Book Cliffs Highway Proposed in Mule Deer Winter Range
MT Backcountry
5/27/09 11:41am
Fellow mule deer hunters. Just want to let you all know about a proposal to create a 45 mile highway through the heart of the East Tavaputs/Book Cliffs that could place a big impact on the mule deer herd.
Running north/south on Seep Ridge between Willow and Bitter Creeks, this proposal will create highway traffic through crucial winter range and a migration corridor in the Book Cliffs limited entry mule deer hunting unit.
According to comments submitted by the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, “If the Seep Ridge Road is reconstructed as proposed, possible changes in traffic would result in negative impacts to wildlife populations in all seasonal ranges and migration corridors.” I’ve spoken with local biologists who think this could result in as much as a 1500 head reduction in the mule deer population in this hunting unit (current population is just over 8000). That means less hunting opportunity and fewer big bucks.
While I don’t live in Utah I’ve been applying for a mule deer tag in this area for a number of years. The last thing we need is less opportunity, I’m already having trouble pulling a tag.
Upgrading it with a gravel surface makes some sense, but a paved road could really hurt hunting in this area through increased vehicle collisions, and increased traffic and development.
If you care about the Book Cliffs, contact the BLM State Director, Selma Sierra and let her know that the Seep Ridge road paving projects is a bad idea. Ask her to upgrade and maintain a gravel surface instead. Let her know you are a sportsman.
Her email address is:Selma_Sierra@blm.gov
Running north/south on Seep Ridge between Willow and Bitter Creeks, this proposal will create highway traffic through crucial winter range and a migration corridor in the Book Cliffs limited entry mule deer hunting unit.
According to comments submitted by the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, “If the Seep Ridge Road is reconstructed as proposed, possible changes in traffic would result in negative impacts to wildlife populations in all seasonal ranges and migration corridors.” I’ve spoken with local biologists who think this could result in as much as a 1500 head reduction in the mule deer population in this hunting unit (current population is just over 8000). That means less hunting opportunity and fewer big bucks.
While I don’t live in Utah I’ve been applying for a mule deer tag in this area for a number of years. The last thing we need is less opportunity, I’m already having trouble pulling a tag.
Upgrading it with a gravel surface makes some sense, but a paved road could really hurt hunting in this area through increased vehicle collisions, and increased traffic and development.
If you care about the Book Cliffs, contact the BLM State Director, Selma Sierra and let her know that the Seep Ridge road paving projects is a bad idea. Ask her to upgrade and maintain a gravel surface instead. Let her know you are a sportsman.
Her email address is:
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