General Season Deer Draw

UtahJimmy · Dec 12, 2016

Wondering if the change in regs will change your application? Will you still put in for 2-5 (assuming you have in the past) knowing that you may likely draw one of those tags? Or will you only put in for one unit and hope to buy a leftover?

Without starting a fight, do you think this change will eventually bring point creep down by reducing overall points in the draw?

For me; I just want to hunt. I will still be putting in all 5 choices. I only put in for archery so if I do draw a less desirable tag, I can still hunt the extended once the middle of Sept rolls around.

Bonus question: Does the UDNR have a solution to their servers being bombarded during the leftover tag purchase? Just curious how this is going to play out!

BIGJOHNT · Dec 12, 2016

I guess most won't be putting in for 1000 lakes as a first choice and then putting in their real first choice for second saving their points. Those days are gone. As for me < I get my first choice drawn every time.

Zeke · Dec 12, 2016

>I guess most won't be putting
>in for 1000 lakes as
>a first choice and then
>putting in their real first
>choice for second saving their
>points. Those days are gone.
>As for me < I
>get my first choice drawn
>every time.

I agree.
The guys who knew how to use the old system to their advantage will likely be the same guys who know about the change.

The average guy will simply do what he's always done and never know the difference.

Zeke

yak4fish · Dec 12, 2016

I will be putting in for one choice and hope for a leftover tag.
I think it will take a couple of years for hunters to realize they lost their points on a second choice. So it will be a few years before we see a increase in leftover tags.

Elkslayer2015 · Dec 12, 2016

I'm putting in for all five,just like ZEKE said its the old point system and I think It will take a year or two for it to balance out the tags. As far as the server go I always go to the UDWR main office right when they open and pic up the leftover tag or you can call them if you can get threw it's kinda like the server issue though the server is always going to be overloaded.

elktaker · Dec 12, 2016

Do you still keep your points if you get leftover? just making sure.

Slayer · Dec 12, 2016

I agree it will take a few years to see how the change affects the draw and everyones points. I think it is a good thing though. I think about all the hunters that like to hunt the southern units. They will have a hard time waiting 2-3 years to hunt general season deer... It will be interesting to see how it plays out.

JakeH · Dec 12, 2016

For those of you saying it will take a few years for people to notice, I brought this up at my rac meeting and they explained that they will be adding a pop up in the system so if you select a 2nd choice a red flag will pop up explaining that if you draw this tag you will lose your points, and I think she said you would have to acknowledge it before you could continue.

If you are able to pick up a leftover tag it will not burn your points.

My question is why not let people put in for what they want and hunt too? I too think its going to cause a ton of leftover permits.

Jake H. BIG BONE HUNTING Page on Facebook.

why · Dec 13, 2016

number one choice for every one I know .or nothing its going to make point creep harder.

muleyhunter413 · Dec 14, 2016

I personally had no issues with someone drawing their 2-5 choice before someone else with fewer points gets their 1rst choice. It's a draw and if your name is pulled you get the tag. This new system is going to make hunting many units a once every few years type of a deal. Gone are the days of hunting every year unless you are hunting other units. It's sad. I absolutely am totally against this new system. Not that it matters, but I think there were better options for what the board considered problems.

elkfromabove · Dec 16, 2016

It's just one of the unintended/unexpected consequences of good ol" Option #2, unit by unit HUNTER management. Suck it up, boys! Or go back to regions and statewide archery.

El_Matador · Dec 16, 2016

Elkfromabove, I would LOVE to go back to statewide hunting. Screw all this LE, CWMU, Option 2 BS. All those programs were created so a few individuals could turn a profit off a publicly owned asset. Yes there are bigger animals available these days but you have to sit on the bench for years at a time for a chance to even hunt them. Not worth the trade off for me, not even close.

I have been applying for an area where I could regularly draw my first choice so I was not even aware of the "loop hole" until recently. 2016 was the first year I didn't pull my first choice so I guess I have a pref point now. I'm glad they've changed this rule. Most of the people I have told about this change did not even know the loophole existed and felt shafted because others had been pulling tags every year. I understand both sides of the argument, but there should be one line for everybody. Not one big line and a secret shorter line for people who were fortunate enough to have realized it. I'm actually fed up with Utah hunting anyway. This year if I don't pull my first choice I'm hunting Idaho instead. I thought about doing DH but I'd rather not invest more time and money into a system that's totally boogered up.

PSEbackcountry · Dec 17, 2016

I Come from WA state where everything is otc. This I come to UT and can't stand the draw. It sucks. But that's just my opinion. I'm just not used to it.

I'll be putting in for all 5. No matter what tag I pull i'll hunt it just cause I'm knew. I don't really wanna get hooked on one unit. I'd like to find 2 or 3 that I can draw every year and focus on them 2 or 3. If not i'll be hunting ID and WA every year. I'll spend my $$ on those tags.

Just my opinion though. No argument here

hornkiller · Dec 17, 2016

Does it make you boys jelly that I can go to maverick and buy a buck and bull tag and a candy bar all at once? Ow ya I forgot I always get whatever general deer tag i choose in ut every year also!

Chacoblue777 · Jan 9, 2017

Now that you mention it......YES, it does make me jealous!?

Armyhunter83 · Feb 5, 2017

Need some advice on putting in a tag. I'm active duty Army and just moved to Utah in the fall to attend grad school at the U. I grew up in the Salt Lake area but never hunted. I'm only going to be in Utah until Summer of 2018 so this fall is my only chance to draw a tag. I'm just getting into hunting, and I have no idea the best way to go about getting a decent draw. I would love an area that is geared to hiking in to get a decent buck.

Any and all advice or recommendations are welcome

goofyelk · Feb 6, 2017

Army83,

1st) You need to determine if you can apply for resident
permits, or if you are non-res status.
Hunters safety may be required as well,

2nd) Rifle only? or muzzle loader archery opens more opportunity.

3rd) There are over the counter elk permits avalible,
No draw , That would be an option.

Armyhunter83 · Feb 6, 2017

Goofyelk,

I am eligible for resident because I'm here in Utah on active duty orders. I still have my Utah driver's license as well. I finished Hunter's safety and yes only rifle. I don't own a muzzle loader right now or a bow.
The elk option isn't bad, I didn't realize it was easier to get a tag. I just bought a .308, would that be big enough for an elk?
If I stick with deer what's my best option to put in for? I applied for a couple of guided hunts available to active duty military but I doubt I'll hear anything back on those.

goofyelk · Feb 6, 2017

Army83,
Guessing you don't have any points,
Here are the units you have the best chance of drawing
a rifle deer permit (2017) for deer. Verily close to SLC.

Box elder
Kamas
North slope
Ogden
Wasatch west

Of those I've suggested, Kamas or Wasatch west probably best.
With zero points you should have a 90% chance at the Kamas deer tag,
and a 60% chance at Wasatch west deer tag.

Armyhunter83 · Feb 6, 2017

Wasatch west sounds great! If only I could fire a rifle in my backyard in Draper...

Thank you for the advice, Kamas sounds like what I'm looking for, lots of hiking

Muley_73 · Feb 6, 2017

Result of Opt 2??? No the correct answer would be as a of result losing over half or our deer herd in the state of Utah. Put 800,000+ mule deer back in Utah and the tags could increase a ton. Its simple math.

The truth is sportsmen should be worrying how bad the deer are being pounded by the winter we are having right now, not what general tag they are going to draw or not draw. Big tag cuts should be in order this year bottom line!

goofyelk · Feb 6, 2017

LAST EDITED ON Feb-06-17 AT 04:11PM (MST)[p]IMO,
Opt 2 will prove to be a GREAT tool for deer management
after a winter like we are having!

There are some units taking a pounding in the North,

There are central units that got alot of snow,
But the last 2-3 days winter grounds are melting off fast!
Looking much better.

And some South central I'm watching were the deer look
VERY good , and the fawn carry over will be good.

Tremendously different situations for deer herds throughout
Utah this year. Opt 2 will allow units to be managed accordingly.

elkfromabove · Feb 6, 2017

Muley_73, Goofyelk,

What is it about Option 2 that will make it better now than it was in the past when we had bad winters? Please be specific if you would.

goofyelk · Feb 6, 2017

Before opt 2 the state was regional hunting rifle and muzzy,
state wide archery,

This winter is hitting some units inside regions harder
than others.

Permits can be adjusted as required per unit.

elkfromabove · Feb 9, 2017

>
>Before opt 2 the state was
>regional hunting rifle and muzzy,
>
>state wide archery,
>
>This winter is hitting some units
>inside regions harder
>than others.
>
>Permits can be adjusted as required
>per unit.
>
>
>

While it's true that the tag numbers can be adjusted due to this winter's weather, the DWR has ALWAYS had the option of adjusting the tag numbers, hunts and/or seasons for ANY protected species/game as required for ANY isolated area per emergencies (weather, fires, disease, invasive species, predation, depredation, etc.). And they have done so in the past. Option 2 didn't change anything in that regard.

goofyelk · Feb 9, 2017

EFA,
What the DWR did in the past, when it was regional hunting,
did not work on a unit basis, IMO.

Most of the time the DWR was reacting to very low buck to doe ratios.

Taking units inside regional boundary's and imposing
3 to 5 day hunts or Wednesday general season opener's.
Neither worked....In-fact, some cases, made it worse.

ridgetops · Feb 10, 2017

>
>EFA,
>What the DWR did in the
>past, when it was regional
>hunting,
>did not work on a unit
>basis, IMO.
>
>Most of the time the DWR
>was reacting to very low
>buck to doe ratios.
>
>Taking units inside regional boundary's and
>imposing
>3 to 5 day hunts or
>Wednesday general season opener's.
>Neither worked....In-fact, some cases, made it
>worse.
>
>
>
That's why I was willing to support Option #2.
Why punish an entire region because one or two units are struggling within its boundaries?
When they cut tags, it was always region wide.

Proud member of the Wolfpack!

BradA · Feb 16, 2017

So if I draw my general deer tag first choice does that mean I will not only loose the points I have accrued for a general deer tag but as well loose my limited deer tag points I accrued?

lostinOregon · Feb 16, 2017

No, you lose your points for general if you draw a general tag. Limited is the same. I don't think you can draw both in a year. Seems I remember hearing they draw the limited first, then take those folks out of the general draw.

Rich