RAC meetings start tonight

[Amy]

If you want to weigh in on Utah's 2013 big game season, the Regional Advisory Council (RAC) meetings start tonight. I know many of you have already reviewed the proposals, but if you haven't, please take some time to read them. Here's the RAC meeting schedule:

Northern Region
Nov. 7, 6 p.m.
Brigham City Community Center
24 N 300 W, Brigham City

Central Region
Nov. 8, 6:30 p.m.
Springville Public Library Meeting Room
45 S Main Street, Springville

Southern Region
Nov. 13, 7 p.m.
Cedar Middle School
2215 W Royal Hunte Dr

Southeastern Region
Nov. 14, 6:30 p.m.
John Wesley Powell Museum
1765 E Main St, Green River

Northeastern Region
Nov. 15, 6 p.m.
Bingham Entrepreneurship and Energy
320 N Aggie Blvd, Vernal

 

[Tikka]

Late Bull Elk hunts on wasatch and nebo????? Kill'em All!!!!!

 

[sled_guy]

So when they say they want to add late hunts to relieve over crowding... does that mean same number of tags just spread over 2 hunts or are they going to issue even more tags?

sled_guy

 

[Amy]

>So when they say they want
>to add late hunts to
>relieve over crowding... does that
>mean same number of tags
>just spread over 2 hunts
>or are they going to
>issue even more tags?

Good question, sled_guy. The late hunts and the number of permits are two separate issues. (And they won't both be decided at the same time.) The purpose of adding the late hunts is to reduce hunter crowding on the units. Our recommendation to add the late hunts is consistent with many of the other elk units. The RACs will discuss this proposal during the current RAC cycle, and the Wildlife Board will make a final decision on December 6.

We'll likely propose about the same number of permits for 2013 that we did for 2012, but we won't know for sure (or make the recommendation) until we see the harvest data that comes back this winter. Then, our recommendation will go to the RACs in April, and the Wildlife Board will set the final permit numbers in early May.

So I guess what I'm saying is that the purpose of these late hunts really is to ease hunter overcrowding. The number of permits is important, but it won't be decided until next year after we collect the latest data, obtain public input and take a recommendation to the Wildlife Board. I hope this answers your question.