Last modified: Thursday, January 17, 2008

More young bucks this fall

This year's archery deer hunt is set to kick off on August 18.

Good news awaits Utah's archery buck deer hunters this fall: more bucks are roaming many of Utah's forests.

The state's first major hunt of the year the general archery buck deer hunt starts Aug. 18.

More bucks

"The buck-to-doe ratio has been right around the minimum objective of 15 bucks per 100 does since 1998. We've had a couple of years where it's peaked at 17 bucks per 100 does, though: 2000 and now again this year," says Anis Aoude, big game coordinator for the Division of Wildlife Resources.

DWR biologists determine the ratio by conducting on-the-ground surveys after the hunting seasons are over in the fall. This past winter was mild in Utah, so most of the bucks biologists saw last fall, and many of the buck fawns they saw, should be available to hunters this fall. "And archery hunters will be the first hunters to see them," Aoude says.

The following chart shows the buck-to-doe ratio after the past two hunting seasons:

Region	2005	2006
Northern	16	18
Central	15	15
Northeastern	16	16
Southeastern	17	20
Southern	17	16

Aoude says more than 320,000 adult deer were in Utah this spring. That's up from about 296,000 adult deer in the spring of 2006.

"Conditions for deer in Utah started improving in about 2003," Aoude says. "We've had fair moisture over the past few years, and the winters have been mild."

Wildfires

While deer were affected by some of the wildfires in Utah this summer, the biggest fire the Milford Flats fire in south-central Utah burned an area that few deer use during the hunting season. "If you've traditionally hunted in an area that's now burned, I'd strongly encourage you to get out before the hunt opens and see what the area looks like," Aoude says.

Wet and green?

Even though parts of Utah look like a dustbowl, you'll see plenty of green vegetation above 7,000 feet in elevation.

And that will affect how you hunt.

"The terrain is going to be dry and noisy at lower elevations," Aoude says. "If you hunt in these areas, your best chance for success is to hunt water holes and the trails that lead to them.

"If you hunt above 7,000 feet, you'll find plenty of water," he says. "Your best bet in these high elevation areas is to do some preseason scouting and learn the travel patterns of the deer. Then hunt the trails the animals use. You can also spot and stalk deer at the higher elevations because it's quieter and easier to move around."

More tips

Aoude also provides the following tips and reminders:

• Practice with your bow. That will increase the chance that you'll make that perfect shot at a deer count.
• Get away from the hunting pressure near the roads.
• Be aware of the direction the wind is blowing. If you're stalking an animal, or waiting near a water hole or trail, make sure the wind is blowing across your body or into your face. That way, your scent won't be carried to the deer.
• A fire restriction that's been in place since July 4 was modified recently. Beginning Aug. 3, campfires will be allowed outside of established campgrounds in the Dixie, Manti-La Sal and Fishlake national forests.

Everywhere else in Utah, fire restrictions remain in effect. You may have a campfire only in facilities built for them in established camping and picnicking areas.

Please visit www.utahfireinfo.gov for the latest fire restrictions in Utah.

Watch out for thunder storms and lightning. If you get caught in this type of storm, make sure you're not the tallest object on the landscape.

If you plan on hunting on any of Utah's extended archery areas, you must complete the DWR's Archery Ethics course (you must complete this course every year that you archery hunt). You must also carry your course Certificate of Completion with you while you're hunting. You can take the course at wildlife.utah.gov/huntereducation.

The following is a look at deer hunting prospects in four of the DWR's five regions:

Northern Region

Mule deer populations are increasing in the Northern Region, and archery hunters can expect to find good numbers of bucks this year.

One exception is the Cache unit, a large public land unit in the northeastern part of the region. The deer population on the Cache unit is well below the management objective for the unit. The current population on the unit is stable to slightly increasing in number.

Randy Wood, Northern Region assistant wildlife manager, says the key for success this year is getting out and scouting the area you plan to hunt before the hunt begins. "The scenario is pretty much the same throughout the Northern Region hunters can expect to see deer near water," Wood says.

Because of the hot, dry conditions, the deer are more active in the morning and evening, when it's cooler. And that's the situation in all of the region's units.

"All of our regional biologists are really emphasizing that hunters get out prior to the hunt, enjoy the great outdoors and scout the area they plan to hunt to find water and areas where deer can escape the heat," Wood says.

Wood also encourages hunters to pay close attention to the large tracts of private land in the Northern Region. Some of the region's public hunting units have a large number of Cooperative Wildlife Management Units (CWMUs) on them. For the example, the Box Elder unit has 21 CWMUs. If you plan on hunting on the Box Elder unit, Wood says you can pick up a land ownership map from the Box Elder County Surveyor's office.

Wood says he's encouraged by the good fawn survival biologists observed this year. More than 85 percent of the fawns born in spring 2006 made it through this past winter, and deer populations have increased in nearly all of region's units.

If you have questions about hunting deer in northern Utah, call the Northern Region office at (801) 476-2740.

Central Region

Archery hunters should notice a few more young bucks in north-central Utah.

"Because of plentiful habitat and favorable weather conditions, 2006 was a good year for fawns in the region," says Craig Clyde, Central Region wildlife manager. "Hunters should see many young buck deer in the region this fall."

Clyde says about 45 percent of the deer biologists checked at Central Region checkpoints last year were 2.5-year-old or older deer. "We also anticipate another good year for older-age-class bucks in the region," he says. "Our buck-to-doe ratio is 15 bucks per 100 does on public land units in the region."

The western half of the Central Region has fewer deer because of its drier desert conditions.

"The western portion of the Central Region is a tinderbox," says Wildlife Biologist Tom Becker. "It's the driest I've ever seen this area. If hunters try their luck out here in the desert, a water source is the place to focus on."

Becker reminds hunters that the northern part of the Stansbury Mountain range has burned. "I believe at least 20,000 acres have burned," he says. "This will displace some of our hunters, since this mountain range is somewhat popular for deer hunters."

Becker also reminds general season hunters in the Tooele and Juab county areas that a large portion of this area is part of the Vernon limited entry deer hunting unit (please see the 2007 Big Game Proclamation for the boundaries for this area).

The Salt Creek fire near Mount Nebo has also affected wildlife and may force several deer hunters to look for other areas to hunt.

If you have questions about hunting deer in north-central Utah, call the Central Region office at (801) 491-5678.

Southeastern Region

Archery hunters will find more bucks in the southeastern Utah this year, says Bill Bates, Southeastern Region wildlife manager.

"Moderately good fawn production and winter survival over the past few years have strengthened herds across the region," Bates reports. "Most units show both short and long-term upward trends in the total number of deer."

While the number of deer is up in the region, the total number of deer on all of its herd units is still below the management objective. Wildlife habitat in southeastern Utah faces a long road to recovery after many years of drought. And that drought continues unabated in the region. "If the weather returns to a normal pattern, the vegetation in the region will rebound, and the deer herds should continue to grow," Bates says.

Regarding the buck-to-doe ratio for each unit, Bates indicates the Range Creek unit hovers around 31 bucks per 100 does. Along the Central Mountains-Manti unit in Carbon and Emery counties, Bates says the deer population is gradually rising with a buck-to-doe ratio of 17 bucks per 100 does.

Farther south in the LaSal Mountains by Moab, the deer population is on the upswing with a buck-to-doe ratio of 15 bucks per 100 does. The Abajo Mountains in San Juan County support a growing herd with a buck-to-doe ratio of 22 bucks per 100 does.

While deer populations continue to increase, Bates warns against getting over-confident. Unless there's a dramatic change in the weather pattern, hunting conditions will be hot and dry.

Bates encourages hunters to look for deer near permanent water sources. "This is a good year to do pre-season scouting," he says. "Take time to observe deer in your prospective hunting area. Learn the bedding, feeding and watering locations; then develop a hunting strategy, based on your observations."

If you have questions about hunting deer in southeastern Utah, call the Southeastern Region office at (435) 636-0260.

Southern Region

Good numbers of young buck deer await archery hunters in much of south-central and southwestern Utah. Archery hunters who visit the region may find those deer in one of two places.

"Due to hot, dry conditions in June, deer have congregated either near agricultural fields or above 8,000 feet elevation," says Jim Lamb, the DWR's wildlife biologist in Wayne County. Lamb also covers part of Sevier, Garfield and Piute counties.

"If you choose to hunt near fields, be sure and obtain written permission from the landowner," Lamb says.

"In higher elevations, look for deer near water sources or riparian areas. A good number of small bucks should be available to hunters."

Jason Nicholes is the DWR's wildlife biologist in Washington and Iron counties. He also covers the southwestern part of Beaver County.

"I expect a good hunt on the Pine Valley unit," Nicholes says. "The buck-to-doe ratio on the unit is at 19 bucks per 100 does. There should be plenty of yearling bucks on the unit, and a decent number of older bucks should be available too."

After surveying deer once the 2006 hunts were over, Nicholes also expects a good hunt on the Zion unit. "Our post-season classification from 2006 showed that we have a buck-to-doe ratio of 21 bucks per 100 does on the unit. This unit should also have a good and varied age class of bucks on it."

Nicholes says the outlook for the Southwest Desert unit isn't as bright. "Deer populations on the Southwest Desert unit are very low," he says. "Deer can be found, but they're small in number and they're spread out over a very large area. The buck-to-doe ratio for this unit is currently at 28 bucks per 100 does."

The Milford Flats fire in Beaver and Millard counties has altered deer movement patterns in much of the area west of I-15, says Lynn Chamberlain, Southern Region conservation outreach manager.

"There was some decline in deer numbers in the affected area, but land owners are reporting larger congregations of animals in and around agricultural areas," Chamberlain says.

If you have questions about hunting deer in south-central and southwestern Utah, call the Southern Region office at (435) 865-6100.