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The population has dropped in half, all while the unit ran at a buck to doe ratio of 30+bucks per 100 does.
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The population in the Book Cliffs has declined from about 7000 in 2017 to a current population of about 3300. Then it seemed like we had drought or hard winters or both for a period of years and deer numbers have taken a dive.
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We had a little rebound in deer numbers after the winter of 2007, and had some pretty good years 2010-2016-17ish.
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Colorado runs a much higher buck to doe ratio than Utah and they have mirrored Utah and the rest of the west when it comes to deer population trends. Many will say that things haven't been the same since. Then, CO and parts of Utah had the nasty winterkill of 2007. Colorado grew some amazing bucks in the early 2000's with half as many hunters and saw really high buck to doe ratios and healthy deer populations. there were lots of big bucks, and a much smaller number of hunters had really high success. When they reopened the Books and Henry Mtns. That was about the same time frame when they closed the Book Cliffs and Henry Mtns. Colorado went from 200,000 deer tags to less than 100,000 deer tags right around the year 2000. NO, it doesn't change the trajectory of the overall deer population. YES, it does grow older bucks for a smaller number of hunters. People cite the Book Cliffs, Henry Mtns and the entire state of Colorado as prime examples, but I think they're actually perfect examples of how closing down a unit or cutting tags in half doesn't do squat for deer numbers. It DID increase buck ratios, success rates and buck age classes, but it didn't "save the herd" or grow deer numbers in any measurable way. I still don't understand the obsession with closing down the hunt or cutting buck tags in half to "save the herds"? People often say it worked, it hasn't. If people want to hunt with all their gizmos and gadgets they can put in for units that allow it, but would likely be harder to draw.Īlong those lines I think it would be awesome if the DWR could work with the BLM, SITLA, and USFS to close access to certain areas during the rifle hunts so that people aren't pounding every ridge and extending atv trails farther and farther every year.īut I'm not king and I know every guy has their own things they would change if they were. If success rates go down the dwr can issue more tags and people can get through the point system quicker. I think success rates would go down, and older bucks would have a greater chance to make it through the hunts. I'd love to see a few general season units in the state (3-5 of them or something) keep the same season dates, but go to no scopes period, no rangefinder, no bino/spotting scope greater than 10 power, no guides, no trail cameras, no commercial filming etc. I'm all for going taking a step back and making things more primitive. We're getting better and better at finding and killing deer and its becoming a livelihood for more and more people (youtubers, guides etc.), so there's more and more pressure to get a deer. I don't think there's any way it hasn't impacted older age classes making it through hunts. Click to expand.So my post is Utah specific.