south, they say the number of 375 plus bulls are down from years past. The DWR gets alot of pressure from hunters for not being able to draw a tag for 15 years, so they lower the age class objective to 5-6 in many areas to help issue out more tags. Then the hunters are upset for not seeing bigger bulls as they have in the past. The DWR is in a no win situation.
 
The elk committee is working to establish 4 strata age objective units. 6 premier units for 7.5 - 8.0 age, 4 units for 6.5 -7.0 age, 13 units for 5.7 - 6.3 age and 6 units for 4.5 -5.0 age. They are trying to create units for the hunter who wants to just be able to shoot any branch antlered bull and premier units for the 350 plus scoring bulls. They are getting alot of input from ranchers etc that want to have bigger bulls so that the landowner tags they are given to sell will be worth more. They are doing a great job, trying to balance the quality and opportunity dilemna. There will most likely be more archery tags and fewer rifle tags and an adjustment in season dates in relation to hunting during the rut. I have the average age from 2002 through 2009 for every unit that was gathered from the tooth data. Almost all units are at or above age objective. However, this does not always translate into what hunters seem to expect as far as antler score is concerned. The committee is trying to come up with a way to include B&C score along with age objective to manage units. It will be interesting to see how they can manage to get to the B&C score objective in each unit.
 
I do not believe that this is odd at all, since I do not have my tooth data back for my own animal yet!! Maybe they are still trying to gather info., "not trying to screw people". Besides that the harvest odjective ages usually come out in the annual report. Just me two cents!!!
 
LAST EDITED ON Feb-02-10 AT 11:11AM (MST)[p]it would be nice to know the average age on each hunt. but do to the amount of tags that were given out and the amount of bulls that were killed the DNR lab was probably so backed up they couldn't get that information out in time for the post.
 
Which unit do you want the harvested elk age data on ? I have all of it up through '09, along with the 3 year ave.
 
Nebo,
I assume if you have all the harvested elk age data for 2009 already, we should be able to call in and get the data on our bulls killed in 2009? (someone has the data somewhere it sounds like) I know the info has not been posted online yet as I just logged in and checked my info yesterday to see if the age data had been updated yet.

Would you mind sharing the average age harvested on the Wasatch in 2009 (archery, any weapon, and muzzleloader)?
 
The bull age for each unit is listed in my Huntinfool magazine as well as their website.
 
Nebo,
I would like to know the age data for the Book Cliffs Roadless if you don't mind sharing. Thanks

Nocked N Loaded
 
It is kinda confusing when ya get over to the CWMU info and harvest %.

There sure is alot of tags for Bull Elk on some of those CWMU.

I also notice that in the LE units listed that they do not include the Con org nor Expo tags in the tag numbers or apparently, not in the harvest %.

Nebo rifle was 81 % ----hard to understand that, with all the guys that said they never even saw an elk?

Robb
 
I was one of the 42 (17%) who failed to harvest on the Wasatch. I guess that should make me feel better.
 
Those harvest stats are eye openers. There were a couple of CWMU's that had 0% harvest. I think the DWR needs to rethink having those places as part of there system. I was also a little surprised at how low the archery success rate was on some of the premium units like the Pavhaunt. (or however you spell that)
 
I was really surprised on the low archery success rate also, espically with how many days those guys were hunting. Possibly a direct reflection of the poor archery hunt dates given. (closeing by the 11/12 of september the last two years. I think Utah has the worst Archery Elk hunt dates in the west. Bow hunters use the most restricted weapon and get the worst hunt dates.
 
>Nebo,
>I assume if you have all
>the harvested elk age data
>for 2009 already, we should
>be able to call in
>and get the data on
>our bulls killed in 2009?
>(someone has the data somewhere
>it sounds like) I
>know the info has not
>been posted online yet as
>I just logged in and
>checked my info yesterday to
>see if the age data
>had been updated yet.
>
>Would you mind sharing the average
>age harvested on the Wasatch
>in 2009 (archery, any weapon,
>and muzzleloader)?


Wasatch Mountains 2009 - ave age 7.1 The 3 year ave is 7.7
 
>Nebo,
>I would like to know the
>age data for the Book
>Cliffs Roadless if you don't
>mind sharing. Thanks
>
>Nocked N Loaded
Book Cliffs Bitter Creek South -- 2009- 7.9 ave age 3 year ave is 7.5
Book Cliffs Little Creek 2009- 7.4 3 year ave.-7.1
 
>Nebo,
>Do you happen to have the
>harvest age data for the
>Desert Sheep units?
>Thanks!
South West Desert, Indian Peaks- 2009- ave. age 8.3, 3 year ave.-8.5
West Desert, deep Creek 2009-7.1, 3 year ave.-7.7
 
not only do the archery hunters get the worst time of year to hunt it is also a once in a lifetime hunt! I would never use a bow with that type of odds!

If I get one shot Im going to do it with a weapon that allows me a chance to kill a top bull.

4a7d1f93337c7fd7.jpg

Archery is a year round commitment!!
 
Does anyone know where I can find how many tags Utah is giving out for each unit? They are usually listed on the Regs but I don't see them on the 2010 Regs.

Thanks
Bulldown
 
Utah will not have that data till far after the application period ends. I wish you could see what they were going to do with permit numbers as well, but they have to compile all of their count data first.
 
So would you be better off drawing a top 5 archery unit or using the points for a lesser rifle tag(ex. Wasatch), if your goal is to harvest the best bull possible without taking other aspects of the hunt into consideration?
 
I to have not recieved my data on age on my 2009 bull on the sw desert and according to the gentleman at the dwr its not mandatory to give dwr teeth they acted supprised when i showed up with mine seems silly to not use this effective tool but then again its the dwr !!!!!!
 
Average age and current year tag #s are usually nat available until mid-late march. Comes out just before RAC meeting when they discuss tag #s.
 
Well the DNR must have listened to vocal Elk Point holders. Here you go. I checked it today and lo and behold it was updated.

Thanks go out to everybody who called or emailed the Utah DNR. No matter what caused this change it does not matter.

Everybody who has been putting in for a Utah dream limited entry elk hunt for years and years deserves to look at all the statewide options objectively before spending their hard earned money on an application fee and lottery drawing tag.

Here is the link:

http://wildlife.utah.gov/hunting/biggame/pdf/09_stats/le_elk_hr.pdf
 
Interesting that it looks like nearly every unit in the state needs an increase in the number of permits to come close to the new proposed elk committee plan, much less the old objective.

I don't believe the issue with monster 400" bulls in Utah has anything to do with permit numbers but the way we hunt elk here now.

Cheers,
Pete
 
Lol now I don't feel so bad in not filling my Oak Creek archery elk tag last year. WOW, 1 out of 12 hunters killed elk on a limited entry unit. Now that's f-ed up!
 

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