Archery Deer Tags Gone in 2 ½ Hours!

By Michael Finnegan, BOU Vice President

Some bowhunters will not be hunting deer this year because they were unable to obtain a permit. If you are one of those unfortunate hunters, it was because you did not apply for an archery permit in the draw. The good news is that everyone who applied for an archery permit got one.

Still, a number of bowhunters were not able to obtain a permit this year and join the ranks of many other deer hunters who didn’t get a permit, regardless of weapon choice. Welcome to the present status of deer hunting in Utah.

As your representative on the mule deer committee which is mandated to meet later this summer, I must first acknowledge that the need for a cap on deer permits is unavoidable. The fact is that if we want more permits, we must grow more deer. We can do that in a number of ways. First, we can improve habitat. This year’s mild winter in addition to the uncommon rainfall this spring is a blessing because more rain equals better feed which equals better faun survival rates. It also equates to larger antlers this fall, but let’s not forget that next year is another story.

BOU has always been about the welfare of wildlife, first and foremost. We therefore must support a cap on deer permits. But BOU also supports bowhunting. Therefore, when we meet with the deer committee and with the special committee that is mandated to review bowhunting mule deer, we will certainly be looking at ways to maximize opportunity for bowhunters.

Some of the current proposals include:

1. Leave things as they are. (BOU may not support this proposal.)
2. Merge all hunt applications: Hunters will apply for a deer permit (regardless of weapon and season) out of the allotment, (cap). (BOU does not support this proposal.)
3. Set aside the Wasatch extended season as a special hunt separate from the general hunt. (BOU is undecided on this proposal.)
4. Reduce the number of general season (rifle) permits to augment archery permits. (BOU supports this proposal.)
5. Setting pre-conditioned preference points in open draw application: 2 points for archery. 1 point for muzzleloader, 0 points for rifle. No post-draw permits will be offered or issued. (BOU supports this proposal.)

We cannot represent our membership if our members fail to speak up. We therefore invite everyone to use this website to let us know what you’re thinking and what you want us to do in order to represent your interests.