Tips to Get Prepared for This Year’s Rifle Buck Deer Hunt

Photo courtesy of Dustin Stettler

If you’re one of the lucky hunters who obtained a permit for the hunt, getting prepared now—by gathering materials and gaining knowledge—are the key to a safe and successful hunt. And while taking a deer is usually the highlight of any deer hunt, make sure you take advantage of all the experiences deer hunting offers. Utah’s most popular hunt—the general rifle buck deer hunt—begins Oct. 23.

“Don’t be so focused on taking a deer that you miss out on everything deer hunting has to offer,” says Gary Cook, hunter education coordinator for the Division of Wildlife Resources. “Camping with your family and friends and enjoying Utah’s wildlife and the beautiful state we live in are all things you can enjoy during your time afield.”

Cook provides the following tips for an enjoyable and safe hunt:

Personal preparation:
* be familiar with the area you’re going to hunt. If possible, scout the area before the hunt. “Knowing the area and the habits and patterns of the deer that live in the area is vital for success,” Cook says.

* put a survival kit together. The kit should include:

1) a small first aid kit;

2) three ways to make a fire (e.g. matches, a cigarette lighter, fire starters);

3) quick-energy snack foods;

4) a cord or rope;

5) a compass;

6) a flashlight;

7) an extra knife and;

8) a small pad of paper and a pencil (so if you become lost, you can leave information at your last location about yourself and the direction you’re traveling).


Preparing your firearm:
* be as familiar as possible with your firearm—know how to load and unload it, and where the safety is and how to operate it.

* make sure the barrel of your firearm doesn’t have any obstructions in it.

* make sure you have the correct ammunition for your firearm.

* sight-in your firearm before the hunt.


Firearm safety:
* controlling your firearm’s muzzle is the most important part of firearm safety. Never let the muzzle of your firearm point at anything you do not intend to shoot. That includes not pointing the muzzle at yourself.

* never carry a loaded firearm in your vehicle.

* don’t put your finger on the trigger until your firearm’s sights are on the target.

* before shooting, make sure of your target and what’s beyond it.


Vehicle preparation:
* make sure your vehicle is in good mechanical condition.

* make sure you have a shovel, an ax, tire chains, jumper cables and a tow chain in your vehicle.

* if you experience mechanical problems with your vehicle or become snowed in, stay with your vehicle—don’t leave it.


Before leaving on your trip:
* let someone know where you’re going and when you expect to return.


While in the field:
* never hunt alone.

* wear proper safety clothing: 400 square inches of hunter orange on your back, chest and head.


Field dressing your animal:
* use a sharp knife. A sharp knife does a better job of cutting than a dull knife does and is safer to use.

* cut away from you—never bring a knife blade towards you while cutting.


Your physical well-being:
* know your physical limitations, and don’t exceed them.

* prepare yourself for weather changes by dressing in layers. Dressing in layers allows you to regulate your body temperature by adding or removing clothes as needed.

* drink plenty of water, no matter how cold it is. “You can become dehydrated, even in cold weather,” Cook says.

* hypothermia (the loss of body temperature) can occur in temperatures as warm as 50 degrees.

Be aware of the signs of hypothermia. Some of the first signs are violent shivering, stumbling or becoming disoriented. “When you notice these signs, sit down immediately and build a fire,” Cook says. “Get yourself warm and dry.”

* frostbite. If you’re hunting in cold weather, watch for signs that you’re getting frostbite. White spots on your skin are the first sign. Check your face, feet and hands regularly. You’ll notice the first signs of frostbite on your face sooner if you’re hunting with a companion who can alert you.

If you get lost:

* don’t panic. Sit down and build a fire, even if it isn’t cold. “A fire is soothing. Building a fire will help you relax and think clearly,” Cook says.

After calming down, try to get your bearings and think your way out of the situation. If you think you know which direction you need to travel, get the pad of paper and pencil out of your survival kit and leave a note at your location. Indicate on the note who you are and the direction you’re traveling. If you find other hunters, don’t be embarrassed to ask them for directions and help.

If you don’t know which direction you should travel, stay at your camp and build a shelter several hours before sundown, if possible. Build a smoky fire (this type of fire can be spotted from the air) or build three fires (a distress signal that can also be spotted from the air).

Remaining at your camp is usually a good option. “If you have to, you can live without food and water for several days,” Cook says.

Alcohol and firearms don’t mix!

* do not handle a firearm if you’ve been drinking alcohol.

* do not give alcohol to someone who’s cold. Instead of warming the person, alcohol will actually make them colder.

Construction affects camping area, adds acres to East Canyon WMA

Morgan -- If you visit the East Canyon Wildlife Management Area this fall, you’ll need to camp in a different area.

But the camping change should be more than worth it—because of the change, the Kern River Gas Transmission Company has bought and donated 160 acres of land to the WMA.

Kern River is building a pipeline through the WMA as part of the Kern River Apex Expansion Project. If you’re going to visit the East Canyon WMA this fall, please be aware of the following:

The access point to the WMA is now located east of the road you’ve used in the past to access the WMA. A free map that shows the new access and camping area is available at www.wildlife.utah.gov/pdf/eastcanyon.pdf .

You can still hunt and camp at the WMA while the construction work takes place. Just be aware that you might see pipeline construction equipment near the area where you’re camping.

Almost all of the construction is happening on the lower southern portion of the WMA. The higher northern portion of the property is not affected by the construction.

160 additional acres
The Apex Expansion Project is a new 28-mile, 36-inch diameter natural gas pipeline that Kern River is building through the Wasatch Mountains in Morgan, Davis and Salt Lake counties. Changes in access and camping have been made on the WMA to keep the public and the pipeline construction crews safe.

As part of the company’s environmental stewardship program for the project, Kern River, in cooperation with the Division of Wildlife Resources, has acquired 160 additional acres along the eastern boundary of the WMA. This land will be given to the state of Utah and will become part of the WMA.

For more information, call the DWR’s Northern Region office at (801) 476-2740.

OHV Riders reminded to stay on Trails during Hunts

Salt Lake City -- As hunters venture out this fall, Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) Specialist Ann Evans offers the following tips to reduce OHV impacts, protect big game and habitat, and improve hunting and recreation experiences.

- Know vehicle use regulations for your hunting area. Contact the local land management agency for OHV travel regulations and information before the hunt.

- Stay on roads and trails designated for OHV use. Do not contribute to resource damage, stress to big game, or habitat destruction by creating illegal travel paths, which others may follow.

- Have respect for other users. Slow down or stop the OHV when approaching others on the trail. When meeting equestrians, approach slowly, pull over and stop, turn off the engine, remove your helmet and ask how best to proceed.

- Limit OHV use in and around campgrounds. Be respectful of other campers’ desires for quiet.

For more information on OHV safety tips and education, please call 800-OHV-RIDE or visit http://www.stateparks.utah.gov/

Plenty of bull elk in Utah

Photo provided by Brent Stettler, DWR

"As soon as the first shots are fired, the elk head away from the roads and into the thickest cover they can find," says Anis Aoude. "If you want to be a successful elk hunter, you need to get into that cover too."

Utah's 2010 general rifle bull elk hunt kicks off Oct. 9, 2010. And permits for the hunt are almost gone. On Sept. 21, 2010, about 1,500 permits to hunt on any-bull units were still available, but they're selling fast. Permits to hunt on spike-only units sold out on Sept. 27.

You can buy an elk permit online at http://www.wildlife.utah.gov/. Permits are also available at Division offices and from hunting license agents across Utah.


Elk are doing great
"The weather over the past seven years has been excellent for elk," Aoude says. "Most of the state's herds are doing great."

Based on surveys this past winter, Division biologists estimate the state has more than 67,000 elk. That's only about 1,800 animals shy of a statewide goal of 68,825 elk. Aoude says some of the largest elk herds are found on the Central Mountains (Manti) and Wasatch Mountains units in central Utah; the South Slope, Yellowstone unit in northeastern Utah; and the Plateau, Fish Lake/Thousand Lakes unit in south-central Utah.

He says plenty of elk are also found on the Morgan, South Rich unit in northern Utah. But this unit is almost entirely private land. You must obtain written permission from a landowner before hunting on it.


Finding the elk
Most of Utah's elk hunting takes place on units that are called spike-only units. Spike bulls are the only bulls you may take on these units. Plenty of spike bulls are available on these units. But once the hunt starts, the animals can be tough to find.

"The success rate on spike-only units averages about 16 percent," Aoude says. "Fortunately, you can do several things to increase the chance you take an elk." Unless it gets cold and snowy before the hunt, Aoude says elk will be scattered at higher elevations when the season opens Oct. 9, 2010. He says the key to finding them is to get off the roads and into the backcountry.

"Elk are smart and wary animals," Aoude says. "And they're sensitive to hunting pressure. As soon as the shooting starts, they head into the thickest cover they can find. To find success, you have to head into the backcountry and find them."

The rut (breeding period), which occurs right before the general rifle hunt starts, can also make it challenging to find spike bulls. During the rut, mature bulls gather groups of cow elk to breed. If one of these large bulls sees a spike bull, he'll chase the spike bull off.

If you're new to elk hunting, the big game coordinator for the Division of Wildlife Resources has some advice for you. Being chased into cover by the bigger bulls makes the spike bulls, which are already nervous, more apt to head back into the cover once the bullets start to fly.

"The larger bulls scare the spike bulls as much as the hunters do," Aoude says. "Unless you get into the backcountry areas where the spikes are hiding, you're probably not going to see many. "The good news is, if you do get into the backcountry, there's a good chance you'll be among the 16 percent who take a spike bull this year."

OHV maps – don't leave home without one
Aoude has an important reminder for elk hunters who will be using off-highway vehicles. "It's critical that you obtain an OHV riding map for the area you're going to hunt," he says. "These maps are available from the agency that manages the land you'll be hunting on. That agency is usually the U.S. Forest Service or the Bureau of Land Management."

Aoude says the Division is receiving more and more complaints about OHVs being taken into areas where it's not legal to take them. "Taking OHVs into these areas damages the habitat the elk rely on, disturbs and scatters the animals, and ruins the hunting experience for other hunters."

Aoude also encourages you to do some preseason scouting and to check the boundary descriptions for the areas you'll be hunting. Boundary descriptions are available at www.wildlife.utah.gov/maps.

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

Bull Elk Permits: Get One Before They’re Gone

Photo by Brent Stettler, Utah Division of Wildlife Resources

Permits to hunt bull elk in Utah this fall are almost gone. On the morning of Sept. 13, the following general elk permits were still available:

Unit             Permits available
Any bull       2,199
Spike only   1,383

The general rifle bull elk hunt starts Oct. 9. Last fall, permits sold out before the hunt started.

“Don’t wait to get your permit,” says Judi Tutorow, wildlife licensing coordinator for the Division of Wildlife Resources. “If you want to hunt bull elk in Utah, get your permit now.”

You can buy a permit at http://www.wildlife.utah.gov/ . Permits are also available at DWR offices and from more than 300 hunting license agents across Utah.

More information about Utah’s general bull elk hunts is available on pages 14 – 17 of the 2010 Utah Big Game Guidebook. The free guidebook is available at www.wildlife.utah.gov/guidebooks .

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

Deer Permits Sell out June 23 but 19,000 Bull Elk Permits remain

Photo by Lynn Chamberlain, Utah Division of Wildlife Resources

Permits to hunt buck deer in Utah this fall sold out on June 23. “With the exception of 1,500 archery permits that will be available next month to hunters who are 18 years of age or younger, all of Utah deer permits are gone,” says Judi Tutorow, wildlife licensing coordinator for the Division of Wildlife Resources. “But plenty of general bull elk permits are still available. This should be a great year to hunt elk.”

The state’s general archery elk season starts Aug. 21. The DWR isn’t limited as to the number of general archery elk permits it can sell, so there’s no problem getting one.

In addition to the archery permits, more than 10,300 permits to hunt on spike bull elk units were still available on June 24. More than 8,900 permits were also available to hunt on the state’s any bull elk units.

Elk permits are available at the DWR’s website (http://www.wildlife.utah.gov/), from more than 300 license agents across Utah and at any DWR office.

Elk hunting advice
“If you’re new to elk hunting, I’d encourage you to buy a permit to hunt on the spike bull units,” says Anis Aoude, big game coordinator for the DWR. “There are plenty of spike bulls in Utah. And there’s a lot of public land to hunt them on.”

If you decide to chase mature bulls on an any bull unit, Aoude says the two Uinta Mountains units—the North Slope unit and the South Slope unit—are your best bet.

“If you look at the map on pages 76 and 77 of the 2010 Utah Big Game Guidebook, you can see that Utah has quite a few any bull elk units,” Aoude says. “There’s a challenge to hunting these units, though: with the exception of the North Slope and South Slope units, these units are either covered by private land or they don’t have a lot of elk on them.”

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

The 2010 Utah Big Game Guidebook is available at www.wildlife.utah.gov/guidebooks .

Deer and Elk Permits available starting June 17

If you don’t have a permit to hunt buck deer in Utah this fall, your next chance to get one begins June 17. That’s when Northern Region rifle and muzzleloader permits that were not taken in this year’s big game draw go on sale.

Most of Utah’s buck deer permits were taken in the draw, but 5,500 Northern Region rifle and muzzleloader permits are still available.

Bull elk permits to hunt during Utah’s general season also go on sale June 17.

You can buy a permit starting at 7 a.m. at the DWR’s Web site (http://www.wildlife.utah.gov/) and from DWR offices and more than 300 hunting license agents across Utah.


The Web site will be busy
“Our Web site will be busy on the morning of June 17,” says Judi Tutorow, wildlife licensing coordinator for the DWR. “If the site reaches the maximum number of people it can serve, a message will pop up indicating the site has reached its full capacity.

“If that happens, stay on the site and be patient,” she says. “You should be able to access the site again in just a few minutes.”


When did permits sell out in 2009?
In 2009, buck deer permits that were not taken in the 2009 draw went on sale on June 11. Permits to hunt in the Northern Region sold out on June 13, just two days after they went on sale.

General bull elk permits also went on sale on June 11 last year.

Permits to hunt on spike-only units sold out on Aug. 28. Permits to hunt on any-bull units sold out on Sept. 28.

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

Wildlife Board approves Antlerless Big Game Hunting Changes

Salt Lake City -- If they have a cow elk permit for the same area, all bull elk hunters—including rifle hunters—can take a cow elk during this fall’s bull elk hunt.

That change was among the antlerless big game hunting changes members of the Utah Wildlife Board approved at their May 6 meeting in Salt Lake City.

All of the changes the board approved—including permit numbers for individual units—will be available in the 2010 Utah Antlerless Guidebook. The guidebook should be available at www.wildlife.utah.gov/guidebooks  by May 17.

Permit numbers
The following are the number of antlerless hunting permits that were available in 2009 and the number the board approved for this fall:


                             2009         2010

Cow elk                11,146      9,838
Doe deer               1,775       1,975
Doe pronghorn      1,107        622
Cow moose           30            19

Taking cow elk during the bull elk hunts

Division of Wildlife Resources biologists have used several strategies to keep elk herds within population objectives outlined in Utah’s elk unit management plans.

One of those strategies involves archery and muzzleloader bull elk hunters. If they have a cow elk permit for the same unit on which they’re hunting bulls, archery and muzzleloader elk hunters have been allowed to take a cow elk during the bull elk hunts.

Now rifle bull elk hunters will have the same chance.

“Allowing hunters to take a cow elk during the rifle bull elk hunts will be good for the state’s elk herds and the state’s rifle elk hunters,” says Anis Aoude, big game coordinator for the DWR.

“Doing so will help ensure enough cow elk are taken,” he says. “Rifle hunters have the highest success rate.

“Also, allowing hunters to take a cow elk during the bull elk rifle hunts will reduce the number of hunters who hunt during the cow elk-only hunts later in the year,” he says. “That will reduce hunter crowding and reduce pressure on the elk while they’re on their winter ranges.”


Deer and crops
Almost 90 percent of the doe deer permits the board approved will be used to control deer that are damaging crops on farm land.

The remaining 10 percent of the permits—200 of the 2,025 permits the board approved—will be used to keep deer herds on the Paunsaugunt and Panguitch Lake limited-entry units from growing beyond the number their habitat can support.

“The deer herds on these two units are at their population objective,” Aoude says. “We need to make sure we balance the number of deer with the habitat that’s available to them.”


Pronghorn on the Parker Mountains
In 2009, the board approved 1,107 doe pronghorn permits. Most of those permits were used to reduce the number of pronghorn on the Parker Mountains in southwestern Utah. (The population objective for the unit is 1,500 pronghorn.)

“The unit is getting closer to its population objective,” Aoude says. “Because it’s getting closer to the objective, we can start reducing the number of doe pronghorn permits offered for it.”

Moose: Nearing their objective
Aoude says the number of moose in northern Utah is approaching the population objective. At the May 6 meeting, members of the board approved a slight decrease in the number of cow moose permits available for hunts this year.

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

DWR shares ideas for this fall’s Antlerless Big Game Hunts

If they have a cow elk permit for the same area, all bull elk hunters—including rifle hunters—might be allowed to take a cow elk during this fall’s bull elk hunt.

That change—and permit numbers for Utah’s 2010 antlerless big game hunts—are among items Division of Wildlife Resources biologists want your input about.

Learn more, share your ideas
You can read the DWR’s proposals on the Web at www.wildlife.utah.gov/public_meetings/next.php . Once you’ve read the proposals, you can provide your comments one of two ways:

RAC meetings
Five Regional Advisory Council meetings will be held across Utah on April 27. Citizens representing the RACs will take the input received to the Utah Wildlife Board. Board members will use your input to set permit numbers for this fall’s hunts.

The April 27 meetings begin at 6:30 p.m. You can participate and provide your input at any of the following locations:

Northern Region
Brigham City Community Center
24 N. 300 W.
Brigham City

Central Region
Springville Junior High School
165 S. 700 E.
Springville

Northeastern Region
Uintah Basin Applied Technology
450 N. 2000 W.
Vernal

Southeastern Region
John Wesley Powell Museum
1765 E. Main St.
Green River

Southern Region
Cedar Middle School
2215 W. Royal Hunte Dr.
Cedar 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/rac_members.php .

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.

Permit numbers
The following are the number of antlerless hunting permits available in 2009 and the number DWR biologists are recommending for this fall:

                              2009           2010
Cow elk                  11,146      9,813
Doe deer                 1,775       2,025
Doe pronghorn        1,107      622
Cow moose            30           19

Taking cow elk during the bull elk hunts
Allowing hunters to take a cow elk during the bull elk hunts is among the strategies DWR biologists have used to keep elk herds within population objectives outlined in Utah’s elk unit management plans.

If they have a cow elk permit for the same unit on which they’re hunting bulls, archery and muzzleloader elk hunters are allowed to take a cow elk during the bull elk hunts.

Biologists want to give rifle bull elk hunters the same chance.

“There are two advantages to allowing hunters to take a cow elk during the bull elk rifle hunts,” says Anis Aoude, big game coordinator for the DWR.

“First of all, doing so would help ensure enough cow elk are taken,” he says. “Rifle hunters have the highest success rate.

“Also, allowing hunters to take a cow elk during the bull elk rifle hunts would reduce the number of hunters who hunt during the cow elk-only hunts later in the year,” he says. “That would reduce hunter crowding and reduce pressure on the elk while they’re on their winter ranges.”

Deer and Crops
Almost 90 percent of the doe deer permits the biologists are recommending would be used to control deer in areas where deer are damaging crops on farm land.

The remaining 12 percent of the permits—250 of the 2,025 permits biologists are recommending—would be used to keep deer herds on the Paunsaugunt and Panguitch Lake limited-entry units from growing beyond the number their habitat can support.

“The deer herds on these two units are at their population objective,” Aoude says. “We need to make sure we balance the number of deer with the habitat that’s available to them.”

Pronghorn on the Parker Mountains
In 2009, the Utah Wildlife Board approved 1,107 doe pronghorn permits. Most of those permits were used to reduce the number of pronghorn on the Parker Mountains in southwestern Utah. (The population objective for the unit is 1,500 pronghorn.)

“The unit is getting closer to its population objective,” Aoude says. “Because it’s getting closer to the objective, we can start reducing the number of doe pronghorn permits offered for it.”

Moose: Nearing their objective
Aoude says the number of moose in northern Utah is approaching the population objective. Biologists are recommending a slight decrease in the number of cow moose permits available this year.

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

Wildlife Board Approves Big Game Hunting Permits

Salt Lake City -- The number of permits offered for most of Utah’s big game hunts has increased this year.

There are a few exceptions to the increase, though. But even one of the decreases is good news for hunters. At their March 31 meeting, members of the Utah Wildlife Board approved fewer permits to hunt cow bison on the Henry Mountains. Offering fewer permits will allow the bison herd on the unit to start building to a new management objective.

Permit numbers
The following chart shows the number of permits that were available in
2009 and the number the board approved for 2010:

                                                               2009           2010
General season buck deer                     94,000        94,000
Premium limited entry deer                   173              179
Limited entry deer                                1,021           1,034
Management buck deer                       60                95
Limited entry bull elk                            2,737           2,976
Pronghorn antelope                              992             1,022
Moose                                                 147             139
Bison                                                   170              39
Rocky Mountain goat                           104             111
Desert bighorn sheep                            37               45
Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep           24                30

Fewer bison permits
It’s time to start increasing the number of bison on the Henry Mountains in southeastern Utah. To help that happen, the board approved fewer cow bison hunting permits for the unit this fall.

Two types of bison permits are offered for the Henry Mountains. Most of the permits allow hunters to take either a bull bison or a cow bison. Others allow hunters to take only a cow.

“A management plan was approved for the Henry’s in August 2007,” says Anis Aoude, big game coordinator for the Division of Wildlife Resources. “One of the objectives in the plan limits the number of adult bison on the unit to not more than 305 adults after the 2010 hunting season is over.”

The plan allows that number to increase to not more than 315 adults after the 2011 season is over and not more than 325 after the 2012 season.

Using information from aerial surveys, harvest data from the 2009 hunt and range studies of habitat on the Henry Mountains, biologists feel it’s safe to start increasing the number of bison on the unit to the 305 adult objective.

And right now should be a good time to do that. Aoude says the DWR and its partners have spent more than $1 million on habitat work on the Henry’s over the past three years alone. More than 8,000 acres of habitat has been improved. And water sources have been developed across the unit.

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

New Elk Plan Approved

Salt Lake City -- Elk with large antlers and more chances to hunt spike bulls are what you can expect if you hunt elk in Utah in the next five years.

At their March 31 meeting, members of the Utah Wildlife Board revised Utah’s elk management plan. The plan guides elk management in Utah. It’s updated every five years.

Two highlights from the revised plan include:
- changes that will keep plenty of bulls with large antlers on selected units in Utah.
- more spike bull elk hunting permits.

Survey and committee
Utah’s 15-member Elk Advisory Committee helped the Division of Wildlife Resources draft the revised plan. The group suggested the updates after reviewing a recent survey of Utah elk hunters.

DWR biologists surveyed more than 16,600 elk hunters. The hunters were randomly chosen from the more than 76,800 hunters who either applied for or obtained a Utah elk hunting permit in 2009. The hunters included both limited-entry and general-season hunters.

A summary of the survey results is available at www.wildlife.utah.gov/public_meetings/next.php .

Older bulls
When they draw a Utah limited-entry elk permit, hunters want to take a bull that has large antlers. “That’s one of the things that jumped out from the survey,” says Anis Aoude, big game coordinator for the DWR. “Taking a bull with large antlers is important to limited-entry hunters.”

Utah already produces plenty of big bull elk, including the world-record bull taken in 2008. To ensure big bulls are available in the future, the committee recommended that the age objectives change on various elk units in Utah.

Utah’s limited-entry units are managed so the average age of the bulls hunters take fall into one of four age categories. The age objectives the units have been managed under the past two years, and the objectives they’ll be managed under starting in 2010, are as follows:

Categories since 2008
3 - 4 years old (3 units)
4 - 5 years old (4 units)
5 - 6 years old (18 units)
6 - 7 years old (6 units)

Categories starting in 2010
4½ - 5 years old (8 units)
5½ - 6 years old (13 units)
6½ - 7 years old (4 units)
7½ - 8 years old (6 units)

Even though the age objectives are higher now, Aoude says the number of limited entry bull elk permits will continue to climb for the next few years. “It’s hard to believe, but many of the bulls on Utah’s elk units are older than the objectives that were just approved,” he says.  “To reduce the number of older bulls, we’ll have to increase the number of hunting permits for the next few years.”

Once the average age of the bulls falls to the new objective, Aoude says the number of permits will have to be reduced to reduce the number of bulls hunters take. Taking fewer bulls should keep the average age within the new objective.

More spike permits
While the number of limited-entry bull elk permits will likely go down in the future, the number of general spike bull elk permits will go up starting this fall.

The board raised the number of general spike bull permits to 13,750 for both the 2010 and the 2011 seasons. (In 2009, a total of 12,500 permits were offered.)

If fewer than 20 percent of the spike hunters take a bull during the 2010 and 2011 seasons, the permit cap will jump to 15,000 permits for the 2012, 2013 and 2014 seasons.

“Spending time with family and friends is the most important part of the hunt for general-season elk hunters,” Aoude says. “That’s another thing that jumps out from the survey.”

Aoude says raising the number of spike bull permits accomplishes two things. “It gives more elk hunters a chance to hunt, and it benefits the elk by reducing the number of bulls in the herds,” he says.  “Right now, the number of bulls per 100 cows is higher than it should be on most of the state’s units. We need to reduce the number of bulls to make more room in the herds for cows and calves.”

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

Elk Tests Positive for Chronic Wasting Disease

Samples from big game animals taken this past hunting season turned up something never seen in Utah before—an elk with chronic wasting disease.

The cow elk—along with five buck deer—tested positive for CWD. The six animals were taken on units in Utah where CWD has been found in past years.

CWD was not found in any new areas in Utah this past fall.

“Chronic wasting disease is most prevalent in deer, but sometimes elk and even moose get it,” says Leslie McFarlane, wildlife disease coordinator for the Division of Wildlife Resources.

The cow elk was taken last November on the LaSal Mountains in southeastern Utah. Three of the five deer were also taken on the LaSal Mountains. The two remaining deer were taken on the Central Mountains unit in central Utah.

DWR biologists collected samples from more than 1,100 deer, 37 moose and close to 370 elk this past season.

Since the fall of 2002, the DWR has collected and tested samples from nearly 15,000 mule deer. Of the nearly 15,000 samples, only 48 deer have tested positive for CWD. Thirty-nine of those 48 deer were taken on the LaSal Mountains.

CWD is fatal to deer, elk and moose. But there’s no evidence the disease can be transmitted to humans. More information about CWD is available at www.wildlife.utah.gov/diseases/cwd .

Proposed Elk Hunting Changes

Two major elk hunting changes would happen if proposed updates to Utah’s five-year Elk Management Plan are approved. There would be:

- fewer chances in the future to hunt bull elk on limited-entry units.
- more chances to hunt spike bull elk in Utah.

You can see all of the changes the Division of Wildlife Resources is proposing at www.wildlife.utah.gov/public_meetings/next.php . After reviewing the proposed changes, you can share your 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 consider the input they receive as they approve the final plan. They’ll approve the plan at their March 31 meeting in Salt Lake City.

You can participate and provide your input at any of the following meetings (please note that the Northeastern RAC is meeting on a Monday):

Southern Region
March 16
7 p.m.
Beaver High School
195 E. Center St.
Beaver

Southeastern Region
March 17
6:30 p.m.
John Wesley Powell Museum
1765 E. Main St.
Green River

Northeastern Region
March 22
6:30 p.m.
Uintah Basin Applied Technology College
450 N. 2000 W.
Vernal

Central Region
March 23
6:30 p.m.
Central Region Conference Center
1115 N. Main St.
Springville

Northern Region
March 24
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.

Survey and committee
Utah’s 15-member Elk Advisory Committee helped the DWR draft the updated plan. The group included representatives from sportsmen groups and land managing agencies.

The group suggested the updates after reviewing a recent survey of Utah elk hunters.

DWR biologists conducted the survey. They surveyed more than 16,600 elk hunters. These hunters were randomly chosen from the more than 76,800 hunters who either applied for or obtained a Utah elk hunting permit in 2009. The hunters included both limited-entry and general-season hunters.

A summary of the survey results is available at www.wildlife.utah.gov/public_meetings/next.php .

Older bulls
One thing the DWR learned is that hunters who draw a Utah limited-entry permit want to take a bull that has large antlers. “Taking a bull with large antlers is very important to limited-entry hunters,” says Anis Aoude, big game coordinator for the DWR.

Utah already has a lot of big bull elk, including the world-record bull taken in 2008. To ensure there are plenty of big bulls in Utah in the future, the committee recommended that the DWR manage some of the state’s limited-entry units so hunters take bulls that are even older than those they’re currently taking.

Utah’s limited-entry units are managed so the average age of the bulls hunters take fall into one of four age categories. The age objective the units are managed under, and the objectives they would be managed under if the updates are approved, are as follows:

Current categories
3 - 4 years old (3 units)
4 - 5 years old (4 units)
5 - 6 years old (18 units)
6 - 7 years old (6 units)

Proposed categories
4½ - 5 years old (8 units)
5½ - 6 years old (13 units)
6½ - 7 years old (4 units)
7½ - 8 years old (6 units)

Whether the age objectives go up or not, the bulls’ ages on many of Utah’s elk units are already higher than the current objective and the new objective that’s being proposed. So permit numbers will continue to increase until more bulls are taken and the average age falls to whichever objective is finally approved.

Once the average age falls to whichever objective is approved, the number of permits will have to be reduced to keep the bulls at that objective. “Growing older bulls comes with a price,” Aoude says. “And that price is fewer permits for hunters.”

For example, if Utah’s elk herds were meeting the current age objective—which calls for slightly younger animals than the new, recommended objective—the DWR could issue about 2,500 permits each season.

Under the new, recommended age objective—which calls for older bulls—the DWR could issue only about 2,200 permits.


More spike permits
While the number of limited-entry bull elk permits might eventually go down, the number of general spike bull elk permits could go up over the next five years.

Raising the number of general spike bull permits to 13,750 is another update the committee suggested. (Currently, 12,500 permits are offered.)

Then, if fewer than 20 percent of the spike hunters take a bull during the 2010 and 2011 seasons, the permit cap would be raised to 15,000 permits for the 2012, 2013 and 2014 seasons.

“Our survey shows that spending time with family and friends is the most important part of the hunt for general-season elk hunters,” Aoude says.

Aoude says raising the number of spike bull permits would accomplish two things.

“First, it would provide more elk hunters with a chance to hunt,” he says. “Second, it would benefit the elk herds by reducing the overall number of bulls. Right now, the number of bulls per 100 cows is higher than it should be.”

Apply for a 2010 Big Game Hunting Permit

If you enjoy hunting big game in Utah, a time you wait for all year is almost here. Starting Feb. 1, you can apply for a permit to hunt big game animals in 2010.

“Big game hunting in Utah is very popular with people across the country,” says Judi Tutorow, wildlife licensing coordinator for the Division of Wildlife Resources. “We expect to receive almost 300,000 applications this year.”

Start applying on Feb. 1

You can apply for a 2010 permit at http://www.wildlife.utah.gov/  starting Feb. 1. Your application must be received through the Web site no later than 11 p.m. on March 1 to be entered in the draw for permits.

If you have questions or need help completing your application, please call any DWR office before 6 p.m. on March 1.

Results of the 2010 Utah Big Game Draw will be available by April 29.

Applying for a point

If you’re not going to hunt in 2010, you can still apply for a bonus point or a preference point. These points increase the chance that you’ll draw a permit the next time you apply.

You can start applying for a point on Feb. 1. Your application for a point must be received through http://www.wildlife.utah.gov/  no later than 11 p.m. on March 8.

Please remember that you must have a hunting license or a combination license to apply for a point or a hunting permit. For more information, call the nearest Division of Wildlife Resources office or the DWR’s Salt Lake City office at (801) 538-4700.

DWR seeks help in solving unsolved Bull Elk Shooting Cases in East-Central Utah

PRICE, UTAH—During the 2009 big game hunting seasons, Division of Wildlife Resources conservation officers, stationed in Carbon and Emery counties, have encountered multiple instances of the unlawful harvest of bull elk. In some of these cases, officers have been able to collect evidence and make arrests.

In the accompanying photo, conservation officers Brandon Baron, Casey Mickelsen and Ben Riley (L-R) are shown holding three bull elk skull caps and antlers, in which cases have been successfully prosecuted.

However, seven sets of antlers are displayed in front of the officers, for which the trail of evidence has grown cold. These bulls were poached on the Central Mountains-Manti and Wasatch Mountains bull elk units. Conservation officers are asking the public to step forward with information that may lead to the conclusion of these unsolved cases.

Yellow numbered tags have been placed in front of each set of antlers in the accompanying photo. Corresponding information is provided below, identifying the time frame, location and circumstances surrounding death of each bull elk.

#1 Spike bull found on 10-18-09 on the Wasatch Mountains unit near Long Ridge in Utah County. The elk was believed to have been shot during the last week of the general season spike elk hunt.

#2 A 5x6 bull elk was discovered on the same date and at the same location as #1. Both cases are believed to be connected. These elk were left to rot.

#3 7x8 bull poached in October of ‘08 on Black Mountain in the Muddy drainage in Emery County. Although the case is a year-old, officers continue to search for clues leading to the arrest and conviction of the person responsible for the death of this trophy animal.

#4 5x6 bull poached in Seeley Canyon of Sanpete County during the first week of the 2009 general season spike elk hunt. Possibly shot by a spike elk hunter, who may have shot into a herd of elk. Officers think there may have been hunters in the area, who may have witnessed the shooting.

#5 6x6 bull elk poached near the intersection of the Buck Flat ATV trail and the North Face Road on Ferron Mountain in Sanpete County. This bull was probably shot by a hunter during the last few days of the 2009 general season spike bull hunt. The bull had been dragged behind an ATV and then covered with branches and logs. Officers hope that another hunter may have seen someone dragging an elk with an ATV.

#6 6x6 bull elk was discovered on 9-28-09 on the Central Mountains-Manti unit near the Indian Creek drainage in Emery County. The elk was shot and left not far from the Spoon Creek trailhead. The elk was believed to have been killed during the last week of the early limited entry elk hunt. This elk was believed to have been high-graded by a limited entry bull elk permittee.

#7 6x6 bull elk poached during the overlapping 2009 muzzleloader deer/ muzzleloader limited entry bull hunt. The carcass was found in the canyon directly east of the Indian Creek Campground at the base of East Mountain in Emery County. This bull may have been shot by a muzzleloader elk hunter.

Wildlife officers would appreciate any information someone may have about these incidents. Many of these bulls are considered trophy quality. Persons, who provide information leading to the arrest and conviction of the perpetrators, could be eligible for a limited entry bull permit or a cash award. Please call Sergeant Casey Mickelsen at 435-820-6010.

Major Big Game Hunting Changes possible in 2011

Significant changes for Utah Big Game Hunters may be in the works for 2011 if proposed changes are approved.

Several months ago, the Utah Wildlife Board directed the state’s wildlife agency to:

- give big game hunters more hunting options to choose from

- reduce crowding among hunters who are in the field.
The ideas the Division of Wildlife Resources has come up with wouldn’t be implemented until the 2011 hunts. But the changes are big enough that the DWR wants to get the ideas out now so there’s plenty of time for you to comment.

Rules for the 2011 hunts will not be approved until November 2010.

“The ideas we’ve come up with would give hunters some new options,” says Anis Aoude, big game coordinator for the DWR.

You can learn more about the DWR’s ideas—and provide your input and suggestions—at five Regional Advisory Council meetings held across Utah.

Citizens representing the RACs will share with the Utah Wildlife Board the input received at the meetings.

You can participate and provide your input at any of the following meetings (two notes: the Southern Region meeting begins at 5 p.m. The Central Region meeting will be held on a Thursday.):

Southern Region
Nov. 3
5 p.m.
Richfield High School
510 W. 100 S.
Richfield



Southeastern Region
Nov. 4
6:30 p.m.
John Wesley Powell Museum
1765 E. Main St.
Green River



Northeastern Region
Nov. 5
6:30 p.m.
Western Park, Room #1
302 E. 200 S.
Vernal



Northern Region
Nov. 10
6 p.m.
Brigham City Community Center
24 N. 300 W.
Brigham City



Central Region
Nov. 12
6:30 p.m.
Springville Junior High
165 S. 700 E.
Springville

 
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.



Big Game Ideas for 2011
The following are among the ideas the DWR is considering. A calendar that shows when the proposed seasons would be held is available at www.wildlife.utah.gov/public_meetings/info/09-11-03.pdf  :


General Deer and Elk Hunts
Four major general-season deer and elk changes could occur in 2011:


Two general rifle deer hunts
The first idea would keep the number of general rifle buck deer permits the same as it is now (no more than 97,000 permits), but it would split Utah’s general rifle deer hunt into two hunts.

Each hunt would be nine days long, just like the hunt is now, but hunters could choose to participate in an early hunt or a late hunt.

The early hunt would be held at the start of October. The late hunt would happen at the end of October.

Having two rifle deer hunts would reduce by half the number of hunters in the field at any one time.

“You’d still be able to hunt the same number of days you can hunt now, but you’d have fewer hunters in the field with you,” Aoude says. “We think this change would make your rifle hunt even better.”



Hunting deer and elk at the same time
Another idea would let you hunt deer and elk at the same time. The DWR is considering holding the general rifle buck deer hunt and the general rifle bull elk hunt on the same days.

“This change would allow you to hunt deer and elk at the same time,” Aoude says. “But you wouldn’t have to do that. If you wanted, you could obtain a deer permit to hunt during either the early or the late season, and also obtain an elk permit to hunt during the season when you’re not hunting deer.

“This change wouldn’t take anything away from you. But it would give you another option you could take advantage of, if you wanted to.”



Hold muzzleloader deer and elk hunts at the same time
In addition to holding the rifle deer and elk hunts at the same time, the DWR is considering holding Utah’s general muzzleloader deer and muzzleloader elk hunts at the same time too. The general muzzleloader deer and elk season would be held in the middle of October, between the two rifle hunts.

The DWR is also considering adding a second muzzleloader elk hunt—a general any-bull elk hunt. That hunt would happen in mid November.



Same start dates every year
A third idea is to start all of Utah’s big game hunts on the same calendar days every year. For example, if Aug. 21 was chosen as the day to start the general archery elk hunt, the season would start on Aug. 21 every year, even if Aug. 21 didn’t fall on a Saturday.

The only exception would be if a start date fell on a Sunday. Then the season would probably begin on the proceeding Saturday.

“This idea would keep the season dates consistent from year to year,” Aoude says.



Limited-entry Deer and Elk Hunts
The DWR also has two ideas for Utah’s limited-entry deer and elk hunts:

Dates for limited-entry elk hunts
One idea would change the dates of the limited-entry elk hunts. It would also give archers first chance at the elk.

Starting in 2011, biologists would like to start the limited-entry archery elk hunt in early September and end it in mid September. That’s when the elk are at the peak of their breeding season.

(The breeding season is also known as the rut. During the rut, elk are less wary because they’re focused on breeding. That makes it easier for hunters to take them.)

After the limited-entry archery hunt ended in mid September, the limited-entry muzzleloader elk hunt would start the next day. Muzzleloader elk hunters would have the elk to themselves for four days. Then the limited-entry rifle hunt would also begin. Both the muzzleloader hunt and the rifle hunt would end on the same day in early October.

“Because they use rifles, rifle hunters have a better chance at taking an elk than archery or muzzleloader hunters do,” Aoude says.

“Even if we move limited-entry rifle hunters to the latter part of the rut, they’re still going to be successful,” he says. “But allowing archery hunters to hunt during the rut would really increase their success. And their success rate would probably still be lower than the success rate rifle hunters find during the rut.”

Hold the general and limited-entry rifle deer hunts at the same time

An additional idea is to hold the limited-entry rifle buck deer hunt at the same time the general-season rifle buck deer hunt is held.

The hunt on some limited-entry deer units would happen at the start of October. The hunt on other units would happen at the end of October.

“Limited-entry deer hunts and general-season deer hunts are held on completely different units,” Aoude says. “Holding the hunts at the same time shouldn’t create any conflicts between limited-entry hunters and general-season hunters. They’d be hunting on separate units.”


Once-In-a-Lifetime Hunts--Bull moose season
Utah’s bull moose season is currently split into two hunts. The DWR is considering combining the two hunts into one hunt. The hunt would be held from late September to mid October.

The bull moose change is the only once-in-a-lifetime species change the DWR is considering for 2011.

“The ideas we have right now are a starting point to get our biologists and sportsmen talking about possible changes for 2011,” Aoude says. “We’re wide open to the suggestions hunters and o, ther folks have.”

Apply for a 2010 Sportsman Permit

Applications for Utah’s most prized hunting permits accepted soon
Applications for next year’s most prized Utah hunting permits—2010 sportsman permits—will be available by Nov. 2.

Only Utah residents may apply for sportsman permits. One sportsman permit is offered for each of the following species: Desert bighorn ram, Rocky Mountain bighorn ram, buck deer, buck pronghorn, bull elk, bull moose, hunter’s choice bison, hunter’s choice Rocky Mountain goat, black bear, cougar, sandhill crane and wild turkey.

If you draw a sportsman permit, the dates you can hunt vary. But in most cases, they’re longer than the regular season dates. You can also hunt on almost any unit in Utah that’s open to hunting the species you drew a permit for.
Highly prized

“Sportsman permits are highly prized,” says Judi Tutorow, wildlife licensing coordinator for the Division of Wildlife Resources. “If you’re one of the lucky hunters who draw one, you’ll have plenty of days—and plenty of areas—to hunt.”

You can apply for a sportsman permit starting Nov. 2 at http://www.wildlife.utah.gov/ . Applications must be submitted no later than 11 p.m. on Nov. 19 to be entered in the draw for permits.

Draw results will be posted by Dec. 10. If you draw a permit, you’ll also receive a letter in the mail. “Not many hunters draw these permits,” Tutorow says. “If you receive a letter in the mail, it wouldn’t surprise me if you frame it!”

For more information, see pages 23 and 24 of the 2009 Utah Big Game Guidebook (www.wildlife.utah.gov/guidebooks ) or call the nearest Division of Wildlife Resources office. You can also call the DWR’s Salt Lake City office at (801) 538-4700.

Spike Bull Elk Permits Sell Out

Permits to hunt bull elk on spike-only hunting units in Utah sold out on Aug. 28. Last year, spike-only unit permits didn’t sell out until Sept. 24.

Two options

If you want to hunt bull elk in Utah this fall, but you don’t have a permit, you still have two options:

- On the morning of Sept. 3, a total of 3,678 permits were still available to hunt with a rifle on any-bull elk units in Utah.

- Plenty of permits are available to hunt elk with a bow and arrow. In fact, the number of general archery elk permits the Division of Wildlife Resources can sell isn’t limited, so there’s never a problem getting one.

The archery elk hunt started Aug. 15. It ends in September on most of the state’s hunting units. However, on three extended archery areas in Utah, the archery hunt runs into December.

Extended archery areas are located along parts of the Wasatch Front, in parts of the Uintah Basin and in the Sanpete Valley.

2009 Big Game Guidebook

You can find more information about the extended archery areas on page 32 of the 2009 Utah Big Game Guidebook. The free guidebook is available at www.wildlife.utah.gov/guidebooks. You can also get a copy at DWR offices and from hunting license agents across Utah.