Longer Seasons, New Hunts in Utah

Wildlife Board approves upland game hunting changes

Salt Lake City -- You’ll have more chances to hunt upland game birds in Utah over the next three years.

Members of the Utah Wildlife Board approved several upland game changes at their June 19 meeting in Salt Lake City. The changes will give you more time to hunt upland game. They’ll also make Utah’s upland game hunting seasons more consistent across the state.

“Hunters and the state’s Upland Game Advisory Committee have told us two major things since the rules were last reviewed in 2005: they want more opportunities to hunt, and they want the rules to be as simple and consistent across Utah as possible,” says Dave Olsen, upland game coordinator for the Division of Wildlife Resources.

The following are among the upland game changes the board approved:

- Starting this fall, the general pheasant hunt will run for 16 days across the state. In the past, the hunt in Utah County ran for only one week. Extending the hunt in the county from one week to two weeks provides hunters with a single statewide general season.

- You can enjoy an extra month of forest grouse hunting. The season begins in mid September and runs until the end of December.

- You can enjoy some extra chukar and Hungarian partridge hunting during a single, statewide season that begins two weeks later than past years. The season opens the last Saturday in September and runs until mid February.

Olsen says moving the start of the season back should protect vegetation around artificial guzzlers and other water sources. Chukars are less dependent on these water sources in late September. As the chukars leave the water sources, the hunters should follow them. That should decrease the amount of vegetation that’s damaged by hunters and others driving their vehicles near these sites.

- Utah has two new quail hunts. The new hunts will be held in Daggett and Sanpete counties.

- A new sharp-tailed grouse hunt will be held in Cache County.

- You can enjoy an extra week of sage-grouse hunting. At the same time, adult sage-grouse hens will receive some extra protection.

The start of the sage-grouse season has been moved from mid September to the last Saturday in September. Starting the season two weeks later should reduce the number of mature sage-grouse hens that hunters take.

“When it comes to hunting, Utah’s Sage-Grouse Management Plan sets some pretty conservative standards,” Olsen says.

“The plan first sets parameters that help us determine whether or not various sage-grouse populations can be hunted. If a population can be hunted, we set permit numbers so not more than 10 percent of the fall population are taken during the hunt.

“Moving the start of the season back gives sage-grouse populations even more protection.”

Olsen says starting the season in late September will give young birds more time to mature. When the chicks mature, they leave their mothers.
Broods begin to break up, and the birds scatter more. Not having the birds as concentrated should reduce the number of mature hens that hunters take.

Upland Game Guidebook

All of the rules for Utah’s 2008 - 2009 upland game seasons can be found in this year’s Upland Game Guidebook. The guidebook should be available by early July at www.wildlife.utah.gov/guidebooks. It will also be available at DWR offices and hunting license agent locations across Utah.

Shed Antler Collectors: Obey the Law and Have Fun

With spring just around the corner, it*s an exciting time for those who enjoy gathering the antlers and horns shed by big game animals each year.

As you*re having fun searching for antlers and horns this spring, please remember that there are regulations you must follow regarding their possession.

Also, remember to give the big game animals you encounter plenty of space, and don*t take off-highway vehicles off of designated roads and trails.

Taking OHVs off of roads and trails can cause serious damage to the habitat that big game animals and other wildlife and fish rely on.

Shed Antler Gathering Season in Northern Utah

New this year in Utah, there is a shed antler gathering season. This season applies to Northern Utah only.

You may not gather shed antlers in the DWR*s Northern Region from Feb. 1 through April 30. This closure was put in place to prevent big game animals from being harassed during the time of year when they*re in their poorest health because of the stress of a long winter.

In addition to the closure in the Northern Region, the Utah Wildlife Board has directed the Division of Wildlife Resources to study the effects antler gathering is having on big game animals across Utah.
Board members want to learn if a shed antler gathering season should be implemented statewide.

Possession of Antlers and Horns

According to Utah law, a person may possess antlers or horns from legally taken animals, as well as *shed* antlers and horns.

A shed antler or horn is one that has dropped from a big game animal (a moose, elk, deer or pronghorn antelope) as part of its life cycle.

Shed antlers have a rounded base, commonly called a button or burr.
The horns shed by pronghorn antelope are a hollow sheath. (Pronghorn are the only big game animals that shed their horns.)

A deer sheds its antlers during February and March. Elk shed later than deer and at higher elevations.

Shed antlers and horns may be possessed at any time. There are no restrictions on their barter, trade or sale.

In contrast, antlers or horns that are attached to a skull plate must have been taken legally or purchased from someone who took the animal legally.

The person who buys antlers or horns attached to a skull plate must keep a transaction record. The record must include the name and address of the hunter the antlers or horns were purchased from, the hunter*s permit number and the date of purchase or sale.

Antlers, horns and heads of legally taken animals may be purchased or sold only between Feb. 15 and July 31 annually.

Give Big Game Animals Plenty of Space

After a long winter, the energy reserves that big game animals have are already low. Those reserves are taxed even more when antler gatherers enter the picture.

Careless shed antler and horn hunters can tip the delicate energy balance, and that can contribute to more big game animals dying this time of the year.

The worst threat to big game animals usually comes from irresponsible OHV use. Off-road travel is illegal and should not be practiced at any time, especially when gathering antlers.

The DWR has received reports of OHV riders chasing deer and elk through trees to knock off their antlers. This practice is extremely damaging
and illegal. Anyone caught harassing wildlife will be prosecuted to
the fullest extent of the law.

When you*re collecting shed antlers and horns, please pay attention to the body language of the animals you see. If they appear to be nervous or begin to move away, give them more space by backing off or traveling in another direction.

Have Fun

Shed gathering can be a great family outing. Please remember the following as you gather shed antlers and horns this year:

- Avoid picking up antlers that are attached to a skull plate.
Instead, mark the area and contact your local DWR conservation officer.

- Respect the space and needs of wintering big game. Give them lots of room.

- Don*t take OHVs off of designated roads and trails. In addition to causing animals to flee, taking OHVs off-road can cause serious damage to the animals* habitat.

- Good luck and have fun!