[BigT]

As we approach the opening of the Utah Big Game Application period, I've been pondering of late, especially after the big storm we had a couple of weeks ago about the conditions of the deer herds around the state. I am in the Tooele County area, and there's still some decent wintering ground in the county for the deer herd to get away from the gnarly snow depths of the higher elevations. That said, the deer herd still looks like it continues to decline. After the bad storm a couple of weeks ago, I was driving Hwy 36 south of Tooele and the snow depth was up almost to the shoulders of the deer and they were slowly pushing their way through the snow. Fortunately much at those lower spots has melted away. In other areas, I am just not seeing the numbers that I have historically seen. Kind of sad really!

This has me thinking... How are the deer doing elsewhere? My friend who lives up near Morgan Utah told me he saw the DWR truck in the area the other day overloaded with dead deer carcasses in the bed. How are the deer fairing in southwest Wyoming? I've seen some pictures of the heavy snows there on social media. Pics below are from a few deer I saw in southwest Wyoming mid-January. There was quite a lot of snow then, though most of the deer looked pretty healthy at the time. Hopefully those fat reserves have helped.

I expect the number of available deer permits to be even more reduced this coming hunting season. It will be my 12-year old sons first year hunting. He would like to hunt the LaSal unit if possible (if he can pull a permit)! Anyone in southeastern Utah that has a grip on the conditions there? I also have enough points to pull a Wyoming antelope permit this fall as well. but this heavy winter has me thinking it might be worth waiting another 2-3 years. I have some business in Afton at the end of March. Might have to take a joy ride around to see if those herds look alive still!

Anyone have some thoughts on this?

 

[Vanilla]

http://instagr.am/p/CpNmRzZL0o_/
The data in this link shocked me. Seems the deer are doing well overall, so far. I’m sure there are areas that are worse than others.

 

[KineKilla]

I read somewhere that their real struggle comes when they start to switch from brown to green food sources.

If that's the case, we haven't seen the full mortality of this winter yet.

Sent from my SM-S901U using Tapatalk

 

[PBH]

my prediction is that the legislature + special interest groups will pressure the DWR into something drastic. I'm not making any plans to hunt deer this fall.

 

[Brookie]

Well PBH hopefully some good fall fishing will happen.

 

[CHIEF_10_BEERS]

http://instagr.am/p/CpNmRzZL0o_/
The data in this link shocked me. Seems the deer are doing well overall, so far. I’m sure there are areas that are worse than others.

I've followed this guy on IG for quite awhile. He has a lot of interesting and useful info on his IG.

 

[colorcountrygunner]

I read somewhere that their real struggle comes when they start to switch from brown to green food sources.

If that's the case, we haven't seen the full mortality of this winter yet.

Sent from my SM-S901U using Tapatalk

I've heard the same thing. I have read that April is a crucial month for deer mortality.

 

[Bux n Dux]

Deer in central utah seem to be doing fine…. At least the ones smart enough to stay off the roads

 

[middlefork]

I suppose it is a good thing that they can now manage 29 units individually.

Listening to last years meeting I thought they presented valid reasons for their recommendations. Both reductions and increases. I hope they can justify this years numbers like they did last year.
I understand that many don't agree with their numbers but it is what it is.

 

[Vanilla]

my prediction is that the legislature + special interest groups will pressure the DWR into something drastic. I'm not making any plans to hunt deer this fall.

You mean pressure the Wildlife Board?

I suppose it is a good thing that they can now manage 29 units individually.

Listening to last years meeting I thought they presented valid reasons for their recommendations. Both reductions and increases. I hope they can justify this years numbers like they did last year.
I understand that many don't agree with their numbers but it is what it is.

I'm fairly confident the DWR recommendation for tag numbers will be justified by real observations and data. The recommendations will be able to be justified. I have no such confidence that what the Board decides to do will carry the same level of being able to be justified.

I don't know what everyone is worried about. SFW brought us Option 2, which was going to save the mule deer herds. In addition to that, we have provided them with tens of millions of dollars for conservation. SFW has our backs and there is nothing to worry about, they promised.

 

[backcountry]

Thx for that link, Vanilla. I don't do IG so I can't interact with the data there but the BYU website has information up to last season. Will be interesting to watch over the years. And if my aging eyes are seeing the right color for 2023 then mortality is fairly close to average for the last decade.

And I'm pretty sure the sewer vent we walked over in Vegas was just a little more subtle than your SFW "praise" 🤣. The history books are going to have some fun stuff to say about this era of wildlife conservation partnerships, aren't they?

 

[PBH]

You mean pressure the Wildlife Board?

I don't remember the shed hunting closure going through the WB.
That's kind of the scenario I'm thinking about. If over the next month, or two, we see drastic mortality on our deer herds, will people (in general) throw a big enough fit that an "emergency closure" on deer hunting is a result?

 

[BigT]

will people (in general) throw a big enough fit that an "emergency closure" on deer hunting is a result?

Boy that would be a drastic measure for sure!

 

[MuscleWhitefish]

How are the deer fairing in southwest Wyoming?

Not well. I expect similar numbers to 2016-2017 in terms of winter kill.

Snow is not done either. Now is the a rough time of year, because we get rain and wet snow. Then freezing temps at night.

I imagine we will lose at least 70% of fawns.

Antelope will probably see a sharp reduction, because they are worse off with the deep snow.

Might be a year to put in for points.

I hear an El Nino is on a horizon, which with the growth due to moisture this winter may lead to fires this late summer and early fall with warm temps.

What are El Nino and La Nina?

El El Nino and La Nina are complex weather patterns resulting from variations in ocean temperatures in the Equatorial Pacific.

oceanservice.noaa.gov

 

[MuscleWhitefish]

Not well. I expect similar numbers to 2016-2017 in terms of winter kill.

Snow is not done either. Now is the a rough time of year, because we get rain and wet snow. Then freezing temps at night.

I imagine we will lose at least 70% of fawns.

Antelope will probably see a sharp reduction, because they are worse off with the deep snow.

Might be a year to put in for points.

I hear an El Nino is on a horizon, which with the growth due to moisture this winter may lead to fires this late summer and early fall with warm temps.

What are El Nino and La Nina?

El El Nino and La Nina are complex weather patterns resulting from variations in ocean temperatures in the Equatorial Pacific.

oceanservice.noaa.gov

US forecaster says El Nino could arrive by summer 2023

La Niña has ended and ENSO-neutral conditions are expected to continue through the Northern Hemisphere spring and early summer 2023, a U.S. government weather forecaster said on Thursday, with El Niño possibly forming during summer 2023 and persisting through the fall.

www.reuters.com

 

[Vanilla]

I don't remember the shed hunting closure going through the WB.
That's kind of the scenario I'm thinking about. If over the next month, or two, we see drastic mortality on our deer herds, will people (in general) throw a big enough fit that an "emergency closure" on deer hunting is a result?

I'd be willing to place a friendly wager that we will not have deer hunting shut down by the Division director under the emergency powers granted to the position by the legislature under Utah Code 23-14-8(4). If the director uses this power to shut down deer hunting statewide I'll drive down to Cedar City and take you out to dinner. If he doesn't, you're out nothing. That is how confident I am that won't happen.

 

[2full]

Can I go ??
I'll even buy my own dinner.

 

[Fowlmouth]

The proposed number of permits that we will view before applying may change on May 4th if the WB doesn't approve those numbers.

 

[backcountry]

I'd be willing to place a friendly wager that we will not have deer hunting shut down by the Division director under the emergency powers granted to the position by the legislature under Utah Code 23-14-8(4). If the director uses this power to shut down deer hunting statewide I'll drive down to Cedar City and take you out to dinner. If he doesn't, you're out nothing. That is how confident I am that won't happen.

I can't imagine anyone's pants are big enough to fit the cajones that would take. Not to mention most of these folks get degrees in wildlife management and pursue the careers they do out of passion for their field. I don't think that often includes a passion for eliminating hunts with such ease. I don't know Director Shirley but I'm guessing the recent decision wasn't made lightly nor would something as profound as closing the deer hunt in Utah.

If he does I hope he has a home on an island somewhere way off the grid

 

[taxidermist]

Look at the bright side of all this snow and soon run-off we'll get. It will dump thousands of acre feet of water into the reservoirs and lakes. A few hundred more boats at the berry without floating into each other.