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THE GREAT OUTDOORS — Due to how well large game wildlife populations are doing in Utah, Division of Wildlife Resources biologist are recommending some additional hunts and other changes for the 2017 hunting season, and are seeking the public’s feedback.
Here are the main big game hunting changes being recommended:
Henry Mountains management buck deer hunt
DWR big game coordinator Justin Shannon said, in 2015, the buck-to-doe ratio on the famed Henry Mountains in southeastern Utah was roughly 65 bucks per 100 does and biologists are now concerned that the high number of bucks might affect the long-term health of the herd.
“The number of bucks needs to be closer to 40 to 55 bucks per 100 does, which is the objective for the unit,” Shannon said. “If we don’t reduce the number of bucks, they’ll start competing with each other, and with the does, for food. Competition among deer can have negative effects on body condition, deer survival and antler growth.”
The Henry Mountains historically have had some of the largest/highest scoring mule deer in the U.S. and now DWR is recommending adding a management buck deer hunt. The hunt would only be open to archery and muzzleloader hunters, and only bucks with three or fewer antler points on at least one of their antlers could be harvested.
“Management hunts allow us to give more hunters a chance to hunt world-class units like the Henry’s while still protecting the largest bucks on the units,” Shannon says.
New mountain goat hunt
Another proposed change for the 2017 hunting season is a new mountain goat hunt. The hunt would take place on Mount Dutton in south-central Utah. Shannon said mountain goats travel to Mount Dutton from the neighboring Tushar Mountains and DWR biologists have also transplanted some mountain goats on Mount Dutton. Shannon said the mountain goat population in the area is doing very well, prompting the additional hunt proposal.
More muzzleloader deer hunts
DWR biologists are also recommending adding three more late-season, limited-entry buck deer hunts for next year. The hunts would take place at the beginning of November on three general season units: Ogden, Mount Dutton and Plateau, Fish Lake in southwestern Utah. “The buck-to-doe ratio, on all three units, is exceeding 18 to 20 bucks per 100 does,” Shannon said. “We’re comfortable allowing some muzzleloader hunters to hunt these units once the general rifle hunt is over.”
The buck-to-doe ratio has dropped on the Plateau, Boulder/Karparowitz unit and so biologists are recommending discontinuing the late-season, limited-entry muzzleloader deer hunt there. But, if the late-season muzzleloader hunts were approved, Utah would have a total of 14 general season deer hunting units for late-season, limited entry muzzleloader deer hunts.
DWR is asking for the public’s feedback on the proposed changes. You can give feedback by attending the Regional Advisory Council meeting in your area or by emailing your RAC member. The RAC members will meet with the Utah Wildlife Board on Dec. 9 to finalize and approve the 2017 big game hunts.
