Board members also voted to continue Utah's statewide general archery buck deer hunt and to keep Utah's general muzzleloader buck deer hunt in September.

The Wildlife Board also directed the Division of Wildlife Resources to continue holding discussions with conservation groups and the public about mule deer hunting and management strategies in Utah, including the possibility of splitting the state's five general season deer hunting regions into smaller hunting areas.

The Wildlife Board did not set a specific year by which a decision on unit-by-unit general season deer hunting must be made, so it's unlikely that unit-by-unit hunting will happen in Utah in 2004.

Among items the board did not approve was a proposal to prohibit shed antler gathering in Utah from January 1 - April 30. The Division of Wildlife Resources withdrew its recommendation after hearing public opposition at a recent series of public meetings held across the state.

Rules for Utah's 2003 big game hunting seasons will be available in the 2003 Utah Big Game Proclamation. The proclamation will be available in late December, from hunting and fishing license agents statewide, DWR offices and the DWR's Internet Web site — www.wildlife.utah.gov.

Waiting Until Spring To Set General Buck Deer Permit Numbers

The DWR will wait until post-hunt surveys have been conducted this winter before recommending general buck deer and bull elk permit numbers for this fall.

"We conduct yearly deer surveys from mid-November through December," said Steve Cranney, big game coordinator for the Division of Wildlife Resources. "Elk census flights are conducted in January and
February.

"By delaying the permit number recommendations until the March/April time frame, biologists will have a clearer picture of current herd parameters and survival," he said. "This will allow us to recommend the best permit numbers possible, which is especially important this year, with the severe drought and the winter that lies ahead."

After the survey data is compiled, permit recommendations will be put together and presented at public meetings in March. The Wildlife Board will approve permit recommendations in April, before the 2003 Big Game Draw is conducted.

Because permit numbers will be set in April, hunters will apply for their region in January without knowing specifically how many permits will be available. "In the proclamation we'll print the number of permits that were offered in 2002, which will give hunters a general idea of how many permits will be offered next fall," Cranney said.

Southeastern Region General Rifle Buck Deer Hunt To Run 5 Days

To try and improve buck-to-doe ratios across the Southeastern Region, board members voted to reduce the general rifle buck deer hunt in the region from 9 to 5 days in 2003. The general rifle buck deer hunt in the Southeastern Region will run October 18 - 22.

The board voted for the region-wide, 5-day hunt at the request of the public Southeastern Regional Advisory Council and the DWR, both of which were concerned about buck-to-doe ratios that are below the general season objective of 15 bucks per 100 does.

"Five day hunts have been held on the San Juan and LaSal Mountains units the past few seasons to try and improve their buck-to-doe ratios," Cranney said. "When the 5-day hunts on those units have ended, many hunters have shifted to the Manti unit for the rest of the season. Because of that added pressure, the buck-to-doe ratio on the Manti unit has dropped.

"To help all of the units in the region reach objective, the Southeastern RAC recommended a region-wide, 5-day hunt, which we supported and the board approved."

For more information call the nearest Division of Wildlife Resources office, or the Division's Salt Lake City office at (801) 538-4700.