Utahs deer herd thoughts

adamsoa

Active Member
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704
Been thinking and reading posts on opinions about Utahs deer herd and thought I'd share a few of my own.
First of all I think that Utah has some great deer and hunting oppertunities. Right now seems like there are a lot of calls for a big reduction in the numbers of hunters. The idea is to better manage numbers for the large mature deer that we all want to harvest. I dont necessarily think that this is true. Seems like there are a few areas with good deer numbers but these areas get killed by the orange hoards every year.
I hate the ideas put out by some guys, that we need to make large increases in the price of tags, thinking that this might cut down on some hunters. I think that hunting should be something that everyone has access to....wether they are wealthy or not. I'm tired of hearing that "$500 is a great deal for an elk tag, you just gotta save 20 dollars a month." Or the good old "Kids shouldent have access to special tags, they dont even appreciate them yet".
I think that the state should begin to create and manage smaller units. Limit the numbers of hunters per smaller area but continue to allow the same coverall numbers just spread them around. Managing a smaller unit will allow them to focus on the herd for that area......instead of the whole manti or nebo or all of southern utah. This would give everyone a more quality oppertunity.
My last idea/pet peeve has to do with dedicated hunters and archers. I think that the dedicated hunters need to pick an area and stay with that area. Seems like come November every dedicated hunter in the state packs up and hits the wasatch front. This is always the time for confrontations with nonhunters. Every parking lot on the front is full to the max with hunters and they seem to be on every oiled road next to the houses looking for an animal. I dont begrudge them or the general archery guys the right to archery hunt, but I would like to see them pick an area and hunt that area like everyone else, instead of chasing the late hunts.

Just a few of my ideas.

Andy
 
Definetly agree with you on the wasatch front archery issue. I happily would archery hunt the front all season long,and no where else. Bow hunters should have to choose a region. It would improve the archery hunts everywhere especially on the extended wasatch front.
 
LAST EDITED ON Mar-30-06 AT 03:11PM (MST)[p]"Definetly agree with you on the wasatch front archery issue. I happily would archery hunt the front all season long,and no where else."

Southern Utah thanks you!:)
 
I think there needs to be more units like the Wasatch offered to the rest of the state. Over the counter tags with a chance at older bucks. I believe they need to monitor the gun hunters more. Possible giving them smaller units to hunt in or less tags. It is too easy to go out and kill a deer at over 400 yards away with a gun or smoke gun. I have been there and would rather hunt big deer and go home empty than hunt 2pts with millions of orange hunters every where.
Here is another option maybe they could offer three riffle hunts in conjunction with 3 elk hunts that are only 3 or 4 days long each, and you could shoot either elk or deer if you had the appropriate tag. This would limit the chance of a deer getting shot at and running into other hunters. I don't want to get into the argument over which weapon you use because it only hurts every one. I would just like to hunt older class deer with less pressure.
We have less deer and more hunters. I wish it could raise my kids like I was raised with the deer hunt being practically a Utah holiday no one was at school and we had a lot to talk about on Monday. But I think the good old days are gone. With good management the deer might make a come back.
 
I agree with the idea of shorter hunts but having an early season and maybe a second and third season also.
Each hunt couls be 3-5 days each and maybe have 4 different hunts.

Hey Cpt, or is it Mjr now? Good to see your alive , how you been?
 
I disagree with the idea of more units. If you limit the areas more, then people will likely shoot the buck that is in the unit regardless of it's size.

I know alot of people who pass up small bucks becuase they know that they have other areas to hunt that might hold a big buck.

I say limit muzzleloaders to open sights, traditional cap and ball and move the date back to being after the rifle tag.
 
>I disagree with the idea of
>more units. If you limit
>the areas more, then people
>will likely shoot the buck
>that is in the unit
>regardless of it's size.
>
>I know alot of people who
>pass up small bucks becuase
>they know that they have
>other areas to hunt that
>might hold a big buck.

Yup.

>I say limit muzzleloaders to open
>sights, traditional cap and ball
>and move the date back
>to being after the rifle
>tag.

I dont understand how a non-magnafying piece of glass gives you an advantage over open sights but i'd GLADLY accept ANY new restrictions to get the date back to after the rifle hunt... absofrickenloughtly.

It will never happen though.


-DallanC
 
Still a CPT....judt waiting for the other. Hows life your way??? Just killing time here waiting for the hunts to start.
 
Micromanagement is the only solution. Look at the few units that Utah does micromanage: Henry Mountains,Paunsaguant, Book Cliffs, Vernon, Oak Creek. You can kill a good buck in any of these units. CO micromanages the whole state and as a result there isn't many units that don't have big bucks, and there is at least one unit you can hunt if you don't draw your prefered tag. The proofs in the pudding. Utah, unfortunately, has to many opinions, politics, and whiners to make the inevitable happen.

Mike
 
Amen Mike!

Why Utah can't get it figured out is beyond me!

There is no need to reinvent the wheel, Colorado is more than ample PROOF that micromanagement WORKS!

I'd GLADLY trade a Utah general season public land tag IN ANY unit for a second hand unit in Colorado. I'd be willing to trade most of Utah's limited entry units for some of Colorado's second choice units.

We can beat our keyboards to death and talk until we're blue in the face, but it just doesn't appear that Utah is willing to face the facts.

The most ironic thing of all is Colorado has done it WITHOUT all of the pomp and circumstance that comes along with being a Utah hunter.........

The proof is in the pudding and Colorado is swiming in it!
 
Not doing to bad.
Found out last week that my retirement, discharge from the Army went into effect 15 Feb, Utah just barley let me go last week. I'll be in the first of this week for my med records and discharge papers.
Went shooting today up at the Kaysville range, shot less than 20 rounds but still managed to brake the 3rd set of scope mounts on my 338. Gonna have to do some research and figure this one out.
Good to hear from you.
 

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