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 Model
Endorsed 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.
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.
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.”
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.
“Promoting responsible bowhunting through education”
In a meeting with members of the BOU board on June 13, the Division of Wildlife Resources unveiled innovations in Utah’s bowhunter education program.
There are 3 types of bowhunter education in Utah. First, there’s a brief overview included in the mandatory hunter education program. Second, there’s an online ethics course that’s prerequisite for bowhunters who want to hunt in Utah’s extended areas. Neither of these programs is affected by changes to the third program - the NBEF bowhunter education program administered in Utah by the DWR.
Completion of the NBEF course is mandatory for all bowhunters in a number of states, but Utah isn’t one of them. Still, the course is valuable and important. Not only can it reduce wounding rates and improve bowhunter success, but it’s an enjoyable and informative course for both novice bowhunters and experienced veterans of the sport.
In the past, the program has gathered approximately 150 instructors in the state. Yet course offerings have been sporadic or even non-existent in some areas. And while many of the existing certified instructors (including several members of BOU) have been highly qualified and passionate about promoting bowhunting, other certified instructors have had little or no experience as bowhunters.
To improve access to quality instruction, the DWR has voided all existing instructor certifications and set new minimal requirements for future instructors:
All instructors must recertify.
Instructors must pass the new NBEF “distance learning” online course before attending instructor training.
Instructors must pass a criminal background check.
Instructors must have a minimum of 3 years bowhunting experience.
Instructors must offer or assist in at least one course each year.
Instructors must attend 2 program semiUtah/NBEF Bowhunter Education
We strongly encourage qualified bowhunters to support this new program by becoming certified NBEF instructors and by encouraging others in your area of the state to do likewise. The DWR will provide local training sessions. For more information and to apply to become an instructor, visit the DWR website. If you have other questions or concerns, feel free to contact
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, BOU Bowhunter Education specialist.
From I-15 take the 2600 South/woods cross/Bountiful Exit 315.
Head
east through highway 89 to 500 west, turn right. In approximately 1/4
mile, you will come to Orchard Drive, turn right(south) 1 block, turn
left(east) on 3100 South(Stop light), head east to 400 east, turn right.
At
the top of 400 east, turn right (south) to Summerwood Drive (East side
of the road) follow summerwood drive to the first street on your left,
this is Hidden Lakes Drive, follow Hidden lakes drive east to Hidden
Hollow circle(On your left).
Re:BOU 1st Annual 3D Shoot and Fundraiser Aug 09 2010 16:15:40
That was a great shoot, What a great course too! Me and my group had a blast. Is that course a private course or does a club own it/use it?
Thanks BOU!
What a great day! We would like to extend our appreciation
to all who made this year’s BOU convention a great success! Saturday June 26th
proved to be the best convention in BOU history thanks to the UDWR, BOU
officials and lastly, but definitely not leastly
(I know, but it just sounded so nice) this years attendees who made it all
possible.
We had a great day on the newly constructed 3D/target range
with an open shoot as well as a free kids shoot, great food provided by
renowned executive grill chef, Gordy Bell and a raffle to beat all raffles. If
you missed this one, you missed out on a chance for quite a few prizes
including a shoulder mount taxidermy for this years wall hanger, a beautiful
custom long bow provided by Mike Bird, a slew of items donated by Camp Chef,
backpacks by King’s and Badlands, as well as a beautiful custom fly rod
provided by BOU’s own, Kelly Hicks.
Below are a few photos of this year’s festivities. Thanks
again to all who participated and added to the success of this year’s convention.
We look forward to seeing you at the upcoming shoots at Hill Archers on the 31st
of July and the “in the making” shoot at the BOU sponsored Hidden Lakes 3D
range in Bountiful. Stay tuned!
Thoes are some nice shirts though, how do I score one of thoes shirts?
