conflicting mule deer plan

cantkillathing · 2024-11-05T11:18:17-0700

I have seen the proposal of changing weapons: The reason behind this is to what? increase buck survival? if so doesnt this conflict with the mule deer plan?
They say that high buck numbers have poor fawn survival, but then they propose this which is to increase buck survival. Can anyone else see how this is all so conflicting. Tell me if I am missing something.

Castnshoot · 2024-11-05T11:26:33-0700

Just curious,, is their a study we can link to to so we can learn more about more bucks equals less fawns.

FixedBlade · 2024-11-05T11:26:47-0700

From what I can tell the idea isn't really to lower harvest. But to lower success rates, give more tags, and keep harvest around the same. I'm wearing rose colored glasses as I type this.

cantkillathing · 2024-11-05T11:28:55-0700

FixedBlade said:
From what I can tell the idea isn't really to lower harvest. But to lower success rates, give more tags, and keep harvest around the same. I'm wearing rose colored glasses as I type this.

if that is the case then I understand.

cantkillathing · 2024-11-05T11:29:51-0700

Castnshoot said:
Just curious,, is their a study we can link to to so we can learn more about more bucks equals less fawns.

go watch the DWR mule deer plan proposal and they have it in there.

FixedBlade · 2024-11-05T11:44:29-0700

cantkillathing said:
if that is the case then I understand.

But keep in mind the changes are limited, most general season deer hunts will remain as they are. It's only 5 units that are running these "experiments." From the RAC packet:

"The purpose of the study is to determine if hunt restrictions based on antler points and weapon technology can improve mule deer population performance, hunting opportunity or hunter satisfaction in Utah. A summary of the research proposal is below. The full research proposal is attached.

1) We recommend implementing the following hunt restrictions: a) Four points or more (on at least one side) antler restrictions on the Pine Valley unit.
i) Restriction is for adults only.
ii) Youth may harvest any buck

b) Restricted muzzleloader and restricted rifle hunts on the following hunt units:
i) Beaver, West
ii) Boulder/Kaiparowits
iii) Cache
iv) Weapons restrictions will be based on the recently passed definitions.

c) Restricted archery, restricted muzzleloader and restricted rifle hunts on the Thousand Lakes unit.
i) Weapons restrictions will be based on the recently passed definitions."

TheOneRidgeRunner · 2024-11-05T12:09:02-0700

Less killed=more permits=more opportunities

cantkillathing · 2024-11-05T12:29:31-0700

TheOneRidgeRunner said:
Less killed=more permits=more opportunities

but less killed means more bucks which means less fawns based off what the mule deer plan...righ

FixedBlade · 2024-11-05T12:36:13-0700

More permits, with weapon restrictions, doesn't necessarily mean more or less bucks. That's why they are running the experiment, to see what happens. But I'd be willing to bet if you restrict weapons, but offer more tags, you'd get around the same harvest with more people out in the field.

Remember, this isn't just about more bucks or bigger bucks.

"The purpose of the study is to determine if hunt restrictions based on antler points and weapon technology can improve mule deer population performance, hunting opportunity or hunter satisfaction in Utah"