Technology committee recommendations

[JakeH]

Here is a video of what the committee came up with. Got to say this has way less fireworks then the posts Slammy was bringing up a few months ago.

 

[elkassassin]

So?

Does This Mean They Will Add RESTRICTED WEAPON Type Hunts?

 

[elkassassin]

Also Glad To See They Are Not HARPING On JUST SmokePole Scopes!

Just Like I Said A Thousand Times:

It's NOT Some Gave All!

It's Gonna be:

All Gave Some!

Careful What You Wish For!

We Are ALL Guilty Of Modern Technology of Some Sort!


'

 

[JakeH]

So?

Does This Mean They Will Add RESTRICTED WEAPON Type Hunts?

Yes I think that will be the intended purpose of the verbiage, but I think they are only looking at units that are over objective and already have high success rates in other hunts. They intend to possibly use these "restrictive weapons" hunts as another means of opportunity and to also hopefully target less trophy animals.

 

[Airborne]

In the new elk plan I don't see these restricted weapon hunts as being listed or mentioned aside from the HAMS hunts but those are not 'Restricted Weapons'. I guess they are tabling this for future years or maybe not use them at all?

Also, I take it this means they are keeping scopes on muzzleloaders for the current general/LE hunts? Guess I'm gonna have to go buy me a 1,000 yard front loading rifle and kill some sh!t at long range!

 

[middlefork]

The recommendations are just that. They still need to go through the public process. Public comments, RAC's before anything is adopted.

 

[Utahlefty]

There's apparently been some confusion as peeps start watching the presentations.

1) The DWR is currently recommending DEFINITIONS of what constitutes a "restricted weapon" in each category. That is all that is on the table right now.

2) Once the above is accomplished through the RAC/WB cycle, the intention is to ADD "restricted weapon" hunts in the future. This does not affect any hunts currently on the books.

Per an email update from Staci today:

In reviewing the public comment that has begun to come in, it has become clear that there is some confusion with the Restricted Weapons Hunts recommendations. The recommendation is not to restrict weapon types on ALL established hunts but rather to establish new "restricted weapon hunts" which would allow for only the restricted weapons to be used. Think of it as a new primitive weapon type hunt, separate from all the other hunts. I am attaching a revised memo that will be placed on the Division's website with the video presentation that hopefully will clarify this for the public. The official redline of the rule changes will be distributed later this week.

 

[Amy]

Yeah, we realize that the restricted weapons information was not as clear as it should have been, and we're sorry for any frustration it's caused. We've issued a clarification that will hopefully help:

This proposed change would create new definitions for restricted weapons and modify existing HAMS hunt weapons definitions. If this recommendation passes, this would allow the Division to create new restricted weapon hunts in addition to the archery, muzzleloader and rifle hunt types currently allowed for in rule. This recommendation will not discontinue the current hunt types but would be in addition to them.


Amy Canning
Communications Specialist
Utah Division of Wildlife Resources

 

[elkhunterUT]

Yeah, we realize that the restricted weapons information was not as clear as it should have been, and we're sorry for any frustration it's caused. We've issued a clarification that will hopefully help:

This proposed change would create new definitions for restricted weapons and modify existing HAMS hunt weapons definitions. If this recommendation passes, this would allow the Division to create new restricted weapon hunts in addition to the archery, muzzleloader and rifle hunt types currently allowed for in rule. This recommendation will not discontinue the current hunt types but would be in addition to them.


Amy Canning
Communications Specialist
Utah Division of Wildlife Resources

Thank you @Amy!! There appears to be another issue you may want to correct on the DWR's website with highlights from this new proposal plan at this link: https://wildlife.utah.gov/news/utah...k-management-plan-changes-to-elk-hunting.html On the page, it lists out all of the LE Elk hunts and dates (see snippet below), but the muzzleloader hunt and dates are missing. Based on that I wondered if the newly proposed plan completely removed the muzzleloader hunt and replaced it with HAMS/restricted weapons hunts, but I don't think that is the intent, correct?

ELK​

• General-season archery spike bull: Aug. 19–Sept. 8, 2023
• General-season archery any bull: Aug. 19–Sept. 20, 2023
• General-season muzzleloader: Nov. 1–9, 2023
• General-season any legal weapon spike bull: Oct. 7–19, 2023
• General-season early any legal weapon any bull: Oct. 7–13, 2023
• General-season late any legal weapon any bull: Oct. 14–20, 2023
• Limited-entry elk archery: Aug. 23–Sept. 19, 2023
• Limited-entry late-season archery elk: Dec. 2–17, 2023
• Limited-entry elk early any weapon: Sept. 20–24, 2023
• Limited-entry elk HAMS/restricted weapons: Nov. 11–30, 2023
• Limited-entry any legal weapon hunt on 14 units that didn't previously have a mid-season hunt: Oct. 7–19, 2023
• Limited-entry late-season any legal weapon hunt on Diamond Mountain: Nov. 11–19, 2023

 

[Amy]

Thanks for pointing that out, elkhunterUT. If you look in the RAC packet, which has all of the 2023 proposals, you can see the LE elk muzzleloader dates on pages 99-100. The proposed season dates are Sept. 25–Oct. 6, 2023. I'll follow up with our folks and see if we can get that line added to the news release.

 

[Bigwiffy]

Would the Restricted Weapons hunt be on LE deer units or just general? In other words could their potentially be a recurve archery hunt on the Henries, Pauns, OC etc?

 

[Amy]

As far as I know, none of that has been decided yet. Our biologists just want to have the option of restricted-weapon hunts in the future, if they're needed on specific units. We would take any future proposals for restricted-weapon hunts/units out to the public for feedback. This is just establishing what constitutes a restricted weapon.

 

[elkassassin]

I Only have One Question For Amy/And Whoever Else Wants To Answer It?

How Much Harder Can We Hunt A Suffering Deer Herd?

I'll Sure Be Glad When They Open It Up Year Around!

You Know!

Just Shoot Em When You See Em!

 

[JakeH]

Would the Restricted Weapons hunt be on LE deer units or just general? In other words could their potentially be a recurve archery hunt on the Henries, Pauns, OC etc?

While watching the videos I took it that the restricted weapon hunts would be a tool to use to increase opportunity on units that are already over herd objective and have high success rates on most of the already existing hunts. I can't tell you which video I seen it in or where but that was what I gathered from watching the videos.

 

[deadibob]

I guarantee this is going to be a half-measure, half-azz solution. The DWR doesn't have the cajones to address technology restrictions in a way that will be effective. Success rates are through the roof now with modern technology and the state has no idea what those rates are on general unit hunts because there is no mandatory reporting required.

Everyone wants more opportunity, reducing point creep and healthy mature herds and serious weapon restrictions are the ONLY way to do this.

If I had my way legal archery equipment would be longbow or recurve only (yes I currently hunt with a compound and sites but would willingly give it up).
Muzzleloading should be flintlock or sidelock with only musket or percussion caps.

Any weapon technology should have no electronic sighting systems at all or we could just go to technology that was only available in the mid-1900's.

I'm listening to this guy as I'm typing this and it sounds like as usual this will be non-effective and nothing more than allowing the DWR to say "see we fixed it". WAFJ

 

[deadibob]

So?

Does This Mean They Will Add RESTRICTED WEAPON Type Hunts?

YEP, the restrictions they are proposing to the newly added HAMS hunts are what they need to do across the board with all hunts. One thing is for sure and that is Utah hunting has only one trajectory, DOWNHILL and that will never change.