Any "Dedicated Hunters" out there?

Your're correct. You even get to hunt all three seasons and archery hunt state wide and each year after you turn your unused tag, they put you in for a special draw for about 20 different LE buck and bull tags. Great deal! I'm glad I resigned up this year.

Loco
The only spin to this is you can only harvest 2 muleys in three years ether with a bow <--------) , muzzy, :333 or rifle :222 . It is a first come first serve with a cap of 10,000 and this year they meet that number. This is my third year and I was successful my first two years. So I called the DRW and opted out of my third year, which now I can go buy an over the counter archery tag and still hunt, but not all three hunts as a dedicated hunter dose. Next year I will be back in line to sign up for another three. =D>

it is a good deal. This will be my 8th year in the program. I will probably do it as long as the program stays in place.

oakbrush

Buckmaster, how do you opt out of your third year and still hunt on your third year. You signed a contract that says you will only shoot two deer in three seasons. That sounds a little like cheating.

Ridgetop: This is what I was told...... Because I have harvested my two deer my first two years leaving a third year open for nothing. With all my credits(hours) were taken care of my first year, I had my RAC meeting behind me. So here I sat thinking I could not deer hunt this year (08) Then at the Western outdoor show I was talking with some of the DWR boys and they said I could opt out and pay for an archery deer tag and hunt. I then called the DWR to confirm what I was told and again I was told the same thing. The DWR dose not keep a spot open for you after your third year, it is a first come first serve to sign up again for everyone.

Cool beans, hope it spreads to Colo so I can slim down our 75/1 doe /buck ratio.

Venison...it's what's for dinner. :thumb

Sounds pretty cool, guys. Is there any restrictions to where you can hunt? 10,000 people hunting the Book Cliffs doesn't sound like too good of an idea. How does that work?

You have to pick your region of choice and there is a cap in place for each region and you cannot hunt on LE's. If you do draw a LE tag, then you forfeit your dedicated hunter tag for the year. Buckmaster, I hope you realize, I'm not trying to start something but was just thinking hypothetically. If each person were to shoot 2 deer then opt out of the program and then shoot a third deer on the general season permit on that third year and then the person that filled in for your opted out tag shot a deer on their first year, that would be 4 deer killed in 3 years on your original dedicated hunter tag. It just seems like defeating the purpose of preserving the bucks, when twice as many could be killed than origanally thought. Just some food for thought.

I have been a member since it started and I also think it's a great program.

Like others have stated, you can only shoot two deer in the three year program. After you have enrolled in the program you are required to complete a conservation course, 24 hours on approved service projects, and you have to attend a Regional Advisory Council meeting.

In return, you are able to choose the region you want to hunt during the general deer seasons with a guaranteed tag and you are also able to hunt all three seasons.(archery, muzzleloader,rifle) You are then required to mail your permit back to the DWR after the general deer seasons have ended if you didn't harvest a deer so they can keep track of how many deer you have harvested within the three year period. If you don't send your permit in by the deadline, a deer harvest will be counted. That's a simple explanation of the program.

The program is not just for residents. I also just rejoined the dedicated hunter program and I'm a nonresident. It's a fantastic program and I really enjoy being in it.

Ridgetop.... your thoughts and concern are great and I thank you for them. When I opt out it dose not allow a person to take my spot. That spot is locked for three years with or with out a dedicated hunter being successful. Second most of us on the dedicated program are after trophy animals 4 point or better so the odds go down on any of us harvesting a deer. I went nine years before I finally found the bucks I wanted and lucky for me they were both with archery gear and while I was on the dedicate hunter program. So if I opt out my third year and buy an archery tag and hunt for a buck (trophy) my odds of success is around 6% or lower. I feel that because I pass on all the younger deer and only take the 4 year or older bucks I am helping preserve more mule deer for future big bucks and a greater gene pool. I hope this dose not offend anyone, and if so I am sorry!

I just signed up for year 10..... I wasnt aware of that loop hole...... In my opinion you should only kill 2 deer (or less) in that three year period. As long as you're doing the hours, I guess it aint so bad. Why not just buy an archery tag every year?

I called the fish and game office in springville today and they told me that this was not an option. thay said I could get out but I could not posses a general season tag this year. also, they said If i did purchase an archery tag and harvested an animal it would be taken illegaly and I could face poaching charges. this was from the central region dedicated hunter adviser in the springville office. anyways I was excited when I read your loop hole but its to good to be true.

My reason,(not that I owe anyone an explanation) for joining DH was so I could hunt with my son that is under the age of 18. He dose not like archery but loves the muzzy, So I hunt with him at that time and then for myself and my older son we like archery.

I have attached a email correspondence I did with DWR'S / DH Chairperson Sue Robinson.
I repeat it for how I was told.

Subject: Re: dedicated hunter question

Thank you so much for the photo's, they are awesome. I am going to post
your photo's for sure.
Just curious, where and when did you take the archery deer? I never seen
anything like that at the deer checking station, just thought I would ask.

If you choose to opt out for your third year after two harvests, (most do)
you can do that and purchase a regular archery permit, however, it does not
leave a slot open for another DH. Once that cap was met, it closes the
enrollment process, no more permits can be issued. But thank you for your
generous thought, too bad there isn't a way that can happen.

No, being in the program for three years does not assure you a slot for future
enrollment. (maybe someday...)

If you have anymore questions, please let me know. Thanks for your
participation in the Dedicated Hunter program.

Sue Robinson
CRO Volunteer Coordinator
Dedicated Hunter Program
1115 North Main Street
Springville UT 84663

thats odd because I'm sure thats the same person I talked with what the heck

I e-mailed Sue and this was her reply to me.

Koby,
No that information is incorrect. Two deer in three years, that's it. A person who has drew out on a limited entry hunt or a CWMU hunt for the third year can hunt, but nobody can come in and buy any other deer permit. (excluding doe regulations)



Sue Robinson
CRO Volunteer Service Coordinator
Dedicated Hunter Program
1115 North Main Street
Springville UT 84663
(801) 491-5657 office
(801) 360-2278 cell
(801) 491-5646 fax

Seems like there's a double standard going on but oh well. Honestly Buuckmaster, good for you and congrats on two good bucks in the last two years. Looks like for the most part, people will not be able to do what you did.

I think I will make a trip into the SLC DWR office and see if I can get more info....YES :thumb or NO :>/ Try and figure this one out :-k If I get a yes I will get them to put it in writing lol

"Buckmaster" wrote: If I get a yes I will get them to put it in writing lol

good idea, be sure to let us know what ya find out!!!!

9er

I can appreciate anyone who wants to go on hunts with their children, but you don't need a tag to do that. For the last five years I've skipped the dedicated rifle hunt in order to take my brothers on theirs. I enjoy these hunts every bit as much as my own, and have even helped both of them shoot bigger deer than anything I've ever taken. When I don't have a tag in my pocket it's easier to give them my full attention and adds to their enjoyment.

In my opinion, the minute you took the second buck in year two you also made the decision to sit out in year three. That's the choice each of us makes in the program. Even if this "loop-hole" exists, I would hope that anyone would be honorable enough to stand by the original commitment they made. I'm not saying that you shouldn't go hunting. I just think your kids should be your total focus this year.

You seem like a really nice guy and I hope I didn't offend you with my comments. Regardless of what happens, good luck this year to you and your kids.