[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.

 

[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.

 

[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.

 

[Vanilla]

The plan all along was only to give people the recommended numbers, not the final numbers, before applying. It's a step in the right direction but still not great, IMO.

But, that was what they advertised all along with this, that you'd simply know the proposed numbers during the application period.