I’m sure the golf course at the bottom of sugar house would love the idea of that and every granola on the east bench would flip. I get what you’re saying about all the dead elk. I’ve been to Sanpete, the basin, southern Utah and just about everywhere in between it’s definitely bad this year. All we can do is hope for the best at this point.
It’s a hard win for the animals/peoples property/hunters/DWR. The animals will loose every time and so will future hunting opportunities.
Property owners won’t allow hunting but complain of damage to property and want the animals removed.
DWR attempts to work w property owners to get permission for hunts - and receives no go,s.
County/city ordinances won’t allow weapons and consider archery equipment a dangerous weapon.
DWR has 48 hours to resolve the issue- if not the property owner can sue and win a claim against DWR.
DWR enforcement has the right to discharge weapons on private property for problem animals.
DWR shoots the animals and comes under the scrutiny of everyone. DWR doesn’t have a choice……
I’ve seen a whole herd of deer shot in fields in SanPete county and a big herd of 30 plus elk shot in emigration several years back when the above conditions existed.
But does DWR have a choice ???
DWR could issue less late cow elk tags that go into January. And then issue “some” depredation tags with some good communication to the hunters of what the goal is. And issue them when they are needed. The goal should be to keep these animals out of city limits and off the roads.
DWR will not feed these animals as an option for years like this- and this needs to be addressed again.
Btw - I’m a hunter that doesn’t always fill a tag but could every year if I wanted to. I have only seen elk numbers decline and have been against all the 2 cow elk control tags allowed for every bull permit in the any bull units. I’m also 100% against the new elk plan for unlimited tags in the any bull units. With a likely high winter kill - and a plan that won’t address elk numbers until 2026- I don’t have much faith in the current plan.
Depredation tags have their place and need to be used wisely. Parleys canyon could use a few depredation tags right now or next week when it’s snows another 12”.
A few harvested elk might make a difference on keeping these animals off the interstate.
I welcome any comments on how to do this the right way.