Utah Division of Wildlife ResourcesMaking deer and elk seasons the same statewideDWR proposals would give you more time to hunt Many hunters believe that taking a few days off a hunting season means fewer deer will be taken. But Division of Wildlife Resources surveys show that's not always the case: on average, Utah deer hunters take more deer during five-day deer hunts than they do during nine-day hunts. That's why the DWR is recommending that the general rifle season in both the Southeastern and Southern regions return to a nine-day hunt for the 2008 season. The DWR is also recommending that the statewide general spike bull elk hunt return to a 13-day season. That would make the spike season the same length as the state's general any bull elk season. Some information regarding deer and elk management in Utah will also be discussed at a series of upcoming public meetings. The meetings provide an opportunity to learn more about the proposals and to provide biologists with your input and suggestions. Citizens from Utah's five Regional Advisory Councils will take the public input received to the Utah Wildlife Board when it meets in Salt Lake City on Nov. 29 to approve Utah's 2008 Big Game Guidebook. Meeting dates, times and locations are as follows (two notes: the Southern Region meeting begins at 5 p.m. The Northern Region meeting is being held on a Monday): Southern Region Southeastern Region Northeastern Region Central Region Northern Region Providing more opportunity "It might be hard to believe, but our harvest data shows that more deer are typically taken during five-day hunts than during nine-day hunts," says Anis Aoude, big game coordinator for the DWR. The following chart compares five-day hunts in Utah to nine-day hunts. The chart begins in 1999, when Utah's first five-day deer hunt was held in parts of the Southeastern Region:
Aoude has some ideas about why fewer deer are typically taken during a nine-day hunt. "I think it might have something to do with hunters putting in more effort during a five-day hunt," he says. "They know the hunt isn't going to last long, so they put some extra effort in. Because the hunt is fairly short, I think they're also willing to take one of the first deer they see." A busy life and procrastination might also be factors. "During a nine-day hunt, I think hunters are more selective. If they don't see a deer they want the first weekend, they know they can come back and hunt the second weekend," Aoude says. "But despite their best intentions, most hunters don't make it back the second weekend to hunt." Aoude says Utah deer hunters hunt an average of three-and-a-half days during a five-day hunt. During a nine-day hunt, they hunt an average of four days. "If Utah stays with a five-day hunt in southern Utah, four days including a weekend will be taken away from hunters," he says. "Most hunters wouldn't take advantage of the extra days, but those who would like to hunt some extra days could if we went to a nine-day hunt. "That's very important for young hunters who are in school during the week and for those who have jobs that allow them to hunt only on the weekends." More time to hunt spike elk Another DWR proposal would give you more time to hunt spike bull elk in the state. The DWR is recommending the general spike bull elk hunt return to a 13-day season. It's been nine days long for the past few years. The general spike bull hunt would run from Oct. 4–16. Those are also the season dates the DWR is proposing for Utah's any bull elk hunt. "The length of the spike bull elk hunt was shortened a few years ago when the age objective for bulls taken on limited entry units was lowered on most of the units," Aoude says. "Lowering the objective allows more permits to be issued and more bulls to be taken. The idea behind shortening the season was to save more spike bulls so they could grow into mature bulls." Since that time, Aoude says the age objective on most of the elk units has been raised. Raising the objective means fewer bulls will be taken. Even if there was a need to protect spike bulls, Aoude says keeping the season at nine days wouldn't make much of a difference. "The elk situation is the same as the deer situation," he says. "Even if the season is lengthened by four days, most hunters won't take advantage of the extra days." Aoude says hunters who hunt nine-day elk seasons in Utah hunt an average of five days. That number increases to five-and-a-half days when the season is 13 days long. Proposals for southern Utah Some of the other big game proposals the DWR will present include the following for southern Utah:
For more information about the meetings, call the nearest Division of Wildlife Resources office or the DWR's Salt Lake City office at (801) 538-4700.
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