Bugleguy75
Member
- Messages
- 8
I've been following this forum for a number of years and have noticed that discussions on odds of drawing a tag and point creep have become more common. Many members are expressing dissatisfaction with the current draw system, the lack of animals, size of antlers etc.
About 30 years ago in MN we had many of the same issues with our deer herd (low numbers). It got to the point where deer seasons were actually closed for a year or two. The DNR came back with a different season structure that took some of the pressure off the deer and slowly the numbers and opportunities increased. Instead of a free for all shoot anything they broke the season into two weekends- you choose which. The first hunt was 2 days and the second hunt was 4 days long. People chose each hunt about equally. The DNR also went to a draw on does. The state was broke into about 50 areas and doe permit numbers in each unit were set by biologists. Sounds complicated but after a year people came to accept it. It was so successful in bringing back deer numbers that insurance companies complained about deer car collisions. After a while some areas allowed shooting 5 does.
This brings me to Utah. I spend a lot of time in the elk Units each fall helping with hunts and am familiar with dissatisfaction on hunt opportunities, point creep etc. It took one of our hunters 23 yrs to draw. I've often thought the different hunts were too long and then thought about the MN model. Would it be possible to break the hunts up and get more hunters in the field? Examples would be to make the early archery 10 days, then a break, and then the final early archery rut hunt 5 days. The early rifle could be 3 days and the second early rifle could be 4 days. Muzzle loader and mid season hunts could be broke up the same way. Game numbers would have to be monitored to make sure animals aren't over harvested. I suspect harvest success may be a bit lower because more hunters would be in the field but the same number of elk would be killed and hunters would have an opportunity to hunt much more often.
I also would close the spike season for elk. After a year or two the DNR could allow more branch antlered permits. Avg. bull age class would be lower but trophy hunters could still hunt for bulls in an older age class that each unit should still hold and hunters who are satisfied with a smaller bull should also be happy.
These ideas probably would need tweaking and many hunters would be unhappy with the change to their traditional hunts. Be easy on me boys with your responses, I'm just trying to stimulate some conversation for ideas that will get more hunters in the field. Forgive me for being a nonresident. I still love being in Utah each fall.
About 30 years ago in MN we had many of the same issues with our deer herd (low numbers). It got to the point where deer seasons were actually closed for a year or two. The DNR came back with a different season structure that took some of the pressure off the deer and slowly the numbers and opportunities increased. Instead of a free for all shoot anything they broke the season into two weekends- you choose which. The first hunt was 2 days and the second hunt was 4 days long. People chose each hunt about equally. The DNR also went to a draw on does. The state was broke into about 50 areas and doe permit numbers in each unit were set by biologists. Sounds complicated but after a year people came to accept it. It was so successful in bringing back deer numbers that insurance companies complained about deer car collisions. After a while some areas allowed shooting 5 does.
This brings me to Utah. I spend a lot of time in the elk Units each fall helping with hunts and am familiar with dissatisfaction on hunt opportunities, point creep etc. It took one of our hunters 23 yrs to draw. I've often thought the different hunts were too long and then thought about the MN model. Would it be possible to break the hunts up and get more hunters in the field? Examples would be to make the early archery 10 days, then a break, and then the final early archery rut hunt 5 days. The early rifle could be 3 days and the second early rifle could be 4 days. Muzzle loader and mid season hunts could be broke up the same way. Game numbers would have to be monitored to make sure animals aren't over harvested. I suspect harvest success may be a bit lower because more hunters would be in the field but the same number of elk would be killed and hunters would have an opportunity to hunt much more often.
I also would close the spike season for elk. After a year or two the DNR could allow more branch antlered permits. Avg. bull age class would be lower but trophy hunters could still hunt for bulls in an older age class that each unit should still hold and hunters who are satisfied with a smaller bull should also be happy.
These ideas probably would need tweaking and many hunters would be unhappy with the change to their traditional hunts. Be easy on me boys with your responses, I'm just trying to stimulate some conversation for ideas that will get more hunters in the field. Forgive me for being a nonresident. I still love being in Utah each fall.