Kudos to the DWR!

elkhunterUT · Oct 31, 2022

Wanted to give some public Kudos to the Utah DWR - we have been clamoring for better harvest reporting and data on general season hunts. I just received emails to provide hunt and harvest info on the 2 general season deer tags my kids drew this year, using a new website the DWR put together. It was slick, simple and quick. Much better than random phone calls that go to very few real tagholders.

Great job DWR on the push to get more and better data to manage our herds - definitely a step in the right direction!! I am hoping this will also be done for general season elk hunts as well.

Vanilla · Oct 31, 2022

A good first step! Kudos, indeed.

I do hope they make it mandatory for everyone, not just available for everyone.

Zeke · Oct 31, 2022

I received the email also. Good on 'em!
Way better than the random call....which I never pick up in time. They leave a message that they'll call back but I never get that one either.
Hope this portends their intent to better manage wildlife.

PS: I gave my input.
Too bad there's no area to include our thoughts on the hunt but I added it anyway on the harvest drainage line.

Zeke

elkhunterUT · Oct 31, 2022

Vanilla said:
A good first step! Kudos, indeed.

I do hope they make it mandatory for everyone, not just available for everyone.

I agree it should be mandatory/required or you can't put in next year - just like they do on LE/OIL hunts. Hopefully they go that direction.

hornkiller · Oct 31, 2022

It was mandatory when I drew a limited entry tag!
So I sent the teeth back in the package they included with the postage and address already on it.
They said I sent it to the wrong place and then penalized me for it big time f@%& the Utah fish and game!

elkantlers · Oct 31, 2022

Zeke said:
I received the email also. Good on 'em!
Way better than the random call....which I never pick up in time. They leave a message that they'll call back but I never get that one either.
Hope this portends their intent to better manage wildlife.

PS: I gave my input.
Too bad there's no area to include our thoughts on the hunt but I added it anyway on the harvest drainage line.

Zeke

Honestly, Do you think anyone at the DWR cares about your hunt? Me thinks not.

elkassassin · Oct 31, 2022

It Took How Long To Decide To Do This?

HINT:

Too Little Too Late!

SS! · Oct 31, 2022

Govt overreach!

Vanilla · Oct 31, 2022

elkassassin said:
It Took How Long To Decide To Do This?

HINT:

Too Little Too Late!

I blame you old people. “But what if I don’t have a computer!??!?!?”

elkassassin · Oct 31, 2022

Why Not Make It Mandatory?

Why Hasn't This Been Mandatory For The Last 40 Years?

Pipe up Niller!

Vanilla said:
I blame you old people. “But what if I don’t have a computer!??!?!?”

Vanilla · Oct 31, 2022

Great questions Bessy. I’ve been preaching this for a decade at least as mandatory or you can’t apply for or collect points for ANY species the following year.

I always get the “think about the old people” cry. It’s very far beyond time for this to be a mandatory step as part of your hunting experience in Utah.

treedagain · Oct 31, 2022

Nebraska has it covered. Mandatory in-person reporting for rifle unless it is last day or so in the season. And phone-in for the rest.

Utah should have 100% Mandatory reporting for all tags. Buck/Bull doe/cow turkey, swan,

Everything with fur or feather.

On-line or phone. Pretty damn easy.

Silentstalker · Oct 31, 2022

That’s awesome! Better late than never!

wstrntines · Oct 31, 2022

I’d love to see mandatory harvest reports. ??

JakeH · Oct 31, 2022

hornkiller said:
It was mandatory when I drew a limited entry tag!
So I sent the teeth back in the package they included with the postage and address already on it.
They said I sent it to the wrong place and then penalized me for it big time f@%& the Utah fish and game!

Question, did you get online and do your actual survey?

I don't think it is mandatory to send in the teeth, just highly recommended. If you sent the teeth in but did not go into your profile and fill out the actual survey they would still have documented it as a failure to do the survey and penalized you for it.

Robiland · Nov 1, 2022

elkassassin said:
Why Not Make It Mandatory?

Why Hasn't This Been Mandatory For The Last 40 Years?

Pipe up Niller!

I asked at a RAC meeting about 10-12 years ago. They said because it was too hard for older people to do it. And that not everyone has access to a computer. LOL, but they could apply by computer, but not respond by computer? SMH!!!!

Robiland · Nov 1, 2022

Also, we did get the email. I was able to fill it out for my kids but not for me. Said I didnt have a tag. I was a dedicated hunter, and my 3rd year.

hornkiller · Nov 1, 2022

JakeH said:
Question, did you get online and do your actual survey?

I don't think it is mandatory to send in the teeth, just highly recommended. If you sent the teeth in but did not go into your profile and fill out the actual survey they would still have documented it as a failure to do the survey and penalized you for it.

Yes when I drew out it was mandatory to send teeth in no survey just the teeth!

middlefork · Nov 1, 2022

Robiland said:
Also, we did get the email. I was able to fill it out for my kids but not for me. Said I didnt have a tag. I was a dedicated hunter, and my 3rd year.

If you don't return your DH tag it is automatically considered filled. Doesn't matter which year.

Robiland · Nov 1, 2022

middlefork said:
If you don't return your DH tag it is automatically considered filled. Doesn't matter which year.

I know that, but the season ended Sunday for rifle, and I can still hunt archery extended. I did have a valid tag, but filled my tag this year. So It should show that I have a valid tag, and fill out a survey, right?

middlefork · Nov 1, 2022

I think they consider them filled when they are issued. You need to prove otherwise. At least in their record keeping. I know I had to go to the DWR office this year with my copy of last years license showing it was returned as they had me as not eligible this year.

Turkinator · Nov 1, 2022

I was able to fill it out for my kids as well and not myself. It stated I didn't have a tag, but I did have a muzzle loader deer tag this year that went unfilled. Not a dedicated hunter.

JakeH · Nov 1, 2022

hornkiller said:
Yes when I drew out it was mandatory to send teeth in no survey just the teeth!

Nope it's always been mandatory to go online and do your survey as well as send in the teeth

Here is the note attached to the teeth packet I got for my late muzzloader deer hunt that starts Tomorrow. Read the red lettering at the bottom. I had to do this for the rest of the LE tags I have drawn going back to 2011.

Edit to add this as well.

Tooth packets are not required to send in, just suggested, the online survey is mandatory.

JakeH · Nov 2, 2022

So I just got it on very good authority, they are testing the system this fall with the general deer tags which is their largest block of hunters, they are hoping to get all the bugs worked out this fall and then fully implement the survey to all hunts next year.

They said the phone calls have been statically accurate, but it's getting harder to get people to answer the phone with all the junk calls everyone gets, and the public has been requesting this for years so they are finally moving to this new system which will hopefully be fully implemented next year.

hornkiller · Nov 2, 2022

JakeH said:
Nope it's always been mandatory to go online and do your survey as well as send in the teeth

Here is the note attached to the teeth packet I got for my late muzzloader deer hunt that starts Tomorrow. Read the red lettering at the bottom. I had to do this for the rest of the LE tags I have drawn going back to 2011.
View attachment 91956
Edit to add this as well.
View attachment 91959
Tooth packets are not required to send in, just suggested, the online survey is mandatory.

Well if something was required from those bastards on my le hunt I done it!
I just know the reason i was penalized was from the teeth because thats what they told me.

woodruffhunter · Nov 2, 2022

elkassassin said:
It Took How Long To Decide To Do This?

HINT:

Too Little Too Late!

About 100 years!

JakeH · Nov 2, 2022

hornkiller said:
Well if something was required from those bastards on my le hunt I done it!
I just know the reason i was penalized was from the teeth because thats what they told me.

OK, sounds like a sh!tty deal.

hornkiller · Nov 3, 2022

JakeH said:
OK, sounds like a sh!tty deal.

Very it cost me a buffalo point!

BradA · Nov 8, 2022

About time! Every state should enforce this and make it mandatory.

elkfromabove · Nov 10, 2022

The DWR has always claimed that mandatory harvest/hunt reporting doesn't provide any more information than the phone calls and that claim may be true, BUT, mandatory reporting does get ALL hunters involved with the management of wildlife, not just the ones who show up at the RAC's and WB meetings! AND it makes them pay more detailed attention to their hunting times and places. And who knows, it might even get them to actually read the proclamations. for a change.

Zeke · Nov 10, 2022

Nebraska has mandatory "in person" reporting when a deer is harvested.
Not sure we need to go that far but it couldn't hurt.
At the very least, it should be mandatory to report on the hunt after it's over.... and have enough room for a commentary... like how many deer we saw, how many bucks we say, how many with more than 2 points per side etc.
They'd only have to actually read 10% and they'd know much more than they do now.

Zeke