(This is a news release provided by Utah's DWR.)
2,100 More Elk
DWR seeks input about deer and elk plans
Plans that determine the total number of deer and elk in Utah are up for revision.
The change Division of Wildlife Resources biologists are recommending to the deer plan would allow them to use the most up-to-date habitat information available to decide whether deer population objectives should be raised, lowered or remain the same.
In the past, the plans for all five regions in Utah were revised once every five years.
Anis Aoude, big game coordinator for the DWR, says the DWR’s range trend crew does extensive on-the-ground habitat analysis in one of the five regions every summer. Then the next summer, they travel to the next region.
“If deer objectives need to change,” Aoude says, “it makes sense to make the changes as soon as possible after receiving the latest habitat information for a region. Instead of revising all five regions once every five years, we’re recommending that one region be revised each year, using habitat information the range crew gathered the summer before.”
The biggest change biologists are recommending involves Utah’s elk herds. “We feel the state can handle a few more elk than we’re currently managing for,” Aoude says.
Biologists are recommending that the total number of elk in Utah be allowed to grow from a current objective of 68,825 elk to 70,965 elk. If approved, the 2,140 additional elk would be scattered across the following units: Chalk Creek, Kamas, Avintaquin, West Desert, Fillmore and Fish Lake.
The only area where the total number of elk would decrease is the Paunsaugunt unit in southern Utah. Biologists are recommending that the elk herd on the unit be reduced by 35 animals.
You can see all of the biologists’ recommendations on the Web at http://go.usa.gov/V3y.
After you arrive at http://go.usa.gov/V3y, scroll down the page to the ‘May RAC and June Board meetings’ heading to find the recommendations.
Learn more, share your ideas
After you’ve reviewed the ideas at http://go.usa.gov/V3y, you can let your Regional Advisory Council members know your thoughts by attending your upcoming RAC meeting or by sending an email to them.
RAC chairmen will share the input they receive with members of the Utah Wildlife Board. The board will meet in Salt Lake City on June 6 to approve revisions to the management plans.
Dates, times and locations for the RAC meetings are as follows:
Southern Region Central Region
May 8 May 15
7 p.m. 6:30 p.m.
Richfield High School Springville Public Library Meeting Room
510 W. 100 S. 45 S. Main St.
Richfield Springville
Southeastern Region Northern Region
May 9 May 16
6:30 p.m. 6 p.m.
John Wesley Powell Museum Brigham City Community Center
1765 E. Main St. 24 N. 300 W.
Green River Brigham City
Northeastern Region
May 10
6:30 p.m.
Bingham Entrepreneurship and Energy Research Center
320 N. 2000 W.
Vernal
You can also provide your comments to your RAC via email. Email addresses for your RAC members are available at http://go.usa.gov/IMk.
The group each RAC member represents (sportsman, non-consumptive, etc.) is listed under each person’s email address. You should direct your email to the people on the RAC who represent your interest.
