Hunt_News
10-17-05, 13:59
Rifle hunters should see more young bucks this fall
Rifle hunters should see more young buck deer this fall, but bagging one of those bucks could be a challenge.
Utah's 2005 general rifle buck deer hunt opens Oct. 22. About 60,000 hunters are expected afield for Utah's most popular hunt.
"The number of deer in Utah is continuing a slow but steady climb," says Craig McLaughlin, big game coordinator for the Division of Wildlife Resources.
Based on surveys conducted after Utah's 2004 rifle hunt ended, DWR biologists estimate 289,000 deer were in Utah at the start of last winter. That's 21,000 more animals than the 268,000 deer estimated in the state after the 2003 hunt ended.
"Heavy snow fell throughout much of the state right before the rifle hunt last year. The snow drove deer out of the higher elevations and right to the hunters. Those hunting in central and northeastern Utah took a lot of mature bucks," McLaughlin said.
Many of those mature bucks will be replaced by younger bucks this year. "After four years of decline, the number of fawns per 100 does rebounded in 2003 and 2004," McLaughlin said. "During surveys this past March and April, biologists found an average of 70 fawns per 100 does across the state, so I think hunters will see good numbers of young bucks this fall."
Actually seeing those bucks could be a challenge, however. McLaughlin says the rain that fell this spring and early summer left plenty of watering holes for the deer and lots of vegetation.
"Unless snow falls between now and the start of the hunt, the deer will be scattered and they'll be at a variety of elevations. Those factors will make it more challenging for hunters to find them," he said. "Also, all of the vegetation that's in the backcountry this year will make it more difficult to spot deer."
To find success, McLaughlin encourages hunters to scout their hunting area before the season opens. "Scouting before the opener will pay off because you'll learn the travel routes deer are taking in the area you'll be hunting," he said. "Also, if there have been any changes in areas that are open to hunting, you'll know about those changes in advance.
"If the weather turns cold, look for deer on sunny, south-facing slopes, " McLaughlin said. "Unusually warm weather will keep deer in shaded areas with heavy cover."
As of Oct. 5, more than 2,000 Northern Region permits were still available for the hunt. Permits may be purchased at the DWR's Web site (wildlife.utah.gov), at DWR offices and from more than 200 hunting license agents in the state.
"Last year, permits for the Northern Region sold out on the Wednesday before the hunt," says Judi Tutorow, wildlife licensing coordinator for the DWR. "They're selling at a faster pace this year. I would encourage hunters to buy their permit as soon as possible."
Hunters who purchase a permit at the Web site are reminded that it will take about a week for their permit to arrive in the mail. They need to buy their permit far enough in advance that it will arrive before they leave for their hunt.
The following is a region-by-region look at deer hunting prospects in each of the DWR's five regions:
Northern Region
Northern Region rifle deer permits have sold at a fast pace this year. On Oct. 5, about 2,000 permits were still available. "Last year, we had over 5,000 permits left the week prior to the deer hunt opener," said Wendy Christensen, Northern Region support services coordinator.
Last year's exceptional harvest of mature bucks may have fueled hunter anticipation this year. "Last season was the best season I've seen in 12 years," said Scott McFarlane, Northern Region wildlife biologist.
Heavy snowfall, especially in Cache and Rich counties last winter, may affect hunter success this year, however. "Hunters may see fewer young bucks as a result of the heavy winter, but before the snows fell, the three-year buck to doe average on the Cache and Box Elder units was 17 bucks per 100 does, which is among the best in the state," said Justin Dolling, Northern Region wildlife manager.
Deer herd classification surveys conducted this past spring found that 90 percent of the fawns born on five of the seven deer units in spring 2004 made it through this past winter. The Cache and Ogden units had just fewer than 70 percent fawn survival.
Northern Region habitat and wildlife managers are hopeful that extensive habitat restoration projects initiated within the past three years will make a difference in reducing deer loss during tough winters like the Cache unit experienced this past winter. "Above average moisture is really going to kick start the habitat projects that are in place and should provide abundant forage for mule deer populations across the region," Dolling said.
Weather conditions just prior and during the rifle hunt will affect deer movement and concentrations. "With good forage and water supplies, deer may not be as concentrated as they have been in past years," said Phil Douglass, Northern Region conservation outreach manager.
Deer hunters are reminded to respect private property and Cooperative Wildlife Management Units in northern Utah and to heed "No Trespassing" signs. "We run into several problems every year, especially in Summit County, with hunters trespassing onto CWMUs," said DWR Sergeant Rick Olson. "It's important that hunters know where the CWMUs are."
To help hunters know where these boundaries are, the DWR has posted maps in the Big Game section of the DWR Web site (wildlife.utah.gov).
Douglass also reminds hunters to review safe hunting practices. "Even if you have already completed hunter education, it's a good idea to take a refresher course. With the course now available on the Internet, you can reacquaint yourself with safe hunting practices and principles in the comfort and convenience of home," he said.
Hunter education course options are available at wildlife.utah.gov/huntereducation/options.html.
For more information about hunting in northern Utah, call the Northern Region office at (801) 476-2740.
Central Region
Archery and muzzleloader hunters have reported seeing decent numbers of bucks throughout the region this fall. Hunters are seeing a lot of younger bucks, but some very nice mature bucks have been taken too.
"Although the region's three-year buck-to-doe ratio is slightly under the 15 bucks per 100 does objective, favorable habitat conditions should improve the ratio next year," says Scott Root, Central Region conservation outreach manager.
"Last spring, initial post-winter deer counts indicated excellent fawn production on the mountainous eastern half of the region, which has benefited the region's deer herd," he said. "With another favorable winter, this could put the eastern portions of the region right back to the buck-to-doe ratio objective."
Root says the deer are in excellent health and that antler growth has been very good because of plentiful food and water sources. "As predicted, deer are scattered because of the plentiful water and food found throughout most of the region," he said. "Scouting is crucial when deer are not tied to a single water source. Hunters need to look for well-used game trails and invest time on pre-hunting scouting trips to learn the habits of the deer this year."
Root says the western portion of the Central Region, located west of I-15, is mostly desert terrain. "Though water is more abundant this year in the desert, this portion of the region has fewer deer, and I'd strongly recommend pre-hunt scouting trips," he said.
Most hunters concentrate on the Tintic, Deep Creek, Oquirrh and Stansbury mountain ranges, but pockets of deer can be found throughout the western portion of the region. "Higher mountain elevations in the desert that have components of deer habitat generally attract deer and are a good place to hunt," he said.
Roots adds that the deer herd in the western portion of the region is rebuilding. "The current buck to doe ratio is below the management objective, but fawn production is the best it has been in this area for about four years," he said.
Hunters are reminded that a good portion of the western part of the region is part of the Vernon limited entry deer unit, and general deer season hunters need to stay out of these boundaries (a boundary description is available in the 2005 Utah Big Game Proclamation).
For more information about hunting in central Utah, call the Central Region office at (801) 491-5678.
Northeastern Region
The number of bucks in the Northeastern Region will be down slightly from last year, but the deer rifle hunters do find should be fat and healthy.
"I expect buck numbers to be down on the Currant Creek unit this year over previous years," Boyde Blackwell, Northeastern Region wildlife manager, said of one of the region's most popular areas. "We had a very good buck harvest last year compared to previous years. This has reduced the number of bucks available for this year."
Blackwell says hunters will notice a lot more vegetation in the region than they've noticed during the last several years of drought. The increased vegetation will mean healthier and fatter deer this year. It will also encourage good deer fawn production in 2006.
Blackwell says the abundant vegetation and watering holes will also scatter the deer, and he encourages hunters to do a lot of preseason scouting. "Hunters need to get out into the areas they plan to hunt prior to the season," he said. "Water holes will not be scarce this year, so the animals should be spread out.
"Hunters should also look for escape cover near the areas where they find deer during their preseason scouting. Once the first shots are fired, the bucks will head for those secluded places. Sportsmen who do not scout their areas and learn the patterns the deer are following will likely be less successful than those who spend time in the field prior to the hunts."
In addition to preseason scouting, hunters are encouraged to know the hunt boundaries in the region. "Check the boundaries and mark them on your map prior to hunting, especially if you're hunting an area you're not familiar with," said Ron Stewart, Northeastern Region conservation outreach manager.
Stewart also encourages hunters to let someone at home or in their camp know where they're going and when they plan to be back.
"If you change your mind, notify the person so they can update their information," he said. "Every year division personnel, sheriff departments and search and rescue teams get called in to find someone in cases of emergency or lost hunters. Knowing where to look can save both time and lives."
For more information, call the Northeastern Region office at (435) 781-WILD (9453).
Southeastern Region
Rifle hunters should find more bucks in the Southeastern Region this year, says Bill Bates, Southeastern Region wildlife manager.
"Good fawn production in 2004 and good survival this past winter have strengthened herds across the region," he said. "Most units show both short and long-term upward trends as far as the total number of deer in the herds."
While the number of deer is up in the region this year, all of southeastern Utah's deer herds are still under management objective as far as the total number of deer. Bates says deer habitat in southeastern Utah faces a long road to recovery after years of drought, but aggressive habitat restoration work by the DWR and other agencies is beginning to pay off thanks to normal rainfall during the 2005 growing season. "If the weather returns to a normal pattern, the vegetation in the region will rebound and the deer herds should continue to grow," he said.
To improve their chances of bagging a buck, Bates encourages rifle hunters to scout before the season begins. "Spend time observing deer in your prospective hunting area," Bates said. "Get to know where the animals feed, bed down and water. Develop a hunting strategy based on your observations. Try to anticipate changes in animal behavior due to hunter pressure and weather conditions."
For more information, call the DWR's Southeastern Region office at (435) 636-0260.
Southern Region
Rifle hunters should see more bucks in the Southern Region this year, thanks to favorable winter conditions and abundant spring moisture across the region.
"The Southern Region has had some very cooperative weather over the past few months, and there's a good crop of yearling mule deer in the region," said Lynn Chamberlain, Southern Region conservation outreach manager. "Combine those deer with a good contingent of two-year-old bucks, and we expect hunters will enjoy a fair hunt in the region this year."
Chamberlain says the buck to doe ratio on the region's general season units has climbed slightly to an average of 15 bucks per 100 does. The total number of deer in the region is still below management objective, but deer numbers also have increased slightly over the last two years.
Chamberlain says the weather in southwestern Utah is cooling off, so hunters can expect to find deer scattered but moving from higher to lower elevations. "Fire danger is extreme in most places, so hunters need to be careful with fire," he said.
For more information, call the DWR's Cedar City office at (435) 865-6100.
Rifle hunters should see more young buck deer this fall, but bagging one of those bucks could be a challenge.
Utah's 2005 general rifle buck deer hunt opens Oct. 22. About 60,000 hunters are expected afield for Utah's most popular hunt.
"The number of deer in Utah is continuing a slow but steady climb," says Craig McLaughlin, big game coordinator for the Division of Wildlife Resources.
Based on surveys conducted after Utah's 2004 rifle hunt ended, DWR biologists estimate 289,000 deer were in Utah at the start of last winter. That's 21,000 more animals than the 268,000 deer estimated in the state after the 2003 hunt ended.
"Heavy snow fell throughout much of the state right before the rifle hunt last year. The snow drove deer out of the higher elevations and right to the hunters. Those hunting in central and northeastern Utah took a lot of mature bucks," McLaughlin said.
Many of those mature bucks will be replaced by younger bucks this year. "After four years of decline, the number of fawns per 100 does rebounded in 2003 and 2004," McLaughlin said. "During surveys this past March and April, biologists found an average of 70 fawns per 100 does across the state, so I think hunters will see good numbers of young bucks this fall."
Actually seeing those bucks could be a challenge, however. McLaughlin says the rain that fell this spring and early summer left plenty of watering holes for the deer and lots of vegetation.
"Unless snow falls between now and the start of the hunt, the deer will be scattered and they'll be at a variety of elevations. Those factors will make it more challenging for hunters to find them," he said. "Also, all of the vegetation that's in the backcountry this year will make it more difficult to spot deer."
To find success, McLaughlin encourages hunters to scout their hunting area before the season opens. "Scouting before the opener will pay off because you'll learn the travel routes deer are taking in the area you'll be hunting," he said. "Also, if there have been any changes in areas that are open to hunting, you'll know about those changes in advance.
"If the weather turns cold, look for deer on sunny, south-facing slopes, " McLaughlin said. "Unusually warm weather will keep deer in shaded areas with heavy cover."
As of Oct. 5, more than 2,000 Northern Region permits were still available for the hunt. Permits may be purchased at the DWR's Web site (wildlife.utah.gov), at DWR offices and from more than 200 hunting license agents in the state.
"Last year, permits for the Northern Region sold out on the Wednesday before the hunt," says Judi Tutorow, wildlife licensing coordinator for the DWR. "They're selling at a faster pace this year. I would encourage hunters to buy their permit as soon as possible."
Hunters who purchase a permit at the Web site are reminded that it will take about a week for their permit to arrive in the mail. They need to buy their permit far enough in advance that it will arrive before they leave for their hunt.
The following is a region-by-region look at deer hunting prospects in each of the DWR's five regions:
Northern Region
Northern Region rifle deer permits have sold at a fast pace this year. On Oct. 5, about 2,000 permits were still available. "Last year, we had over 5,000 permits left the week prior to the deer hunt opener," said Wendy Christensen, Northern Region support services coordinator.
Last year's exceptional harvest of mature bucks may have fueled hunter anticipation this year. "Last season was the best season I've seen in 12 years," said Scott McFarlane, Northern Region wildlife biologist.
Heavy snowfall, especially in Cache and Rich counties last winter, may affect hunter success this year, however. "Hunters may see fewer young bucks as a result of the heavy winter, but before the snows fell, the three-year buck to doe average on the Cache and Box Elder units was 17 bucks per 100 does, which is among the best in the state," said Justin Dolling, Northern Region wildlife manager.
Deer herd classification surveys conducted this past spring found that 90 percent of the fawns born on five of the seven deer units in spring 2004 made it through this past winter. The Cache and Ogden units had just fewer than 70 percent fawn survival.
Northern Region habitat and wildlife managers are hopeful that extensive habitat restoration projects initiated within the past three years will make a difference in reducing deer loss during tough winters like the Cache unit experienced this past winter. "Above average moisture is really going to kick start the habitat projects that are in place and should provide abundant forage for mule deer populations across the region," Dolling said.
Weather conditions just prior and during the rifle hunt will affect deer movement and concentrations. "With good forage and water supplies, deer may not be as concentrated as they have been in past years," said Phil Douglass, Northern Region conservation outreach manager.
Deer hunters are reminded to respect private property and Cooperative Wildlife Management Units in northern Utah and to heed "No Trespassing" signs. "We run into several problems every year, especially in Summit County, with hunters trespassing onto CWMUs," said DWR Sergeant Rick Olson. "It's important that hunters know where the CWMUs are."
To help hunters know where these boundaries are, the DWR has posted maps in the Big Game section of the DWR Web site (wildlife.utah.gov).
Douglass also reminds hunters to review safe hunting practices. "Even if you have already completed hunter education, it's a good idea to take a refresher course. With the course now available on the Internet, you can reacquaint yourself with safe hunting practices and principles in the comfort and convenience of home," he said.
Hunter education course options are available at wildlife.utah.gov/huntereducation/options.html.
For more information about hunting in northern Utah, call the Northern Region office at (801) 476-2740.
Central Region
Archery and muzzleloader hunters have reported seeing decent numbers of bucks throughout the region this fall. Hunters are seeing a lot of younger bucks, but some very nice mature bucks have been taken too.
"Although the region's three-year buck-to-doe ratio is slightly under the 15 bucks per 100 does objective, favorable habitat conditions should improve the ratio next year," says Scott Root, Central Region conservation outreach manager.
"Last spring, initial post-winter deer counts indicated excellent fawn production on the mountainous eastern half of the region, which has benefited the region's deer herd," he said. "With another favorable winter, this could put the eastern portions of the region right back to the buck-to-doe ratio objective."
Root says the deer are in excellent health and that antler growth has been very good because of plentiful food and water sources. "As predicted, deer are scattered because of the plentiful water and food found throughout most of the region," he said. "Scouting is crucial when deer are not tied to a single water source. Hunters need to look for well-used game trails and invest time on pre-hunting scouting trips to learn the habits of the deer this year."
Root says the western portion of the Central Region, located west of I-15, is mostly desert terrain. "Though water is more abundant this year in the desert, this portion of the region has fewer deer, and I'd strongly recommend pre-hunt scouting trips," he said.
Most hunters concentrate on the Tintic, Deep Creek, Oquirrh and Stansbury mountain ranges, but pockets of deer can be found throughout the western portion of the region. "Higher mountain elevations in the desert that have components of deer habitat generally attract deer and are a good place to hunt," he said.
Roots adds that the deer herd in the western portion of the region is rebuilding. "The current buck to doe ratio is below the management objective, but fawn production is the best it has been in this area for about four years," he said.
Hunters are reminded that a good portion of the western part of the region is part of the Vernon limited entry deer unit, and general deer season hunters need to stay out of these boundaries (a boundary description is available in the 2005 Utah Big Game Proclamation).
For more information about hunting in central Utah, call the Central Region office at (801) 491-5678.
Northeastern Region
The number of bucks in the Northeastern Region will be down slightly from last year, but the deer rifle hunters do find should be fat and healthy.
"I expect buck numbers to be down on the Currant Creek unit this year over previous years," Boyde Blackwell, Northeastern Region wildlife manager, said of one of the region's most popular areas. "We had a very good buck harvest last year compared to previous years. This has reduced the number of bucks available for this year."
Blackwell says hunters will notice a lot more vegetation in the region than they've noticed during the last several years of drought. The increased vegetation will mean healthier and fatter deer this year. It will also encourage good deer fawn production in 2006.
Blackwell says the abundant vegetation and watering holes will also scatter the deer, and he encourages hunters to do a lot of preseason scouting. "Hunters need to get out into the areas they plan to hunt prior to the season," he said. "Water holes will not be scarce this year, so the animals should be spread out.
"Hunters should also look for escape cover near the areas where they find deer during their preseason scouting. Once the first shots are fired, the bucks will head for those secluded places. Sportsmen who do not scout their areas and learn the patterns the deer are following will likely be less successful than those who spend time in the field prior to the hunts."
In addition to preseason scouting, hunters are encouraged to know the hunt boundaries in the region. "Check the boundaries and mark them on your map prior to hunting, especially if you're hunting an area you're not familiar with," said Ron Stewart, Northeastern Region conservation outreach manager.
Stewart also encourages hunters to let someone at home or in their camp know where they're going and when they plan to be back.
"If you change your mind, notify the person so they can update their information," he said. "Every year division personnel, sheriff departments and search and rescue teams get called in to find someone in cases of emergency or lost hunters. Knowing where to look can save both time and lives."
For more information, call the Northeastern Region office at (435) 781-WILD (9453).
Southeastern Region
Rifle hunters should find more bucks in the Southeastern Region this year, says Bill Bates, Southeastern Region wildlife manager.
"Good fawn production in 2004 and good survival this past winter have strengthened herds across the region," he said. "Most units show both short and long-term upward trends as far as the total number of deer in the herds."
While the number of deer is up in the region this year, all of southeastern Utah's deer herds are still under management objective as far as the total number of deer. Bates says deer habitat in southeastern Utah faces a long road to recovery after years of drought, but aggressive habitat restoration work by the DWR and other agencies is beginning to pay off thanks to normal rainfall during the 2005 growing season. "If the weather returns to a normal pattern, the vegetation in the region will rebound and the deer herds should continue to grow," he said.
To improve their chances of bagging a buck, Bates encourages rifle hunters to scout before the season begins. "Spend time observing deer in your prospective hunting area," Bates said. "Get to know where the animals feed, bed down and water. Develop a hunting strategy based on your observations. Try to anticipate changes in animal behavior due to hunter pressure and weather conditions."
For more information, call the DWR's Southeastern Region office at (435) 636-0260.
Southern Region
Rifle hunters should see more bucks in the Southern Region this year, thanks to favorable winter conditions and abundant spring moisture across the region.
"The Southern Region has had some very cooperative weather over the past few months, and there's a good crop of yearling mule deer in the region," said Lynn Chamberlain, Southern Region conservation outreach manager. "Combine those deer with a good contingent of two-year-old bucks, and we expect hunters will enjoy a fair hunt in the region this year."
Chamberlain says the buck to doe ratio on the region's general season units has climbed slightly to an average of 15 bucks per 100 does. The total number of deer in the region is still below management objective, but deer numbers also have increased slightly over the last two years.
Chamberlain says the weather in southwestern Utah is cooling off, so hunters can expect to find deer scattered but moving from higher to lower elevations. "Fire danger is extreme in most places, so hunters need to be careful with fire," he said.
For more information, call the DWR's Cedar City office at (435) 865-6100.