Is it just me or was opening day a joke this year. I hiked in an hour and a half in the dark to a spot I have hunted for years (and rarely see other guys) and it was an absolute JOKE! I saw two other guys in there last year and they didn't even get up there until 8:30. This year I counted 14 guys several mules and to boot at about 9:00 several dirt bikers flew through. I couldn't believe it. Luckily I had scouted hard enough to know right where the buck I wanted would be (I nice 5 by 5) and I was on him right at light. I got to about 75 yards and he bolted, but at least I had my chance for him. I saw several other small four points but nothing I was interested in.
NOW FOR MY POINT!!! BEFORE I WRITE THIS I WANT TO MAKE SURE I DON'T OFFEND people that do dedicated hunter because I don't blame you for doing it, BUT I think it is without a doubt ruining things for all THREE seasons in Utah. Think about it we already have 14,500 resident archery tags and then on top of that we have added 10,000 dedicated hunters. I will say this from an archers standpoint because that is what I typically do but you can apply this to whatever you hunt. If a guy hunts rifle and would choose rifle if he had to choose why in the heck wouldn't he hunt all three seasons if he could. He might only get 2 deer in three years but for MOST utah hunters that sounds pretty good. So two days before the hunt I hit Cabelas and I CAN"T BELIEVE how many guys are buying bows and targets. IT IS A JOKE!TWO DAYS BEFORE THE HUNT ARE YOU KIDDING ME! So in my opinion we have a bunch of NOVICE bowhunters that usually hunt rifle/muzzleloader and they decide what the heck I will just give archery a whirl and they go buy all the gear with little or no practice and they hit the hills only to jack up guys that are strickly bowhunting. THIS WILL ACCOUNT FOR MORE HUNTERS AND FOR MORE WOUNDED GAME. It also causes headaches for guys that have put in the time to prepare and are putting all their effort into the bow season . These guys are chasing our herds in the same canyons from AUG.-October and then onto the extended archery until DEC. This can't be good for our deer herds. If you are committed to rifle or muzzleloader the SAME thing applies. Guys that would choose archery if they had to choose are now hunting during your season and putting more pressure (As if we need more) to your hunt. I HOPE YOU GET THE PICTURE! I for one think that the extra money the fish and game are getting for the dedicated tags and the free service hours are DEFINETLY NOT WORTH THE FUTURE OF UTAHS DEER HERD! WE HAVE TO STOP PUTTING SO MUCH PRESSURE ON OUR DEER or the future of hunting will be grim here in Utah. WHAT CAN WE DO TO PUT A STOP TO THIS? I also think that the draw for rifle tags is killing us bowhunters. All the southern tag seekers that don't draw just go buy a bow tag, but that is a whole different post!!!
NOW FOR MY POINT!!! BEFORE I WRITE THIS I WANT TO MAKE SURE I DON'T OFFEND people that do dedicated hunter because I don't blame you for doing it, BUT I think it is without a doubt ruining things for all THREE seasons in Utah. Think about it we already have 14,500 resident archery tags and then on top of that we have added 10,000 dedicated hunters. I will say this from an archers standpoint because that is what I typically do but you can apply this to whatever you hunt. If a guy hunts rifle and would choose rifle if he had to choose why in the heck wouldn't he hunt all three seasons if he could. He might only get 2 deer in three years but for MOST utah hunters that sounds pretty good. So two days before the hunt I hit Cabelas and I CAN"T BELIEVE how many guys are buying bows and targets. IT IS A JOKE!TWO DAYS BEFORE THE HUNT ARE YOU KIDDING ME! So in my opinion we have a bunch of NOVICE bowhunters that usually hunt rifle/muzzleloader and they decide what the heck I will just give archery a whirl and they go buy all the gear with little or no practice and they hit the hills only to jack up guys that are strickly bowhunting. THIS WILL ACCOUNT FOR MORE HUNTERS AND FOR MORE WOUNDED GAME. It also causes headaches for guys that have put in the time to prepare and are putting all their effort into the bow season . These guys are chasing our herds in the same canyons from AUG.-October and then onto the extended archery until DEC. This can't be good for our deer herds. If you are committed to rifle or muzzleloader the SAME thing applies. Guys that would choose archery if they had to choose are now hunting during your season and putting more pressure (As if we need more) to your hunt. I HOPE YOU GET THE PICTURE! I for one think that the extra money the fish and game are getting for the dedicated tags and the free service hours are DEFINETLY NOT WORTH THE FUTURE OF UTAHS DEER HERD! WE HAVE TO STOP PUTTING SO MUCH PRESSURE ON OUR DEER or the future of hunting will be grim here in Utah. WHAT CAN WE DO TO PUT A STOP TO THIS? I also think that the draw for rifle tags is killing us bowhunters. All the southern tag seekers that don't draw just go buy a bow tag, but that is a whole different post!!!