01-10-2008, 10:10 PM
SALT LAKE CITY - Hunters will have a chance to take a few more bears in Utah this year.
On Jan. 8, the Utah Wildlife Board increased the number of permits to hunt bears in Utah this spring and fall. Board members raised the total number of permits from 248 last year to 299 for 2008.<br />
Based on past success rates, about 15 more bears should be taken by hunters in Utah this year.
Bear management plan<br />
Bear management in Utah is guided by the state's Black Bear Management Plan. The three major goals of the plan-keep the percentage of female bears taken by hunters below 40 percent; keep the average age of bears taken by hunters above 5 years old; and keep the adult survival rate above 78 percent-were all met in 2007.<br />
"We're always happy when these goals were met. And the goals have been met every year since the plan was implemented in 2000," says Kevin Bunnell, mammals program coordinator for the Division of Wildlife Resources.<br />
"When the goals are met, we know Utah's black bears are doing well," Bunnell says. "And because the goals were met, we know that Utah's bear populations can support some increased harvest without having a negative effect on the overall population."<br />
Bunnell says most of the additional bears will be taken in areas in northern, central and northeastern Utah where people encountered bears the most in 2007. "Taking a few more bears should help reduce the chance that people and bears run into conflict in these areas this year," he says.
Keep your campsite and cabin area clean<br />
Even though a few more bear permits will be available in 2008, Bunnell says taking more bears is not a long-term solution to reducing conflicts between bears and people...<br />
» Read the complete story
YOUNG DEER HUNTERS: HUNT ALL THREE SEASONS<br />
If you're a teenage deer hunter, you may want to consider getting a rifle or muzzleloader permit for this fall's general hunts.<br />
If you obtain one of these permits, you can hunt all three seasons this fall-archery, muzzleloader and rifle.<br />
But if you obtain a general statewide archery permit, you can hunt only during the archery season.<br />
"Rifle and muzzleloader deer hunting is restricted to specific regions," says Judi Tutorow, wildlife licensing coordinator for the Division of Wildlife Resources.<br />
"If a young hunter obtains a statewide archery permit, we have no way of knowing which region he should be hunting in during the rifle and muzzleloader seasons," she says. "That's why young hunters who obtain a general archery permit can't hunt during the rifle and muzzleloader seasons."
Details<br />
Giving young hunters a chance to hunt all three seasons began in Utah in 2000. The goal was to get more of Utah's young people interested in big game hunting by giving them a chance to hunt during the various seasons.<br />
To qualify for the youth hunting opportunity, young hunters must be 18 years of age or younger on Aug. 16, 2008 (the beginning of the state's general archery buck deer hunt).<br />
Young hunters are reminded that they may take only one buck deer each season, so the chance to hunt all three seasons will end as soon as they take a deer.<br />
Young hunters who obtain a general rifle or muzzleloader deer permit can hunt in any of the state's five general season regions during the general archery hunt. During the muzzleloader and rifle hunts, they must hunt in the region they obtained a permit for.<br />
Deer hunters are reminded that they may not hunt on limited entry units. Limited entry units are open only to those who obtain a limited entry permit.
Must apply by Jan. 31<br />
Applications for 2008 Utah big game hunting permits will be accepted until Jan. 31. You can apply through the Internet (wildlife.utah.gov) until 11 p.m. on Jan. 31.<br />
You can also apply over the phone at (801) 538-4700. Phone-in applications will be must be received no later than 5 p.m. on Jan. 31.<br />
For more information, call the Utah Wildlife Administrative Services office at 1-800-221-0659, the nearest Division of Wildlife Resources office or the DWR's Salt Lake City office at (801) 538-4700.
On Jan. 8, the Utah Wildlife Board increased the number of permits to hunt bears in Utah this spring and fall. Board members raised the total number of permits from 248 last year to 299 for 2008.<br />
Based on past success rates, about 15 more bears should be taken by hunters in Utah this year.
Bear management plan<br />
Bear management in Utah is guided by the state's Black Bear Management Plan. The three major goals of the plan-keep the percentage of female bears taken by hunters below 40 percent; keep the average age of bears taken by hunters above 5 years old; and keep the adult survival rate above 78 percent-were all met in 2007.<br />
"We're always happy when these goals were met. And the goals have been met every year since the plan was implemented in 2000," says Kevin Bunnell, mammals program coordinator for the Division of Wildlife Resources.<br />
"When the goals are met, we know Utah's black bears are doing well," Bunnell says. "And because the goals were met, we know that Utah's bear populations can support some increased harvest without having a negative effect on the overall population."<br />
Bunnell says most of the additional bears will be taken in areas in northern, central and northeastern Utah where people encountered bears the most in 2007. "Taking a few more bears should help reduce the chance that people and bears run into conflict in these areas this year," he says.
Keep your campsite and cabin area clean<br />
Even though a few more bear permits will be available in 2008, Bunnell says taking more bears is not a long-term solution to reducing conflicts between bears and people...<br />
» Read the complete story
YOUNG DEER HUNTERS: HUNT ALL THREE SEASONS<br />
If you're a teenage deer hunter, you may want to consider getting a rifle or muzzleloader permit for this fall's general hunts.<br />
If you obtain one of these permits, you can hunt all three seasons this fall-archery, muzzleloader and rifle.<br />
But if you obtain a general statewide archery permit, you can hunt only during the archery season.<br />
"Rifle and muzzleloader deer hunting is restricted to specific regions," says Judi Tutorow, wildlife licensing coordinator for the Division of Wildlife Resources.<br />
"If a young hunter obtains a statewide archery permit, we have no way of knowing which region he should be hunting in during the rifle and muzzleloader seasons," she says. "That's why young hunters who obtain a general archery permit can't hunt during the rifle and muzzleloader seasons."
Details<br />
Giving young hunters a chance to hunt all three seasons began in Utah in 2000. The goal was to get more of Utah's young people interested in big game hunting by giving them a chance to hunt during the various seasons.<br />
To qualify for the youth hunting opportunity, young hunters must be 18 years of age or younger on Aug. 16, 2008 (the beginning of the state's general archery buck deer hunt).<br />
Young hunters are reminded that they may take only one buck deer each season, so the chance to hunt all three seasons will end as soon as they take a deer.<br />
Young hunters who obtain a general rifle or muzzleloader deer permit can hunt in any of the state's five general season regions during the general archery hunt. During the muzzleloader and rifle hunts, they must hunt in the region they obtained a permit for.<br />
Deer hunters are reminded that they may not hunt on limited entry units. Limited entry units are open only to those who obtain a limited entry permit.
Must apply by Jan. 31<br />
Applications for 2008 Utah big game hunting permits will be accepted until Jan. 31. You can apply through the Internet (wildlife.utah.gov) until 11 p.m. on Jan. 31.<br />
You can also apply over the phone at (801) 538-4700. Phone-in applications will be must be received no later than 5 p.m. on Jan. 31.<br />
For more information, call the Utah Wildlife Administrative Services office at 1-800-221-0659, the nearest Division of Wildlife Resources office or the DWR's Salt Lake City office at (801) 538-4700.