DWR proposes changes for Utah’s 2018 big game hunts

    Division of Wildlife Resources biologists are recommending new and innovative approaches that would reduce hunter crowding during Utah’s 2018 general rifle buck deer hunt. The proposals would also create more flexibility and opportunity for both deer and elk hunters.
    Covy Jones, big game coordinator for the Division of Wildlife Resources, says all of the changes biologists are recommending are a result of biologists listening to hunters.
    “Almost all of the requests we receive from big game hunters have a common theme: we’d like more opportunity to hunt big game,” he says. “We’ve examined how the state’s big game populations are doing and the current hunt structure we have. We think we’ve found some innovative ways to meet the requests of hunters without negatively affecting the herds.”
    The following are the DWR’s major big game hunting recommendations for 2018:
    In addition to the regular general rifle buck deer hunt, hold an early-season rifle buck deer hunt on 10 general deer hunting units in the state. The early-season hunt would happen in mid-October. Holding an early-season hunt would significantly reduce hunter crowding in some areas by splitting the general rifle hunt into two separate hunts.
    Hold a late-season limited-entry muzzleloader buck deer hunt on general deer hunting units that are meeting their buck-to-doe objectives. The hunt would happen in early November.
    Give bull elk hunters a chance to hunt all three seasons—archery, rifle and muzzleloader—on the state’s spike-only and any-bull general elk hunting units.
    Hold a special “cactus buck-only” hunt on the famed Paunsaugunt premium limited entry unit in southwestern Utah. (“Cactus bucks” are buck deer that typically can’t reproduce and aren’t contributing to the overall population.)
Learn more, share your ideas
    You can see all of the biologists’ big game recommendations at www.wildlife.utah.gov/public_meetings. After reviewing the ideas, you can let your Regional Advisory Council members know your thoughts by attending your upcoming RAC meeting or by sending an email to them.
    RAC chairmen will share the input they receive with members of the Utah Wildlife Board. The board will meet in Salt Lake City on Nov. 30 to approve rules for Utah’s 2018 big game hunting seasons. Dates, times and locations for the RAC meetings are as follows:
Nov. 15
6:30 p.m.
John Wesley Powell Museum
1765 E. Main St.
Green River
Email
    You can also provide your comments to your RAC via email. Email addresses for your RAC members are available at www.wildlife.utah.gov/dwr/rac-members.html.
    The group each RAC member represents (sportsman, non-consumptive, etc.) is listed under each person’s email address. You should direct your email to the people on the RAC who represent your interest.