Utahs Shed Season

H

huntsonora

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LAST EDITED ON Jan-05-07 AT 10:39AM (MST)[p]I posted this in the Shed forum but wanted to get your thoughts.

I had not thoght about it until today but the real losers of the shed season in Utah is going to be the neighboring states. I have never seen a population of people so hung up on shed hunting. Seriously, there are guys in Utah that would ride a skeleton horse through the gates of Hell to pick up a bleached out forky shed! What is this going to do to Utahs neighbors?

Drum
 
It's just Northern region I believe. The die hards will travel. No question.
 
Sonora:

I couldn't agree with your assessment more--I've personally witnessed some unbelievable acts of stupidity on winter ranges here in Colorado that involved Utah residents in the name of chasing antler (both sheds and poached bucks), and I've been involved in some of the resulting prosecution as well. Not trying to single-out Utah residents, and certainly don't mean to offend the good guys out there, but it does seem there is a sub-culture in that state that abhors any kind of law and has a "me first at all cost" attitude, and the resource be damned. I have to surmise that such behavior must really be blatant over much of Utah in order for a shed season law to actually pass.

As for repercussions on surrounding states, I've already been hearing a lot of talk among the local Coloradoans and the DOW as to how they'll address the onslaught. We know it's coming. But those who would ignore the law as well as all common sense and reason in order to be the first to a shed at any cost should be aware that Coloradoans--hunters and non-hunters alike--won't tolerate it. It's no secret that the DOW has taken a tough stance against wildlife harassment here in Colorado, especially on winter ranges, and they have a solid track record of successful prosecutions, which have resulted in stiff fines, jail time in some cases, and the loss of hunting privileges across all the compact states. If you like to hunt, chasing herds of animals around winter range in deep snow just for a shed is a big gamble. And you can bet there will be a whole lot of eyes, ears and video cameras in field ready to make the cell phone call to the DOW when they see the kind of hokey behavior that got Utah to pass their law in the first place. We know the hordes are coming, but they should mind their manners because that kind of "me-first" unethical behavior won't go unpunished here.
 
I believe two of the neighboring states at leasst already have restrictions on when antlers can be gathered (Idaho & Wyoming).
After 26 years as a Utah transplant I agree with the summation of "it does seem there is a sub-culture in that state that abhors any kind of law and has a "me first at all cost" attitude, and the resource be damned. This is also my opinion based on experience it has become more rampant since the inception of SFW. After being a huge supporter of SFW (not since 2002) My biggest wildlife regret is helping to establish a group that is the USA's biggest wildlife prostitution organization. There is a few hours I wish I could have back the time spent on the steps of the capitol.

Travis Sparks
 
I live in UT and agree that there is a "me first attitude" to some extent but I've found the same thing, often times worse in CO and WY. The biggest difference between CO, WY and UT is our DWR likes to throw new laws at problems instead of trying to enforce the laws that we currently have (i.e. wildlife harassment). This new law will do nothing to benefit our wildlife. People can still hike, photograph, drive, chase lions with dogs and anything else they would like to do in Northern UT winter range areas. The only thing they can't do is... let me just quote the new law as it is printed in our proclamation

"Shed antlers and horns in the Northern Region general buck deer boundary may not be picked up February 1 - April 30th, 2007. All other regions have a year-round shed antler and horn collecting season."

You can't pick them up but you can kick them into a bush and GPS the co-ordinates... Maybe if you're close enough to the truck you could just kick the antler right into the back of your truck, just don't actually pick it up until after April 30th. Stupid freaking law to go along with half the other stupid laws we have that don't ever get enforced. I think if the goal is to protect our wintering wildlife they need to keep everyone out of a few key areas. Close these areas all together and let the animals be. Another part that really makes a TON of sense with this new law is the antler season goes from Feb 1 through April 30th. I've picked up lots of antlers in January and a few even in December. If the deer are run down in November from the rut, then pressured by antlers hunters, photographers, houdsman, hikers and whoever all else that is in the area during December and January we won't even need to worry about the *@#%^=! antler season in February. There won't be any antlers because all the bucks will already be dead. Oh and it's illegal to pick up antlers attached to the skull plate here as well (another stupid law that doesn't get enforced). Heck if nobody was picking up dead bucks and bulls we'd be stumbling over the things and I rarely see any laying around in my travels. Close down the whole Northern Region, that's a great idea! I can see maybe closing down a few critical wintering areas but close them down period, not just to shed hunters! No foot traffic or nothing and close them when they need to be closed. Maybe from December 1st until April 1st or even May 1st. At least we might see some benefit from it...

NvrEnuf
 
This is absolutely a ridiculous and idiotic law. To be honest, I
didn't even know it passed. Why do I say that? Well, maybe they ought to enforce "the harrassing wildlife" law.

Of course, I am against people pushing animals on the winter range. Are they going to ban all the other winter activities also?

Maybe someone from the DWR can explain the purpose of this law for the uneducated people like myself.
 
Just don't pick them up. But be on the lookout for a few pickup pulling a sled behind with sheds that you slid a rope around and drug back to the sled and then drug them to your yard and tehn come spring you may then actually manhandle them. Sounds like a good plan to me. God I am smart. Jk
 
IN SE Idaho there are several wintering areas that have a "No human entry" status. This is effective from Mid DEC to April. At first I was alittle peeved at not being able to observe deer/elk through the winter. But, after watching the antics of some guys the last 2 winters, I fully understand the closures. Closing it down is one thing, but effectively enforcing the closures will be another. Sometimes these decisions only keep the honest, well, honest.
 
I hope you all have kept up on CO but last spring/summer the CWC tried to pass a shed season. I voiced my opposition to it and for some reason or another (I would like to think it was my email and opinion) the season was struck from the vote and so is not in place but i guarantee it wont be long till CO triesd to pass try it again.
I agree there is already laws against harassing wildlife and those laws should be enforced more stringently instead of creating more laws.
Jeff
 
Not sure why the chose Feb 1st through May 1st. It may be because they have late cow elk hunts going until Jan 31st in some areas.
 
Honestly, utahs deer herd hasn't impressed me enough over the years past to waste my time shed hunting there anymore. I'd rather drive 2-3 hours north and find bigger and better ones than i would in utah.




-Cass
 

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