3
30WCF
Guest
LAST EDITED ON Nov-16-05 AT 08:09PM (MST)[p]LAST EDITED ON Nov-16-05 AT 08:00?PM (MST)
I have recently learned of the "proposal" to expand the Wasatch Front Archery Unit to include the area from Provo Canyon north to the existing southern boundary. I have read the various posts on this subject and as it struck a cord, I made several inquires with the DWR Salt Lake Office, and with a Central DWR biologist and receiverd first hand information from these sources. The bioligist is the same biologist that attended the Alpine City Council meeting which addressed the deer and cougar issue last year. I was in attendance at this city council meeting.
These are the conclusions I have made:
1. The Central Region general deer unit, which includes the Provo Canyon north area, is under objective buck to doe ratio as mandated by the state. Year 2005 Central Unit Rifle/Muzzleloader tags were reduced by 1,000 tags because of this. To increase archery hunting pressure that could harvest additional buck deer would not help bring the ratio to where it meets objective levels.
2. The Salt Lake DWR office said this proposal was not on the RAC agendas and that the DWR was surprised it showed up.
3. The DWR increased the cougar tags for the Provo north area in 2003 or 2004 and saw a substantial number of cougar taken from this area. This was influenced by the transplanted Big Horn Sheep in the area. Cougar populations are controlled by cougar harvest not by deer harvest.
4. At the Alpine City Council meeting, no one had actually seen a cougar, but a woman had heard something in the bushes and thought it may be a cougar.
5. It is illegal to hunt with any weapon in the city limits of Draper, Alpine, Highland, ect. Many of the deer eating flowers, shrubs, ect. reside within city limits year round.
6. The DWR, upon approval from the City Council, can bring in DWR personel and remove any problem deer within city limits by lethal means.
7. The DWR has traditionally held late season antlerless any weapon hunts in the Provo north area, when needed, to meet specific harvest objectives with specific # of permits allocated.
8. Current General Archery deer season in Utah is open for 28 days STATEWIDE and run an additonal period of 75 days (Sept 17 -Nov.30) in the Wasatch Front, Ogden or Uintah Basin extended archery area, and arachers can hunt an additional 15 days (Dec. 1-Dec.15) in the Wasatch Front or Uintah Basin unit for antlerless only. The open dates for archery hunting in Utah and the overall areas are very generous.
Final Conclusion: From Provo Canyon north does not need to be included in the Wasatch extended archery area. That area is below overall deer objective as is, including the buck to doe ratio. There may be small problem areas which would not greatly benefit from an expansion because existing ordinances prohibit use of archery tackle within city limits. Many deer harvested would be non problem deer. If deer within legal hunting areas are deemed problem deer, late season any weapon tags may be issued to control a desired harvest objective rather than a random harvest.
Don't piss down my back and tell me it's raining....
I have recently learned of the "proposal" to expand the Wasatch Front Archery Unit to include the area from Provo Canyon north to the existing southern boundary. I have read the various posts on this subject and as it struck a cord, I made several inquires with the DWR Salt Lake Office, and with a Central DWR biologist and receiverd first hand information from these sources. The bioligist is the same biologist that attended the Alpine City Council meeting which addressed the deer and cougar issue last year. I was in attendance at this city council meeting.
These are the conclusions I have made:
1. The Central Region general deer unit, which includes the Provo Canyon north area, is under objective buck to doe ratio as mandated by the state. Year 2005 Central Unit Rifle/Muzzleloader tags were reduced by 1,000 tags because of this. To increase archery hunting pressure that could harvest additional buck deer would not help bring the ratio to where it meets objective levels.
2. The Salt Lake DWR office said this proposal was not on the RAC agendas and that the DWR was surprised it showed up.
3. The DWR increased the cougar tags for the Provo north area in 2003 or 2004 and saw a substantial number of cougar taken from this area. This was influenced by the transplanted Big Horn Sheep in the area. Cougar populations are controlled by cougar harvest not by deer harvest.
4. At the Alpine City Council meeting, no one had actually seen a cougar, but a woman had heard something in the bushes and thought it may be a cougar.
5. It is illegal to hunt with any weapon in the city limits of Draper, Alpine, Highland, ect. Many of the deer eating flowers, shrubs, ect. reside within city limits year round.
6. The DWR, upon approval from the City Council, can bring in DWR personel and remove any problem deer within city limits by lethal means.
7. The DWR has traditionally held late season antlerless any weapon hunts in the Provo north area, when needed, to meet specific harvest objectives with specific # of permits allocated.
8. Current General Archery deer season in Utah is open for 28 days STATEWIDE and run an additonal period of 75 days (Sept 17 -Nov.30) in the Wasatch Front, Ogden or Uintah Basin extended archery area, and arachers can hunt an additional 15 days (Dec. 1-Dec.15) in the Wasatch Front or Uintah Basin unit for antlerless only. The open dates for archery hunting in Utah and the overall areas are very generous.
Final Conclusion: From Provo Canyon north does not need to be included in the Wasatch extended archery area. That area is below overall deer objective as is, including the buck to doe ratio. There may be small problem areas which would not greatly benefit from an expansion because existing ordinances prohibit use of archery tackle within city limits. Many deer harvested would be non problem deer. If deer within legal hunting areas are deemed problem deer, late season any weapon tags may be issued to control a desired harvest objective rather than a random harvest.
Don't piss down my back and tell me it's raining....
