LAST EDITED ON Apr-11-13 AT 11:48PM (MST)[p]Source of Information:
Utah Annual Big Game Report 2011 Page 12 and Page 46
http://wildlife.utah.gov/hunting/biggame/pdf/annual_reports/11_bg_report.pdf
Estimated Buck Percentage Buck Harvest
Year Population Harvest vs Estimated Population
1983 286,100 18,929 15.11%
2010 1,247,361 82,552 15.11%
1995 240,000 24,763 9.69%
This may explain why people that have spent 50 years in the field hunting and observing mule deer keep saying there are hardly any deer left. If you are younger that 40 years old and have only spend the last 20 years watching mule deer, you can't understand why us old jerks keep complaining about the loss of the resource. By 1993 the State had lost over a million of the high point of 1,247,361 deer. So the most deer anyone that started watching mule deer after 1993 has seen is 318,000, which was in 2012, according to the 2013 UDWR's declaration in the April 9th RAC meeting in Beaver.
For many years, sportsmen have been told the reason for the huge decline in mule deer in 1993 (to 240,000 +/-) was due to a very severe winter. This is true but like so many things folks do when they are trying to win an argument or justify their behavior, it is only partially accurate. The whole truth is this: the 1993 winter was severe, especially in northern Utah ie. The Wasatch and on north to the Idaho border. From Nephi south, the winter was more typical, cold and wet but nothing like it was in the north. Apparently large numbers of deer in the northern part of the State died due to privation and starvation. However, if you could review the old Utah Big Board minutes (but I don't believe those minutes are available through the UDWR, I wish they were) you would see that sportsmen from Central and particularly from South East and South West Utah were complaining to the Board in 1991 and 1992 that our deer herds were declining rapidly and were calling for some kind of action to stop the decline. This was before the winter of 93. If you can get a hold of UDWR antlerless harvest numbers from 1985 through 1992 you will see why some of these southern deer herds were rapidly declining in numbers. You have to remember that southern Utah sportsmen pushed for and got a five year antler restriction hunt for a few of the lowest buck doe ratio units in 1984 and the local UDWR agents opposed the Board?s decision to do that. Those agents were quick to remind sportsmen that ?there is more than one way to increase buck doe ratios? (which was the issue of concern in 1983, not deer numbers, as it is today) and the record shows how many antlerless tags were recommended and then issued our UDWR agents, between the years 1985 and 1992. When the winter of 1993 killed a large number of deer in northern Utah and all hell broke loose and brought about the now ?infamous? gathering of 10,000 +/- sportsmen on the steps of the Capital, and subsequent the changing of the guard at the UDWR headquarters, the agency explained the loss of deer and the corresponding reduction of tags and hunter opportunity via the end of unlimited over the counter sale of tags to a limited number of some 97,000 as being caused by an unusually harsh winter and the majority of sportsmen accepted it as fact, when in reality, the deer herds in southern Utah had been decimated 2 or 8 years prior to the winter of 93. If you are only 40 years old, how would you know any of the reasons that this old data has very real explanations behind it. If someone that attended the meetings and participated in the discussions doesn't explain, in public meeting etc., current sportsmen are left to sort out the present without a comprehensive knowledge of the past, which explains, to some degree, why we are were we are today. Those are the ?big picture? reason for the huge drop in deer number from the 1992 and 1993, as Page 45 of the Utah Annual Big Game Report 2011 shows.
http://wildlife.utah.gov/hunting/biggame/pdf/annual_reports/11_bg_report.pdf
As you look at and consider the chart on Page 45 and you will see the line going nearly straight down from 1992 and 1993, you might ask yourself, ?what would that line look like if it went back to 1983?, 9 years earlier?, when 82,552 bucks were killed. Do you think there might be a reason why, other data in the report goes back as far as 1925 but the estimated deer population data stops at 1992. Look at the next page, Page 12, tons of data back to 1925. With all that hunter harvest data, do suppose they can't estimate total deer number prior to 1992? Of course they can and you can rest assured the number would be much, much large than most young folks will believe. The ?buck harvest to total deer population? is a very reliable ratio and way of determining the total number of deer in the State, this according to UDWR?s Anis Aoude in the December Wildlife Board meeting a couple of years ago. These are not my numbers nor are they my math, the ratios and estimates come right off the pages you can freely read on this report. All you need to do is use the UDWR?s published data, and apply their ratios. Could the ratios be off a little one way or the other? Sure, for example, look at the ratio for 1995, it's at 9.69%. Had I used that ratio the 1983 population would have been estimated at 82,552 (bucks killed in 83) times .0969 for an estimate or 799,928 total deer. Or, the 2005 ratio at 14.72% times 82,552 for an estimate of 1,215,165, again, over 1.2 million in 83 using the 2005 ratio. Yes, it's not a perfect estimate but there is something that is abundantly clear, which is my point, whether you use the most generous ratio or the worst ratio the fact remains, since 1983 we have lost most of our Utah mule deer. The folks who are insulted by my statement of 1.2 million deer would be just as insulted had I used the more generous ratio that projects a total 799,928 deer.
It also might help explain, to some degree at least, why the younger sportsmen like yourself, under 40, have such a difficult time understanding why some older sportsmen continue to complain about how few deer there are, and why they we want to reduce hunting pressure until we get a large number of these deer herds increased in total numbers.
More deer meant more opportunity in 1983 and it will mean more opportunity again, when we get these herds recruiting more fawns and growing more bucks.
I apologize for sounding like I'm in a panic at the RAC meetings, it's very difficult to make a comprehensive comment, with adequate background, so the RAC members can understand why I'm making the comment or request that I'm making, in three minutes. Some guys can, I can't, so I'm always trying to puke out 20 minutes of logic in 3 minutes. Try it sometime, see how you come across. For example, you say I said there were 1.2 million deer in 1993, in my hast I may have said 1993 but I intended to say ?in 1983 there were 1.2 million deer?, which is what I still believe I said, I guess it's on the sound recording so if you want to listen to the replay of the meeting you could prove me wrong, been wrong before, I'll survive.
I am going to regret responding to your inquire here and I promise you I hate attend RAC meetings as much or more than you detest my being there. I have, over the last 10 years beg my friends to ?leave me out of it?. They will not leave me alone! I love mule deer and mule deer hunting, I hate fighting my sportsmen friends and hunting associates. I hate it that you think poorly of me for they things I do and the comments I make at these damn RAC/WB meetings. After 38 years of these hostilities, I'm 65 years old, I'm tired and I want to be left to enjoy the few years I have left enjoying the good things in life, not this kind of gut wrench.
I spent 2 and half years explaining myself in this mule deer forum, who I am, where I came from, why I believe what I believe, the people I support, why I support them, in enough length to make everyone vomit. There is no need to go over it again, again, if you really are curious or would care to understand why my insulted friends speak poorly of me, do a simple search for 2lumpy and start reading. Pack a lunch, because the 1000 posts cover more then some forum members have written in their 10,000 posts. Like I said, there is no need to go over it again, again. Total waste of time for all of us.
I wish I could say this is the last response you'll hear from me, that is my intent, like I said, I'm tired of it and wish all of you, friends and those of you who may not be so much, please ?leave me out of it? so far as these public hearing and meeting are concerned. Paul, if you happen to read this, it in means everyone. No more! Please. I'll raise some pheasants, help kids go fishing, attend the banquets, make my small donations from time to time, do what I can in the field but I'm asking you publicly, please do not call me and ask me to attend any more of these damnable public meetings.
Thanks.
Best Regards,
DC