I have to be honest I'm not sure I understand your first question for sure but I will give it a go.
Mostly yes it goes for them all. I think they all do some good and maybe even the best that they can being the flawed entity that they are. Some seem to have it right for a while CO for example. Whether by design or by accident. But then they seem to lose sight of the real objective. Like CO for example. I'm sorry if that doesn't answer your question, I'm trying. And of course this is just my opinion.
I unlike many think there is hope but I just think we haven't seen a path that we are willing to accept. Such as maybe big cuts in hunting or hard closures on building in wintering areas.
I also think we are too dismissive of ideas that seem to work in some areas but are failures in others. Such as antler restrictions. There are people who pound their fist and swear they NEVER work but there are areas where I saw them work personally. Then there is transplanting. Many say it NEVER works while pounding their fist. But reality is it has worked. It's just isolated cases (Santa Rosa island) but it can work.
The fist pounders need to learn that your LOUDER opinion isn't always right.
I would like to reiterate there are fabulous individuals working for our deer and their habitat. They work hard. They deserve respect and thanks. But they are extremely bound by bureaucracy.
You answered my first question very adequately. I understand where you are coming from. I just don't agree with your assessment of the DWR. Since this is a wildlife forum, I won't address what the rest of the government agencies do. I'll only address the issues of the DWR and Utah's protected wildlife from what I know from LOTS of reading and some experience.
For me, the Parowan Front deer transplant many years ago was a BIG eye-opener. As UWC's Southern Region Rep I was involved from the planning to the end (and even beyond). That's where I first met Brock and though we didn't have a lot of personal conversations, I knew he knew a whole lot about mule deer. And I know he was eager to learn more. I think he asked about as many questions as I did.
Though I no longer have my notes or reports, I was at every session over the 3 year period we transplanted and I did weekly/monthly reports on this forum (and the other) for a year or two after the transplanting. The objective was to remove deer from the Parowan Front because they were eating themselves out of house and home, so to speak. The DWR, FS, BLM, NRCS and UWC just wanted to increase the doe hunt numbers because deer transplants were not successful enough to spend the time and money on them. But SFW was also involved and they wanted the transplants. In the end we all agreed to have the transplants under the condition that SFW would entirely pay for them. I won't go into any details, but after two 50 doe sessions per year for 3 years and 52/53 reports a year or so later. we ended up with
more deer on the Parowan Front and
fewer deer east of Holden where they were released than we had when we started. And it ONLY cost SFW/us about $300,000 ($1000 per captured doe). That's why the DWR is reluctant to continue transplanting deer except from risky hunting areas.
As for the other ideas, we've been there and done that, many times more than once and the numbers/results don't match the objectives, especially in the long run. And most of those ideas haven't worked in other western state either. Every year, the western states (and Canada & Mexico)_send representatives (in our case Wildlife Board Members) to the WAFWA Mule Deer Working Group where they get the latest data on all of these ideas and so far, there haven't been many success stories about your proposals.
Now having said that, if you still think they will work, then we have a system where YOU can express your opinion and it's one of the best public friendly systems around, RAC's and WILDLIFE BOARD. You'll get your 3 minutes just like SFW. AND if your ideas are sound in the 5 criteria needed to implement them (Biology, Legal, Financial, Logistical, Social) and if there are enough of you willing to speak out, then you will have a chance of making a Change. Better yet, apply for one of openings in those groups as they become open where you can make a difference.
Well, I'm through with this hijacked thread. I have other things to do. I wish you well in the draw!
