Plan will guide bear management until 2023

A plan that will guide how black bears are managed in Utah for the next 12 years was approved on Jan. 4 by the Utah Wildlife Board.

The plan is available at http://go.usa.gov/rkf . After clicking on http://go.usa.gov/rkf , scroll down to the “Black bear management plan” subhead to find a link to the plan.

The following are among the plan’s highlights:

Currently, most bear hunters in Utah use hounds to track and tree bears. A few use archery equipment and hunt over bait. But starting in 2012, some areas of the state will become spot-and-stalk-only areas.

Hunters may not use hounds or bait during spot-and-stalk hunts.

Utah will have its first harvest-objective bear hunting areas starting in 2012. Having harvest-objective areas will allow biologists to focus more hunters on bears that are killing livestock and raiding campgrounds.

Currently, all of Utah’s bear hunting areas are limited-entry areas. Only those who draw a permit for a limited-entry area can hunt on it.

Under the new plan, some of the limited-entry areas will become harvest-objective areas. The number of hunters who can hunt on a harvest-objective area isn’t limited, so switching an area to harvest objective will increase the number of people who can hunt the area. Letting more hunters hunt an area increases the chance that a set number of bears are taken.

As soon as the set number of bears is taken (called the area’s quota), the hunt on the area will end for the season.

Archery hunters can still use bait. Using bait allows archery hunters to lure bears in close enough so they can make a clean and effective shot.

Currently, three factors are used to determine the health of Utah’s bear population—the percentage of females taken by hunters, the average age of the bears taken and the number of adult bears that survive from year to year.

You won’t find these three factors in the new plan. In their place, the key factors are:

The number of females and the number of adult males that hunters take. (An adult male bear is a bear that’s five years of age or older.)

Justin Dolling, game mammals coordinator for the Division of Wildlife Resources, says the number of females and adult males that hunters take gives important information about how a bear population is doing. “The number of females is important because females give birth to and care for the cubs,” Dolling says. “But the number of adult males hunters take is the best early indicator we have about the health of a bear population.”

Dolling says hunters usually find adult males because adult males wander more than the other age groups. “You know a bear population is in decline if the number of adult males hunters take is going down and the number of females is going up,” he says.

Results from two important bear studies will also be used to determine the health of Utah’s bear population.

One study involves snagging hair from bears at sites across Utah and then using DNA tests to determine how often bears are visiting the research sites. This study is helping biologists determine the total number of bears in Utah. It’s also helping them measure the growth rate of the state’s bear population.

The second study involves visiting bear dens in the winter to see how many cubs are in the dens and to assess the health of the cubs and their mothers. This study is giving biologists important information about the number of bears that are coming into Utah’s population each year.

A 10-member group called the Utah Black Bear Advisory Committee compiled the new plan. The committee’s members are listed at the start of the plan.

More Chances to Hunt Bears

DWR presents ideas for 2011 hunts
By all indications, black bears in Utah are doing well. And that means hunters might have a few more chances to hunt bears in 2011.

The following are among the changes Division of Wildlife Resources biologists are recommending for Utah’s 2011 bear hunts:

 A total of 419 hunting permits. That’s 53 more than the 366 offered in 2010. About 40 percent of those who draw a bear-hunting permit end up taking a bear. The extra 53 permits should result in hunters taking about 180 bears in 2011. In 2010, hunters took 158 bears.

 Forty one of the 419 permits would be premium-limited-entry permits. If they didn’t take a bear during the spring hunt, those who drew one of the 41 premium-limited-entry permits could hunt bears again during the fall hunt.

 Extending the spring hunting season for one week on three additional bear management units in the state.
The South Slope, Yellowstone unit and the South Slope, Vernal, Diamond Mountain, Bonanza unit in northeastern Utah, and the Central Mountains, Manti-North unit in central Utah, are the three units biologists are considering.

Currently, six units in Utah have a hunting season that’s one week longer than the rest of the units in the state. The extended season usually runs from early April through the first week in June.

 Allowing those who draw a fall spot-and-stalk permit for the Book Cliffs, Little Creek unit to hunt from August through November. 2010 was the first year a spot-and-stalk bear hunt was held on the unit. To avoid conflicts with big game hunters, bear hunters were not allowed to hunt on the unit in October. But very few deer hunters are allowed to hunt the unit, and the DWR is not aware of any conflicts that occurred between deer and bear hunters. For that reason, DWR biologists would like to give spot-and-stalk bear hunters a chance to hunt on the unit in October too.

(Spot-and-stalk hunters may not use hounds to track and tree bears, and they may not use bait to try to lure bears in.) The Book Cliffs, Little Creek unit is in the roadless area in the BookCliffs.


Bears are doing well
Three main factors help DWR biologists decide how many hunting permits they should recommend each year. Those factors include the average age of the bears hunters take, the percent of those bears that are females and the number of adult bears that are surviving from year to year.

Justin Dolling, game mammals coordinator for the DWR, says as long as targets relating to those factors aren’t exceeded, biologists know the state’s black bear population is doing well. “And those targets haven’t been exceeded for several years,” he says.

You can see all of the DWR’s black bear recommendations at www.wildlife.utah.gov/pub After you’ve reviewed the recommendations at www.wildlife.utah.gov/public_meetings , you can let your Regional Advisory Council members know your thoughts by attending your upcoming RAC meeting or by sending an e-mail to them.

A plan that will guide how black bears are managed in Utah for the next 12 years is also available for review.

You can read the proposed plan at www.wildlife.utah.gov/public_meetings . The following are among the plan’s highlights:
 Currently, most bear hunters in Utah use hounds to track and tree bears.  While hunting with hounds would continue under the new plan, some areas of the state may become spot-and-stalk-only areas. Hounds may not be used during spot-and-stalk hunts.

 To help biologists focus hunters on bears that are killing livestock and raiding campgrounds, the new plan would create harvest-objective areas.

Currently, all of Utah’s bear hunting areas are limited-entry areas.  Only those who draw a permit for a limited-entry area can hunt on it. Under the new plan, some of the limited-entry areas would become harvest-objective areas. The number of hunters who can hunt on a harvest-objective area isn’t limited, so switching an area to harvest objective would increase the number of people who can hunt the area.  Letting more hunters hunt an area would increase the chance that a set number of bears were taken.

As soon as the set number of bears was taken (called the area’s quota), the hunt on the area would end for the season.
 Bait could still be used by archery hunters to lure bears in close enough for a clean and effective shot.

 Currently, three factors are used to determine the health of Utah’s bear population -- the percentage of females taken by hunters, the average age of the bears taken and the number of adult bears that survive from year to year.

The new plan would eliminate these three factors. In their place, the key factors would be:
• The number of females and the number of adult males that hunters take. (An adult male bear is a bear that’s five years of age or older.) Justin Dolling, game mammals coordinator for the Division of Wildlife Resources, says the number of females and adult males that hunters take gives important information about how a bear population is doing.

“The number of females is important because females give birth to and care for the cubs,” Dolling says. “But the number of adult males hunters take is the best early indicator we have about the health of a bear population.”

Dolling says hunters usually find adult males because adult males wander more than the other age groups. “You know a bear population is in decline if the number of adult males hunters take is going down and the number of females is going up,” he says.

• Results from two important bear studies would also be used in the new management system.

One study involves snagging hair from bears at sites across Utah and then using DNA tests to determine how often bears are visiting the research sites. This study is helping biologists determine the total number of bears in Utah and helping them measure the growth rate of the state’s population.

The second study involves visiting bear dens in the winter to see how many cubs are in the dens and to assess the health of the cubs and their mothers. This study is giving biologists important information about the number of bears that are being brought into Utah’s population each year.

RAC chairmen will share the input they receive with members of the Utah Wildlife Board. The board will meet in Salt Lake City on Jan. 4 to approve bear hunting and pursuit rules for Utah’s 2011 seasons.
Dates, times and locations for the RAC meetings are as follows:

Southern Region
Dec. 7
7 p.m.
Beaver High School
195 E. Center St.
Beaver


Southeastern Region
Dec. 8
6:30 p.m.
John Wesley Powell Museum
1765 E. Main St.
Green River


Northeastern Region
Dec. 9
6:30 p.m.
Bingham Entrepreneurship and Energy Research Center
320 N. Aggie Blvd. (2000 W.)
Vernal


Central Region
Dec. 14
6:30 p.m.
Central Region Conference Center
1115 N. Main St.
Springville

Northern Region
Dec. 15
6 p.m.
Brigham City Community Center
24 N. 300 W.
Brigham City


E-mail
You can also provide your comments to your RAC via e-mail. E-mail addresses for your RAC members are available at www.wildlife.utah.gov/public_meetings .

The group each RAC member represents (sportsman, non-consumptive, etc.) is listed under each person’s e-mail address. You should direct your e-mail to the people on the RAC who represent your interest.

Entering Bear Dens part of Statewide Study

Photo by Randall Thacker

Vernal -- Wildlife biologists found an encouraging sight when they visited a bear den near Vernal recently: two bears that were just cubs the year before were alive and doing well.
“When Kevin Bunnell first entered the den, we thought there was only one [yearling in the cave with its mother],” says Dax Mangus, wildlife biologist with the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources. “But then Kevin whispered an urgent, ‘get another dose ready. There’s a second [one].’”

The sow and her two one-year-old bears (called yearlings) were nestled in the back of a cave that was about 20 feet long. The biologists used a tracking device to find the cave. The device picked signals up from a radio collar the biologists placed on the female in August 2008.

“When we found her den in early March 2009, she had two newborn cubs-- a male and female,” Mangus says. “A year later, both are still alive and in good shape. We only got a good look at one, though. The den was extremely narrow. If we pulled the other bears out, we weren’t sure we could get them back in again!” Statewide survey

The survey these biologists conducted in the Ashley National Forest north of Vernal is part of a larger statewide project. Biologists in each of the UDWR’s five regions have placed radio collars on bears to determine their reproductive success and how many of their cubs survive.

The biologists find and enter the dens in late February and early March. They tranquilize the female and any yearlings she has. Then they check the bears’ health and gather biological data. They do not tranquilize newborn cubs.

“We’ve been monitoring four collared bears in this region and one that was originally collared in another region,” Mangus says.

“Checking on the bears might sound easy, since we know where they are. But it isn’t. The bear we checked last week looked easy on paper, but I think it was the [toughest] hike I’ve ever been on.

“And [checking] that one is nothing compared to its closest neighbor,” Mangus says. “This year, one of our collared bears is down in Ashley Gorge. We took a look from the air at its radio location. Reaching its den site would require a long trip by snowmobile, a hike of a mile or so on snowshoes to the edge [of the gorge], then roping up and rappelling down the cliff face before hiking through a boulder field [filled] with thick brush.” Because of the risks involved, biologists will not check the Ashley Gorge den this year.

Good results across the state

Justin Dolling, game mammals coordinator for the UDWR, says other biologists are also finding good bear survival this winter in other parts of the state.

“Cub survival is running about 90 percent so far this winter,” Dolling said on March 16. “We still have another week or so [before this year’s survey is done]. But so far, the biologists I’ve heard from [have told] me that 10 out of 11 cubs they checked last year have survived. And about 80 percent of the cubs Hal Black has checked on the Book Cliffs have also survived.” Black is a long-time bear researcher at Brigham Young University.

Dolling says their successful birth and making it through their first year of life means the yearlings north of Vernal are about two-thirds of the way to becoming healthy, independent adults.

“This spring, the sow will ‘kick the yearlings’ off so she can prepare for the upcoming breeding season,” Dolling says. “The habitat conditions the yearlings find as they venture out on their own for the first time will be a big factor in whether they survive and become adults.”

Apply now for a Bear Hunting or Pursuit Permit

If you enjoy pursuing bears with dogs, a big change awaits you this year: if you want to pursue on the Book Cliffs, San Juan or La Sal units this summer, you’ll have to obtain a permit through a drawing.
The number of pursuit permits available for the three eastern Utah units this summer is limited. And the summer season has been split into an early season and a late season.

You can apply for a pursuit permit for the units starting Feb. 2 at http://www.wildlife.utah.gov/ . Starting Feb. 2, you can also apply for a black bear hunting permit for any bear unit in the state.

To be included in the draw for permits, your application must be received through the Web site no later than 11 p.m. on Feb. 25.

Results of the 2010 Utah Black Bear Draw will be available by March 11.

Applying for a bonus point

If you’re not going to hunt bears in 2010, you can still apply for a bonus point. Bonus points increase the chance that you’ll draw a bear permit in the future.

Applications for bonus points will also be accepted at http://www.wildlife.utah.gov/  from Feb. 2 until 11 p.m. on Feb. 25.

2010 Black Bear Guidebook

Before you apply, you’ll need a copy of the 2010 Utah Black Bear Guidebook. The guidebook should be available at www.wildlife.utah.gov/guidebooks  by late January.


Reason for pursuit change

The Book Cliffs, San Juan and La Sal units are three of the most popular places in Utah to pursue bears with trained hounds. Unfortunately, that popularity has caused some problems.

“Last summer, we received more than 150 complaints from campers, hikers and others who were recreating in the area,” says Justin Dolling, game mammals coordinator for the Division of Wildlife Resources.

“Some of the houndsmen were using as many as 20 hounds to pursue a single bear,” Dolling says. “When these hounds get on a bear’s track, they bark a lot, and they’re extremely noisy. The noise and the commotion they and the houndsmen caused bothered some of the people who were camping and hiking in the area.”

In addition to a limited number of permits, the number of hounds houndsmen can use to pursue bears on ANY unit in the state during the summer pursuit season will also be limited.

Houndsmen may not use more than eight hounds to pursue a single bear in the summer.

This change applies to the summer pursuit season only. The number of dogs houndsmen can use during the spring and fall pursuit and hunting seasons is not limited.

For more information, call the nearest Division of Wildlife Resources office or the DWR’s Salt Lake City office at (801) 538-4700.

Bear Pursuit Changes for 2010 approved

Salt Lake City -- Three areas that are popular places to pursue bears with dogs should be quieter this summer.

On Jan. 6, the Utah Wildlife Board approved the following bear pursuit changes on the Book Cliffs, San Juan and La Sal units in eastern Utah:

* The number of permits offered to pursue bears with dogs will be limited this summer. And the summer pursuit season has been split into an early season and a late season. The following number of permits will
be available:

Early season
Unit                     Season dates            Resident     Nonresident
Book Cliffs           July 8 - 22                  15               2
San Juan               July 8 - 22                  18               2
La Sal                   July 8 - 22                  12               1

Late season
Unit                     Season dates            Resident    Nonresident
Book Cliffs           July 29 - Aug. 12       15              2
San Juan               July 29 - Aug.12        18              2
La Sal                   July 29 - Aug. 12       12              1

The season dates have been set so no pursuit takes place during the July 24 weekend, which is a state holiday in Utah. (There’s a seven-day break between the two pursuit seasons.)

* The number of hounds houndsmen can use to pursue bears on ANY unit in the state during the summer pursuit season will also be limited. 

Houndsmen may not use more than eight hounds to pursue a single bear in the summer.
This change applies to the summer pursuit season only. The number of dogs houndsmen can use during the spring and fall pursuit and hunting seasons is not limited.

Those changes -- and more permits for bear hunts this spring and fall -- are among changes the board approved at their meeting in Salt Lake City.

All of the changes the board approved will be available in the 2010 Utah Black Bear Guidebook. The guidebook should be available at www.wildlife.utah.gov/guidebooks by late January.

A quieter summer
The Book Cliffs, San Juan and La Sal units are three of the most popular places in Utah to pursue bears with trained hounds.  Unfortunately, that popularity has caused some problems. “Last summer, we received more than 150 complaints from campers, hikers and others who were recreating in the area,” says Justin Dolling, game mammals coordinator for the Division of Wildlife Resources.

“Some of the houndsmen were using as many as 20 hounds to pursue a single bear,” Dolling says. “When these hounds get on a bear’s track, they bark a lot, and they’re extremely noisy. The noise and the commotion they and the houndsmen caused bothered some of the people who were camping and hiking in the area.”

More hunting permits
The board also approved more hunting permits for this year’s bear hunts.

In 2009, a total of 319 permits were available. The board approved 368 permits for 2010. Based on an average success rate of just over 40 percent, the extra 49 permits should result in hunters taking about 21 additional bears in 2010. In 2009, hunters took 147 bears in Utah.


First spot and stalk only hunt
The board also approved Utah’s first spot and stalk only hunt. This hunt will be held in the Roadless area in the Book Cliffs. Hunters may not use hounds during the hunt. “Very few bear hunters hunt this area,” Dolling says. “As a result, the bear population is growing. Horseback riders and big game hunters are encountering more and more bears in the area.”

The area’s small size is among the challenges houndsmen face in taking bears in the area. The hounds can chase bears off the unit before the hunters take the bears.

“That’s why we decided to go with a spot and stalk hunt,” Dolling says. “There are plenty of bears in the area, so there’s a good chance that spot and stalk hunters will find success. And the chance that a spot and stalk hunter chases a bear off the unit before he or she takes it is much lower than those hunting with hounds.”

For more information, call the nearest Division of Wildlife Resources office or the DWR’s Salt Lake City office at (801) 538-4700.

DWR recommends limiting the number of Dogs for Bear Hunts

Three areas that are popular places to pursue bears with dogs might be quieter next summer.

Division of Wildlife Resources biologists want to limit the number of people who pursue bears on the Book Cliffs, San Juan and LaSal units in summer 2010. All three units are in eastern Utah.

The biologists also want to limit the number of dogs that can be used to hunt or pursue bears on any unit in Utah.
Those changes—and more bear hunting permits in Utah—are among changes the DWR is recommending for Utah’s 2010 black bear pursuit and hunting seasons.

Learn more, share your ideas
You can review all of the DWR’s bear hunting and pursuit proposals at www.wildlife.utah.gov/public_meetings . Once you’ve read the proposals, you can share your thoughts and ideas one of two ways:

RAC meetings
Five Regional Advisory Council meetings will be held across Utah. Citizens representing the RACs will take the input received at the meetings to the Utah Wildlife Board. Board members will use the input to help them set rules for Utah’s 2010 bear hunt and pursuit seasons. They’ll set those rules at their Jan. 7 meeting in Salt Lake City.

You can participate and provide your input at any of the following meetings:

Southern Region
Dec. 8
7 p.m.
Cross Hollows Intermediate School
2215 W. Royal Hunte Dr.
Cedar City

Southeastern Region
Dec. 9
6:30 p.m.
John Wesley Powell Museum
1765 E. Main St.
Green River

Northeastern Region
Dec. 10
6:30 p.m.
Uintah Interagency Fire Center
355 N. Vernal Ave.
Vernal

Central Region
Dec. 15
6:30 p.m.
Central Region Conference Center
1115 N. Main St.
Springville

Northern Region
Dec. 16
6 p.m.
Brigham City Community Center
24 N. 300 W.
Brigham City

E-mail
You can also provide your comments to your RAC via e-mail. E-mail addresses for your RAC members are available at www.wildlife.utah.gov/public_meetings .

The group each RAC member represents (sportsman, non-consumptive, etc.) is listed under each person’s e-mail address. You should direct your e-mail to the people on the RAC who represent your interest.

Pursuit and hunting changes
The Book Cliffs, San Juan and LaSal units are among the most popular places in Utah to pursue bears with trained hounds. Unfortunately, that popularity has caused some problems.

“This past summer, we received more than 150 complaints from campers, hikers and others who were recreating in the area,” says Justin Dolling, game mammals coordinator for the DWR.

“Some of the houndsmen were using as many as 20 hounds to pursue a single bear,” Dolling says. “When hounds get on a bear’s track, they bark a lot, and they’re extremely noisy. The noise and the commotion the hounds and the houndsmen were causing bothered some of the people who were camping and hiking in the area.”

To quiet things down, DWR biologists are recommending two changes:

- Limit the number of permits offered to pursue bears on the Book Cliffs, San Juan and LaSal units in the summer. The DWR is recommending that the following number of pursuit permits be available for the summer pursuit season:

Unit            Resident   Nonresident
Book Cliffs   25----------3
San Juan       30----------3
LaSal           20------------2

- Limit the number of hounds houndsmen can use to pursue or hunt bears on any of the state’s bear units. Biologists are recommending that houndsmen not be allowed to use more than eight hounds to pursue a single bear.

More hunting permits

Biologists are also recommending that the number of hunting permits be increased for next year’s black bear hunts.

In 2009, a total of 319 permits were available. The DWR is recommending a total of 368 permits for 2010.

Based on an average success rate of just over 40 percent, the extra 49 permits should result in hunters taking about 21 additional bears in 2010.

In 2009, hunters took 147 bears in 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.