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The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources wants hunters to kill more bears in 2017.
The agency is recommending an additional 46 additional limited-entry bear permits for 2017, almost all of them located in southeastern Utah, where biologists claim that the number of bears is growing rapidly. There also is concern that bears are coming into conflict with livestock in those areas.
DWR biologist Rusty Robinson said the state's bear population has grown by about 4 percent in each of the last three years.
"A few years ago, we began implementing new strategies to manage bears," Robinson said. "We feel those strategies are working. Bear populations are being kept within the sideboards of Utah's bear management plan, and we're seeing fewer conflicts between bears and people."
The agency said in a news release that just because 46 additional permits are being recommended does not mean 46 additional bears will be taken.
"About 46 percent of the hunters with limited-entry permits end up taking a bear," he said. "Based on the past success rate, adding 46 permits would likely result in about 22 additional bears being taken."
The public can comment on the proposals at upcoming regional advisory council meetings scheduled Dec. 6 at the Springville Civic Center; Dec. 7 at the Brigham City Community Center; Dec. 13 at the Sevier School District Office in Richfield; Dec. 14 at the John Wesley Powell Museum in Green River, and Dec. 15 at the DWR northeastern region office in Vernal.
The Utah Wildlife Board will finalize the proposals Jan. 3 in Salt Lake City.
For details on the proposals, log on to http://www.wildlife.utah.gov/public_meetings.