R
rock5150
Guest
Budweiser Biologist.
I had a most interesting conversation with one of the DWR lead biologists today. Due to the many questions that are coming up about Management bulls, state wide spike elk hunts and this I400 deal.
Let me tell you what was said and then you tell me what you think should be done.
I was told that the management elk tooth data was not in due to the fact the teeth had not been sent off yet. So no one knows how old the bulls were that were killed yet, but it will be available in the next couple of months.
I asked about LE tags and this was the scenario that was given. I looked up the data to verify, see on web sight or sample below.
Example:
The management plan for SWD calls for 975 elk on the whole unit. As of 2004 they said there were 1400 elk. They were told they had to cut the over all herd numbers by 425. If you look at he cow permits for 04, 05, 06 you will see them trying to kill a couple hundred cows to be in compliance with the management plan, Total bull tags high 30s to mid 40s depending on the year.
All premium units are managed for age 5-6 year old bull that is all, not 8-9 like some may think. See below.
Most units are 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 years over age objectives. The DWR has tried to add more tags the last 3 years to give more opportunity and KEEP THE HERDS HEALTHY. Each year the racks are okaying it and then the big game board is cutting the numbers that the biologists are saying need to be taken to maintain healthy herds. Why?
Therefore, they have to take more cows and the herds ? are getting genetically messed up? ? Turned up side down? bull to cow ratios are 1 bull to 2 cows or even worse one to one in some cases. AKA management hunts.
This is why the DWR is pushing the spike elk hunt to cut the numbers of OVER ALL ELK. So it looks to me like either, give more tags to meet the age objective or end up with a statewide spike hunt.
How do you all see this ??????? Please chime in. I do not want a statewide elk hunt.
Rock5150
http://wildlife.utah.gov/hunting/ Statewide big game management plans You can see the full stats here. Elk
Table 1. Elk herd population estimates 2000-2004.
Plan Population Population Population Population
Unit Population Estimate Estimate Estimate Estimate
Objective post-2000 post-2001 post-2002 post-2003
Southwest Desert 975 925 950 970 1400
Fillmore 1425 1000 1400 1400 1400
STATEWIDE TOTALS 68400 62635 60150 60595 5802515
Table 2. Average age of harvested bull elk 2000-2004.
Hunt Age Objective 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004
Southwest Desert, Indian Peaks 5-6 7.5 7.9 8.1 7.2 7.7
Fillmore, Pahvant 5-6 8.7 8.2 7.6 7.1 7.5
I had a most interesting conversation with one of the DWR lead biologists today. Due to the many questions that are coming up about Management bulls, state wide spike elk hunts and this I400 deal.
Let me tell you what was said and then you tell me what you think should be done.
I was told that the management elk tooth data was not in due to the fact the teeth had not been sent off yet. So no one knows how old the bulls were that were killed yet, but it will be available in the next couple of months.
I asked about LE tags and this was the scenario that was given. I looked up the data to verify, see on web sight or sample below.
Example:
The management plan for SWD calls for 975 elk on the whole unit. As of 2004 they said there were 1400 elk. They were told they had to cut the over all herd numbers by 425. If you look at he cow permits for 04, 05, 06 you will see them trying to kill a couple hundred cows to be in compliance with the management plan, Total bull tags high 30s to mid 40s depending on the year.
All premium units are managed for age 5-6 year old bull that is all, not 8-9 like some may think. See below.
Most units are 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 years over age objectives. The DWR has tried to add more tags the last 3 years to give more opportunity and KEEP THE HERDS HEALTHY. Each year the racks are okaying it and then the big game board is cutting the numbers that the biologists are saying need to be taken to maintain healthy herds. Why?
Therefore, they have to take more cows and the herds ? are getting genetically messed up? ? Turned up side down? bull to cow ratios are 1 bull to 2 cows or even worse one to one in some cases. AKA management hunts.
This is why the DWR is pushing the spike elk hunt to cut the numbers of OVER ALL ELK. So it looks to me like either, give more tags to meet the age objective or end up with a statewide spike hunt.
How do you all see this ??????? Please chime in. I do not want a statewide elk hunt.
Rock5150
http://wildlife.utah.gov/hunting/ Statewide big game management plans You can see the full stats here. Elk
Table 1. Elk herd population estimates 2000-2004.
Plan Population Population Population Population
Unit Population Estimate Estimate Estimate Estimate
Objective post-2000 post-2001 post-2002 post-2003
Southwest Desert 975 925 950 970 1400
Fillmore 1425 1000 1400 1400 1400
STATEWIDE TOTALS 68400 62635 60150 60595 5802515
Table 2. Average age of harvested bull elk 2000-2004.
Hunt Age Objective 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004
Southwest Desert, Indian Peaks 5-6 7.5 7.9 8.1 7.2 7.7
Fillmore, Pahvant 5-6 8.7 8.2 7.6 7.1 7.5