Non-resident fishing license $70
Non-resident combination license $80
Non-resident basic hunting license $65
Non-resident general season deer $263 includes fishing license
Non-resident limited-entry deer $463 includes fishing license
Non-resident premium limited-entry deer $563 includes fishing license
I know it seems early to start thinking about applying for a coveted mule deer tag, but for some of us, thinking about mule deer is a year-round obsession. As always, Utah is first out of the chute. Typically, Utah drawing submittals must be entered by the end of January. This year, you get a little bit longer to study the proclamation and to think about your choices. The deadline has been moved to Feb 26.
For more info, visit the States tab and click on Utah.
This buck was killed in Northern Utah – 2008 season. Hunter unknown.
Photo submitted by Paul Baxter
This hunter got very lucky hunting West-central Utah in 2008. His pig is about 38 inches wide. You can tell it is a pig by the neck. Do you care that it is a 3×4?
Photo submitted by Paul Baxter
This nice buck was killed by an unknown hunter while hunting in South Central Utah – 2008
Photo submitted by Paul Baxter
Rock Schardine arrowed a massive muley buck during Utah’s 2008 archery hunt.
The buck grossed 199 2/8 and netted 194.
Rock figures the buck will gross score in the 190’s. Hunting is a family affair for the Schardine family. Three of them ride together on one four-wheeler, and have done so since the boys were little. Rock and his brother are accomplished hunters, bull riders, and hunting guides. “Staying on the ATV is nothing compared to riding a bull”, they say.
August is upon us. The first opportunity to go after the monster mulies is nigh. Did you get a tag? Nowadays it can be harder, much harder to get a tag than to get a trophy buck (once you have the tag, of course).
If you are like me, you have applied for all the tags you can afford in either time or money. I applied for mule deer tags in five states, along with elk, moose, antelope, turkey, and javelina. So far, the only tag I’ve obtained is a turkey tag.
My old standby, has been Arizona over-the-counter archery deer. As of this year, Arizona has messed that up. I can get an archery tag but not for a good unit.
Utah archery deer has also been a last-ditch opportunity. The archery tags sold out quite early this year – sooner than I was willing to commit. With surrounding states reducing mule deer hunting opportunity, Utah will have more demand for their over-the-counter tags.
Get out the bow if you haven’t already. The hunt will be here before you can blink. Get in shape, if you need to do that. Take a crash course. Buy your hunting grub in bulk. It will save you money.
Best of luck to you in 2008 and, as always
May the Force be with you.
Folks in Northern Utah are fed up with having no mule deer. Meanwhile, the growing elk herd is getting fed up with hay.
A local family, in Cache Valley, has been using personal resources as well as donated hay to feed a growing herd of elk for 20 plus years now. The local deer lovers have been planting bitterbrush for deer to eat and now the elk have to go.
The Utah DWR is willing to reduce elk numbers to a minimum which may include shipping some to nearby Hardware Ranch where elk are fed every winter. Not everyone is happy about this. The sad thing is, fewer elk and more bitterbrush will not necessarily mean more deer. The mule deer in that area have had 25 years to recover but can’t do so because they are being eaten as fast as they can reproduce.
Nonetheless, this is a precedent setting action. This is the first time I have heard of an agency “voluntarily” reducing elk numbers in order to help mule deer. I wonder what position they will take if it doesn’t help. Stay tuned.
Utah’s 805 wildland fires have scorched more than 689,495 acres as of Aug. 6, according to the Boise, Idaho-based National Interagency Fire Center.
In an attempt to help Mother Nature rehabilitate the landscape wildlife depend on for food, shelter and protection, local, state and federal officials will plow charred soils and begin reseeding the area by hand and aircraft.
The Bureau of Land Management requested $30 million in seed to help rehabilitate federal property damaged by the Milford Flat fire. State officials will spend about $3 million on reseeding efforts, said Tyler Thompson, a statewide habitat conservation coordinator for DWR. “The challenge will be getting enough seed,” he said. “The next biggest hurdle is going to be the vast size of the burned area, and getting that seed on the ground.”
When crews begin seeding this fall, they will use a chemical called “Plateau” to target the highly flammable cheatgrass, an invasive species that fuels wildfires.
Habitat charred by big wildfires
* Milford Flat: More than 363,052 acres
* Salt Creek: 25,456 acres
* Neola North: More than 44,000 acres
By Nathan C. Gonzalez
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