SALT LAKE CITY — Utah's deer population grew between the end of 2021 and 2022, but it remains tens of thousands below a target population set by state wildlife officials and much to the chagrin of many hunters this fall.

The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources now says it wants to implement some hunting changes to see if hunting restrictions based on various ideas can improve the species' population and hunting opportunities in the state. If approved, the changes would take effect for the 2024 season and last through 2027.

"We want to determine if hunt restrictions ... can improve mule deer population performance, hunting opportunities and hunting satisfaction in Utah," said Kent Hersey, big game projects coordinator for the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, in a video explaining the proposal published by the division Wednesday.

A study of rule changes

The proposed study and associated changes call for the implementation of three strategies that some units will implement:

• An antler point restriction would require that hunters only harvest bucks with four points or more on at least one side of an antler. This would protect most bucks under 3 years of age.
• A shortened season with a two-week archery hunt, as well as a five-day muzzleloader and any legal weapon hunts. This may reduce the number of bucks harvested.
• Follow recently approved restricted weapons rules, such as no compound archery bows, no inline muzzleloaders and no scopes for muzzleloaders or rifles. This may also reduce the number of bucks harvested.

The changes would impact five hunting units in southern Utah over a four-year span. It's the region where deer suffered the most amid severe drought conditions until conditions improved this year.

Should the plan be implemented, the following five units will have different strategies that could make a difference in deer populations:

• Beaver: Shortened seasons.
• Boulder/Kaiparowits: All three changes.
• Mount Dutton: Restricted weapons.
• Pine Valley: Antler point restrictions.
• Southwest Desert: Shortened seasons.

Through 2027, the division will also track data ranging from population growth, buck-to-doe ratios, deer body conditions and poaching, as well as data tied to permit applications, satisfaction and other opinions from hunters.

The division's Monroe and Zion units would serve as the study's reference units under the plan, meaning they would not have any changes and the data collected can be used to compare with what's collected from the five other units.

All three strategies were supported by hunters in surveys the agency conducted, Hersey said. The division determined that implementing changes and studying them at the same time is the best course of action, too.

"This will allow us to understand, truly, what the effects of these treatments are, what Utahns think of them and allow us to be more responsive to what the public wants," he said.

The results of the study may be implemented in the division's 2029 statewide mule deer management plan.

Why now?

The plan comes as the division has significantly reduced the number of deer hunting permits it has issued as it tries to improve buck-to-doe ratios and other statistics that matter in deer population growth. It issued slightly fewer than 65,000 general-season permits this year, more than 25,000 fewer than five years ago.

Utah biologists estimate that there were 335,000 deer by the end of last year, well below the state's target of a little more than 400,000.

Related:

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The division is a "science-driven agency" and the study would help future strategies when comes to hunting permit allocation and its relationship with deer populations, Hersey explains. Having a healthy herd — along with better hunting opportunities — is the primary goal, balancing out environmental needs and social demands.

"As long as we're somewhere within this space, we're OK with it, but there are lots of different ways we can manage things," he said.

The division has tried some of these strategies in the past, Hersey said. For example, Utah temporarily instituted antler point restrictions for the Book Cliffs region in the 1980s. It led to some improvements in buck-to-doe ratios, but it didn't do much for mature buck populations and led to some poaching issues.

Utah also shortened its rifle hunting season to five days in some places between 2003 and 2008, which Hersey said is about the shortest hunters are willing to accept. He pointed out the change didn't "significantly reduce" the success of the hunt during those years.

However, so much has changed in hunting over the past few decades, especially because hunts are conducted on a unit-by-unit basis; there are fewer permits, and technology has drastically improved. While hunters have technology that increases the distance in where they can shoot, the division is better equipped to monitor deer herds and their health in relation to the land.

"We're also, as an agency, much better positioned (to) implement research projects both financially and also with our partnerships we have with universities and conservation groups," Hersey said.

Seeking public comment

The fate of the plan is ultimately up to the Utah Wildlife Board, which is tentatively set to vote on the project at its Nov. 28 meeting.

State wildlife officials began collecting public comment on the plan Wednesday, ahead of that meeting. There are also five regional meetings planned between Nov. 8 and Nov. 16, where the project will be discussed.

Public comments on the division's proposal can be submitted online through the end of Nov. 16.

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