Bowhunters of Utah

Everybody knows there are no stupid questions.  But there are a few questions that are a bit silly.  For example, a question during the autumn months like, “Where is BOU?” is definitely silly.  We’re BOWHUNTERS of Utah, after all.

But even though we’ve been busy enjoying the hunting season, BOU has been busy representing our members on a number of issues.

Northern co-rep Tye Boulter and V.P. Michael Finnegan attended a Sept. 22 meeting of the special archery committee that was mandated by the Wildlife Board to reexamine the issue of statewide bowhunting for deer.  Anis Aoude, big game coordinator for the DWR reported difficulty in finding someone to represent the anti-statewide position, but two southern region representatives attended the meeting.  The committee looked at several relevant concerns, examined the data from the 2009 draw and recommended returning to statewide archery for the entire season in 2010.  This recommendation was presented at the November RACs and approved at the Wildlife Board Meeting.  Hopefully, the data collected last year will continue to refute any claims of overcrowding during the bowhunt in the foreseeable future.

In addition, the archery committee discussed a proposal by UBA to offer additional opportunity for youth hunters and after short discussion, we decided to recommend that once all 16,000 archery tags sell out, all youth 12 - 15 years old should be able to purchase an archery tag.  The Wildlife Board approved that recommendation for the most part and allocated 1,500 youth archery permits in addition to the existing cap.

The following week, on Sept. 30, Finn attended another meeting of the mule deer management plan committee to discuss a couple of minor issues raised at last year’s Wildlife Board meeting, including age-class management objectives on Premium Limited Entry units.  The Wildlife Board has mandated yet another meeting of that committee this year to revisit the issue of unit management, i.e., statewide limited entry.

Meantime, BOU Emeritus Gordy Bell has been working with the elk management plan committee and reports that he’s encouraged and optimistic about the committee’s progress and the discussions that are taking place.  The result of those discussions will be presented next year.

As we enter into 2010, the voice of Utah bowhunters will be critical as some important issues will be raised.  In addition to approval of a new elk management plan, we’ll likely need to address the expressed intent of at least a couple of Wildlife Board members to push for parity in season lengths.  The general deer season was reduced to 5 days statewide for 2010 and some feel that similar reductions need to be imposed on other deer hunters, including bowhunters and LE hunters.  As the ranks of Utah bowhunters continue to increase, we’re hopeful that permit allotments can eventually be altered to reflect the gradual shift in popularity from rifle to archery.  And as always, we’re looking for biologically sound ways to increase bowhunting opportunity.

The Bowhunters of Utah board will be meeting in January to schedule events and make plans for 2010.  But for right now, we wish to extend season’s greetings to you and yours, wishing everyone the very best of the season and a healthy and prosperous new year!