Stillwater, I feel very bad for you. I love Utah and the people here. I do believe every word you reported.
I have observed two other units this year, one limited entry elk and one limited one mule deer, both units had large camps of hunters, many vehicles coming and going over the roads, both paved as well as two tracks. On both units I had the opportunity to hunt and visit with two individual out of State hunters. Both expressed amazement at the crowds of people, both hunters and non-hunters. Both encountered individuals that interacted with them with what I would call aggressive and or rude behavior. Both said they had never experienced any hunting environment anywhere in the country or the world that companies to what they witnessed here in Utah.
My answer to them was: it’s somewhat normal to me so my expectations are not surprised nor offended…….. I’m just used to it and those of us that hunt here every year have been slowed subjected and conditioned to the current environment….. for the last 20 or more years. Truth is, in the 1970 and 1980, we had in excess of 240,000 hunters in the field on the third Saturday in October and the first hour after daylight sounded like machine gun clatter, yet , with 240,000 hunters a field, the chaos was nothing like the chaos you are seeing now.
What’s changed. Here is a short list:
More two track and 4x4/side by side trails.
Now every family on the mountain, hunting or recreating people have multiple off-road vehicles. Now, many areas of the State have sponsored off-road jamborees that put hundreds of vehicles all day, for weeks at a time, at the same time as our fall hunts, together on the unit.
More hunters have 4x4 trucks, whereas few owned them 50 years ago.
We used to stay in tents, we now camp in 2 story tall 5th wheel trailers and every one in the camp brings there own. So there 5 in many camps.
The list goes on and on.
These changes have slowly changed, a little at a time…… which in Utah we have become used to rather than shocked or surprised by.
Once it becomes familiar, like it has, it’s expected and it’s become normal and no longer surprising or shocking,……… kind of like slow boiling a frog.
In Utah, nearly 70% of our land is public land, that anyone, the follows the Federal rules of use. More and more people are using these lands where as hunters and ranchers were all that used the land 50 years ago. When you have thousands of public users, all using the same land at the same time, it only takes a small percentage of inappropriate or unacceptable behavior to make the entire environment seem unruly and out control.
Now add in a declining deer population, a decline number of tags, an ever increasing cost to buy tags, vehicles, travel trailers, etc etc, and a honest desire to be successful at filling a tag……….. we end up what you and those two folks I’m talking about are seeing and feeling. I’m not surprised at your reaction and your frustration. I wish I could say it can be different or suggest how it might but I’m at a lose accept to say, it just is what is and factors beyond our individual control can ever change it. I hope it never happens in your State or where you hunt. Nor am I apologizing, I’m just trying to explain why you’re seeing and encountering this chaos. Or should I more correctly say, chaos to you but has become normal for us.
Incidentally, both the individuals, that I’ve spoke to, about this same issue, are from different western States and active members of Monster Muley. Very much like yourself Stillwater, great guys, skilled older hunters/outdoorsmen, with many many successful hunts over many years.
In a nut shell, Stillwater, you’re not the only one that’s seeing and experiencing very similar conditions that you have shared with us here. So…… in spite of the responses you’ve had posted , I absolutely understand your frustration.
Bottom line, I hope your son kills a good mule deer and he’s able to take a great memory home with him.
All the best Stillwater.
