LAST EDITED ON Nov-05-08 AT 05:50PM (MST)[p]I am posting my thoughts Utah Deer management after reading and posting on the Dedicated Hunter thread.
I hunt the Wasatch Archery hunt religiously and I have believed for a long time that it is the answer to Utah deer management problems. Those who hunt or have hunted the wasatch know the EXTREME hunting pressure it recieves. They also know of the quality deer that live in those mountains. To me it is a simply solution. If an area that has virtually no winter range and tremendous hunting pressure can produce big deer year after year why wouldn't that work for other areas. Why would it not work even better in areas with better winter range and why would it not bring less pressure for everyone? If we spread these archery only areas through out the state in general areas would the herd not manage itself? Would trophy quality not increase? Would buck to doe ratios not increase? Of course they would! If it works on a VERY SMALL portion of the state why would it not work for the ENTIRE STATE.
My proposal is that we make these archery only areas into limited draw hunts for rifle hunting and muzzlelaoder while continuing to have unlimited archery hunting opportunities. I don't think in an area like the Wasatch taking a few great bucks on a limited entry rifle hunt would hurt the deer herd at all. So if we had multiple areas like these throughout the state then the pressure would be spread out more evenly and the trophy quality would improve for everyone. I think they should then make archery tags unlimited so that people can hunt every year if they choose to and then every 2-5 years draw a rifle/muzzy tag and have a realistic chance of taking a real trophy. I think even rifle hunters would agree that having one quality rifle hunt every few years is better than 5 crappy experiences on mediocre deer on the general rifle hunt we have now.
Even as a committed archery hunter I believe the answer is MORE ARCHERY HUNTERS. More archers means more archery only areas to choose from and more big bucks for everyone. I would love to share these areas with rifle/muzzy hunters on a limited entry basis and I think the herd and trophy quality would manage itself.
I DARE THE DWR TO TRY IT!!!
www.basinarcheryshop.com
I hunt the Wasatch Archery hunt religiously and I have believed for a long time that it is the answer to Utah deer management problems. Those who hunt or have hunted the wasatch know the EXTREME hunting pressure it recieves. They also know of the quality deer that live in those mountains. To me it is a simply solution. If an area that has virtually no winter range and tremendous hunting pressure can produce big deer year after year why wouldn't that work for other areas. Why would it not work even better in areas with better winter range and why would it not bring less pressure for everyone? If we spread these archery only areas through out the state in general areas would the herd not manage itself? Would trophy quality not increase? Would buck to doe ratios not increase? Of course they would! If it works on a VERY SMALL portion of the state why would it not work for the ENTIRE STATE.
My proposal is that we make these archery only areas into limited draw hunts for rifle hunting and muzzlelaoder while continuing to have unlimited archery hunting opportunities. I don't think in an area like the Wasatch taking a few great bucks on a limited entry rifle hunt would hurt the deer herd at all. So if we had multiple areas like these throughout the state then the pressure would be spread out more evenly and the trophy quality would improve for everyone. I think they should then make archery tags unlimited so that people can hunt every year if they choose to and then every 2-5 years draw a rifle/muzzy tag and have a realistic chance of taking a real trophy. I think even rifle hunters would agree that having one quality rifle hunt every few years is better than 5 crappy experiences on mediocre deer on the general rifle hunt we have now.
Even as a committed archery hunter I believe the answer is MORE ARCHERY HUNTERS. More archers means more archery only areas to choose from and more big bucks for everyone. I would love to share these areas with rifle/muzzy hunters on a limited entry basis and I think the herd and trophy quality would manage itself.
I DARE THE DWR TO TRY IT!!!
www.basinarcheryshop.com