H
HOGAN
Guest
*Please check this post often for changes and details that need your input.
Here is the latest draft of the elk hunting proposal. Thanks to all who attended the meeting and offered input. We have decided to call it "Initiative 400", and assign areas with new regulations a hunt number...401, 402, etc. The previous draft can be seen here: http://www.wildlife.utah.gov/forums/viewtopic.php?t=20001&start=0
For areas that currently have spike restrictions:
1) Eliminate spike-only restrictions state-wide, beginning with 4 or 5 pilot areas. See below for a description of these areas.
2) Sub-divide the larger units such as Wasatch and Manti.
3) Manage these smaller units with herd objectives, rather than harvest age objectives. For example, 20 bulls to 100 cows rather than 5-6 year age harvest objective.
4) Structure the hunting seasons to move the rifle hunt out of the rut. Proposed hunting seasons:
Controlled Archery: Sept. 1-21
Controlled Muzzleloader Season 1: Sept 26-Oct 4 (same as muzzle deer)
Controlled Muzzleloader Season 2: November 1-9 (same as gen. muzz. elk)
Controlled Rifle Season 1: Oct 6-10
Controlled Rifle Season 2: Oct 13-17
General Antlerless Archery: Aug 23-Sept 14 (same as general archery elk)
5) Require mandatory hunt reporting for Controlled tags. The DWR would be able to choose how this is done.
6) Implement a preference point drawing for Controlled tags, separate from the LE drawing. Hunters could apply in only one of the two drawings each year.
7) These new regulations would be phased in over time. (No specific plans have been made in this regard)
8)Pilot Program areas:
North Cache
Wasatch (will be divided into 3-6 smaller units)
La Sal
Nebo
Fish Lake
Specific tag #s will be added to this post in a few days, as they become available. Tag allocation will be 55% Rifle, 25-30% Archery, 15-20% Muzzleloader.
9)Continue to offer general archery tags on the pilot units, but restrict them to antlerless harvest only.
For areas that will remain LE (premium units)
-No changes were made to this section of the proposal. These changes may be presented in the future, after results from the 2007 LE and management hunts become available.
1) Increase tag numbers significantly, with a proportionally larger number of tags being given to short-range weapons. Our feeling here is that this would make those hunts more enticing, and eliminate some of the competition for rifle tags. Tag numbers for both LE hunts and "controlled hunts" would be, tentatively, 25-30% archery, 15-25% muzzleloader, and 45-60% rifle.
2) Continue to use management tags. Add management hunts to all the LE areas, but move those hunts out of the LE drawing. It was suggested to make it like the old AR301 hunt, which used no bonus or preference points and had no waiting period.
For areas that are currently any-bull:
No changes are currently being proposed for any-bull units.
Additional info:
Under these new regulations, revenue generated from tag sales will remain the same or increase.
These changes seem to be well supported by most hunters in Utah, based on response here on the forum and informal polls. We are making efforts to inform as many people as possible about this initiative. Your help and input is appreciated.
Recent suggestions (not part of the proposal yet - still seeking input):
1) Adjust tag percentages to give more muzzleloader tags (actual tag #s have not yet been presented) Instead of 15-20% going to muzzleloaders, maybe increase that number to 25%.
Here is the latest draft of the elk hunting proposal. Thanks to all who attended the meeting and offered input. We have decided to call it "Initiative 400", and assign areas with new regulations a hunt number...401, 402, etc. The previous draft can be seen here: http://www.wildlife.utah.gov/forums/viewtopic.php?t=20001&start=0
For areas that currently have spike restrictions:
1) Eliminate spike-only restrictions state-wide, beginning with 4 or 5 pilot areas. See below for a description of these areas.
2) Sub-divide the larger units such as Wasatch and Manti.
3) Manage these smaller units with herd objectives, rather than harvest age objectives. For example, 20 bulls to 100 cows rather than 5-6 year age harvest objective.
4) Structure the hunting seasons to move the rifle hunt out of the rut. Proposed hunting seasons:
Controlled Archery: Sept. 1-21
Controlled Muzzleloader Season 1: Sept 26-Oct 4 (same as muzzle deer)
Controlled Muzzleloader Season 2: November 1-9 (same as gen. muzz. elk)
Controlled Rifle Season 1: Oct 6-10
Controlled Rifle Season 2: Oct 13-17
General Antlerless Archery: Aug 23-Sept 14 (same as general archery elk)
5) Require mandatory hunt reporting for Controlled tags. The DWR would be able to choose how this is done.
6) Implement a preference point drawing for Controlled tags, separate from the LE drawing. Hunters could apply in only one of the two drawings each year.
7) These new regulations would be phased in over time. (No specific plans have been made in this regard)
8)Pilot Program areas:
North Cache
Wasatch (will be divided into 3-6 smaller units)
La Sal
Nebo
Fish Lake
Specific tag #s will be added to this post in a few days, as they become available. Tag allocation will be 55% Rifle, 25-30% Archery, 15-20% Muzzleloader.
9)Continue to offer general archery tags on the pilot units, but restrict them to antlerless harvest only.
For areas that will remain LE (premium units)
-No changes were made to this section of the proposal. These changes may be presented in the future, after results from the 2007 LE and management hunts become available.
1) Increase tag numbers significantly, with a proportionally larger number of tags being given to short-range weapons. Our feeling here is that this would make those hunts more enticing, and eliminate some of the competition for rifle tags. Tag numbers for both LE hunts and "controlled hunts" would be, tentatively, 25-30% archery, 15-25% muzzleloader, and 45-60% rifle.
2) Continue to use management tags. Add management hunts to all the LE areas, but move those hunts out of the LE drawing. It was suggested to make it like the old AR301 hunt, which used no bonus or preference points and had no waiting period.
For areas that are currently any-bull:
No changes are currently being proposed for any-bull units.
Additional info:
Under these new regulations, revenue generated from tag sales will remain the same or increase.
These changes seem to be well supported by most hunters in Utah, based on response here on the forum and informal polls. We are making efforts to inform as many people as possible about this initiative. Your help and input is appreciated.
Recent suggestions (not part of the proposal yet - still seeking input):
1) Adjust tag percentages to give more muzzleloader tags (actual tag #s have not yet been presented) Instead of 15-20% going to muzzleloaders, maybe increase that number to 25%.