tx, you hit that pigpen right square in the head.
Many, many years ago the Utah dwr's mission statement was established. Paraphrasing, it's says the dwr will "provide maximum recreational opportunity".
Now who doesn't want maximum recreational opportunity?
The problem comes from the fact that we can't all agree on what maximum recreational opportunity is. My meaning maybe that the dwr regulate for the harvest of 7 to 8 year old and older deer, elk and moose etc. someone else's definition of maximum opportunity might be that the dwr manage for as many hunter days afield as the herds can stand without utter inhalation.
In other words, when it suits them the dwr use the agreement either way to meet their objectives, not necessarily yours and mine. When they're after money they say their mission is to put as many sportsmen out the door, on the hunt, regardless of the success rate or over crowding. When they need to give in to pressure for more units with older populations they argue the opposite by once again saying they are just attempting to provide maximum recreational opportunity which means, fewer hunters, more and older animals.
For the dwr the "maximum recreational opportunity" is a perfect mission statement to hid behind. They can have it either way. No matter which group of sportsmen they are attempt to satisfy, they can craft their decision around this wonderful sounding but hollow/harmful mission statement.
Of course I'm just a grumpy old man clinging to the pass, like the pass twenty five years of mule deer management is anything anyone would want to cling to.
Oh well,
dc