Fish Lake repeat on the Manti???

[utahbigbull]

Just looking at cow tag numbers and found something disturbing. I will be the first to admit that I will hunt cows and do not argue it can be a necessary hunt for the herd health and a way to put meat in the freezer. The elk on the Manti are doing well but this is beyond a joke to me.

I remember the Fish Lake unit getting destroyed years back from the cow slaughter and am worried they are doing the same on the Manti this year. Looking at all the different cow units and comparing tag numbers, virtually every unit has doubled or tripled the tag numbers. Two units in particular are way out of line.

North Manti cow tag numbers:
2011 = 270
2012 = 800

Central Manti cow tag numbers:
2011 = 100
2012 = 275

Opinions??????

 

[BIGJOHNT]

Fish Lake was hurt when this all happened over the years. I dont think they where all killed off. But the added pressure ran the elk off the unit. Over to the monroe and manti units. Maybe this will help mix things up a bit? If they just try it for a year and not continue to pound it for years I dont see a problem.
I have heard from other hunters that Manti has alot of cows. I have never hunted the manti. But my neighbor drew a big bull tag this year so I will be up there a bit this year.

 

[sled_guy]

There is an incredible number of elk on the Manti. I've wondered over the past couple of years if it wasn't getting to be too many but I'm not a biologist so I don't know.

I just know that I see huge heards through the summer bunched up down in the canyons and it doesn't take them long to graze the whole canyon out.

sled_guy

 

[Deerlove]

What dates are the cow tags? I have a Late Bull tag and dont want company. lol

 

[pookiebar]

That herd could probably use some thinning down. If they do this for more then just one - two years thogh I will get really pissed.

 

[utahbigbull]

I admit, I have hunted the Manti for the last 12 years and the elk herds have been growing profoundly! I will be the first to say it has had a huge effect on the deer herd as a result of the exploding elk population. But doubling to tripling the tags??? Mabey one year will be good but I can only see where the elk herd will go if it is a continuing trend as it has been on other units in the past.

 

[polar_bear]

The reasoning they gave at the RAC meeting was that they finally got above objective on that unit, they had a really good calf crop, and few cows were killed in the winter hunts cause they never came off the mountain, and that they were just trying to stay ahead of the game to avoid an even bigger jump in tags next year. Someone in the RAC even brought up grazing concerns if they didn't keep the elk near objective, and they kept the numbers as recommended.

 

[ElkManDan]

Where do you find the # of tags they are giving out this year?? I haven't had any luck finding it on the DNR website.

 

[fish_wisper]

Looks like the cow hunts are the same time as the general elk hunt. I drew the late tag as well!