LAST EDITED ON Nov-29-08 AT 04:03PM (MST)[p]
Some interesting reads.
How about a novel idea, since 500,000 of habitat has been dramatically improved - a few hundred pounds of food per acre to now a couple thousand pounds per acre - there is an opportunity to increase some elk herds, which for a few years would allow for decreased cow elk permits - let cow populations grow, while bull harvest stays constant = keep the quality we have.
Over the past four years, utah has doubled the number of trophy bull tags from about 1,200 to 2,500.
There have been some pretty serious meetings with ranchers, DWR and sportsmen groups to look at this issue, and over the next couple of months, on a unit, by unit basis, there may be the opportunity to increase elk herds, without hurting mule deer or ranchers. Any proposals will go through local committees and RACs and BOARD, but a lot of folks have agreed upon some basic frameworks to expand elk herds in some places.
This is a desired outcome for the short term 3-5 years, and then once herds reach these higher objectives, the debate can continue whether more spike bulls are taken, or managmeent bulls are taken.
The average age class objectives are in place to keep some quality on every unit, some are 5-6 year old bull units, others are 6-7 year bull units.
finally, on the Henry's and Pauns. over the past 3 years, the Pauns has averaged 43, 41 and 39 percent of the bucks taken are five or older. On teh Henry's the percentage are 63, 55 and 52%. For who knows why, the DWR proposed lower these standards to 30-40 percent.
SFW has prevailed so far at 4 of the 5 RACS to keep the Pauns. at 40-50% of the bucks harvested five years or older, and 50-60% of the bucks on the Henry's five years or older.
MEEW, that mgmt standard will keep monster bucks on teh Henry Mts for a long time, not over hunt it, and NOT become another unit of shooting 26 inch four points. The Henry's should be one of the two BEST deer units in the world, it is 99 Percent public land, deer don't migrate to another state, no highway issues, unlimited winter range, major habitat improvements on summer and transition range, water projects done all over the mountain.
Don