DWR wants a 9 day hunt in southern

R

romannose

Guest
I think the 5 day hunt that has been in place is helping. Why do they want to change it already? On the pine valley unit it has been in place for a few years now and more people are killing quality deer. I dont get it, can someone please explain it to me?
 
LAST EDITED ON Oct-29-06 AT 10:03AM (MST)[p]I don't get it either. We have to go to the St.George RAC meeting every year and fight to keep it at 5 days. They always want to put it back to 9. The 5 day hunt has made a great change for the better. All the DWR is required to do is provide an oppurtunity to the hunters that got a tag. The 5 day hunt is that oppurtunity. As a hunter, wouldn't you rather have 5 days seeing alot of deer with a good chance at a nice buck versus 9 days hoping to at least see a forked horn. Because that was how it used to be. I have been hunting it for 15 years and remember the 9 day seasons. It was tough.

I just don't understand the selfishness behind the people wanting the 9 day season back. We have all had to make sacrifices to try and get the herds back. If you want more days afield, broading you horizons, put in for the muzzleloader hunt, it is 9 days. Hell, archery is a month long. Or join the dedicated hunter program.

What is funny is since the archery is now a month long, the actual combined hunter-days-afield for the 3 hunts is longer than when the rifle hunt was 9 days.

The only 9 day rifle hunt that I see helping anyone would be the youth. In this case, I would agree that if you are a youth tag holder, you should be allowed more time afield. One argument that was brought up last year at the RAC was that 5 days was not long enough for a youth to hunt because of church, school, sports, etc. I would tend to agree with this and would support a 9 days season for youth only. They are our future and if they can have a quality hunting experience with a chance at see some decent bucks, they might stick with it and become our voices for sportsman in years to come.

If you want to keep the herds up and have bigger bucks, you need to come to the Southern RACs and speak up. Don't you want to see what your unit is capable of? You could lose it all this year with the stroke of the gavel.

The 5 day hunt is helping. Lets not mess up a good thing.

Thanks,
oakbrush
 
There is a rac on nov 7 for southern reigion in richfield that the DWR is proposing this. If people are able to go I would suggest you do.
 
I hate to admit it

But the 5 day hunt is working. This year was the best hunt since the 93 winterkill. I know the drought has ended, etc. but the management plan is working.
 
RE: I hate to admit it

Don't mess up a good thing. Is it a good thing? Yes! Then don't let the DWR mess it up.

"One nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."
 
RE: I hate to admit it

I understand tha SE will be going back to a 9 day hunt too, I was told because the Locals wanted a season with 2 weekends in it.
 
RE: I hate to admit it

frankly I was a bit shocked at the amount of yearling being harvested(spikes and very small forked horns). This was my 1st southern general hunt and now have a clue and seen a real nice buck but wish I had 1 more day... I thank 5 days is ok just that its a long way away and so kinda sad to see so many young buck taken.
rm
 
RE: I hate to admit it

In my opinion they give to many tags out already. I wish they would consider looking at all the other states and the micro management issue. I know alot of people dont like the sound of that, but something has to be done.
 
RE: I hate to admit it

This seems to be the way they do everything, short term.
Why not give this 5-day hunt a chance for a few more years and then see what it does. They tried the 3 point or better for a few years and when it started to pay off, they dumped it. Now they try the 5 day hunt, and and planning on dumping it. I thought management meant managing for the future. It appears to me that management nowdays is just whoever gets the most votes their way, gets to manage for that year.
I don't think it matters how they go about managing the herd, it is just that they have to do something. Changing every year just doesn't cut it in my eyes. If there is a solid, biologically correct plan, and if they would give it a chance, I think we could see some improvement. I'll be at the RAC..
Hope to see you all there!!!
 
RE: I hate to admit it

I have been a fan of the five day hunt myself, but i am starting to question it after this year. I hunted the south eastern (monticello area) and was just sick at the amount of young deer being taken. I have never seen more two points in any area i have hunted. Every trip out we could have killed a small buck, and we were there for the entire hunt, plus the friday before it opened. When i talked to some local hunters from that area, they all seemed to say the same thing. "The hunt is only five days long, we have to kill quick or take the chance of not getting a buck at all". It leaves me now thinking this- "What if the hunt were longer, would people slowdown and hold out instead of pounding the first buck they see?"
Any thought's?????
 
You made the case for the 5 day to stay

You saw a lot of yearlings this year? That means the bucks are around to take care of the does. Move to a nine day hunt, and within 3 years you will be wondering where are the yearlings. Besides, if you kept seeing them, some must have made it unscathed. I'm guessing if there were a second weekend many of those yearlings would have been Sunday dinner next weekend.

I saw a lot of yearlings harvested this year, but I also saw many more big bucks taken, and a few big bucks that were not taken. The plan is working. 5 days allows the deer a chance come Thurs, Fri, Sat of the hunt. 9 days will take that away. Don't get me wrong, I will hunt the second weekend with a smile if the change is made, I just think it hurts the herd over the longer term.
 
RE: I hate to admit it

I agree with most of what you say, Slamdunk. I hunted the Sands near Kanab and it was the same thing...an all out butcher on small bucks. We ran into one group that had 3 small bucks in the back of the truck and could not get them unloaded fast enough because they had one more tag to fill. I also think you have alot of people that take the entire hunt off of work because it is only 5 days. During the old 9 day hunts, you had lots of people on the weekends and very few M-F, so the number of actual hunting days is about the same.

It looks like we will be hunting two points again next year. There was a great fawn crop this year, but I am afraid not many 2-3 year old bucks made it through the hunt.
 
RE: I hate to admit it

Thank you Pruney, That is eaxctly what my point was! When i draw a southern or south eastern, i stay the entire week and i'm amazed how many DON'T! The place is almost vacant, other than out of staters. Mon thru wed are basically "safe days" for the bucks, from what i see. These guys are pounding the hell out of the little bucks the first two days because they DON'T have that second weekend for the "other chance".
On the flip side, The trade off to throw in another weekend, would be a few more dead yearling bucks. It's a double edged sword for sure, and i can agree with both sides. I DO agree that the five day hunts have increased deer numbers, that's pretty evident, but the poor buggers don't make it it to even two 1/2 years old!!(a few breeders obviously do though) Maybe it's just going to take a few more years of five day hunts to let what's left over, make it to the next hunting season??? I'm good with whatever they do, i'll still stay at least five days looking for a buck with some age on him.
I'm an "old school" Utah guy though, and i say "Bring back the point restrictions in the trophy potential areas and let those yearlings live!!"
SLAMDUNK
 
RE: I hate to admit it

The answer is simple, you just forgot to do the math.

Maybe this will help. D + W + R = Idiots X 2

Does that help? ;-)
 
RE: I hate to admit it

Houndawgjr, you are so right. This whole time i though it was 2x2= shoot!
On a more serious note-
Look what the antler restriction for elk has done for our big bulls here in Utah. I still say..."bring back the 3 point or better" for our deer in certain units again!! I realize the older units that used to be on a restriction are now limited entry (how many tags are getting filled with two points in the book cliffs with all those tags??)but lets make a few areas like that again, at least a few mountain ranges like the Blue's or the La sal's and maybe beaver or cedar city area in the southern unit. Wishful thinking, i know, We the "arm chair biologist" have all the solutions.
 
RE: I hate to admit it

LAST EDITED ON Oct-30-06 AT 04:05PM (MST)[p]Slamdunk, the elk units work because we kill the yearlings and protect the older bulls. With the 3 point or better restrictions for deer you are protecting the yearlings and killing the mature bucks. Comparing the elk success to 3 point or better deer restrictions is like comparing apples to oranges.

I like the 5 day restrictions. Those who shoot yearlings on the 4th day of a 5 day hunt will just shoot the same deer on the 8th day of a nine day hunt. The 5 day hunt weeds out the last minute killers who can't make it back out.
 
RE: I hate to admit it

The idea from the DWR's perspective is to give more people more hunting opportunities.

Well, then leave it at 5 days long. If they make the hunt longer then they will need to cut the amount of tags in order to keep the amount of deer they have.

Leave it at 5 days and allow more people to hunt with the shorter hunts.

"One nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."
 
RE: I hate to admit it

My vote is for 5 days for the whole state!!!!!!! The Northern region has soem serious issues. The only thing this state is concerned about is the almighty $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
 
RE: I hate to admit it

I AGREE 5 DAYS STATE WIDE, BUT OPEN IT ON THURSDAY INSTEAD OF FRIDAY !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
RE: I hate to admit it

hogg-65

The topic of the rifle deer opener been brought up here before. I guess that it is law in Utah that the rifle deer hunt start on the 3rd Saturday in Oct every year. It would take going to state legistlature to get it changed. Atleast that is what was said on here before. Can anyone explain it better?

Thanks, oakbrush.
 
RE: I hate to admit it

packout- My point with the antler restriction was that it works, whether it be deer or elk, spike or 3 point or better. For you to say that "by having a 3 point or better restriction, would kill all the older bucks" goes against the person before you that told me not all small bucks are getting killed, quite a few survive.....as do the mature bucks in an antler point restriction. Facts are facts are facts, the three point restriction worked and it worked very well. The books and henry's had 2&3 year old bucks all over the place because people let the forkie's live, just like we are now letting the older bulls live on the elk units. "Apples and oranges"...not hardly. Think about it, let a forkie go, what will he be next year? He'll be a small 3 point or small 4, but he'll make someone feel pretty proud that they got something other than a 2 point again. As for you saying people would whack a forkie on the 8th day....well, i'm sure they would, but they sure as hell would think twice about doing it on the opening weekend, wouldn't they?? Case in point this year- my own son, 16 years old, second deer hunt in his life. a two point runs right past him the first ten miunutes of the morning. "BOOM", he misses. I tell him "are you sure you want him already, you missed and have a chance to let him go". his reply- "But i might not get another chance like this". Fact is, he didn't dare pass the oportunity because we couldn't make it back a second weekend and get that chance again...."BOOM". Same thing i heard from other hunters down there, mostly the locals, and they can hunt everyday of the hunt.
After saying all this, i will not be upset if they keep it a five day hunt, nor will i do anything different if it is a nine day hunt. I'll take a week and go hunting and look for an older buck. As for the meat hunters, well that's their choice and the rest of us that want to see more antlers will just have to accept that we are not in a trophy area and "that's just huntin". I'll get my thophy tag soon, my eleven points will pay off eventually and then i'll go back to the two point slaughter house hoping to find a survivor from the previous year.
Happy hunting!! SLAMDUNK
 
RE: I hate to admit it

I'm with you slamdunk. 5 days or 9, I will hunt the hunt. I do think that there were just a lot more deer this year than last though, and I think some of that is the 5 day hunt working.

As for the hunt this year, my wife got her first deer. We spotted him about noon opening morning standing in some tall sage. He walked out and his back leg had been shot and broken earlier in the day. He was small, but I made her take him. She didn't want to shoot, but I just couldn't let him go lay down and die (or succomb to the first yote on his trail). She took him down in his tracks with one shot at about 230 yards. We glassed all around, waited about an hour, and nobody came tracking him. Hes in the freezer.
 
RE: I hate to admit it

Thank you, "buckstopshere". I commend you and your wife for doing the right thing on that buck, i would have done the same. I guess maybe i'm a little spoiled hunting private leases for so many years. I have been guiding for 11 years for the biggest, best outfitter in the state and one of the best in the entire country. I have trained myself to hunt for throphy animals. Now that my son is old enough to hunt, i have started hunting public general season hunts with him and it's pretty shocking to me to see how many small bucks getting whacked so quickly, but then again, some people just don't get a chance to be so selective in what they harvest. A "true throphy" is in the eye's of the beholder anyway and i can respect that. I just need to be retrained back into reality and realize this is just public hunting. My son was proud as punch to take his little two point and i was happy to see him so proud. Heck, he's two years and two deer ahead of me in life, i had to wait till i was 16 to take MY first deer, he started at 14!! He'll get his bigger deer someday, we'll just keep huntin.
 
RE: I hate to admit it

A thought......
How many nonres hunters seen shooting yearling?
I seen none and all said they would not take one and would eat the tag.......
So my point is ...its the locals who desamate the yearlings.
so cut RESIDENT tags!
rackmaster
 
RE: I hate to admit it

LAST EDITED ON Oct-31-06 AT 01:11PM (MST)[p]Thebuckstopshere,

Are you certain about your facts? Was '06 better than '04? Was there a Southern Utah winter kill in '93? I noticed one in Northern Utah but not Southern.

Everyone else who is pro 5 day hunt,

I have a very different perspective than people who exclusively hunt southern utah. I find it interesting that people complain that too many yearlings were shot and that the 5 day hunt is working. If the five day hunt is working so well why were so many yearlings shot? Why is the story the same in regions with longer rifle hunts - lots more yearlings in '06 and some very nice deer taken throughout the state. I watch deer in 3 different regions. Southern reports are not outstanding over any other region with longer hunts. Before everyone jumps on the bandwagon and says this is working, you should compare the southern region to the regions that don't have 5 day hunts. A lot of you have no reason to fault find with the DWR's scientific reasoning when you don't have a clue about scientific analysis yourself.
 
RE: I hate to admit it

That's a great question to ask about no res hunters. In the area i was at (Monticello) there were several Cali, Texas, Arizona and even a few New Mexico liscence plates running around. We had two guys from Cali camping by us that said they were staying the entire hunt. Both killed two points. One on the second day, the other on the 4th. They got their bucks and left. We also saw another camp from AZ with two 1 1/2 year old bucks hanging in the trees. So from what i saw, it didn't seem to matter where you were from, any deer would sufice. Maybe it's just the thing to do in that area. There were a lot of young bucks running around though, i was impressed at the high numbers that were alive. it was the high number of the ones i saw dying that i didn't like. Five day hunt, or nine, i think the outcome would be similar. Yearling bucks will take 90% of the harvesting (just a visual estimate of course!) My conclusion is- There are plenty of bucks in that area, but nothing will let them reach any age except making it illegal to harvest yearling bucks. I say bring back the 3 point or better, (even though i know it won't ever happen), and pray that a good amount of those young bucks i saw running around, survived.
 
RE: I hate to admit it

I agree with you too, smellybuck. Things aren't any "better" in the souther regions than they are in the northern's, yet the length of hunts are different. Infact, they just may be better up north as far as age class goes, not exactly sure on the actual facts on that though. Deer numbers were definately up in the south eastern from the looks of the 2005 fawn crop getting anilated this year. Like i said before, i'm just an arm chair biologist that would like to get an occasional chance at a 3 year old or better buck during a five day hunt with my kids. I understand older bucks are much smarter and get the h*ll out of dodge when all the trucks and four wheelers show up in the dark, but you'd think a few "no so educated" bucks in an area that has hundreds of deer, would get in your binoc's from time to time. Hardly anyone was seeing any bigger deer, even though there MUST be some breeders in the area to create all those yearlings. On the other hand, it has been proven that yealing bucks can and DO breed does when bigger bucks aren't present. Guess i just may need to change my playground and find a new region to hunt.
Thanks for all the input on this topic, it's a book that will never close.
 
RE: I hate to admit it

I don't think anyone was saying that things are better in the southern regions than the northern regions. What a few people have been saying is that things are better than they have been over the past several years in the areas they hunt and the 5 day hunt appears to be helping. Obviously hunting pressure and many other variables contribute to bucks being able to get older. I think its funny how people are jumping all over the two points getting pounded because it's a shorter season. Young bucks are usually not as smart as older bucks. So what are most people going to end up harvesting on a Utah general season hunt whether it's a 5 day hunt or a 9 day hunt? How is a mature deer in a Utah general season area going be "not so educated?" I would imagine there are a couple, but I have never seen one. I don't think too many bucks get old by chance. If a buck is "not so educated" it will be in someone?s freezer. I have never hunted the SE region and so things may be different there. However, I saw more mature deer in the area I hunt in the southern region this year than I have in the past 3 years combined! I'm sure the first couple of years that Colorado started to micromanage the deer herds their were plenty of people saying that it wasn't working and there were not any more mature deer, but they stuck with the program over the long term and it has seemed to work. Maybe the Utah DWR should give the 5 day hunt more than just a few years and see what happens!
 
RE: I hate to admit it

I do not hunt the Southern Region, so I can't say first hand how the 5 day hunt has effected the buck doe ratio in the region. But I, along with another fellow, stood before the Central RAC in the Fall of 2000 and asked to reduce the season on the Nebo unit to 5 days. The Central RAC passed the Recommendation along to the Wildlife Board and the Nebo unit had a 5 day hunt for the next 3 years. The buck doe ratio increased from 9 to 16 in those 3 years. The restrictions do work, as I have seen it and the data shows that the reduced seasons work. It is a great way for the DWR to allow hunter opportunity, while controlling a certain amount of harvest.

Slam- You said "Facts are facts are facts, the three point restriction worked and it worked very well. The books and henry's had 2&3 year old bucks all over the place because people let the forkie's live".

I would say the FACTS show that the 3 point restrictions did NOT work. The Books were in such rough shape AFTER the 3 point or better debacle that the Book Cliffs were SHUT DOWN. The Henrys was in such BAD SHAPE that the unit was shut down and the DWR had to transplant deer back onto the unit. Not very good examples of the 3 point or better success.

You also said, "Think about it, let a forkie go, what will he be next year? He'll be a small 3 point or small 4, but he'll make someone feel pretty proud that they got something other than a 2 point again." So shooting a 2 1/2 year old 3 point is really a whole lot better than shooting a 1 1/2 year old 3 point? Are we really worried about someone feeling "proud" of shooting a "small 3 point"?

You also asked your 16 year old boy if he really wanted to shoot a 2 point? Good job supporting your kid on HIS hunt. -Not- He had a tag and could shoot whatever he wanted. Or were you trying to put your ideals above his desires?

The facts remain that with elk antler restrictions we are harvesting the YEARLING bulls and leaving the MATURE bulls. With deer antler restrictions we are harvesting the MATURE bucks and leaving the YEARLINGS. Looks completely opposite to me.... kind of like apples and oranges.

(I did not go into the fact that many yearling bulls with great genetics are saved because they are 2x2 or better and many of the best genetic yearling bucks are killed because they have 3 points as a yearling. Nor the fact that the elk are hunted after the rut and the mule deer before. )
 
How about a compromise @ 7 days? I'm a NR and drive almost 300 miles to our deer camp in southern Utah, it'd be nice to have a week hunting in the area.
 
RE: I hate to admit it

Utah's deer herds have increased from approximately 225,000 in 1995 to around 350,000 today. That is the direct result of increased habitat restoration, coyote control, less lions, and better moisture conditions. No one can prove exactly what proportions all those factors play.

With more does, there will be more bucks. Even with buck harvest of young bucks, there will still be more young bucks survive with 300,000 does having 70 fawns, veruses 200,000 does having 50 fawns.

Everyone agrees that there are more bucks, and more mature bucks.

The buck doe ratio average on Utah's general season units today is around 17. IN 1991, prior to the die of it was only 7, some units were as low as 3 bucks per 100 does. So, even before teh big winter die off, there are more bucks and more mature bucks on Utah's general season units than in the late 1980s.

If the hunter harvest stays around where it is in 2006, and the herd continues to increase - predator control better habitat, good weather, there will be even more young and old bucks.

In watching deer herds, after the opening weekend volley, the deer seem to get nocturnal, stay in cover. AFter 3-4 days of silence, they come out again, and get hammered again the second weekend. For this reason, i think a 5 day season reduces the buck harvest. The killers are going to kill their buck whenever they see it. The five day hunt makes it harder to see them, after the opening day, Thus reduces buck harvest, my opinion.

Data shows clearly that Pine Valley 4 bucks per 100, now around 20, and Nebo, 5 bucks, went up to around 20 showed increased buck/doe ratios with 5 day hunts. Other very key factor is the last couple of years, a mid week snow storm can really save bucks in a 5 day versus 9 day hunt, and without question, units like the Pine Valley, where deer migrate out of the high country to winter range - where they are very vulnerabel, get hammered on 9 day hunt verus 5 day hunt.

one point of fact, the Book Cliffs and Henry Mountains 4 point or better produced more big bucks. But, there was a lot of illegal kills of two points as well.

The 3 point restriction was then taken off the Henry Mts. and Book Cliffs for about 4 years of any buck hunting. Buck/doe ratios dropped dramatically after the removal of antrer restrictions.

It was after the any buck hunting, and drought, and high predators populations that lead to low deer numbers, 4 bucks per 100 does, and closure of the units. So, 4 point or better did save many bucks.

Some said spike elk hunting would never work - to much illegal kills. It took a few years, but reduced illegal kills and now look at the mature bulls.

It would seem, if hunters, for just ONE year, would let the forkies go - especially now that there are large numbers of yearling bucks being produced, would then have significant numbers of 3 and 4 points every year in the future. And anyone who hunts deer knows, that an older mature buck is one of the hardest trophies to hunt, they get pretty smart.

The progress for the deer herd can be long term, if habitat restoration an predator control is continued.

There will be some opportunities to look at tweeking some things to allow for opportunity, and upgrade quality for those who want to hunt mature bucks.

Lots of good ideas, there is NO one correct answer. At least the deer herd is rebounding, and we have some choices to make.

Don
 
RE: I hate to admit it

Packout-
Did you happen to be hunting the Books or the Henry's when it WAS 3 point or better? I was there, and it was WAY obvious what happened. I was in the Henry's that first year they opened it up to "any buck", it was down right sickening! There were at least double the amount of hunters as before, and anything and everything with antlers were hitting the ground. That happened for the next few years until "guess what"....they closed the unit due to low numbers. They did NOT close the unit because people were taking the mature bucks, they closed it because the there were not enough younger deer that could replentish the herd. I know the biologist down there and HE is who gave me this info, so there you go...."facts are facts are facts". The same exact thing happened to the book cliffs at the same exact time. They said they lifted the 3 point restriction because two points were still getting killed and left to rot. Yes, probably so, i saw a few myself wasted, but look how many get killed now???? Do the math.

As far as hunting with my son goes? No i did not "put MY ideals in him" whatsoever. He killed a 3 point his first year and didn't want to take a fork horn this year, he has been saying that ever since last years season ended. He saw an easy two point and quickly changed his mind. All i did was simply ask him a question and remind him of what he was preaching all year. I did NOT tell him "NO". He said he wanted that two point, i said "there's your shot, take it". End of story.

About the antler restrictions? You totally failed to mention that the Henry's and bookcliffs were opened to "Any buck" AFTER it was 3 point or better for so many years. There were 2&3 year old bucks everywhere, i was there for many years! My point on that, and it IS a "fact" that the antler restriction works, MOST people abide by the law, as did with the deer point restriction. Look at Colorado's elk point restriction, everybody kills mature bulls over there. Maybe not too many "trophies", but it works! A few "mistakes" are made but all in all it has worked....obviously. It's very similar to a "slot limit" on rivers for fish. The states objective is that 10% of the spike elk will survive and be branch antlered bulls the next year. Same goes with the 3 point or better on the deer....about 10% (if not more) of the mature bucks survived in a 3 point restricted area to breed and bring up the next years crop. Yes, this may be as you say "an opposite", but it is NOT "apples and oranges", the outcome of both restrictions were the same....they work. The books and the Hen's got toally decimated in two to three years after they opened it to kill "any buck", then an emergency closure was put into place on both units. Not only did they transplant bucks, they brought in doe's as well to get some new genetics. They also had an all out war on coyote's and cat's. The biologist told me that after opening it to "any buck" and the huge predator problem on the Henry's, the herd was decimated.

My point remains, the five day hunt "hurries" hunters up. If ten hunters let ten forkies go on opening weekend, and three of those ten survive running over the next hill without someone else killing them, two or three of them just might get to a safe hiding place and make it through the season. True, maybe one of those three may get shot on that "9 day hunt second weekend", but it will improve their chance of survival that first weekend, no doubt about it.

Again, i don't really care what they decide to do, 5 days or 9, i'll still hunt for a mature buck and i'll be happy for my son if he wants to take another yearling. Hell, i took quite a few in MY younger days!! It would just be nice to see it like it used to be in the early 80's. You could let a three point go because you knew you could find a better one. The deer numbers seem to be about the same as back then, i saw plenty of yearling bucks and doe's with twins, but no bucks with any age on them. I'm not talking about "throphy bucks" here, just semi mature, 3 year old bucks.
In conclusion, i hope either system will help, it's not fair for any of us to critisize a 9 day hunt till it's been in place for about 4-5 years. It could be a double edged sword, i guess we'll see.
 
RE: I hate to admit it

Thank you Don, great facts and info. You definately cleared it up with a more political way of speaking. I'm glad we agree on what happened to the books and the Hen's. I was there, i saw it first hand and it was a "no brainer" what happened. The combo of drought, predators and opening those units to any buck was a very bad combination.
SLAMDUNK
 
RE: I hate to admit it

Smellybuck:

The 93 winterkill was followed by 4 to 5 years of decent hunting in Southern Utah. I have no idea just how the 93 winterkill affected the Southern regions specifically. I can't remember exactly when they went to split regions.

My point was this year was better than any since 93. I sure saw many more deer this year than any year since 93, small and large. The drought which lasted from about 98 to 04 was brutal. So is it the better water conditions, or the 5 day hunt? I agree that it appears this was a bountious year in the North and Central regions as well.

Here is why I like the 5 day hunt: If the deer get pushed to cover on Sat and Sun, they likely stay holed up until about wed. or thurs. I have no factual data to prove this, but it seems logical. I hate to see roadies killing bucks come the second weekend when many bucks are more into the rut (again, not science, just opinion). But, I understand fully those roadies buy gas in all the Southern region towns. Its a tough call, one there may be no exact right or wrong answer to. (as DKPeay discusses).

Just my thoughts. All in all it was a good hunt.
 
RE: I hate to admit it

On other thought: As I reread my post, I think that they went to split regions in about 98-99 after everyone started heading south because of the 93 winterkill. I may be wrong.
 
southern utah is a beauty isn't it,and can see why you'de love being here as long as possible,but the 5 days is working.Every season I'm wishing as well it was a few days longer,but when the hunts over and I'm out in the hills seeing quality bucks,,well I love it. Maybe get here a couple days sooner and tie one to a tree. Bounder
 
I am not about compromise. I don't want to compromise the deer heard or my hunt. I think you leave it alone. It works at 5 days.

"One nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."
 
The SFW Board of Directors, representing thousands of Utah hunters from the St. George, Cedar City, Bryce Canyon, Delta, Richfield, Beaver, Sanpete, Carbon/Emery, San Juan, Utah, Weber, Davis, Cache and Uintah Basin counties and cities voted unanimously to keep the 5 day rifle hunts in the Southern and SE Region.

That is what will be presented at the RAC and Wildlife Baord meetings, Next week and beyond.

Don Peay
 
I say that is GREAT - leave it at 5 days- not sure if any one mentioned that Bow hunters get an almost 2 month crack at them (seems like it) Then Muzzle hunters get a 7 or 9 day crack at them - Hey, neither one of those tools are your daddies old weapon!
 

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