This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2015, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
State wildlife managers have boosted the number of general season hunting permits for the 2015 season in an attempt to control Utah's burgeoning mule deer population.
Next fall, 2,250 more hunters will be able to get deer hunt permits.
"Utah's deer herds are in the best shape they've been in since the early 1990s," said Justin Shannon, big game manager for the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (DWR).
The proposed hunting permit increase, which will likely draw criticism from some groups, is based on population surveys.
Wildlife officials estimate a current statewide population of 355,600 mule deer — up from an estimated 332,900 after the 2013 hunts.
Biologists believe about 84 percent of does and 82 percent of fawns made it through 2014, helping to bolster the population.
The state wildlife agency manages 30 deer hunting units. Just over half are managed with an objective of carrying a ratio of 18 to 20 bucks for every 100 does. And 14 have a ratio goal of 15 to 17 bucks for 100 does.
Based on those ratios and population counts, DWR is proposing no changes for 17 hunting units, a decrease on one unit and increases on 12.
The total number of general season deer hunting permits recommended for 2015 is 87,050 — up from 84,800 in 2014.
The male-to-female ratio averages 21 bucks for every 100 does across the state. Those numbers, Shannon says, likely mean not only more bucks but also more mature bucks in the herd.
"Great news for Utah's hunters," he said in a release.
DWR also is recommending an increase of more than 250 permits for limited-entry deer hunts.
The proposals will be shared in a series of meetings held across the state starting April 7 and running through April 16. Input from the public meetings will be shared with the Utah Wildlife Board for changes or final approval at a meeting in Salt Lake City April 30.
A packet for the meetings is available at http://www.wildlife.utah.gov/public_meetings.
Twitter: @BrettPrettyman —
Public Information
The Division of Wildlife Resources is holding a series of meetings across the state with a focus on deer hunting permit numbers for the 2015 season. Here's the schedule for the Regional Advisory Council meetings:
April 7 • Northern region, Brigham City Community Center, 24. N. 300 West, Brigham City, 6 p.m.
April 8 • Central region, City Civic Center, 110 S. Main St., Springville, 6:30 p.m.
April 14 • Southern region, Beaver High School, 195 E. Center St., Beaver, 5 p.m.
April 15 • Southeastern region, John Wesley Powell Museum, 1765 E. Main St., Green River, 6:30 p.m.
April 16 • Northeastern region, DWR Northeastern Region Office, 318 N. Vernal Ave., Vernal, 6:30 p.m.