BIGJOHNT
Long Time Member
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- 5,185
MAY 4, 2012
Big Decisions at Yesterday?s Wildlife Board Meeting
Many of you are aware of some critical decisions that were to be made yesterday, at the Utah Wildlife Board Meeting. Here is a quick update. First, the board voted for zero cow elk permits on the declining Fish Lake unit and and only a modest increase on antelope permits on the Plateau unit (Parker Mountain). These were the recommendations of Utah DWR and were supported Sportsmen for Fish and Wildlife and Big Game Forever. In our view, this was a major decision in support of producing abundant wildlife in these herds and across the state of Utah.
At yesterday?s Wildlife Board meeting, SFW and BGF were the only conservation groups present. We were there to fight for abundant herds and to keep a diversity of quality and quantity, and even super quality hunt opportunities. We are very encouraged by the vote of the board on these and other important issues.
It has been a big job to strengthen sportsmen?s voice at the Utah Wildlife Board and Regional Advisory Councils. Prior to the formation of SFW the makeup of the old Board of Big Game Control was such that Sportsmen had one representative out of five. Many times, the sportsmen motion would not even get a ?second? to consider the sportsmen motion. In a few cases, when there was a ?second?, and the DWR Director voted to increase elk populations, these actions resulted in TWO DWR Directors being fired ? Doug Day and Tim Provan.
When SFW started, there was only 600 trophy bull permits, and those ?trophy bulls? were mostly 280 to 300 inch bulls. Today, there is approximately 2,800 trophy bull elk permits, a substantial increase in opportunity, and now a balance needs to be attained to keep Utah?s world class quality and opportunity hunts on our great public lands.
Yesterday, DWR Director Jim Karpowitz gave an aggressive and compelling case why there should be NO cow elk permits on the Fish Lake herd, and only a modest increase on doe antelope permits on the Parker Mountain. Mr. Karpowitz also addressed head-on the anti-elk position of the US Forest Service making the case that sportsmen and the DWR had made a major investment to improve habitat in Central Utah, including improvements of over 200,000 acres of public and private land, at a cost of over $16 Million dollars. The DWR also recommended reducing some bull elk permits on Utah?s premium units where age class is in decline? the Beaver, Boulder, Book cliff Roadless, Monroe, San Juan and Pahvant. Permit reductions to increase the average age back up to 7.75 years ? grow monster bulls again on these units ? was approved by the Board.
The Utah Wildlife Board voted for NO cow elk tags on the Fish Lake unit, and No increase on antelope permits on the Parker Mountain herd. A good outcome for wildlife and a good outcome for maintaining abundant wildlife for hunters in Utah. Additionally, after looking at some data provided by SFW at the local RAC meetings, and at the Board meeting, the DWR agreed that it would be appropriate to reduce the trophy bull elk permit on the Dutton to 110, the Road area of the Book Cliffs to 130 and the Manti at 406.
In other decisions at yesterday, the Board also voted to increase the number of permits for Bison, Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep and Mountain goats. These herds continue to grow as a direct result of our conservation investment in habitat and transplants. The tremendous Utah limited buck deer permits on the Paunsagunt, Henry Moutains and Book Cliffs remained essentially the same from 2012.
Byron Bateman, President of Sportsmen for Fish and Wildlife explains the importance of yesterday?s efforts at the Utah Wildlife Board, ?this is just a begging of our efforts to increase deer populations to 400,000 head, and have increased quality and opportunity for success on Utah?s public land, general season hunts.?
While we don't always agree with every recommendation, and many times there are multiple good alternatives, as one RAC member said, ?When SFW comes to a meeting, you know they have done their homework, they represent a lot of sportsmen, and their recommendations need to be taken seriously.? We thank all the volunteer members of the public who serve on the RAC Board and Wildlife Boards for their time, efforts and ongoing commitments to wildlife.
Governor Herbert has been a great supporter of sportsmen. The DWR Director is aware of sportsmen strong support for his efforts to protect and grow abundant herds in Utah. As a result of the tremendous support by sportsmen, yesterday?s actions won't result in another director being fired for growing more wildlife. We the sportsmen have a voice and it does make a big difference. SFW and Big game forever
Big Decisions at Yesterday?s Wildlife Board Meeting
Many of you are aware of some critical decisions that were to be made yesterday, at the Utah Wildlife Board Meeting. Here is a quick update. First, the board voted for zero cow elk permits on the declining Fish Lake unit and and only a modest increase on antelope permits on the Plateau unit (Parker Mountain). These were the recommendations of Utah DWR and were supported Sportsmen for Fish and Wildlife and Big Game Forever. In our view, this was a major decision in support of producing abundant wildlife in these herds and across the state of Utah.
At yesterday?s Wildlife Board meeting, SFW and BGF were the only conservation groups present. We were there to fight for abundant herds and to keep a diversity of quality and quantity, and even super quality hunt opportunities. We are very encouraged by the vote of the board on these and other important issues.
It has been a big job to strengthen sportsmen?s voice at the Utah Wildlife Board and Regional Advisory Councils. Prior to the formation of SFW the makeup of the old Board of Big Game Control was such that Sportsmen had one representative out of five. Many times, the sportsmen motion would not even get a ?second? to consider the sportsmen motion. In a few cases, when there was a ?second?, and the DWR Director voted to increase elk populations, these actions resulted in TWO DWR Directors being fired ? Doug Day and Tim Provan.
When SFW started, there was only 600 trophy bull permits, and those ?trophy bulls? were mostly 280 to 300 inch bulls. Today, there is approximately 2,800 trophy bull elk permits, a substantial increase in opportunity, and now a balance needs to be attained to keep Utah?s world class quality and opportunity hunts on our great public lands.
Yesterday, DWR Director Jim Karpowitz gave an aggressive and compelling case why there should be NO cow elk permits on the Fish Lake herd, and only a modest increase on doe antelope permits on the Parker Mountain. Mr. Karpowitz also addressed head-on the anti-elk position of the US Forest Service making the case that sportsmen and the DWR had made a major investment to improve habitat in Central Utah, including improvements of over 200,000 acres of public and private land, at a cost of over $16 Million dollars. The DWR also recommended reducing some bull elk permits on Utah?s premium units where age class is in decline? the Beaver, Boulder, Book cliff Roadless, Monroe, San Juan and Pahvant. Permit reductions to increase the average age back up to 7.75 years ? grow monster bulls again on these units ? was approved by the Board.
The Utah Wildlife Board voted for NO cow elk tags on the Fish Lake unit, and No increase on antelope permits on the Parker Mountain herd. A good outcome for wildlife and a good outcome for maintaining abundant wildlife for hunters in Utah. Additionally, after looking at some data provided by SFW at the local RAC meetings, and at the Board meeting, the DWR agreed that it would be appropriate to reduce the trophy bull elk permit on the Dutton to 110, the Road area of the Book Cliffs to 130 and the Manti at 406.
In other decisions at yesterday, the Board also voted to increase the number of permits for Bison, Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep and Mountain goats. These herds continue to grow as a direct result of our conservation investment in habitat and transplants. The tremendous Utah limited buck deer permits on the Paunsagunt, Henry Moutains and Book Cliffs remained essentially the same from 2012.
Byron Bateman, President of Sportsmen for Fish and Wildlife explains the importance of yesterday?s efforts at the Utah Wildlife Board, ?this is just a begging of our efforts to increase deer populations to 400,000 head, and have increased quality and opportunity for success on Utah?s public land, general season hunts.?
While we don't always agree with every recommendation, and many times there are multiple good alternatives, as one RAC member said, ?When SFW comes to a meeting, you know they have done their homework, they represent a lot of sportsmen, and their recommendations need to be taken seriously.? We thank all the volunteer members of the public who serve on the RAC Board and Wildlife Boards for their time, efforts and ongoing commitments to wildlife.
Governor Herbert has been a great supporter of sportsmen. The DWR Director is aware of sportsmen strong support for his efforts to protect and grow abundant herds in Utah. As a result of the tremendous support by sportsmen, yesterday?s actions won't result in another director being fired for growing more wildlife. We the sportsmen have a voice and it does make a big difference. SFW and Big game forever
