Posted Thursday, August 11, 2005

Decline in cougar population means fewer permits

SALT LAKE CITY — It appears efforts have worked to reduce the number of cougars in Utah. As a result, the Utah Wildlife Board has approved a reduction in the number of hunting permits that will be available for Utah's 2005–2006 cougar hunting season.

"An effort has been underway in Utah for years to reduce the number of cougars in the state, and it appears those efforts have worked," said Kevin Bunnell, mammals program coordinator for the Division of Wildlife Resources. "Now we're shifting the emphasis from trying to reduce the number of cougars to maintaining a balance between cougars and the deer, bighorn sheep and other animals cougars prey on."

In addition to the permit reduction, board members also approved changes that should improve hunting on Utah's harvest objective cougar hunting units. The board approved the changes Aug. 11 after hearing recommendations from DWR biologists, citizens representing Utah's five public Regional Advisory Councils and members of the public who attended the board's meeting in Salt Lake City.

Applications for limited entry cougar hunting permits will be available by Sept. 27. Applications must be submitted no later than Oct. 12 to be included in this year's Cougar Draw. Results of the draw will be available by Nov. 16.

Harvest objective cougar permits go on sale Nov. 7.

Cut in cougar hunting permits

Despite plenty of snow that made it easy for hunters to track cougars, the number of cougars taken by hunters during Utah's 2004–2005 season fell 30 percent from the previous year.

Hunters took 319 cougars last season, compared to 447 the year before. The 319 cougars hunters took last season is the lowest number taken since the 1992–1993 season.

In addition, the average cougar taken last season was 2.5 years old. The average age of cougars taken since 1995 has been 3.5 years old.

"Those statistics tell us a couple of things," Bunnell said. "First of all, hunting conditions were good last year, but hunters took the fewest number of cougars they've taken in more than 10 years. That tells us the number of cougars in the state has declined dramatically.

"The average age of cougars taken by hunters also has fallen, from an average age of 3 years old to an average age of 2 years old. That tells us the cougar population has fewer older animals, which is another indication that cougar populations have declined.

"There's no question the state's cougar populations have been affected by our management strategy over the past 10 years," he said. "Now it's time to back off a little and focus on maintaining the cougar populations we have and balancing cougar populations with the animals they prey on. That's the direction spelled out in our Cougar Management Plan."

To achieve that balance, the board approved 143 limited entry hunting permits for Utah's 2005 - 2006 season. Last season, 263 permits were approved.

The board also approved a total harvest objective (or number of cougars to be taken) of 478 cougars on Utah's harvest objective units. Last year's objective was 527 cougars.

Based on the past success of hunters on both limited entry and harvest objective units, the DWR estimates 250 to 300 cougars will be taken in Utah during the 2005–2006 season, which begins Nov. 23.

Providing a better hunting experience on harvest objective units

Board members also approved two changes that should improve hunting on Utah's harvest objective cougar units:

(1.) On 20 of Utah's 38 harvest objective units, the first 11 weeks of the season will be reserved for hunters who draw a permit to hunt the units. This "limited entry" part of the hunt will end Feb. 12, 2006.

The harvest objective portion of the hunt, where an unlimited number of hunters can buy a permit to hunt the units, will run from Feb. 18 to June 4 on the 20 units.

The hunt on any unit could close earlier than June 4 if the number of cougars to be taken on that unit is reached before June 4.

"This change will provide better hunting opportunities for cougar hunters," Bunnell said. "In the past, the first few weeks of the season have been a zoo on units that received good snowfall. A lot of hunters would show up to hunt these units and no one ended up having a good experience.

"Limiting the first 11 weeks of the season to hunters who draw a permit to hunt the areas will provide those hunters with a chance for a quality hunt," he said. "It will also give them an opportunity to be more selective and not take females and young lions."

(2.) Starting this season, hunters who buy a harvest objective permit can hunt on any harvest objective unit in Utah that's open to hunting.

In the past, hunters could choose up to three units and could hunt only on those units.

Also, for the first time, cougar harvest objective permits can be purchased on this Web site and from online hunting license agents across the state.

"This change will make it easier for hunters to obtain a harvest objective permit and find a place to hunt," Bunnell said.

For more information, call the nearest Division of Wildlife Resources office or the DWR's Salt Lake City office at (801) 538-4737.