DWR IS TRYIN TO GO BACK TO 9 DAY RIFLE HUNT!!!!

Quite frankly I miss the second weekend.. With the nine day hunt I had time to let all the whords of californians pourn on in, shoot their spike ( :>/ ) and peel outa there.. by second weekend i'd go back and be able to really get out and hunt deer and be able to do so with having them be in their natural environment acting like deer are supposed to, where opening weeking my experiences say you just hike around and hope to get lucky and somethin gets pushed to you.. Every year our whole family would all seem to bag out on 4-points second weekend, seeing hardly any hunters as well.. this year we saw 1 4 point friday night and honestly, i dunno if it was even a shooter - it'd a been a tough call.

anyways, I know the DWR's too greedy to do this as they wont be able to get their new trucks and all their toys, but if it were up to me i'd do all of 3 things to start off taking immetiate action for next season;

1. Micro-managed deer units
2. turn it back to a 9 day hunt
3. Cut back tremendously on licenses permitted

again, this is just a START for what utah needs to help out our deer herds. It's honestly a joke hunting muleys on public land in utah anymore (my opinion) and quite frankly i'm a little fed up with it.


(all things said in here are just how I feel, many of you may dis-agree with me and thats allright. I'm definately no pro on the subject but i think this'd go a long way for the better rather than what "the pros" have been doing in the past)

Hey guys. Although I don't live/hunt in Utah I thought I'd throw my two-cents worth in.

In my region of WA the Muley season is 9 days and I agree, I like the idea of waiting out opening weekend and then hitting it hard during the week/last weekend when everyone is either at work or has packed it in and headed home.

For as long as I can remember, the season's been 9 days but usually a "big" buck was a 3X3...very seldom did you see anything bigger than that unless you headed deep into the hills. A number of years ago (15 years I guess) they instituted a 3 points (one side) or better rule. At first I was pretty disappointed with it because I was hunting for anything legal and I thought it would severly hamper my ability to bring home anything. However, over the years I have come to love the rule because I see more and more quality animals every year! In fact, it's come to the point that I will pass up a 3 point hoping to find a 4X4 or better (NEVER thought that would happen back then). Of course, as I've gotten older I've come to realize that not bagging a buck is NOT the end of the world (I passed on two small shooters this year hoping for a big boy and ended up coming home empty handed) and I just enjoy hunting for what it is....getting out and enjoying nature.

Before the rule was instituted (5 years of hunting) I probably SAW a total of three 4X4s or better and never bagged one. Since then I have brought home (Not counting the ones I've seen, MISSED, or let pass) 1 3X3 (27"), 1 3X4, 2 4X4's, 1 4X5, and 1 6X6. I know, that's only 6 quality animals in 15 years but that's about a 40% success rate which is still above the norm.

I was just curious, apparently your area does not have a point restriction (I gathered this from the other posts). What would you all think if they instituted this rule in your area vice cutting the number of hunting days from 9 to 5?

I will be really disappointed if they move the rifel hunt back to 9 days. YOU WILL and I REPEAT you WILL see the deer herd go down again. The deer from last year to this year was unreal. They also need to move the archey hunt to 2 weeks, and take the muzzeloader hunt to 5 days. As many people that are getting into hunting these days, moves like this has to be made. FACE it they won't cut the licenses because they like the money to much. Less days to hunt more deer and same amount of tags get sold. Do what i do take pictures of them the rest of the year and enjoy the most beautiful animal in the word the MULE DEER. I don't know about you, but i like going into the hills now and seeing 20 to 25 4 points creast a ridge. A few years ago that wouldn't have happened not even a chance. Take it for what it's worth less days to hunt works.

I definetly agree on the rifle hunt the muzzle loader is a little different i dont think the long muzzle loader hunt would be any better shorter just cause of the fact that is only including 1 weekend i believe 90% of the deer taken on the muzzleloader hunt is on the first 5 days so making it shorter i think would only upset a lot more people then it would even helpin the deer herd.

As for the archery hunt this years archery deer harvests in the southern utah region was less then 800 deer, during the rifle hunt of 2003 there were over 7000 deer killed on the rifle hunt. I dont think the archery hunt is a real problem being 4 weeks long. Thats just my thoughts on that. I hunt all 3 hunts and it is 50 times harder to get a big deer with a bow then it is a muzzloader or rifle.

I hunt all 3 hunts and it is 50 times harder to get a big deer with a bow then it is a muzzloader or rifle.

True that, my only concern and it's not a huge deal is the amount of deer wounded during archery hunting.

For example, I had a friend a few years ago say this...

I've hit a deer every year bowhunting, yet never killed or recoverd one.

That is very disturbing, not that there isn't plenty of deer wounded during rifle also.

But if we factor in all the wounded/hit and can't find, the numbers continue rocket upward.

My opinion is I'd like to see the 9 days come back at some point personally, but not just yet. It has and is helping in the southern region and anyone who hunts it knows this.

The last 3 years have actually been some fairly good hunting and fun, still TONS of people of course but some more bucks and nicer bucks taken.

This year was a VERY GOOD year in Southern Utah for a lot of people in my opinion.

I just finished reading the whole DWR proposal for 2007, much of which I'm fine with. I'm glad that SFW is supporting for the 1st 9 days you have hunt your region or pick a region (not sure which)

The bowhunt is simply a ZOO and as bad as Rifle, which is crazy.

AGCHAWK

Thanks for chiming in on this even though your from greener country. :)

They tried the 3-point of better rule here in Utah years ago and quite frankly it was a failure and flopped.

I think we have a weird breed here in Utah that shoot anything that moves or has 5" horns. The sad part is, people would shoot and count points after the fact, then because we had so many hunters we were still killing all the big boys.

Maybe we didn't give it long enough to 'take effect', but I'm against trying it again at this point.

I'd like to see a reduction in the overall tags statewide for deer, don't think we should be giving 97,000 tags out.

Maybe 60,000 would suffice.

Then we would have raise the cost, because you/I both the know the DWR needs more and we are money hungry people. There is know whay they would lay off or restructure to reduce cost. They are spending and in need of more money than ever.

I'd be willing to pay more, for a better experience and less DISNEYLAND LINES!

I could go on and on for awhile on several topics.

I'm for micro-managing the state into smaller units also.

IMHO, The 3 point restriction was a bad thing for Colorado too, exactly what you said Brett. You'd see dead forkies all over, left to rot. The shorter season would help but IMHO what Utah really needs to do is cut back the number of tags and make the management units smaller, so they can better manage them. For now UDWR and the Commission is using deer as their cash cow and more then likely will not cut back on the number of tags. $$$$$$$$$ zzz

The last thing I need to get off my chest is an hunting ETHICS course! :thumb

I get so sick of the BAD people/hunters that make the good guys look bad to.

I know we all took hunter safety at some point in life, for me it was 18 years ago. What the heck do I remember from that experience that long ago you ask????

Quite frankly a lot!! :)

What the heck don't I remember or have forgotten??

Quite frankly a lot!! :)

I think we should have to renew our CARDS every few years just like a drivers license etc.

I had the chance to sit through and help teach an entire course again recently, quite frankly it was a great experience and I learned a lot again.

I can't stand all the....

• swear words on radios
  ATV ABUSE and thrashing of our lands
  not checking for wounded animals
  leaving trash and garbage in the God's great outdoors
  camping right in the middle of SUPER hunting areas
  fighting over a deer you didn't shoot
  trespassing
  shooting other peoples animals for them
  alcohol and hunting (simply don't mix)
  etc. etc. etc.

My last dying words on the subject... :)

THANKS TO ALL THE GOOD GUYS/GALS out there who DO IT RIGHT and are GREAT PEOPLE!!

THANK-YOU, it's a pleasure to hunt by/with you. And fun also. :thumb :thumb

I think if the five day hunt is going to stay for suothern utah it should be the rule for the rest of the units. I have to pay just as much for a five day hunt as the rest of the state does for a longer hunt, sure i still get the chance to get a deer, but I have to work faster to get it. :>/ If a five day hunt is good for us it should be good for the rest of the state, other wise matbe it should be cheaper for So. Utah. :) Just think how the rest of the state would benefit from a five day hunt if it is such a great thing. :thumb

Shed Crazy

If a five day hunt is good for us it should be good for the rest of the state

GOOD POINT! I agree

BTW - Did you hunt this year? How did it go? Hear of or see any good ones taken on the PAUNS?

Yea, there are a few here that still shoot first and count points afterward but I think that just goes back to one of your other posts....that ethics are lacking!

Take the time, count the points, and ensure that it's a legal buck. If the darn thing is so small that you can't tell, maybe you let it live to see another season and grow a bit.

The same thing for folks that take unethical shots (Shots far beyond thier realistic capabilities, shots at deer running straight-away, not checking after a shot to ensure you missed or tracking the game once it's wounded). There is NOTHING I hate more than waisting such a fine animal or allowing that animal to suffer. PLEASE afford the animal the respect it deserves!

I LOVE THE FACT THAT YOU THREW ATVS IN YOUR POST!!!! I cannot stand the darn things. I don't mind folks using them to help transport game once it's down provided they stick to established trails and all but FAR TOO OFTEN I see them tearing across open fields and hillsides, frightening everything within a one mile radius and leaving UGLY scares on the earth that take years to heal! Leave 'em home if you're gonna spoil the great outdoors for everyone else.

LOL...this has turned into a VENT session and for that I'm sorry. After I read Brett's post and some of his pet peavez I HAD to throw mine out there.

I also echo what Brett posted...THANKS TO ALL THAT DO IT RIGHT! I'D HIT THE FIELD WITH YA ANY DAY !

those are some really good points. I agree that the archery hunt is just as crazy as the rifle hunt any more i would now i hunted archery this year and is was amazing to me to see how many people tryed to hunt archery like it was the rifle hunt. I think if people would hunt archery the way it was supposed to be hunted, by tree stands ground blinds and possibley a little spot in stock but dont over shoot the bow i could not believe how many people i seen and talked to that took shoots over 70 yards. If people would only shoot a bow the distant it was ment to I think there would be less wounded deer. Im not saying there wouldnt still be some wounded deer but i think there wouldnt be asmany.

Like Muley Madness said it all comes back to ethics. These people will take bad shots with whatever particular they have in their hands at that time. All hunters should know what their limits are with their weapon of choice and stay within their limits.

BTW - The issue of the whole 9 day versus 5 day hunt in Southern Utah was proposed in 2005 and again in 2006 once already. And was rejected both times. So I'm not so sure it will go through this time either.

Unless they have a better sales pitch to hunters, which I doubt it?

Just thought i'd make a little point clear on my views - i DONT want em turning the 5 day back to 9 if that's the only change that's made... If we have any other changes made (micro-managing, tag cut backs, etc..) then, and only then, do i think it would be a good idea to switch back to the regular 9.

just felt like clearing myself up, haha.

i think if they brought it up to nine you would see a major drop in the deer pop. down there

I agree with you bigbuck, I think that if they only switched it back to 9 days then there would continue to be bigger drops in deer down there every year. But I think if we had micro-managed herds.. or better yet, a significant cut in permitted licenses then the deer could manage quite well with a 9 day hunt, just my opinion.

I think it would be a very good idea to mico-manage the whole state but if nothing else at leased the southern region. The southern region is so big and i think it would help tremendas if they could brake it into 3 or 4 units and have the five day hunt for one year then change it back to a 9 day hunt the second year. :thumb

I, personally, would like the hunt to remain 5 days. I have had more fun in the last 3-4 years because of the sacrifices we have all made to only hunt for a limited amount of time. It would be a shame to see the herds go down just to have them turn it back into a 5 day hunt 3-4 years down the road. Who wants to ride that rollercoaster? I think there are other alternatives and/or plans that can be made, but why fix something that seems to be working? I do agree with MuleyMadness. I too am sick of

swear words on radios
ATV ABUSE and thrashing of our lands
not checking for wounded animals
leaving trash and garbage in the God's great outdoors
camping right in the middle of SUPER hunting areas
fighting over a deer you didn't shoot
trespassing
shooting other peoples animals for them
alcohol and hunting (simply don't mix)
etc. etc. etc.

Something needs to change in the hunting community and I don't think that it is the amount of time spent hunting in So. Utah.

I've heard that the SFW is giving full support to keep the 5 day hunt and will be pushing very hard at next weeks RAC meeting and also at the wildlife board meeting. I'm guessing it will stay a little longer. :thumb