Ranchers want bison herds culled in Henry Mountains
Wildlife ? They say too many species, including cattle, compete for winter feed.
By Brett Prettyman
The Salt Lake Tribune
Updated: 04/01/2010 11:25:58 AM MDT
Ranchers told the Utah Wildlife Board there is too much competition for the winter range on the Henry Mountains in southern Utah. They, along with Wayne County commissioners and the Utah Farm Bureau, want the state to do more to control bison and elk populations.
The Utah Wildlife Board met at the State Capitol Wednesday to approve a new five-year management plan for the state's elk herds, but bison emerged as the hot topic.
"The winter range is critical," said David Brinkerhoff, with the Henry Mountain Grazing Association. "We have bison, livestock, elk and antelope all competing. If we continue to [manage] it the way we have in the past, we will lose the deer herd. I don't know how we can support the increase of numbers."
Brinkerhoff said cattle grazers are already voluntarily reducing the number of animals they have on the land and they would like to see the state find ways to reduce the bison numbers.
But the Wildlife Board was only scheduled to set the number of bison hunting permits on the Henry Mountains Wednesday, not change the plan -- which would require a series of public meetings. The board approved the DWR's proposal of 39 permits, saying that an additional 10 permits through carry-over from last year and conservation tags will help get the population to a goal of 305.
Elk management has traditionally been a hotly debated item in Utah, but Wednesday's approval was met with little resistance and no changes to the DWR's plan. The committee and the DWR, based on the survey, proposed changes for the state's elk hunting units that reflect hunters' wishes to hunt mature bulls with larger antlers.
To reach out for those hunters who wanted more opportunities, the DWR proposed increasing the number of elk permits.
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Wildlife ? They say too many species, including cattle, compete for winter feed.
By Brett Prettyman
The Salt Lake Tribune
Updated: 04/01/2010 11:25:58 AM MDT
Ranchers told the Utah Wildlife Board there is too much competition for the winter range on the Henry Mountains in southern Utah. They, along with Wayne County commissioners and the Utah Farm Bureau, want the state to do more to control bison and elk populations.
The Utah Wildlife Board met at the State Capitol Wednesday to approve a new five-year management plan for the state's elk herds, but bison emerged as the hot topic.
"The winter range is critical," said David Brinkerhoff, with the Henry Mountain Grazing Association. "We have bison, livestock, elk and antelope all competing. If we continue to [manage] it the way we have in the past, we will lose the deer herd. I don't know how we can support the increase of numbers."
Brinkerhoff said cattle grazers are already voluntarily reducing the number of animals they have on the land and they would like to see the state find ways to reduce the bison numbers.
But the Wildlife Board was only scheduled to set the number of bison hunting permits on the Henry Mountains Wednesday, not change the plan -- which would require a series of public meetings. The board approved the DWR's proposal of 39 permits, saying that an additional 10 permits through carry-over from last year and conservation tags will help get the population to a goal of 305.
Elk management has traditionally been a hotly debated item in Utah, but Wednesday's approval was met with little resistance and no changes to the DWR's plan. The committee and the DWR, based on the survey, proposed changes for the state's elk hunting units that reflect hunters' wishes to hunt mature bulls with larger antlers.
To reach out for those hunters who wanted more opportunities, the DWR proposed increasing the number of elk permits.
respect my authorita