Utah 2018 Big game proposed changes

wstrntines

Very Active Member
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Sorry I wasn't very clear in the original post on the state. I will say I like the Idea and on elk get rid of control tags if we want to see positive effects.


Proposed changes for 2018 hunts

Division of Wildlife Resources biologists are recommending new and innovative approaches that would reduce hunter crowding during Utah's 2018 general rifle buck deer hunt. The approaches would also create more flexibility and opportunity for both deer and elk hunters.


In 2018, those who obtain the proper permit might be able to hunt bull elk in Utah during all three general seasons.
Covy Jones, big game coordinator for the Division of Wildlife Resources, says all of the changes biologists are recommending are a result of biologists listening to hunters. "Almost all of the requests we receive from big game hunters have a common theme: we'd like more opportunity to hunt big game," he says. "We've examined how the state's big game populations are doing and the current hunt structure we have. We think we've found some innovative ways to meet the requests of hunters without negatively affecting the herds."

The following are the DWR's major big game hunting recommendations for 2018:

In addition to the regular general rifle buck deer hunt, hold an early-season rifle buck deer hunt on 10 general deer hunting units in the state. The early-season hunt would happen in mid-October. Holding an early-season hunt would significantly reduce hunter crowding in some areas by splitting the general rifle hunt into two separate hunts.
Hold a late-season limited-entry muzzleloader buck deer hunt on general deer hunting units that are meeting their buck-to-doe objectives. The hunt would happen in early November.
Give bull elk hunters a chance to hunt all three seasons ? archery, rifle and muzzleloader ? on the state's spike-only and any-bull general elk hunting units.
Hold a special "cactus buck-only" hunt on the famed Paunsaugunt premium limited entry unit in southwestern Utah. ("Cactus bucks" are buck deer that typically can't reproduce and aren't contributing to the overall population.)
Learn more, share your ideas

You can see all of the biologists' big game recommendations online. After reviewing the ideas, you can let your Regional Advisory Council members know your thoughts by attending your upcoming RAC meeting or by sending an email to them.

RAC chairmen will share the input they receive with members of the Utah Wildlife Board. The board will meet in Salt Lake City on Nov. 30 to approve rules for Utah's 2018 big game hunting seasons. Dates, times and locations for the RAC meetings are as follows:

Central Region
Nov. 7, 6:30 p.m.
Springville Junior High Cafetorium
189 S. 1470 E., Springville
Note: The meeting will be held at the 'new' Springville Junior High. The school opened about one year ago.
Northern Region
Nov. 8, 6 p.m.
Academy Conference Center
58 N. Main St., Brigham City
Southern Region
Nov. 14, 5 p.m.
Cedar City Middle School
2215 W. Royal Hunte Dr., Cedar City
Note: The meeting begins at 5.
Southeastern Region
Nov. 15, 6:30 p.m.
John Wesley Powell Museum
1765 E Main ST, Green River
Northeastern Region
Nov. 16, 6:30 p.m.
DWR Northeastern Region Office
318 N Vernal Ave, Vernal
Email

You can also provide your comments to your RAC via email.

The group each RAC member represents (sportsman, non-consumptive, etc.) is listed under each person's email address. You should direct your email to the people on the RAC who represent your interest.

Early-season rifle hunt

Holding an early-season rifle hunt, on 10 general season deer hunting units in Utah, is one of the DWR's proposals.

The hunt would run Oct. 10?14 on the Kamas, Chalk Creek, East Canyon and Morgan/South Rich units in northern Utah, the Nine Mile unit in southeastern Utah, and the Fillmore, Fishlake, Panguitch Lake, Pine Valley and Zion units in south-central and southwestern Utah.

Jones says holding the hunts would help manage buck-to-doe ratio objectives on the units and help reduce hunter crowding.

"Hunter crowding is one of the major challenges general deer hunters face," he says. "Holding an early hunt would shift some of the hunters out of the regular hunt and into the earlier hunt. And that means fewer hunters would be in the field during the regular hunt."

Late-season limited-entry muzzleloader buck deer hunt

A chance to hunt buck deer with a muzzleloader ? after the general rifle hunt ? was offered on a few units in 2016. In 2017, the opportunity was expanded to 15 units. Starting in 2018, biologists would like to offer the opportunity on all of Utah's general season deer hunting units.

In the past, a late-season muzzleloader hunt could not be held on a unit unless the number of bucks per 100 does was over the minimum objective of either 15 to 17 bucks per 100 does, or 18 to 20 bucks per 100 does, depending on the unit.

"We'd like to change that," Jones says. "We'd like to offer that opportunity not only on units that are over their objective but also on units that are meeting their objective. And, all of the units in Utah are currently meeting their minimum bucks per 100 does objective."

Jones says only a limited number of permits would be offered for the late-season muzzleloader hunt. He says hunters who have drawn these permits in the past have enjoyed the chance to hunt deer later in the fall. "Fewer hunters are in the field with you," he says, "and the bucks are a little less wary as the breeding season approaches."

Hunt all three elk seasons

With a statewide population of more than 80,000 animals, Utah has plenty of elk. And hunter success rates for these wary animals is fairly low. For those reasons, biologists would like to allow general season bull elk hunters a chance to hunt all three general elk seasons ? archery, rifle and muzzleloader.

If approved, those who bought a permit for all three seasons would first choose whether they wanted to hunt on spike-only units or any-bull units. Then, after buying their over-the-counter permit, they could hunt during the archery season on any general season bull elk unit in the state. During the rifle and muzzleloader hunts, they'd have to hunt on the type of unit for which they bought a permit. Their permit would allow them to take only one elk, so their elk hunt would end for the year as soon as they took an elk.

"We'd closely monitor the number of elk taken," Jones says. "If that number went beyond the limit set in the state's elk management plan, we'd relook at whether the opportunity should be offered again in 2019."

A permit to hunt bull elk during one of the three general seasons costs Utah residents $50. A permit to hunt bull elk during all three general seasons would cost $150.

"Cactus buck" hunt

With one exception, "cactus bucks" ? buck deer that typically can't reproduce ? are found in very few places in Utah.

The one exception is the famed Paunsaugunt premium limited entry unit in southwestern Utah. There, a small population of cactus bucks is found. And biologists would like to give more hunters a chance to hunt them.

(Cactus bucks are easy to distinguish: they still have velvet on their antlers late into the fall.)

Jones says those who draw a permit for the Paunsaugunt unit can take a cactus buck now, but most don't, opting instead to take one of the massive bucks on the unit.

"Offering a cactus buck-only hunt would allow more people to hunt this amazing unit and take bucks hunters aren't currently taking," Jones says. "Cactus bucks typically can't reproduce, so taking these bucks would not have a negative effect on the population."

"We don't have a gun problem we have prescription drug problem."
 
>Hunt gen season elk on all
>three hunts? I'm in.


You and everyone else. Be prepared for battling of the campgrounds and wheeler battles. Utah subpar any bull hunts are about to become more of a joke
 
A late muzzy season. Been begging for years to get that back.

BUUUUTTTT, not with in lines. This hunt is not sustainable with modern muzzy. The deer are pre ruttin.

It wasn't sustainable in the day when we were launching round balls and Thompson's at them from side hammers.



"The only thing that stops a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun"
 
I like the Late buck hunts on general areas as long as the numbers don't get out of hand. It creates an option for the middle of the road points guys who will never have a realistic chance of drawing limited entry. Though I wouldn't spend too many points on the dates proposed. Three season elk benefits nobody but the DWR and the archery guys. The muzz guys get the short end of the stick, as usual.
 
If the late deer hunts with a muzzleloader follow the same plan as the previous ones, they will be LE Hunts that will cost the tag recipient their Bonus Points.

I like this idea because so far, the tag numbers are low, success rates appear to be reasonable, it takes some people out of the otherwise crowded Bonus Point Creep for other LE hunts, and it's an awesome time of year to be in the woods after bucks..!!

"Therefore, wo be unto him that is at ease in Zion!" 2 Ne. 28: 24
 
>>Hunt gen season elk on all
>>three hunts? I'm in.
>
>
>You and everyone else. Be prepared
>for battling of the campgrounds
>and wheeler battles. Utah subpar
>any bull hunts are about
>to become more of a
>joke


This will happen for sure, unless the numbers are limited (similar to the dedicated hunter program).
 
Early Season Rifle deer on "Chalk Creek, East Canyon and Morgan/South Rich"

This is a 'thanks for nothing' proposal. This unit is like 90% private. Public land hunters that get this tag will still be crammed in like sardines on the few small bits of State/Federal land. LOL But, I guess if they take tags out of the "later hunt", then it really is an improvement. ??

"Therefore, wo be unto him that is at ease in Zion!" 2 Ne. 28: 24
 
I couldn't agree more browning rage. The way the DWR has included 4/5/6 into the same unit is the biggest crock ever. They should be separate units, I never understood the thinking to justify bundling them together. So essentially they are going to take all three deer units populations and buck/doe ratio that will in turn give them a false sense of the actual population on the public areas, and open up an early rifle season. This will do nothing for 80% of the area because most of it is already enrolled into the states CWMU program and they are rifle hunting earlier than that already. So all your doing is putting more pressure on the bucks above Davis county, and a small portion near Whitney res. The DWR has already done a fine job wrecking the BIG buck numbers above Davis county, those numbers will only continue to decline with this type of management. Here's my question, can I get out of my dedicated hunter for the next 2 years? Way to many good units in the state right now to be wasting any more of my time in 4/5/6. It was not long ago this area was producing a fair amount of good bucks, but that ship has sailed. Way to much pressure from august to November and now this. This small area of public just can't handle that type of pressure.
 
Browning rage and full throttle you guys do realize they aren't proposing more tags right? They are proposing to spread the current number of tags across 2 rifle seasons. It's the same amount of tags, some will just be given for the early season and some for the normal rifle season to spread the pressure between two hunts.
 
>Are there really that many cactus
>bucks on the Paunsaugunt?
>
>Rut


I see at least 4 or 5 every year in just a small area. The DWR has said they've counted as many as 20 in day in a small area. For some reason the Pauns has a lot of them and they can't breed and are just kind of taking up space and never get killed. I'm very happy to see a hunt specifically targeting them.
 
The only thing that saves the few big bucks in this area is the loads of hunters on opening day that drives the mature bucks into the thick oakbrush hell holes. But now your going to have a archery season, an early muzzleloader hunt with guns and scopes that are more like a single shot rifle. Then your going to have an earlier high powered rifle hunt, give the bucks a short break and then pound them again a week later with more high powered rifles. Followed by a late season muzzleloader hunt (single shot rifle). And finish it off with an unlimited late season archery hunt during the peak of the rut. Yep, I think I understand what's going on. Do you?
 
Back to the three elk seasons our general bull population areas do not hold enough elk fto drastically increase the success rate. Here comes the slaughter. All the land owners in chalk creek will deplete that herd quick
 
they make huge changes every freaking year. just make the general units limited and be done with it or leave general units as general units. limited hunts on general units are a joke.
 
LAST EDITED ON Oct-26-17 AT 07:19PM (MST)[p]I'm so glad I moved to Wyoming!

I drew deer, elk, and antelope tags this year without worrying about points or waiting periods.

Dillon
www.dillonhoyt.com
 
What is this a war on the very last nice bucks and bulls the State has to offer. Stupid stupid stupid.
 
I guess we really have a need to kill the very last big bucks and bulls that are alive. Definitely not a fan.
 
>I guess we really have a
>need to kill the very
>last big bucks and bulls
>that are alive. Definitely not
>a fan.


What are you even talking about? The big bucks and bulls will be fine. They have been outsmarting guys like you for years. There's a reason there's massive bucks on general units that no one kills year after year. Just because you can't see them from your truck, doesn't mean they aren't on the mountain. Trust me, they are!


www.utahscoutingservices.com
 
LAST EDITED ON Oct-27-17 AT 03:06PM (MST)[p]Exactly BOWHUNT you hit it right on the head I hunted almost all of rifle hunt and nobody leaves there vehicle anymore that's why where not killing elk everybody driving around or riding around I think this hunt is a great idea for the elk I would love to hunt all three hunts but there still not going to kill the elk they want killed till people get out and hunt if they would do what I said in my other post move they archery hunt later in the month of September and then put the muzzleloader hunt in the rut more just on GENERAL SEASON then have the rifle hunt problem solved.
 
4/5/6 is definitely shot out for the public hunter. We hunted the muzz hard on all public ground this year other than Whitney and came up with a total of 8 bucks - none shooters. However, nearly every neighbor that has access to or owns private ground was turning up bucks. Winter didn't help but last year we turned up 10 or so bucks every day. I didn't see many hunters off the road along Farmington over to Sessions and past but the hiking/biking and ATV traffic is definitely playing a role in driving good bucks lower onto the mountain and even into town. Might be time to shut the Front down aside from control permits and open it back up as an LE to get it back to what it once was.
 
Wouldn?t that be sweet if there was more than 1 big buck or bull on a public land unit that could outsmart you. I think it is great that there are bucks that can outsmart the best of us. There are just going to be a whole lot less of them if we put pressure on them for 3 months straight with increased technology, lengthened seasons, more seasons and rut hunts. How much more advantage do you need to get the job done. I know I am getting it done every year under the current circumstances and have enjoyed an increased buck to do ratio and don't want to see them get hammered back to 10-15 post hunt bucks to does.
 
Other states that do this like Colorado manage for a buck to do ratio minimum of 25/100. Not the 15 that Utah wants. I am much more a fan of Colorado?s Management of Deer than Utah?s.
 
Colorado has many seasons but also manages for a buck to doe ratio of 25/100. Utah only manages for a GS buck to do ratio of 15/100. I like the way Colorado does things for their deer a lot more.
 
That is a good point BeDawg on the deer management.

"We don't have a gun problem we have prescription drug problem."
 
SWEET GEZUS!!!

Has the DWR Thought about a PISSCUTTER Hunt Yet?

"CACTUS BUCK HUNT'!

UN-F'N-REAL!

This State is F'D Up!

The Most Over F'N Hunted Place on Earth!

Show Me where You can add more F'N Hunts?

We Already Hunt Big Game from Mid-August to F'N February with Continuous & Overlapped Hunts!

Buck to Doe Ratio Management is the Poorest F'N Way to manage a Deer Herd there is!

But BY GAWD!

The F'N Deer Herd is doing Great!

We've got 200 Head Left & 30 of them are F'N PISSCUTTERS!

WAFJ!!!







Back Me Off to 1,700 Yards,650 is a Little Close & I'm Not Comfortable with it!

A GUT SHOT at 1,700 Yards will Still Make Some Good BRAGGIN Rights so I Can Say I At Least Hit Him!


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