More Hunters Will Be Hunting Big Game in Utah This Fall

Salt Lake City -- More hunters will have a chance to take a big bull elk or a big bison in Utah this fall.

At their April 5 meeting, members of the Utah Wildlife Board raised the number of hunting permits for most of Utah’s big game animals.
Permits for elk and bison were increased the most.

It won’t be long before hunters learn whether they drew a permit in this year’s Utah Big Game Draw. Draw results will be available by April 27.

More Elk Permits

Some record-sized bull elk have been taken in Utah over the past few years, but there are still plenty of big bulls in Utah for hunters to take.

Biologists manage each of Utah’s limited entry bull elk units so the average age of the bulls taken by hunters falls within a certain age category.

The age of the bulls that hunters took on 26 of Utah’s 28 units during the 2006 season was higher than the age objective for those units. That means the animals were older than the objective called for on those units.

The age of the bulls taken on two units was at the objective for those units. None of Utah’s limited entry units were under the age objective.

“This means more hunters can be allowed in the field and plenty of big bulls will still be left for hunters to take in years to come,”
said Craig McLaughlin, Wildlife Section chief for the DWR.

With that in mind, board members approved 2,169 limited entry bull elk permits for this fall’s hunts. A total of 79 of those permits are management bull elk permits. These permits allow hunters to take bull elk that have five or less antler points on at least one side.

Management permits are being offered for the first time to reduce the number of smaller bull elk on four of Utah’s best limited entry units.
All of these units have extremely high bull to cow ratios.

More Bison Permits

Board members also approved more hunter’s choice and cow bison permits for the Henry Mountains in southeastern Utah. Bison permits for the Henry Mountains jumped from 23 in 2006 to 75 this year.

“In 2005, our biologists flew two aerial surveys of the Henry Mountains,” McLaughlin said. “They didn’t see many bison during either survey.”

Even though bison are big animals, McLaughlin says they tend to gather in small groups and are effective at hiding under pinyon/juniper trees.

“Bison are strong animals, and we were pretty sure that the herd had not experienced a big die-off,” he said. “We guessed that the bison had probably moved into thicker cover where it was harder for us to spot them.”

DWR biologists decided to be cautious, however, and hunting permits were cut in 2006.

“Our biologists flew another survey this past August, and this time they spotted the bison,” McLaughlin said. “They saw lots of bison.

“We’ve confirmed that the herd is doing really well. That’s why we recommended that the board raise the number of bison permits available for the Henry Mountains this fall.”

Buck Deer Permits Will Stay at 95,000

General season buck deer permits were one group of permits that board members decided not to increase. The total number of Utah general season buck deer permits will stay at 95,000 in 2007.

In 2005, general season buck deer permits in the Central and Northeastern regions were cut by 1,000 permits each. The permits were cut because the three-year buck to doe ratio in each region had fallen below the minimum of 15 bucks per 100 does called for in Utah’s Deer Management Plan. As a result, the total number of Utah general season buck deer permits was reduced from 97,000 (the level where permits had been since 1994) to 95,000 permits.

Surveys conducted by DWR biologists after the 2005 and 2006 hunts found that the three-year buck-to-doe average in the Northeastern Region had increased to 15 bucks per 100 does. That number meets the objective called for in the state’s deer management plan.

In the Central Region, the three-year average had fallen slightly to 13 bucks per 100 does.

Based on the findings, the DWR recommended returning 1,000 permits to the Northeastern Region.

Citizens representing the Northeastern Regional Advisory Council (RAC) voted against the DWR recommendation, however. They expressed concerns that allowing 1,000 additional hunters in the region could cause the buck to doe ratio to fall back under 15 bucks per 100 does.

Board members agreed with the RAC and voted not to return the 1,000 permits to the region.

Permits for 2007

Permit numbers for 2006, and the number of permits the board approved for 2007, are listed below:

2006 2007

General season buck deer 95,000
95,000

Limited entry
deer 999 1,014

Limited entry bull elk 1,835 2,169

Pronghorn
antelope 855 833

Moose 138 151

Bison 29 81

* (these bison totals include permits for the Henry Mountains and Antelope Island)

Rocky Mountain goat 79 90

Desert bighorn sheep 36 39

Rocky Mountain bighorn
sheep 15 18


A list showing the total permits for each unit in the state will be available at www.wildlife.utah.gov/hunting/2007permits by April 9.

UT - Big Game Applications Due by Feb. 16

Time is running out to get your application in for a Utah big game hunting permit, especially if you're applying through the mail.

To be entered in the 2007 Utah big game draw, mail-in applications must be received no later than 5 p.m. on Feb. 16. Applications submitted through the Division of Wildlife Resources' Web site (www.wildlife.utah.gov) must be received no later than 11 p.m. on Feb. 16.

With time running out, the Internet or an overnight mail service might be the best way to make sure your application meets the deadline.

Hunters are reminded that applications postmarked before or on Feb. 16, but that aren't received by 5 p.m. that day, will not be entered in the draw. Applications are not accepted in-person.

Apply on the Internet

If you have a major credit card that's valid through at least May 2006, you can get your application in within a matter of minutes. Just log onto the DWR's Web site (www.wildlife.utah.gov). Once you're on the site, you can apply for a permit by clicking on the 'Apply online for available hunt drawings' choice under the 'Purchase a license or permit' heading on the right side of the home page.

Mail Your Application Early

If you don't apply on the Internet, please remember that it will take a few days for your application to arrive through the mail at the Utah Wildlife Administrative Services office. Because of this, an overnight mail delivery service is probably the best way to help ensure your application is received by the 5 p.m., Feb. 16 due date, says Judi Tutorow, wildlife licensing coordinator for the DWR.

In addition to arriving on time, applications must be completed correctly. Tutorow encourages you to take your time when completing your application. Please call the nearest DWR office, or the Utah Wildlife Administrative Services office at 1-800-221-0659, if you have questions or need assistance.

The Utah Wildlife Administrative Services office is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. DWR offices are open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Mondays through Fridays.

Hunt Numbers

Hunters listing the wrong hunt number is a mistake Tutorow sees every year.

"The number for your favorite hunt may have changed from last year," she says. "Before entering your hunt number, double check and make sure the number you're listing on your application is the correct number for the hunt you want to apply for."

Hunt numbers are listed on pages 34 - 45 of the 2007 Utah Big Game Proclamation.

Black Bear Applications Accepted Only On the Web This Year

Applications for Utah black bear hunting permits will be accepted only through the Internet this year.

You can apply for a permit at wildlife.utah.gov beginning Feb. 1.

Applications must be received through the Web site no later than 11 p.m. on Feb. 28 to be included in the draw for permits. Draw results will be available by March 29.

"In the past, black bear hunters could apply through the Internet, or with a paper application," says Judi Tutorow, wildlife licensing for the DWR. "Because so many people have access to the Internet now, and there are so many advantages to applying online, we won't be accepting paper applications for black bear permits this year."

Tutorow says when you apply online, you can submit your application in a matter of minutes. After you submit your application, you'll receive a confirmation that it was completed correctly and that it will be entered in the draw.

If you make a mistake while applying, the system will warn you about the mistake so you can correct it.

"The Internet provides so many advantages that it doesn't make sense to apply any other way," Tutorow says.

In 2006, more than 6,400 hunters applied for a Utah black bear permit. Of the more than 6,400 hunters, only 230 applied with a paper application. Every year, about 100 hunters who applied with a paper application the year before switch to the Internet and apply online. "Based on that trend, we believe there will be about 100 hunters who wanted to apply with a paper application this year," she says.

If you don't have a computer, Tutorow says there are plenty of places to find one. "If you don't have access to the Internet, come into a DWR office," she says. "You can use one of our computers, and we'd be happy to help you apply.

"Public libraries also have computers and librarians who can help you use them. And you probably know someone who has a computer in their home and would be happy to help you use it."

If you have questions, or need assistance, please call the DWR's Salt Lake City office at (801) 538-4700.

Get Permission First

Tutorow encourages hunters to obtain written permission from landowners before applying for a hunt that occurs on private land. "Written permission is required to hunt private property, and we encourage hunters to obtain that permission before applying," Tutorow says. "We don't want hunters to draw a permit and then find they can't use it because landowners won't give them permission to hunt the area."

The DWR doesn't have a list of people who own land where black bear hunts occur, so hunters need to take the time needed to locate the landowners.

Less than 25 percent of Utah's black bear hunts occur on private property. Hunts that do occur on private property are indicated by an asterisk in the 2007 Utah Black Bear Proclamation, which will be available by Feb. 1.

Utah's spring bear season runs April 7 - May 31. The state's fall hunt runs Aug. 25 - Sept. 30 and Nov. 1 - 25.

For more information, call Utah Wildlife Administrative Services at 1-800-221-0659, the nearest Division of Wildlife Resources office or the DWR's Salt Lake City office at (801) 538-4700.

UT - 2006 Drawing Odds Help Hunters Applying This Year

The odds of drawing a Utah big game permit in 2006 are now available in a Division of Wildlife Resources report.

"Drawing odds usually don't change drastically from year to year, so I think hunters who are applying for a Utah big game permit for 2007 will be very interested in seeing the report," says Judi Tutorow, wildlife licensing coordinator for the DWR. "And the best part is, it doesn't cost anything to view it."

Hunters who have access to the Internet can view and download the 2006 Big Game Odds Report for free by visiting the DWR's Web site at www.wildlife.utah.gov.

The publication is available by visiting the Hunting section of the home page and clicking on Big Game. After arriving at the Big Game section, scroll down to Big Game Statistics and click on 2006 bucks, bulls and once-in-a-lifetime bonus point & draw statistics. That selection will take you to the 2006 Big Game Odds Report.

The report also can be viewed at DWR offices in Ogden, Salt Lake City, Springville, Vernal, Price and Cedar City. If you'd like to purchase a copy of the report, they're available at each office for $17.34, plus sales tax.

Hunters are reminded that applications for 2007 Utah big game hunting permits must be received no later than Feb. 17 to be included in the draw for permits. Mail-in applications must be received no later than 5 p.m., and applications submitted through the DWR's Web site must be received no later than 11 p.m. that day.

For more information, call the Utah Wildlife Administrative Services office at 1-800-221-0659, the nearest Division of Wildlife Resources office or the DWR's Salt Lake City office at (801) 538-4700.

You may also want to consider purchasing The Odds Book 2006-07 Edition for Utah. This comprehensive book helps take the confusion out of the mass of information and will help increase the odds of actually drawing a Utah Big Game tag. The book may be purchased at www.TrailMasterOutdoors.com