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(Photo courtesy DWR)CEDAR CITY, Utah -- Big-game regulators say they may have to reduce the deer hunt in Utah next year to improve the ratio of bucks to does.
The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources says restrictions could take place in areas where biologists count fewer than 18 bucks for every 100 does.
Wildlife managers generally tolerate a ratio of 15 bucks to 100 does but want to raise that in some areas to ensure enough bucks are around to sustain a population.
Big-game coordinator Anis Aoude calls the possible changes the biggest for Utah's deer hunt in 15 years.
The Utah Wildlife Board will hold a series of public hearings around the state this month on the changes. The schedule is as follows:
- Northern Region — Tuesday, Nov. 9 at 6 p.m. at the Brigham City Community Center (24 N. 300 W. in Brigham City)
- Central Region — Wednesday, Nov. 10 at 6:30 p.m. at Springville Junior High (165 South 700 East in Springville)
- Southern Region — Tuesday, Nov. 16 at 5 p.m. at Beaver High School (195 E. Center St. in Beaver)
- Southeastern Region — Wednesday, Nov. 17 at 6:30 p.m. at the John Wesley Powell Museum (1765 E. Main St. in Green River)
- Northeastern Region — Thursday, Nov. 18 at 6:30 p.m. at the Western Park (302 E. 200 S. in Vernal)
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Utah Division of Wildlife Resources spokesman Mark Hadley tells The Spectrum of St. George that the restrictions could trim the number of deer tags available in Utah next year to 87,000, down from 94,000 this fall.
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