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SALT LAKE CITY — The Utah Wildlife Board approved several changes for 2015 big game hunts that will give Utah hunters longer seasons and several new hunting opportunities.
The changes were approved Dec. 1 and will be added to the 2015 Utah Big Game Application Guidebook, which will be available Dec. 15. Hunters can start applying for the big game hunting permits on Jan. 29.
Here are several of the changes for the big game hunts in Utah:
Late-season limited-entry deer hunt
After the general rifle buck deer hunt is over, a few muzzleloader hunters will have a chance to hunt on one of six general-season deer units, according to a Division of Wildlife news release.
The six units that will be adding the muzzleloader hunts are managed for 18 to 20 bucks per 100 does. The six units are Chalk Creek/East Canyon/Morgan-South Rich (Units 4, 5 and 6); Kamas in northern Utah (Unit 7); Nine Mile in east-central Utah (Unit 11); Southwest Desert (Unit 20); Zion (Unit 29) and Pine Valley (Unit 30) in southwestern Utah.
Each unit has more bucks than the objective calls for, so there are plenty of bucks to hunt, according to DWR biologists. The hunt will run from Oct. 28 to Nov. 5, the same days as the general muzzleloader elk hunt. Rifles will not be allowed, only muzzleloader firearms.
Chance to hunt all three deer seasons
Another change will allow a small number of deer hunters to hunt during all three seasons — archery, muzzleloader and rifle — on the limited-entry or premium limited-entry unit they drew a permit for.
Related Stories:
DWR proposes hunting changes for growing black bear population
Due to the growing number of black bears in Utah, Division of Wildlife Resources officials are proposing more hunting opportunities to help manage the population.In the past, this multi-season hunting opportunity was available only to a small number of elk and black bear hunters. About 3 percent of the limited-entry and premium limited-entry deer permits offered in 2015 will allow hunters to hunt all three seasons.
Urban archery deer hunt in Cache County
To help manage the number of deer that live in urban areas in Cache County, an archery-only urban deer hunt will be held, the news release said. The hunt will mostly be held on private land in an area that includes the towns of Clarkston, Trenton, Wellsville and Mendon. The hunt will run from Sept. 12 to Nov. 30.
Three days added to muzzleloader elk hunt
Hunters who obtain a limited-entry muzzleloader elk permit will now have three additional days to hunt. The limited-entry muzzleloader elk hunt runs from Sept. 21 to Oct. 2.
Longer mountain goat hunt
Another change is allowing mountain goat hunters to have more time for their hunt. Utah’s once-in-a-lifetime mountain goat hunt previously ended in mid-October on most units. During the 2015 season, the hunt will be extended to late October or late November. The ending dates will vary by unit.
