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Sunday, 16 January 2011 16:42 |
On Dec. 2, the Utah Wildlife Board made a landmark mule deer management decision. The exact meaning and future consequences of that decision are anything but certain. The impact of the decision on deer and deer hunting depends on decisions and actions yet to come.
All that we know for a fact at this point is that the Wildlife Board has set a new statewide buck/doe objective of 18-25 bucks per 100 does on all general season units. The DWR estimates a reduction of 13,000 permits will be necessary to achieve that objective. Effective 2012, all deer hunters will be required to hunt by unit.
Beyond these facts lies uncertainty. There are diverse opinions, ignorance, confusion between biological concerns and social concerns, speculations and magical thinking. Magical thinking is the belief that something is true simply because we want it to be true or that something will happen simply because we say it will happen.
If we continue to set aside all biological data, as was clearly done in this decision, then we have little else to guide us in future management decisions except magical thinking and the same type of emotionalism that has invalidated anti-hunter activism.
While we are disappointed to lose the statewide deer hunting opportunity that we have worked so hard to preserve, it isn’t the end of the world…far from it. But if we are complacent and allow magical thinking to guide future developments in unit management, it will be the end of the world for Utah’s mule deer.
As we have always done, BOU supports the management principles of the North American Wildlife Conservation Model and we call for a return to those principles. We call upon all hunters and the Utah Wildlife Board to be guided by this model in an ongoing development of unit management that will indeed benefit mule deer.
The North American Wildlife Conservation ModelEndorsed by the International Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies
The 7 Basic Principles
(The Seven Sisters)
- Wildlife is a public resource.
- Markets for wildlife must be eliminated.
- Wildlife must be allocated by law.
- Wildlife can only be killed for a legitimate purpose. “The Code of the Sportsman”
- Wildlife is an international resource.
- Science is the proper tool for the discharge of wildlife policy.
- Hunting must be democratic
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Last Updated on Sunday, 16 January 2011 18:37 |
Discuss (2 posts)
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Re:Magical Thinking in Wildlife Management
Jan 19 2011 06:32:07
I agree Finn, here we have facts on what happened to the deer heard in Nevada and so the people here in Utah disreguard the FACTS and think that they can do it better. Sounds like what is happing in our government today. The people over wildlife management should get Mr. Rogders to be there spokes person because they are living in his magical kingdom.
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#1076 |
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Re:Magical Thinking in Wildlife Management
Jan 20 2011 04:11:06
Very well put Finnegan.
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#1078 |
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Tuesday, 09 November 2010 13:41 |
BOU was a member of the Mule Deer Committee assembled by the UDWR to review the Mule Deer Management Plan. The Committee discussed micro-management, looked at data, and came to the conclusion that Micro-management would not grow our deer herds. There was no dissension from members of the Committee when Micro-management was left out of the Committee’s recommendations. The 5 year Plan was put in place just one year ago and we are now seeing major proposed changes to it after just one year.
Bowhunters of Utah would ask for the RAC’s support of the current Statewide Mule Deer Management Plan. The Current Plan allows for regional hunting with the ability to micro-manage our chronically troubled units.
Here are the reasons why:
-The Current Mule Deer Management plan alleviates pressure on the States struggling units, while allowing the Regional management to continue on all other units who meet or exceed the buck to doe objectives.
- A 29 Unit Management Plan will not grow more bucks. Only cutting Buck harvest and Hunter opportunity will grow more bucks. Biologically bucks are not the issue for deer herd stagnancy. The doe population is bred and we are carrying enough bucks on every unit to meet the biological need.
Many will claim that other states are micro-managing and that those states have better hunting. This claim may be true, but at what cost? Micro-management has not grown the herds in Colorado, Arizona, or Nevada. The following is an excerpt from Nevada’s Annual Report:
“The 2008 post-season buck ratio was again one of the highest on record at 31 bucks/100 does. Though this may be good news for the lucky Nevada deer applicants that are able to draw a tag, it is also a liability. With so many bucks in the population, they are directly competing with does and fawn’s for limited quality forage and thermal cover on winter range and are likely contributing to decreased body condition in does and fawns. This likely increases winter fawn mortality and decreases fawn production the following summer.”
*The above info can be found on page SS-1 at: http://www.ndow.org/about/pubs/reports/
... tus_bk.pdf
In the past 10-15 years, Nevada’s deer herd has gone from around 125,000 animals to just over 100,000. Their buck to doe ratio has doubled. That means their doe herd has shrunk by over 20% while buck numbers have increased by almost 80%. Nevada hunters wait 3-8 years to draw lesser quality units. They have a 40-50% success rate, of which 40-50% are 4 point bucks. Nevada hunters are waiting 3-8 years for a 20-25% chance to shoot a 4 point buck and carrying that many bucks is having a negative effect on their overall herd populations.
Utah’s system is somewhat like Wyoming’s system—Regional hunting, with some limited units. Wyoming’s herd is as strong as anyone’s.
Bowhunters of Utah is adamantly opposed to mandating a Limited Entry status on our deer herd. There are too many unanswered question’s, too many people will be locked out of our sport. It will not help our deer herd and may follow the negative trends seen in other states. All units (but 3 which the UDWR is proposing to address) are meeting their Buck to Doe Objective under the current Plan.
We ask the RAC to support the Current Statewide Mule Deer Management Plan: Regional Hunting, with the ability to follow the Unit by Unit approach where needed.
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Last Updated on Sunday, 16 January 2011 16:48 |
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Thursday, 21 October 2010 19:42 |
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 Dear members and friends of Bowhunters of Utah,
The Utah Chapter of Farmers and Hunters Feeding the Hungry have been asked by the city of Bountiful and the Division of Wildlife to participate in the culling of the Bountiful city deer herd. While there are many opinions on this subject, the bottom line is putting the meat on the table of those who need it most just in time for Thanksgiving and Christmas.
The plan is to start culling deer immediately and taking them to Arnold’s Meats in Ogden for processing. Once the meat is processed the meat will be picked up by the Bountiful food pantry who will then distribute the meat to those in need in Davis County. The Utah Chapter of Farmers and Hunters Feeding the Hungry will do all that it can to provide the processing costs. At this point the Utah Chapter only has $1500 in their account to get started. That is only enough to process 37 of the estimated 300 deer the DWR is planning to take.
The Utah Chapter of FHFH is asking for all those who can afford just $40 to help process one deer that will end up on the table of someone who really needs it. Every $40 will add up and help us reach our goal of $12,000 by the end of the year. I would ask that each of you take the time to ask your employer if they are willing to donate to this cause. Holly Refining and Marketing has already donated $1500 to get us started on this process. All those companies who donate a substantial amount will be noticed on banners, flyers, and any materials we print out. All donations can be written off on your taxes and a receipt will be sent to you for tax purposes.
To donate, please send a check written out to FHFH with UT-01 in the memo portion of the check to Kelly Bingham at the address below. You may also go to www.fhfh.org and donate there just make sure to choose the Utah Chapter as the Chapter you are donating to.
Tune in to Backcountry Radio with Brian Brinkerhoff on KTKK 630 AM this Saturday at 10:00 AM to hear the interview about this project. Stay tuned to Roughin it Outdoors with Adam Eakle as he does a story to help us get things rolling in the next few weeks.
I want to thank all those hunters who have donated money and/or deer in the past. Since 2006 the Utah Chapter has been able to donate over 25,000 pounds of meat to the food banks of Utah. This equates to over 100,000 meals served with meat in it from the hunters of this state. That is a tremendous feat and one that all hunters should be proud of.
Thank you for your consideration and may God Bless,
Kelly Bingham
Program Coordinator
Utah Chapter FHFH
4662 W 650 N West Point, UT 84015
801-726-2598 |
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Last Updated on Thursday, 21 October 2010 19:50 |
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Wednesday, 06 October 2010 13:19 |
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Guidelines for writing an article/story for the BOU newsletter or website.
1- Tell your story in 1500-1800 words.
2- Try to get at least 2 pictures that go with your story in one way or another.
3- Avoid following a predictable outline or telling your story in general terms. i.e- I waited 10 yrs for my tag … went scouting and saw … shot my bull… It was the greatest experience of my life. etc.
4- Be specific about certain moments of the hunt/experience that made it special or interesting for you or others. i.e- I found myself surrounded by big bucks as they fed only feet away. I thought they would be able to hear my heart pounding or my breathing as the moment began to overwhelm me. etc.
5- Use spell check and look seriously about the grammar suggestions the program makes to you.
6- Have another person read it before you send it. Ask for feedback particularly on understanding what is taking place. Often our own minds fill in the gaps that lead to confusion on the readers part.
7- Realize that your story may be edited and may not appear word for word and that certain parts may be cut out due to the organization of the newsletter and/or pictures/advertising.
8- Relax, just have fun telling your story. You will do fine. |
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Last Updated on Wednesday, 06 October 2010 13:23 |
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