Mule Deer Foundation Supports US-89 Paunsaugunt Deer Crossing Project

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – In early November the Mule Deer Foundation (MDF) took decisive steps to protect wildlife, while working across state lines and collaborating with state agencies and other groups.

MDF has ranked the US-89 Paunsaugunt Deer Crossing Project as a top priority for receiving funds from the Arizona Special Big Game License Program for Mule Deer. MDF has committed funds from this Program – $25,000 per year, for the next four years – to help pay for materials and installation of fencing and wildlife crossings on US-89 between the Arizona border to Kanab, Utah.

The Paunsaugunt deer herd, one of the premier mule deer herds in the Southwest, summers in Utah and winters in northern Arizona on the renowned Arizona Strip deer herd unit. The herd must cross US-89 twice each year during the spring and fall migration, and a significant number of deer are killed by vehicle collisions.

Good solutions for the long stretch of highway seemed impractical. However, a recent review of accident data showed that constructing fencing along an 11.5 mile section would be a major help to reducing accidents.

The goal of the US-89 Paunsaugunt Deer Crossing Project is to provide safe passage for mule deer and improve safety for motorists and wildlife on Highway 89. The plan is to fence the highest accident area, between MP 36.8 to 48.2. The ends of the fencing will tie into existing large bridges at each end, where animals can cross under the highway. Because of the limited distance deer are willing to travel to look for crossing opportunities, four wildlife passages will also be constructed.

MDF President and CEO Miles Moretti commented, “What’s unusual, and also special, about this project is that MDF volunteers and Utah dedicated hunters will help build escape ramps for deer that might still end up on the highway. These efforts will help save more deer, as well as $150,000 in construction costs.”

MDF is partnering on this $2.4 million endeavor with state agencies and other conservation groups. The Utah Dept. of Transportation has allotted Enhancement Funding dollars from both federal and state funds. Additional monies include up to $50,000 from Utah’s Conservation Permit Program and $15,000 per year for the first two years through the Arizona Game and Fish Department’s Big Game Donation funds.

Ground work should begin on the US-89 Paunsaugunt Deer Crossing Project next year.

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Hardcore Pursuit Gets Creative on Their Hunt for “Utah Muleys”

New Berlin, WI – November 2, 2011 – Sportsman Channel, the leader in outdoor TV for the American Sportsman, is proud to showcase an unforgettable episode of Hardcore Pursuit entitled, “Utah Muleys.”  Viewers will experience a great deal of “running and gunning” and non-stop action as the crew from “HCP” skirts the majestic Utah landscape in pursuit of Muleys.  The deer movement is plentiful as the team is generally exposed to 30-50 deer on a daily basis – most of them bucks! After much running and crawling, host Mike Pelletier’s patience is rewarded by tagging a mature Velvet Muley. You can watch the action unfold on Thursday, November 3 at 6 p.m. EST.

The action was fast and furious in the Utah high county as Pelletier and his team implemented some “Running and Gunning”- A cross between spot and stalk and intercepting deer as they head to bed and feed. The team from Hardcore Pursuit positions themselves in a high vantage point to survey the area with hopes of spotting that “perfect” buck.

“Not only will viewers see exceptional Muleys, but they will also take in some of the most scenic landscape in the country,” said Mike Pelletier, host of Hardcore Pursuit. “This was a great hunt as I was fortunate to harvest a 5-year old Velvet Muley that took a lot of work.  I ended up stalking this buck after glassing him from a mile away.  We had to hustle to get into position for an opening. I took a shot from 75 yards with my bow and the buck went down in 100 yards. We recovered the buck at first light the next morning.”

To learn more about Hardcore Pursuit, visit http://www.hardcorepursuit.com/ Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Hardcore-Pursuit/135751783149379.

About Sportsman Channel: Launched in 2003, Sportsman Channel is the only television and digital media company fully devoted to the more than 82 million sportsmen in the United States, delivering entertaining and educational programming focused exclusively on hunting, shooting and fishing activities.  Sportsman Channel is now available in HD, check with your local cable or satellite provider. Acquired by InterMedia Outdoors Holdings in 2006, Sportsman Channel reaches 27 million U.S. television households and is a part of the nation’s largest multimedia company targeted exclusively to serving the information and entertainment needs of outdoors enthusiasts. Visit www.thesportsmanchannel.com, follow on Twitter, @SPORTSMANchnl (www.twitter.com/SPORTSMANchnl), become a Fan on Facebook, www.facebook.com/sportsmanchannel and download Sportsman App at www.itunes.com/appstore.

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Nine-Day Rifle Hunt in 30 New Units in Utah

If you like to hunt deer, get ready—some major changes are happening in Utah in 2012.

Approved by the Utah Wildlife Board in December 2011, the changes are the biggest deer hunting changes seen in the state in almost 20 years.

30 Hunting Units

The biggest change is the amount of area you’ll be able to hunt during the state’s 2012 general seasons:

• In the past, rifle and muzzleloader hunters have hunted in five large regions.  And archery hunters could hunt anywhere in Utah that was open to general deer hunting.

• In 2012, all general season hunters—archery, rifle and muzzleloader—will be hunting in smaller areas called units.

Utah’s five regions have been split into 30 smaller units for the 2012 hunt.

Same Season Dates

It might take time to get used to hunting in one of 30 smaller units.  But one change should be easy to adapt to.  Instead of having different season dates in different areas, the Division of Wildlife Resources is recommending that all 30 units have the same season dates.

At a series of upcoming public meetings, DWR biologists will recommend that general deer hunting seasons run the following number of days on each of Utah’s 30 general season deer hunting units:

Hunt                            Number of days

Rifle                               9

Muzzleloader             9

Archery                       28

More Buck Deer

Anis Aoude, big game coordinator for the DWR, says in the past, the rifle hunt has been as short as three days in various parts of the large regions.  The number of days was reduced to try to reduce the number of bucks hunters took in areas that didn’t have many bucks.

“Having smaller hunting units will allow us to fine tune the number of hunting permits available for each unit,” Aoude says.  “Reducing the number of hunters by reducing the number of permits is the best way to reduce the number of bucks that are taken during the hunting season.”

And limiting the number of bucks hunters take will be important in 2012—at their December 2011 meeting, members of the Wildlife Board raised the minimum number of bucks they want biologists to see after the hunting seasons are over in the fall.

In the past, the goal was a minimum of 15 bucks per 100 does after the hunting seasons were over.  Starting in 2012, the goal is 18 bucks per 100 does.

The number of general buck deer hunting permits for Utah’s 2012 hunts will be determined by the Wildlife Board at a meeting in May 2012.

Elk, Mountain Goat and Bison

In addition to making season dates the same for deer, DWR biologists are also recommending some elk, mountain goat and bison hunting changes.

Starting Oct. 31, you can see all of the big game hunting changes the DWR is recommending for 2012 at www.wildlife.utah.gov/public_meetings.

Learn More, Share your Ideas

After you’ve reviewed the ideas 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 email to them.

RAC chairmen will share the input they receive with members of the Utah Wildlife Board.  The board will meet in Salt Lake City on Dec. 1 to approve rules for Utah’s 2012 big game hunting seasons.

Dates, times and locations for the RAC meetings are as follows:

Northern Region               Southeastern Region

Nov. 9                                                             Nov. 16
6 p.m.                                                              6:30 p.m.
Weber State University                           John Wesley Powell Museum
Shepherd Union Building,                      1765 E. Main St.
Rooms 404A and 404B                            Green River
3848 Harrison Blvd.
Ogden

Central Region                 Northeastern Region

Nov. 10                                                             Nov. 17
6:30 p.m.                                                         6:30 p.m.
Springville Junior High School               Bingham Entrepreneurship and Energy
165 S. 700 E.                                                  Research Center
Springville                                                       320 N. 2000 W.
Vernal

Southern Region
Nov. 15
6 p.m.
Richfield High School
510 W. 100 S.
Richfield

Email

You can also provide your comments to your RAC via email.  Email 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 email address.  You should direct your email to the people on the RAC who represent your interest.

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Still a Chance to Hunt Cougars in Utah

If you don’t obtain a limited-entry cougar hunting permit this year, no problem—you can still hunt cougars in Utah.

Permits to hunt on harvest-objective units go on sale Nov. 1.

What’s a harvest-objective unit?

Judi Tutorow, wildlife licensing coordinator for the Division of Wildlife Resources, says there are three major differences between harvest-objective units and limited-entry units:

• The number of permits that can be sold for a harvest-objective unit isn’t limited.

• You can buy harvest-objective permits online or over-the-counter.

• The hunt on a harvest-objective unit can close before the season ends.

(Utah has nine cougar management areas.  Each area has several individual units.  Once hunters take the number of cougars biologists want taken on the management area, the hunt on all of the units in the area will close.)

“For example,” Tutorow says, “let’s say the harvest objective for a management area is 48 cougars.  The hunt on all of the units that make up that area will close when 48 cougars are taken on the area, even if the date when the season is supposed to end hasn’t arrived yet.”

The season can also close early if hunters take too many female cougars.

If an area closes early, that doesn’t mean your cougar hunt is over.  If the area you want to hunt closes, you can still hunt on any harvest-objective area that’s still open to hunting.

Reminders

Tutorow provides the following reminders:

• Utah’s 2011 – 2012 cougar harvest-objective season begins Nov. 16, 2011 on some units and March 5, 2012 on others.  The dates for each unit are available on pages 26 – 32 of the 2011 – 2012 Utah Cougar Guidebook.

• The free guidebook is available at www.wildlife.utah.gov/guidebooks.  You can also get a copy at DWR offices and from hunting and fishing license agents across Utah.

• You may not buy a harvest-objective permit if you’ve already obtained a limited-entry cougar permit for the 2011 – 2012 season.

• Before each hunting trip, you must call 1-888-668-LION (5466), or visit www.wildlife.utah.gov, to verify that the area you’d like to hunt the next day is still open to hunting.  The phone line and the website are updated by noon with information for the following day.

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

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Utah Pheasant and Quail Numbers are Up this Fall

If you like to hunt pheasants and quail, this might be the perfect fall to give the state’s Walk-In Access areas a try.

It looks like pheasant and quail numbers are up in Utah.

Great conditions

Justin Dolling, upland game and migratory game bird coordinator for the Division of Wildlife Resources, says lots of rain this past spring and early summer gave Utah’s pheasants and quail exactly what they needed—good nesting cover (which makes it harder for predators to find the birds) and plenty of insects for pheasant and quail chicks to eat.

When the state’s pheasant and quail hunts open on Nov. 5, don’t be surprised if you see some younger birds.  Pheasants and quail nest in April and May.  But if their first nesting attempt isn’t successful, they’ll nest again in early summer.

“Many of the birds’ first nesting attempts probably failed because of all the rain,” Dolling says.  “But bird numbers appear to be up from last year, so it looks like the second nesting attempts were successful.”

Biologists don’t have long-term survey data for pheasants and California quail.  But they do have long-term data for Gambel’s quail.  And surveys conducted this past summer in the Mohave Desert in southwestern Utah—which is the only place Gambel’s quail are found in the state—indicate the number of birds is up.

In 2010, the highest number of Gambel’s quail and chukar partridge biologists saw at the two water holes they surveyed was 66 birds.

This past summer, the highest count was 90 birds.  “And the birds were scattered more than they were last year,” Dolling says.  “To have 90 birds come to the two waters holes, compared to 66 during a much drier year, indicates Gambel’s quail are doing really well.”

Best places to hunt

Pheasants

Dolling says marshes near Great Salt Lake and Utah Lake are some of the best places to hunt pheasants in Utah.  “Both of these areas have good numbers of birds,” he says.

Other good areas to try near the Wasatch Front include eastern Box Elder County; along the Bear River and near Cutler Marsh in Cache County; western Weber County; small, scattered areas in western Davis County; and areas near Nephi.

Away from the Wasatch Front, Uintah and Duchesne counties in northeastern Utah and areas in central Utah south of Price, including areas near Huntington and Cleveland, are good places to try.

California quail

Northeastern Utah is the best place to hunt California quail in the state.  Private land, from Duchesne east to Vernal, harbors good numbers of birds.

“You’ll usually find quail in the same place you find pheasants,” Dolling says.

Gambel’s quail

Gambel’s quail are found in only one area in Utah—the Mohave Desert in southwestern Utah.  And that’s good because there’s plenty of public land in the desert.

You might have to travel awhile to get there.  “But, if you can spend a couple of days in the area,” Dolling says, “you should have a good experience.”

To find Gambel’s quail, Dolling suggests walking rolling hills and drainages in the desert that have cactus and mesquite plants on them.

“It’s really helpful to hunt with a dog,” Dolling says.  “But make sure you place boots on your dog’s paws so your dog isn’t stuck by thorns.”

Walk-In Access areas

One of the challenges to hunting pheasants and California quail in Utah is finding a place to hunt.  Much of the land the birds are found on is private land.

Fortunately, Utah’s Walk-In Access program is opening some of this private land to public hunters.

“I’d encourage you to visit our website and learn more about the state’s Walk-In Access areas,” Dolling says.  “Several of them offer good pheasant and quail hunting.”

You can learn more about the Walk-In Access areas—and see which ones have pheasants and quail on them—on the Web at http://go.usa.gov/kmG.

More information about the Walk-In Access program itself is available at wildlife.utah.gov/walkinaccess.

Wildlife Management Areas

The DWR manages several wildlife management areas in Utah.  Some of these WMAs have pheasants and quail on them.

In addition to the pheasants that are already on the WMAs, some of the WMAs will receive some additional pheasants before Nov. 5.

To see which WMAs will receive the extra pheasants, visit http://go.usa.gov/9vS.  A list of the WMAs should be available at the Web page by Oct. 31.

You can learn more about Utah’s WMAs by reading the “Access to Wildlife Lands in Utah” book.  The free book is available at www.wildlife.utah.gov/publications.

Private land

Another option is getting written permission from a private landowner to hunt on his or her property.

Dolling encourages you to be polite and understanding if a landowner doesn’t give you access to his or her property.  “But if they do give you access to the property,” he says, “you’ll not only end up with a good place to hunt; you might end up with a new friend.”

Dolling says you should not wait until the morning of the hunt to approach a landowner about hunting his or her property.  “You need to get this permission several days before the hunt begins,” he says.

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Apply for a 2012 Sportsman Permit in Utah Starting Nov. 1

You can apply for next year’s most prized Utah big game hunting permits—2012 sportsman permits—starting Nov. 1.

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 and hunter’s choice Rocky Mountain goat.

Sportsman permits are also offered for three species that are not classified as big game: Black bear, cougar 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

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

You can apply for a sportsman permit starting Nov. 1 at www.wildlife.utah.gov.  Applications must be submitted no later than 11 p.m. on Nov. 23.

Draw results will be posted by Dec. 1.  If you draw a permit, you’ll also receive a letter in the mail.  “That’s a letter you’ll probably want to frame,” Tutorow says.

For more information, see page 23 of the 2011 Utah Big Game Application 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.

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Northern Utah Hunters Face Felony Charges for Poaching

Witnesses provide valuable information

Two poaching cases in northern Utah are a sad reminder that poaching is a wasteful activity that reduces opportunities for ethical hunters.

And, if you’re the person who commits the violation, poaching can empty your bank account and put you behind bars.

• On Sept. 17, a father and his son recklessly fired their rifles at a herd of 60 pronghorn antelope on the Woodruff Wildlife Management Area in Rich County. After the shooting was over, five pronghorn—three bucks and two does—were dead. Each man had a permit to take a doe. But neither man had a permit to take a buck.
• On Sept. 10, a hunter shot three mountain goats near Ben Lomond Peak. His permit allowed him to take only one goat.

Fortunately, sportsmen were in both areas and knew what occurred. They gave Division of Wildlife Resources officers additional details about the incidents that the poachers were not willing to give the investigators initially.

The details the sportsmen gave were essential in determining how severe the charges filed against the violators should be.

Phil Douglass, a regional conservation outreach manager for the DWR, says both cases are examples of concerned sportsmen who reported what they saw and were willing to testify. “Both incidents took place in very remote areas,” Douglass says. “One suspect expressed amazement to officers that other hunters had witnessed [what he did] and reported his wasteful actions.”

Fines, and no more hunting

Douglass says Utahns highly value their wildlife and the opportunities they have to see and ethically pursue game animals responsibly and legally. “Public laws enacted through the Utah Legislature reflect those values,” Douglass says.

All three violators are facing potential third degree felony charges. Third degree felonies carry a fine of up to $5,000 and a jail sentence of up to five years.

The violators also face restitution fines of $6,000 per mountain goat and $400 per pronghorn. And they might lose their hunting privileges in Utah and the other states involved in the Interstate Wildlife Violator Compact. By Nov. 1, a total of 37 states will be part of the compact.

How to report wildlife crimes

“We need your help to protect your wildlife,” says DWR Captain Rick Olson.

With many of Utah’s hunting seasons in full swing, Olson says it’s vital that you report any suspicious activity you see. You can report this activity one of three ways:

Witnessing a violation

• If you see a wildlife violation occur, calling Utah’s Turn in a Poacher hotline is the best way to get an officer to the scene.
• The hotline—1-800-662-3337—is staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
• If you can’t remember the UTiP number, pull out your Utah hunting or fishing license or permit. The number is written on the license or permit.
• Olson says when you call 1-800-662-3337, the person who takes your call will patch you through to the DWR officer nearest to where the incident is occurring.
• DWR officers also have computers in their vehicles. As soon as a call is received, information from the caller appears on the computer screens of every DWR officer in the state.
• If you can’t remember the UTiP number, and you don’t have your license or permit with you because you’re not hunting or fishing, call the nearest police dispatch center.
• The center will send a DWR officer or another law enforcement officer to the scene.

Sharing information

If you find something suspicious—for example, a big game animal that’s missing its head—or if you have any other information you want to share about a possible wildlife violation, you can report it two ways:

• Call 1-800-662-3337.
• Type the information in at http://go.usa.gov/82Y. You can also email the information to officers at turninapoacher@utah.gov.

Olson says if you send information through the Web page or the email address, officers won’t receive the information immediately. “If you need to get in touch with us right away,” he says, “call 1-800-662-3337.”

Contact: Phil Douglass, DWR Northern Region Conservation Outreach Manager (801) 510-1406 or (801) 476-2740

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Utah’s Most Popular Hunt Starts Oct. 22

Hot weather made it difficult for many hunters to find bucks during this fall’s general muzzleloader buck deer hunt.

Utah’s muzzleloader deer hunt ended on Oct. 6.  Next up is the state’s most popular hunt, the general rifle buck deer hunt.

The rifle hunt starts Oct. 22.  Between now and then, Anis Aoude says colder temperatures would help hunters a bunch.

Aoude, big game coordinator for the Division of Wildlife Resources, says colder weather forces deer to feed more.  “That need to feed gets the deer moving and puts them in places where hunters can see them,” he says.

Deer have also grown their heavy winter coats.  With their heavy winter coats on, deer are more comfortable moving in temperatures that are 40 degrees or less.

“I think a drop in temperature would really help the hunt,” Aoude says.

Deer numbers

When you go afield on Oct. 22, Aoude says the number of buck deer compared to the number of doe deer that will be waiting for you is good across most of Utah.  He says this past winter was a good one for deer across most of the state.

“Even though the state received a lot of snow,” Aoude says, “temperatures across most of Utah were mild enough that the snow melted quick on the lower elevation areas where the deer spend the winter.

“Most of the fawns that were born in 2010 made it through the winter,” he says.  “These deer will be available to hunters as yearling bucks this fall.”

Aoude says there are some exceptions, though—portions of the Cache unit in northern Utah, and units along the south slope of the Uinta Mountains in northeastern Utah, were hit with cold temperatures at the start of winter.  The cold temperatures remained through most of the season.

“The snow in these areas crusted over and stayed that way through most of the winter,” Aoude says.  “Quite a few fawns died.”

Another area of concern is southern Utah, where a severe drought several years ago has kept the overall number of deer down.  “The number of fawns born in the southern part of the state has been fairly low over the past few years,” Aoude says.  “Hopefully, the wet winter and spring this year will help the vegetation.  If the vegetation improves, so will the overall number of deer.”

Bucks per 100 does

Every fall—after the archery, muzzleloader and rifle hunts are over and while the deer are grouped together during their breeding period—DWR biologists conduct deer surveys.

During the surveys, the biologists compare the number of bucks they see to the number of does they see.

The chart below shows what the biologists found.  The chart lists the number of bucks per 100 does:

Region             2008                2009                2010                Three-year average

Northern          15                    18                    22                    18

Central              17                    16                    18                    17

Northeastern  15                    15                    18                    16

Southeastern   17                   15                    14                    16

Southern            19                   18                    16                    18

Reports from each region

The following are deer reports for each of the DWR’s five general season regions:

Northern Region

Randy Wood, wildlife manager in the Northern Region, provides the following report:

Hunters, please remember the following:

1.  The Northern Region is comprised of a lot of private land.   You must get written permission before hunting on private property.

2.  Pre-season scouting will increase your success.

3.  Keep you campsite clean and don’t leave food out where a bear can get the food.   More bear safety tips are available at http://go.usa.gov/WDW.

Box Elder, Ogden, Cache

Fawn production was good last year, but winter losses were heavy during the winter of 2010 – 2011 on the eastern portion of the Cache unit.  Because of the heavy losses, yearling bucks will be scarce on the eastern part of the Cache unit this fall.  Adult survival was good on all three units, however, so older age class bucks will be available to hunters.  With good summer moisture, expect to find deer dispersed across the country.   Animals will be found at the edge of timber and open meadows in the mornings and evenings.

Morgan/South Rich, East Canyon

Fewer yearling bucks should be available due to a loss of fawns from late winter and spring storms.  However, both units do have good buck-to-doe ratios, and good numbers of mature bucks are available.  Vegetation is dense and water is plentiful this year, and deer should be widely distributed.  Both units are primarily comprised of private property, so written permission must be obtained before hunting most of the areas in these units.

Chalk Creek, Kamas, Summit portion of the North Slope

The Chalk Creek, Kamas and the western portion of the North Slope deer herd units experienced a very long winter with snow pack totals not seen in many years.  As a result, winter mortality of both fawns and adults was somewhat higher than normal.  Range conditions are excellent throughout these areas due to the heavy snow pack and late summer rains.  To find success, it’s very important that hunters do some pre-season scouting.

Chalk Creek

The estimated wintering population on the Chalk Creek unit is 8,500 animals with a population objective of 10,500.  Data collected last fall indicates the herd went into the winter doing very good.  Nearly 35 bucks per 100 does and 70 fawns per 100 does were counted.  Deer on this unit are scattered as water is not a limiting factor and forage is abundant.  The unit is mostly private property.   Hunters are reminded that they must have written permission before accessing posted property.

Kamas

The estimated wintering population on the Kamas unit is 5,950 animals with a population objective of 8,000.  Data collected last fall suggests the herd is stable, as 76 fawns per 100 does and 21 bucks per 100 does were counted.  Winter mortality was only slightly higher than expected.   Hunters should expect deer numbers to be about the same as last year.

Range conditions are excellent on this unit, and deer are scattered throughout the higher elevations.  Deer numbers are higher in the backs of remote drainages, which are farther from roads and ATV trails.

North Slope

The North Slope has an estimated winter population of 6,200 animals, which is very near the population objective for this unit.  Deer on this unit went into the winter doing very well, and winter mortality seems to be less here than in other areas.  Hunters will find deer at higher elevations.  In the higher elevations, deer will be in remote areas away from roads and trails.

Central Region

Scott Root, Central Region conservation outreach manager, provides the following report:

If you have a permit for the Central Region, you should focus your efforts in the aspen, pine, scrub oak and sagebrush areas in the higher elevations of the region east of Interstate 15.

Even though the number of deer is down a bit from previous decades, archers who hunted the region earlier this fall reported seeing decent numbers of bucks once they left the roads and made an effort to find the deer.  Unless they’re pushed, deer will typically bed down during most of the daylight hours.  Once they’re pushed, they’ll typical run for thick cover.

Finding deer in the desert areas west of I-15 is much more difficult and requires a lot of scouting.

Overall, biologists expect fair deer hunting in the region this year.  One item that might be better than fair, however, is the number of larger deer you see.

Some of the larger deer weren’t harvested last year because snowy weather conditions restricted access to many locations during the opening weekend of the hunt.  The rifle hunt also ran for only five days.  Once the weather cleared up, the hunt was just about over.

Tips

• Locating a buck can be difficult in October.  Their coats have changed to a gray color as winter approaches, making them much more difficult to see.
• Archery deer hunters have the luxury of hunting deer in August and September when their summer coats have an orange tint and stand out better against green vegetation.  October hunters need to use good optics, and slowly scan the area for deer.
• It’s very common in October to look at a hillside or a canyon through binoculars for several minutes and not see a deer until one finally moves.
• Another tip—on the opening morning of the hunt, a lot of hunters hike throughout the region, pushing deer toward other hunters or into thick cover.
• A wise hunter will position him or herself on a high-elevation overlook and, using good optics, watch the landscape for deer.  He or she often ends up with a good sense for the areas that have been disturbed by hunters and those that haven’t been disturbed yet.
• The other type of successful hunter will simply spend the day hiking through areas with good deer habitat.  This is the hunter who often finds deer hiding in thicker cover. 

Recommendations

To get prepared for the hunt:

• learn the region’s boundaries and where public and private land is in the region

• get written permission if you want to hunt on private property

• spend at least a day or two scouting for deer before Oct. 22

• review the big game regulations (available at www.wildlife.utah.gov/guidebooks), and make a deer-hunt check list to help ensure a safe and enjoyable hunt.

Also, check with the public land agency (usually the US Forest Service or the Bureau of Land Management) that manages the land you’re going to hunt to learn more about off-highway vehicle regulations in the area.  And then follow the regulations.

Restrictions

• The Oquirrh-Stansbury deer hunting unit will be open to hunting for only five days—Oct. 22 to Oct. 26.  A map of the Oquirrh-Stansbury unit is available at http://go.usa.gov/9cH.

• Those with a permit for the West Desert, Vernon limited-entry deer unit are the only hunters who can hunt the unit.  A map of the Vernon unit is available at http://go.usa.gov/9c6.

• Rifle deer hunters are not allowed in the extended archery hunting area in Salt Lake County, from I-80 in Parleys Canyon southward to the Utah County line.  You cannot hunt big game within one-half mile of Silver Lake in Big Cottonwood Canyon, hunt on the Red Butte Natural Research Area (which is closed to public access), hunt in Emigration Township with a rifle or a muzzleloader (this area is an archery-only area) or hunt in a designated portion of the town of Alta (contact the town of Alta for more information).

Northeastern Region

Ron Stewart, Northeastern Region conservation outreach manager, provides the following report:

The hunt in the Northeastern Region will be a bit more challenging this year.  A wet year has provided lots of vegetation and plenty of water in pools, ponds, springs and rivers.  As a result, the deer are spread out—the weather has not forced them to cluster around water.

The deer are in good physical condition, another positive result of the increased vegetation.  But—because of winterkill—the number of deer is down along the South Slope of the Uinta Mountains, from Strawberry Reservoir to the Colorado border.

“The hunt on the North Slope of the Uinta Mountains will be comparable to last year,” says Charlie Greenwood, DWR regional wildlife manager.  “On the south slope, expect fewer bucks, especially spikes, because of the winterkill.  Also, check the guidebook carefully as some units, such as the South Slope-Vernal unit, have shorter seasons because their buck-to-doe ratios are below the management objective of 15 bucks per 100 does.

“The rest of the region’s general season subunits have ratios ranging from 19 to 25 bucks per 100 does.”

Stewart says hunters who get out and scout before the hunt are the hunters who will find success.

“The deer are in great shape,” he says, “and we have a good ratio of bucks to does on most units in the region.  However, the overall number of deer is down because of winterkill, and the deer that remain can be anywhere along the face because there’s so much water and good vegetation.   A lack of water isn’t holding them to only a few spots.

“Hunters who know their unit—where the deer have been and where they’re most likely to go to escape other hunters—are the hunters who are most likely to find success.”

Southeastern Region

Justin Shannon, Southeastern Region wildlife manager, provides the following report for different parts of the Southeastern Region:

Northern part of region

Deer hunting in the northern part of the region should be slightly better than last year, due to increased fawn production in summer 2010 and higher fawn-to-doe ratios last fall.  Southeastern Utah experienced a relatively mild winter in 2010 – 2011, which led to better-than-average fawn survival.  Last year’s fawns will be yearlings when the rifle hunting season starts.  Yearling bucks will probably make up the majority of the harvest in the northern part of the region.

Southern part of the region

Deer hunting on these units should be similar to that experienced by hunters last year.  However, last year’s deer hunting success was down from previous years, partly because of the hard winter of 2009 – 2010.  Fawn-to-doe ratios were below average last summer and fall on these units, which will result in fewer bucks for hunters during this year’s rifle hunt.

Across the region

Higher than average summer and fall rainfall seems to have resulted in deer being dispersed over a wider area.  Hunters may have to cover more territory than they’ve had to cover in past years.  Sources of water will be more widespread, which will be challenging for those who prefer to hunt near sources of water.  As with all types of hunting, rifle hunters are encouraged to scout before the season begins to locate a shootable buck and to pattern his movements and behavior.  Hunters are also encouraged to prepare for all weather conditions and to carry a survival kit.

Southern Region

The region’s wildlife biologists provide the following reports for each general season unit in the Southern Region:

Dustin Schaible
Panguitch Lake and Mount Dutton

Deer are still spread out across much of their range.  The high habitat quality has given mature bucks an opportunity to reach their antler growth potential, so there are some nice bucks out there.  The number of bucks is still down as a result of winter loss during the winter of 2009 – 2010 and low fawn production in 2010.  Overall, the health of the herd and fawn production is expected to be better this year due to a great water year, and even more rain is in the forecast.  These conditions create a scenario that is great for the deer, but difficult for hunters since the deer won’t be standing at the normal water holes and will be spread thin.

Blair Stringham

Fillmore

Deer numbers on the Fillmore unit have continually decreased over the last five years.  Last year’s fawn production was also low, which translates into fewer two-points and spikes.  Hunters should expect to see fewer bucks than in years past.  An average hunt is anticipated for this fall.

Spring and summer rains have provided excellent forage and water, which has distributed deer across the unit.  Hunters are seeing most of the deer on the south end of the unit.  During the rifle hunt, deer will be moving from their summer range to their winter range.  Many of these areas are roadless and hard to access, but hunters who locate these spots will find good numbers of deer.

Beaver

The Beaver unit is maintaining a buck-to-doe ratio of more than 18 bucks per 100 does and a population of about 10,000 deer.  In 2010, the Twitchell Canyon Fire burned 45,000 acres, and deer numbers are low in that area.  However, the rest of the unit is in great condition.  Water is plentiful on the unit, and it’s likely that deer will not be concentrated around water holes.  Hunters who hunt areas away from roads should expect to see many deer and bucks with excellent antler growth.  Overall, hunters can anticipate a good hunt on the Beaver unit this year.

Vance Mumford

Fish Lake and Monroe

I expect only a fair deer hunt this year.  This is due to low recruitment and survival of fawns in 2010, which translates into fewer yearling bucks this year.

However, this spring and summer have been great for the deer.  They are fat and healthy.  There are still buck hunting opportunities out there, so don’t stay home.

Archery and muzzleloader hunters saw a fair number of bucks this fall, and they had some success.

Reminder:  The Monroe unit has a short season this year.  The rifle hunt runs for only five days—Oct. 22 – 26.

Jim Lamb

Boulder

There is a lack of young bucks in the populations in my district, probably due to high fawn mortality during the winter of 2009 – 2010.  Older bucks are available to harvest, but the lack of young deer makes it appear that there are very few bucks around.  Deer have remained at higher elevations, but as soon as the weather changes, they should move down slope towards their wintering areas.  There was an abundance of feed this year, and deer are in great shape.

Reminder:  The Boulder unit has a short season this year.  The rifle hunt runs for only five days—Oct. 22 – 26.

Jason Nichols

Pine Valley, Zion, Southwest Desert

The rifle hunt on the Pine Valley, Zion and Southwest Desert units should be fair this year.  Deer wintered well on all three units, and the population should have a good number of yearling bucks.  Lots of water is available this year, so hunting a water hole may not be the way to go.  The overall number of deer on the Southwest Desert unit is still very low.  Populations on the Zion and Pine Valley units are at their objectives.

With the good water and feed, deer are spread out this year, which makes it appear that the populations are down in number.  The deer are there; people will just have to look for them in places where they haven’t found them in the past.

Outdoor Hub, The Outdoor Information Engine - Utah’s Most Popular Hunt Starts Oct. 22

Utah’s Young Hunters Get First Crack at Pheasants

This fall, young hunters will have a chance they’ve never had before in Utah.

On Oct. 15—three weeks before the regular pheasant and quail hunt starts—those who are 15 years of age or younger can hunt pheasants and quail in Utah.

After Oct. 15, the pheasant and quail hunt will close.  The hunt will reopen—for hunters of all ages—on Nov. 5.

Justin Dolling, upland game and migratory game bird coordinator for the DWR, says holding a special youth pheasant and quail hunt—before the birds have been hunted and when adults aren’t allowed to hunt—is a great way to get young people interested in and involved in hunting.

“Upland game hunting has been called the ‘gateway hunt,’” Dolling says.  “Hunting upland game often gets young people excited about hunting in general.”

And since adults can’t hunt the same species the kids are hunting, it gives adults plenty of time to get the young hunter into the right habitat and to help the young hunter handle his or her firearm safely.

To participate in the youth hunt, a hunter must be 15 years of age or younger on Oct. 15 and a graduate of Utah’s Hunter Education course.

He or she also needs a hunting license.

Finding a place to hunt

Finding a place to hunt is one challenge pheasant and quail hunters face in Utah.  With the exception of Gambel’s quail in the Mohave Desert in southwestern Utah, most of Utah’s pheasant and quail hunting happens on private land.

That doesn’t mean you need to give up and stay home, though—several good options are waiting for you:

Walk-In Access

Dolling says the state’s Walk-In Access areas are the first places you should consider.

Walk-In Access areas are private property that’s been opened to public hunters and anglers through agreements the landowners have made with the DWR.

Dolling says the number of properties in the program keeps growing.  “Many of the Walk-In Access properties have pheasants and quail on them,” he says.  “If you’re looking for a place to hunt, the Walk-In Access areas are the first places I’d try.”

You can learn more about the Walk-In Access areas—and see which ones have pheasants and quail on them—on the Web at http://go.usa.gov/kmG.

More information about the Walk-In Access program itself is available at wildlife.utah.gov/walkinaccess.

Wildlife Management Areas

The DWR manages several wildlife management areas in Utah.  Many of these WMAs have pheasants on them.

In addition to the pheasants that are already on the WMAs, some of the WMAs will receive some additional pheasants before Oct. 15.

You can learn more about Utah’s WMAs by reading the “Access to Wildlife Lands in Utah” book.  The free book is available at www.wildlife.utah.gov/publications.

At one of the WMAs—the Pahvant WMA near Holden in central Utah—a special hunt will be held on Oct. 15

The number of young hunters who can participate in the hunt will be limited for safety reasons.

DWR Wildlife Biologist Lynn Zubeck says the first 50 youngsters who sign up will be allowed to enter the area first.  “Then, as they finish and leave,” he says, “we’ll allow other young hunters to enter the unit until everyone has had a chance or we close at 7:17 pm.”

Zubeck says the DWR will release a lot of pheasants on the WMA before the hunt.  “There’s a good chance these kids will harvest a bird,” he says.

To participate in the hunt, you need to sign up in advance by calling the DWR at (435) 865-6100 or visiting the DWR office at 1470 N. Airport Road in Cedar City.

The hunt on the Pahvant WMA will start at 8 a.m.  There’s no cost to participate.

Private land

Another option is getting written permission from a private landowner to hunt on his or her property.

Since most of Utah’s pheasant hunting happens on private land, Dolling says the youth pheasant hunting day will give young hunters and their parents experience in talking with landowners about hunting their property.  “In the process,” he says, “these young hunters will learn more about the vital role landowners play in conserving habitat for wildlife.”

Dolling encourages you to be polite and understanding if a landowner doesn’t give you access to his or her property.

“But if they do give you access to the property,” he says, “you’ll not only end up with a good place to hunt; you might end up with a new friend.”

Dolling says you should not wait until the morning of the hunt to approach a landowner about hunting his or her property.  “You need to get this permission several days before the hunt begins,” he says.

Finding pheasants and quail

Dolling says farm land in Box Elder, Weber, Davis, Tooele, Utah, Juab, Millard, Duchesne and Uintah counties are among the best places to find pheasants in Utah.  Many of the wetlands near Utah Lake and Great Salt Lake also hold good numbers of pheasants.

California quail aren’t as widespread in the state as pheasants, but good numbers of California quail are found in parts of Duchesne, Uintah and Juab counties.

Good numbers of California quail are also found in parts of Davis, Salt Lake and Utah counties, but most of these birds are within city limits where hunting is not allowed.

Gambel’s quail are a little easier to access—they’re found almost entirely on public land in the Mohave Desert in southwestern Utah.

More information

For more information about the youth pheasant and quail hunting opportunity, call the nearest Division of Wildlife Resources office or the DWR’s Salt Lake City office at (801) 538-4737.

Outdoor Hub, The Outdoor Information Engine - Utah’s Young Hunters Get First Crack at Pheasants

A Warning To Outdoor Users About Echinococcus, From Worms

by

Tom Remington

This is a warning to outdoor users about a potentially deadly biological event that could result from one’s curiosity to poke at and kick through scat from wolves, coyotes and foxes. Of course not everyone knowingly does this but many hunters, trappers and simply the curious, want to know what these animals have been eating. Read more

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