Call me selfish

[bragabit]

Go ahead call me selfish all you want. I have hunted deer in Utah every year since I turned 14. I have maybe killed 5 bucks in 20 years. I have a lifetime license and am in my fourth round of Dedicated hunter. I want option 1 because I want to ensure I can continue to hunt every year. I am fine with the bucks that I see every year. I see plenty. I could kill a 160-170 class buck every year if I wanted. Those of you complaining that the hunting is too hard, or you are not seeing enough bucks need to step it up and hunt harder or smarter you choose. Hunting is not supposed to be easy, if you are not successful, or happy with the way your hunt goes change the way you hunt not the rules of the hunt. There are as many quality bucks around this year as there has been for the last 20 years. I enjoy being able to hunt within minutes of my home every year. I sure hope that doesn't change.

 

[justr_86]

I agree!!!

 

[brutus]

I agree too, your selfish.

 

[Founder]

I kinda of agree. I don't think things are "that" bad. Yes, they can be improved upon for sure, but I don't want to be the one who doesn't get a tag. Nor do I want to see my son be the one who gets left out.
I will admit, I haven't hunted a huge amount in general season areas in Utah in the past few years, however, I spent 3 days out this year in the central region muzzleloading. On opening morning, I could have shot at a dandy 24-25 inch 4x4 at 120 yards. Then, on Saturday, my son and I got to make a play on a 26ish 3x4. He didn't get a shot, but it was fun. Got within 80 yards, just couldn't get a shot. Things just didn't seem all that bad. Certainly I wouldn't say they were bad enough to hack away a bunch of opportunity (tags).

I would rather see 10-15% of roads in every unit closed between Aug. 15th and Nov. 15th, plus keep the rifle hunts at 5 or 7 days. Give that a try for a few years and see if things improve. I really think the shorter season will help quality. And road closures would help quality and improve the health of sportsmen who could use a walk.

We've heard all the talk about how bad things are, but sometimes it's hard to swallow when you hear about Jason Carter killing a 220 buck on public ground in a general season area last year and then went back and killed a 250 this year. Geez, how many 180 bucks are there for every 220 buck?....200+???
Now I know I've heard all the talk about his connections and this and that, but I also have a friend who hunts southeastern Utah whose been finding whoppers on public land the last couple years.

I wonder sometimes how many people might just be hoping that the day will come where it'll be easy for them to kill a wallhanger....?????
Units like the Henry Mountains have ruined many peoples sense of reality. The Henry Mountains aren't the real world!!! Highly limited units and easy to kill trophy bucks have skewed the way people view hunting. I think some people just simply want to trim the "hunting" part out and turn it into more "killing". Kinda like those who support 100% managed units. They support that because they want to end the "hunt" part and make it a quick "kill" game.

Of course I like to get a buck every once in a while, but actually going hunting is what's most important to me.

Brian Latturner
MonsterMuleys.com

 

[Aaron84]

You're selfish can I hunt with you next year?

 

[justr_86]

I didn't agree to you being selfish, I agree with what you said and couldn't have said it better myself!

 

[littlejoe]

I definitely don't agree with the part about there being as many big bucks today as 20 years ago. At least not in northern Utah.

 

[Sidehill]

I guess I am selfish to because I agree 100% with Brian.I also agree that things are not as bad as they are played out to be in most units in Utah it has never been easy to take a 180"+ class buck on public ground during general season never will be.I have hunted NE region for the past 15+ years and Have seen some dandy bucks every single year and have taken a few dandy's as well. Nor will I deny I love to hunt every year. No I don't get a great buck every year but at least I have the opportunity to do so and have a lot of fun. Seem's to me that people have forgotten the meaning of the word "HUNTING". I can tell all of you right here and now that if I thought for one second our deer herd was in that much trouble I'd be the first one to hang my gun up. To be completely honest the past year I have seen some of the biggest bucks I have ever seen in my life and quit a few of them and no there not on the beaten paths it takes a whole hell of a lot of work no it's not easy but I don't believe it ever will be under any scenario. Personally I hope people be very careful what they wish for because it just may come true.

 

[spotit1st]

AMEN to option 1 and to everything you said, I agree hunt harder and you will find a good buck I seen more bucks this year on the Central region than I have ever seen but less does not a lot of big bucks but average, I checked out the rutting areas the last few days and good bucks are still alive and spreading their genes.

 

[dillon]

You don't have to worry about hunting every year. You are one of 3500 lifetime license holders in the state. You may just not get to hunt all three seasons anymore. I would not say you are selfish. I would say you want to hunt. So do I, and I think we all do. I like you see lots of big bucks, but I work hard to see them. I have hiked 110 plus miles this year scouting and hunting. I am still hunting the extended archery. I have had chances to kill deer, but I held out for a more mature buck. I generally just bowhunt. I want option 2 from a scientifically based view point that I have as a wildlife science student. I just don't see us making any progress in managing the herd on a regional scale. That is my opinion, maybe I am the selfish one.

 

[Packout]

Brian, that is a nice post. Seasonal road closures within the current units are a tool the UDWR can use under the current the Mule Deer Management Plan.

Dillon, good career choice. I always like to hear when Wildlife Bios actually hunt. One thing though, the herds are already managed on a unit basis. Bucks, for the most part, are managed on a regional basis while they meet the buck objectives. Utah already manages overall deer herds on a unit by unit basis.

 

[iliveinthewoods]

To me its not as much about how the current deer population is... We all know it stinks compared to years past, there are tons of variables to that, not just predation, winter kill, over kill, etc...

The thing that option 2 does that none other do, is the opportunity of each new "unit" when properly managed to BLOW UP, meaning HUGE DEER possibilities...

Whats the different between the paunsagaunt and cedar and beaver mountain?! Nothing, besides management...

 

[bragabit]

LAST EDITED ON Nov-20-10 AT 11:54PM (MST)[p]I can only comment on the Southern region. It is the only region I have ever hunted and most likely the only one I ever will. I remember just one year ago the arguments on here about a 5 or 9 day deer hunt. There was an opinion of most on here that they had seen more, and better bucks that year than in a long time because of the 5 day rifle hunt. Now this year it is the end of the world. I agree the hunting this year was tough. It was warm and dry for most of the year. The oak and aspen still had their leaves. 3 of the 5 days during the rifle hunt were extremely windy and rainy, with the ground freezing each night. The majority of the muzzleloader hunt was rainy changing patterns. There was a huge storm that hit 2 days prior to the archery hunt. The deer are still there they were just tough to find.
I am sure most of you have noticed there has not been a ton of trophy bucks from Colorado, Nevada, Wyoming, Idaho, New Mexico, or Arizona it was a tough year hunting everywhere.
Yes, in theory I should want the tags cut so I have less competition since I should have a Tag every year in the region of my choice. My wife has not drawn for 2 straight years now and my 12 year old daughter never drew this year. I would sure hate for them to have to wait 4 or 5 years between tags in the future.
I would 100 times rather have the deer hunting we have now than have it a little bit better and hunt every 5 years.

 

[AWHOLELOTTABULL]

While I don't agree with the option 1 thing, I think that seasonal road closures are an integral part of improving hunting conditions/improving deer herds. The only problem I see with that is that it's not the DWR's choice for road closures. I can't say 100% but I'm almost positive that the BLM and USFS would have to get on board to close roads and that may be tougher to get done than accurate deer counts.

Also, I don't see the number of deer I used to see (not even close) 20 years ago, 10 years ago, or even 5 years ago. I guess I need to hunt a little harder eh?


It's always an adventure!!!

 

[B_BOP_A_LU_LU]

The number of Deer are not there,Yes AWLB I guess we best get us some new Glasses & Hunt a little harder so we can see them!

I'm all for closing illegal roads & trails but alot of them are already closed/illegal & the BLM/USFS can't even scratch the abuse,they're a great tool when used lagally/properly but the damage they've done is beyond belief!

When the Deer numbers get low enough I can only imagine how loud the opportunists will be screaming,it'll be too late to fix it,remember when they had to close San Juan? how bout the Bumble Bee? How bout the Henries? How bout Vernon? How bout the Book CliffS?

How bout the whole Fricken State if it keeps going the way it's been going?



God is Great!
Life is Good!
And People are Crazy!

I love not acting my age,
Damn I love my NASCAR race,
And Hell yes I love my Truck!

 

[Outdoordan]

I have found that the truth always seems to be somewhere in the middle between two polar opposite opinions.

 

[Founder]

You are right that seasonal road closures would have to be coordinated by the BLM and FS, but I would much rather see effort put towards doing that than cutting tags to get the same result, which is better quality.
Cutting tags isn't going to help the overall herd size much, only quality.
Well, I think point restrictions, road closures, season date changes, and the shorter seasons are a better choice than making a bunch of people stay home. I don't want to be one of those people who get left out of the hunt, not when there are other options that should be tried first.

Brian Latturner
MonsterMuleys.com

 

[MJ]

I agree, option one is the way to go.

 

[Outdoordan]

I can say that do nothing, and you will get nothing in return.

 

[MJ]

I have seen many more very big bucks in the last 5 years. There is not an option out there that will allow you to ride roads and see big bucks. Try getting into the back country, not sitting on a quad all the time.

 

[western]

Am I the only one who is going to call him out on passing up 160 to 170 inch bucks on a general season tag? I have been hunting all three seasons since the beginning of the dedicated hunter program..and I hunt just as hard and smart as anyone I am not seeing bucks of that size when I am hunting ..so call me selfish for wanting a better quality hunt...

 

[brutus]

Just start beaten yer head off the wall now and save yourself trying to figure out the BS that comes out of some of they're mouths.

 

[biggun]

Hunt harder and smarter!! I see large Bucks every year they just do not stand on the side of the road.When you think your off the beaten path go deeper!!! I agree it should not be a walk in the back yard hunt. If that is what your looking for go to the high fence hunt.I want my kids to be able to hunt i wish i could give my tag to a youth hunter if so choose. I am dedicated hunter and have been for many years and in a three year time i usually shoot one deer. I have a blast huntting and i take my kids with me they learn that its a hunt not a kill day!! The one buck that i shoot is a nice buck.Go four point or bigger / Youth three point or bigger I'm in. 160 to 170 class deer do not stand at stop lights but i see plenty.

 

[hilltop]

Just wondering how many of you have hunted in northern Utah lately?

 

[MJ]

I have seen good deer there, but it has been on large private ranches.

 

[dleonard4]

I wasnt hunting deer twenty years ago. But for the last ten years this year included I have always seen nice bucks, some huge bucks, in both northern utah and southern utah. So I agree people need to change the way you hunt and stop expecting it to be easy