Best Solution to Utah Deer?

[Robin_Hood]

OK, I was in favor of option 2, and from my viewpoint, it is still the best of the options that were presented to increase our deer herd. (Remember, we only had three options discussed in the RAC process.) Honestly, it probably is not the best long term solution, but, what is the best solution to the problem we have in Utah with our deer herd? Please, please don't show your ignorance and answer with the ridiculous things that have been posted on some of the threads thus far?. (such as , ?make the entire state archery only?,?..?kill the does to get the b2d ratio in line,?, blah, blah, blah?)

This is a genuine question and I expect constructive genuine answers. If you don't have anything constructive to add to this discussion, please read and learn.

I do think there are several people who visit this site who have some great ideas that could actually accomplish the overall goal of increasing our deer herd and also providing better opportunity.

So, lets hear it, what is the best solution to the deer problem in Utah?

 

[LOWCOUNTRY]

If coyotes killing fawns is such a huge problem. Instead of using the aireal gun at $350.00 bucks a coyote hire 29 good trappers pay em and pay em well to trap coyotes in fawning areas on each specific unit. Give them 7 day trap checks and a minimum of 500 traps set per unit. It seems calling coyotes only can go so far before they quit coming to a call I.E. theyve been wised up/educated, 1080 is banned. It seems fawn mortatlity is extremly high and from what studies I see it is mainly coyotes doing the predation on fawns. Keep doing work with the dixie harrow and prescribed burning and be sure and seed with cliff rose after the project has been completed. Continue fencing highways that have high deer mortality caused by vehicles. JMHO.

 

[coolspringoutfitters]

Predator control... We need to find a better way to control the yotes... After hearing about the way it was in the 60's-early 80's it sounds like that may be a huge part of the equation. Back when there were a lot of sheep there were also a lot of sheep ranchers... They controlled the coyotes. They used traps, rifles and poison and the deer herd population skyrocketed... This tells me that we have WAY too many song dogs...And getting rid of them would be a good start.
This is just one part of the problem, but it is something that we could see immediate results from...


CSO

It's all about the good times...

 

[brutus]

I 2nd those sentiments! Cant add alot to what was posted. Those are spot on IMO.

 

[mtnrunner260]

The state needs to gain control of as much range, whether it be winter, summer or transition via outright purchase, lease, conservation easement etc and prevent development that harms the deer herd in critical areas.

Plus as previously mentioned; reducing road kill, aggressive predator management and range-land restoration and improvement.

The tough thing is none of these solutions come cheap.

 

[Devlin]

Just take one Henry Mountains Buck tag and have a drawing.One coyote tail for one chanch in the drawing and two tails for two chanches and so forth,bam done deal.Would get rid of all the Coyotes and a bunch in adjoinjng states also which would help them out also and probably a few German sheperds.

 

[B_BOP_A_LU_LU]

Devlin!

If you think for a second that Coyotes can be hunted clear out you are very secluded!

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!

 

[swbuckmaster]

Make it fair 33% tags archery 33% muzzy and 33% archery.

so if Utah has 16,000 tags for archery then so will muzzy and rifle.

It is the only way to have the same ratio of hunters/deer as colorado.

If the ratio of bucks to does goes up to above 20 bucks to 100 does then so will the tags. However the tags will go up equally 33%,33%,33% fair is fair and I can guarantee you will see loads of bucks and say the herd is better even though the deer numbers will probably still be the same at around 300,000.

or turn the 29-30 units this state has just created in 33% of the state archery only, 33% of the state muzzy only, and 33% of the state rifle only. Then let the different organizations manage their own buck to doe ratios how they see fit. Fair is fair.

To make it fair so know one complains one group has longer days then the other to hunt let them all have a 30-60 day hunt in what ever month they want. This way they can cut the number of tags or increase the number of tags in their own area to match the buck to doe ratio their group wants.

It would be fair all the way around.

The harder you work the luckier you will get!!

 

[3blade]

Bring back logging and actually improve the health of the forests. Nothing eats pine needles.

 

[wileywapati]

Here is a start

http://wildlife.utah.gov/hunting/biggame/pdf/mule_deer_plan.pdf


Stick to it and see what goes








2010 TOTALS
P.E.T.A. = 0 HUNTERS GONE
UTAH WILDLIFE BOARD = 13,000 HUNTERS GONE

 

[bowhunt]

I can't disagree with Wiley, but I am assuming we are going to 29 units for sure, and I know the majority of the hunters in the state choose to hunt with a rifle.

With that said:


-Reduce Predators:
How: Use SFW and Mule Deer foundation money to quit doing habitat projects and give a 50-75 dollar bounty on Coyotes. Increase Bear tag significantly, reduce lion poplulations

-Fence Roads and or get signs up that flash "Warning Deer Migration Route, slow down"
We loose as many deer to cars as we do to hunters.

What to do with the 29 units:

I feel STRONGLY that we can keep opportunity high and increase deer herds and buck quality.

Here is how:

-Each unit has a rifle hunt, a Muzzleloader Hunt and an Archery hunt.

-Limit Rifle tags on each unit. Less tags than today. Hate to say it guys but if you want to hunt more than every 3-4 years, then we have to do this.

-If your second choice is Archery or in some cases Muzzleloader you draw, this can happen if each unit has a number of primitive weapon tags equal to the rifle tags.

-Each unit does not have a set date for the Archery Hunt or Muzzleloader hunts make it flexible. Some early hunts, some late hunts, make it very appealing in some units, driving hunters to those hunts, but keeping success lower. The units where the archery hunt is very appealing you most likely will only draw with your first choice.

In other units make the primitive weapon hunts not so appealing, give and take.

-The Wasatch Extended would be an archery draw unit, unlimited but a draw. You want to hunt it, then put in and hunt just that unit. Keeping the hunt LONG like now.
Let's add a limited entry muzzleloader hunt on the Wasatch Unit. 5 tags. This will move hundreds of hunters over to this draw. Believe me we could afford 5 more bucks getting shot in this area.


What this does....Keeps the number of tags offered at or higher than current levels. Reduces harvest by some level and improves buck quality.

Focuses our money and efforts on improving herd numbers.

 

[sageadvice]

Some of you archery guys are really too much...

SWB said, "Make it fair 33% tags archery 33% muzzy and 33% archery."

LMAO

Joey

 

[JACO]

>Some of you archery guys are
>really too much...
>
>SWB said, "Make it fair 33%
>tags archery 33% muzzy and
>33% archery."
>
>LMAO
>
>Joey

I laughed when I read that too

 

[Robin_Hood]

Please don't turn this thread into "bash" on archery guys.

I am really wanting to know what is the best solution to resolve the mule deer issues in Utah.

I was extremely surprised when the DWR proposed the three options and Anis himself said, "none of these options will increase the deer herd". WHAT????? Then why present them as an option. yes, I did attend the Board Meeting in 09 and I heard the Board tell the DWR to come ready and present a solution to move to the 29 units. But why not present options that also would increase the deer herd?

That is what I want to know. What should have been presented as options to the board to increase the deer herds in Utah and also provide opportunity.

Thanks
Kevin

 

[sageadvice]

Hey No Problem, I'm sure that SWB's comment was just a Freudian Slip as he's many times professed to be a rifle hunter as well as a archer but i thought the slip funny considering some of the many recent posts.

As far as wanting to know... There has been hundreds of threads and thousands of posts on the subject in the last few years and far as i can tell, there is no right answer found yet. Good luck with that!!

Joey