Southern Utah Deer Herd Hurting

[Elkhunter96]

Spent the last three days hunting my old honey hole down south for the first time in 3 years due to LE elk tags in the family. I was shocked at the low numbers of deer and lack of fawns. In years past, I would pass on numerous small bucks daily and see quality bucks daily not too mention tons of does with fawns. This year, saw less than 20 does total on the unit with 1 fawn in three full days of huntin. No bucks...

I also spoke to an LE elk hunter that has been there the full hunt. He has yet to see a buck as well and only knew of one buck being killed nearby. He was also shocked by the lack of deer in the area.

The last two winters killed a lot more deer and elk than I previously thought. The elk herd was down some as well, not their fault. Just my observations from my deer hunt, it is going to take years for that area to recover.

 

[300wby]

Jst don't ask the devision what's wrong cause the herd is doing great to them! I live on the unit and have noticed a lot of changes, almost every hunter that I talked to was either from out of state or northern utah! Many of them comented on the low numbers of deer!

 

[utahbigbull]

On my LE elk hunt last year down south, I had seen one shooter buck, two dinks and mabey 20 does TOTAL all summer between scouting and the 12 days there during the hunt. Was the fewest deer I had ever seen on any mountain in my life.

 

[Lungbuster]

What unit in southern utah ?

 

[rmanwill]

Kind of been the trend that I've seen the past three years!!!

 

[RoadlessHunter]

I hunted the pahvant above fillmore. This area is toast. I seen very few deer and a couple of bucks. The sad thing is driving the roads and not seeing a sing deer were they use to cross all the time. and Yes i got of the roads and hiked my butt off. The Fish and Game lies to use and says they are just spread thin.

 

[Downrange]

I have been on the Fillmore Pahvant hunting deer with the archery and almost all the does i have seen do not have fawns with them. The future is not looking good in that area for deer numbers.

 

[RoadlessHunter]

I also forgot to mention the fact that I seen multiple Lion kills on my walk hunts. The predators are taking a toll on the herd.

 

[model700]

Does Utah have or had in the past a bounty on lions? Maybe that would help?

 

[Elkhunter96]

LAST EDITED ON Aug-28-11 AT 01:39PM (MST)[p]I was on Pahvant as well, that area has been devastated by the winters. I did lots of hiking and glassing, it was a very sad realization for me.

 

[bigbucksforever]

Haven't you heard. The buck to doe ratio in the southern region is the highest in the state. So next year they are issuing a boatload of tags to bring the deer numbers in line with "Ojectives." the ratio is at 25/100. To bad there are only 100 does on the whole unit. I have hunted cedar mountain for 30 years and this is definitely the lowest number of deer I have ever seen on this mountain . Mule Deer are in trouble in southern utah.

 

[Prism]

Overall numbers seem to be down all over. Still some great bucks getting shot this year. I must be jinxed this year as I can't find squat and I spend a lot of time in the hills all across the state.

I think quite a few areas got pounded by winterkill, and without a doubt we have some serious predator issues. I've seen 3 lions so far in 2011 from the road, and I have lions, bears, and coyotes on pretty much ever camera I have out.

Trail cam pics of predators should be an eye opener for all of us especially the DWR. I can't believe how many predators show up on cams. More than I would have EVER thought.

Still bound to be some great bucks killed all across the state. Good luck.

 

[spotit1st]

I hunted Southern again this year on the opener and seen just as many maybe even more bucks than last year, a cousin of mine hunted the Fillmore/Pahvant area and said he saw more bucks than last year but fewer elk, guess it just depends on the area you hunt or how much time you spend in the field before the hunt scouting.

Next year will be interesting when all the people up North get the Southern tags and we can get a little diversity in the reporting!

Southern deer #s are going up about as fast as the complaining.

 

[B_BOP_A_LU_LU]

You Guys think that's Bad?

Try a week in the NorthEastern Region!

For GAWDS Sakes Guys,We Got Kids on this Site,Some of them are 65 years Old!

I don't care if they're big or small!
If they throw lead I like em all!

 

[travishunter3006]

THATS WHY ITS AN LE ELK UNIT AND NOT DEER UNIT. DUHHH!!!!




It was a big bodied 2 point.

 

[WIDOW_MAKER]

I have also noticed a steady decrease in deer population in Southern Utah in the areas that I hunt. What is to be done? What is the solution to the problem? It is very sad.

WIDOW_MAKER

 

[archerycrazy]

Hunted all last week in Southern Utah in two different areas. We saw large numbers of deer in both areas with fawns everywhere to be seen. Could have chased little bucks all day long, and we saw several really good ones. We saw good numbers of elk each day too, but we were not hunting the Pahvant area. I know some units have been hit harder than others. It will be interesting to see how the new units across the state affect the herd.

 

[bigbucksforever]

I have had trail cams out since
May and have spent 20 plus days scouting this year. The southern Utah deer herd is in some serious decline. I am confident that the DWR will get right to work fixing the problem by getting that "buck to doe ratio" down where it belongs with the rest of the state. What a freakin joke. Better enjoy every deer you see cause it may be your last. I feel like Obama is managing our wildlife.

 

[B_BOP_A_LU_LU]

So archerycrazy?

Were you in an LE Unit?



For GAWDS Sakes Guys,We Got Kids on this Site,Some of them are 65 years Old!

I don't care if they're big or small!
If they throw lead I like em all!

 

[dillon]

I don't know if the herd is hurting as bad as they are just spread out all over the place. I saw 8 bucks in 3 days. We also saw about 100 does and fawns. They may have winter killed a little more than normal. I think it was more of a water thing from what I saw. The does had lots of fawns, so there is hope. I was on the Zion and Panguitch Lake units.

 

[archerycrazy]

LAST EDITED ON Aug-28-11 AT 09:40PM (MST)[p]BOP,

I was hunting in the SW Desert LE unit and chased deer south of that, too. Water was more plentiful than I've ever seen it and the animals were scattered, but we saw quite a few.

 

[Elkhunter96]

It may not be hurting in all areas of Southern Utah, but it really is in the Richfield area.

Looks like I will be making a road trip down to the Southwest Desert unit since I really just want to fill my tag this year. Most years I am really picky, but this year I could use the meat.

 

[stanley]

I'm heading to Southern Utah next week for the final week of the season. Meeting some old college buddies in the Navajo Lake area. Will be hunting the country between Navajo/Duck Creek up to Panguitch Lake. Hoping to get into a few to stalk, but counting on some good fishing and good times around the fire with old friends either way. ;-)

Anyone been around Navajo/Cedar City area?? Seeing some action there, maybe??

S.

 

[soutahhunter]

After last season we all new the deer herds would be down, everyone but the DWR. I remember Anis making the statement to many frustrated hunters at a Beaver RAC meeting, and he just said they are out their somewhere you just have to get out and find them. That is what we are dealing with, people who want your dollar, not your advice.

 

[cannonball]

spotit1st wrote:
"Next year will be interesting when all the people up North get the Southern tags and we can get a little diversity in the reporting!"

I really don't know what that statement is suppose to mean? I am not hunting deer in the Southern Region this year, but have been out a lot on different mountain ranges and every body, bow hunting down here by Richfield is from the Wasatch Front or as it seems.

I'm sure glad they made the change with the smaller units and limiting archers to those units. Just maybe they will save some deer in the south. Boy am I glad that I have four points for the general season next year. There will some units good for the archery hunt, some will only be good for the general hunt, some where the elk are, and some where they are not.

Next year will be a big decision time!!

 

[LOWCOUNTRY]

I couldnt agree more with the decimation of the herd of deer in so. Utah. The last three winters have been helland it shows. I have seen some decent bucks this bowhunt. I have to say though doe and fawn numbers are poor. The only bright spot I've seen with fawns and doe's is the Zion unit the boulder dutton panguitch herds seem way down!

 

[huntinfanatic]

I think this year water and feed are the reasons so many people are struggling to find deer in general and especially the reason people are struggling to find the mature bucks. With water and feed EVERYWHERE the big bucks can stay wherever they want and that is usually as far from roads and people as possible.