I've seen this thread (and others) where there's been a lot of speculation about why we're blocking access to the "My drawing history" Web pages. Here's why those pages aren't visible right now:
We manage all applicants' eligibility by tracking their bonus points and preference points for each drawing.
In order to prepare for the earlier-than-normal antlerless application period (which starts on May 29), our drawing contractor began updating some of the big game drawing data in the ?My drawing history" Web pages. We decided to block public access to those pages when we ran into a couple of complicating factors.
1. One complicating factor is that the big game drawing is not yet complete. (We are still charging credit cards and calling individuals who may have switched credit cards.) People are assuming they haven't drawn when they might actually have a permit coming.
2. The other complicating factor is that the Antlerless application opens on May 29, before final big game results are available on May 31. If Antlerless were opening in June ? as in past years ? this wouldn't have been an issue. We're following the same update process we always follow, but it had to happen sooner because of the earlier Antlerless application period.
So, here's an example of where this becomes a problem:
Say that a hunter (Joe) applied for a buck pronghorn permit. If Joe looks at his "My drawing history" page on the morning of May 29 and thinks he hasn't drawn a buck pronghorn permit, then he might log in and apply for a doe pronghorn permit. It turns out that Joe's "My drawing history" page is updated later that afternoon, and he isn't eligible to apply for the doe permit because he actually drew the buck permit.
That's just one example. There are other scenarios that could leave hunters disappointed or frustrated because they thought they drew a particular permit, only to find that they drew something else or didn't draw at all.
It all comes down to this: we want our customers to have finalized, complete and accurate information to rely on ? and make plans on ??instead of information that is still incomplete and in the process of being updated. That's why we decided to withhold access to the "My drawing history" pages until the actual date we promised big game results: May 31.
I know this is stressing some of you out, but please hang in there. You'll have the final results next week.
Amy Canning
Communications Specialist
Utah Division of Wildlife Resources