Mike,
Thanks for the very informative and constructive comments.
I will be calling you personally to discuss.
I will provide a few answers about questions.
1. The last major SFW membership survey - about 3 years ago - showed that 70% of the members did NOT want to cut the state into more regions than 5.
It looks as if it is time to survey the members again.
2. Unless the deer management plans are changed to increase the post season buck/doe ratios to 25 or more, right now they are at 15-20 and average 17, making smaller units only moves hunters around, some units will get more hunters, some will get less. Doing something, that accomplished nothing.
3. If what the majority of Utah hunters and SFW members, and MDF members want is to increase the post season buck/doe ratio to 25-30, it will mean cutting probably 30,000 to 35,000 more tags out of the general season.
If this is done, it would mean an additional license increase, or some other form of funding to offset the lost license revenue, and matching funds of 2 to 1 from the Fed. Excise tax we all pay.
If that is what the SFW members want, and MDF and others want, we will try and get it done.
For the past three years, i have spent the majority of time, pushing to get 1 million acres of deer habitat fixed, getting highways fenced and underpasses put in, buying winter range, keeping wolves out of Utah and keep coyote numbers down.
If we don't do these things, mule deer will continue to decline at a rapid rate. If these objectives above can be accomplished, deer herds could rebound to 400,000 of so deer, and a 65,000 hunter cap, distributed by 10 or so regions would make for some good old days hunting.
I could name specific units where hunters are happy, and specific units witin the same region where hunters are NOT happy. the reason i never name specifics is to try and not simply move hunters from one unit to the other. Making smaller units would fix this issue.
Thanks very much for your contribution to wildlife, there are positive steps, so much more needs to be done. We dug ourselves into a 30 year whole, it is going to take a few more to get out.
If it were up to me, i would cut the deer tags to 33,000 and hunt every 3 years in Utah. The other years, i would go somewhere else, go with someone who drew a tag, or hunt birds.
Or another option would be to have 3 point or better. This would still allow hunter to hunt, but dramatically increase the number of mature bucks, IF hunters would not shoot and leave.
The anttler point restrictions did NOT work 20 years ago, but so many things have changed, perhaps this could be tried again.
So, in reality, we are probably on the same page. I love to hunt BIG bucks, really BIG BUCKS.
I do what the SFW Board tells me to do. The Board does what the members and chapter folks express to them. IN the past, the Board has NOT wanted to change, it is time to survey again.
MM is a great forum to discuss ideas and sound our voices.
What is NOT productive is for people just to call names and #####.
MIke, your comments were very productive, noted, and i will be in touch.
I will also ask that the membership coordinator get your name on the list.
When sportsmen have an issue, please be specific, provide a contact and we will see what can be done.
Don Peay