Utah Deer Herd Numbers

[Craig S.]

I have heard "HOW SUCCESSFUL" the Utah Tags & Convention are from several people. On the other hand, I have read & seen an "outcry" from some resident Utah Hunters, as to how the Tags & Convention haven't changed anything with relationship to the Mule Deer populations. So, here is the factual information I found on the UTAH DNR website:

In 2006, according to the Utah DNR, the estimated Mule Deer population in Utah was around 320,000. In 2010, it was around 290,000.

Utah General Deer Hunters afield:

1970-196,633
1976-187,450
1980-222,542
1986-202,549
1990-231,432
1996-109,394
2000-103,336
2006-88,452 year expo tags began
2010-87,725 post expo tags

Here is the source link:

2010 Utah Annual Big Game Report

Now with that said, one could state that the decline in population may have been caused by drought, so I wanted more facts.

This was the only semi-drought year before fawning time.

The bottom line is I just want the facts when it comes to this whole process of these tags & expos. I have read a lot of opinions, thoughts & feelings, but these facts show me Utah's Tags & Expo have not helped their deer population. If I am missing something, help me out or if anyone has any other FACTUAL data please share & cite your source.

 

[Big Fin]

Craig:

This is data the AZSFW guys do not want to see as they try to take your AZ tags for their own benefit.

They will through out some sort of increase in Limited Entry elk tags as evidence of their success. When you lobby to put most the state on LE elk tags, guess what happens. You have an increase in LE elk permits.

They will talk about increases in average age of harvested elk. Guess what happens when you restrict harvest by taking 80% of the elk hunters out of the field? Average age goes up. That is not due to some miracle of the Expo system. That is merely a function of restricting opportunity.

As the NRA said, everyone should .......

......... should exercise caution in accepting as fact, or repeating, any claims made by Sportsmen for Fish and Wildlife, Big Game Forever or any person claiming to represent them. Due to the blatant misrepresentation contained in the press release circulated by these two groups, any claims they make in the future should be thoroughly investigated and independently confirmed.

 

[dan.kirkpatrick]

agreed,,,sfw is a dirty fish,,,please do not put dollars in there pocket.