If you like to hunt in Utah opinion's thread

[twitchstick]

After shooting at the range tonight I learned that two people I know very well have been appointed the the Utah RAC board. One I worked for several years and my wife sits on a couple of commities with. He is a rifle hunter with a big passion for mule deer. He is a fan of the multi unit hunting plan and has served on SFW and MDF boards but I think he will he at least listen to opinions of traditional archers. The other one I know form my local archery club and hunting circles.  He is a big avocate for more opportunity for archery hunters,state wide unlimitted archery tags. I would like to hear everyones opinions of your views on what can be done to better traditional archery/hunting/hunting opportunitys/deer and elk management ect.....
I would like to hash out some ideas here to bring to them....so if you have something to say lets hear it.

[steadman]

Jimmy, I would love to have more folks listen. Unfortunately, our state is run by $. I am amazed though that the higher ups don't realize that archery is a better management tool and produces more income per animal. I actually like the smaller deer units. I know it limits the places we can hunt deer, but last year was terrible, and it didn't matter where I went in the state to hunt, I didn't see deer. I just hope they stick with it. Just look at CO for example. When they started everyone was mad, but after 5 years, everyone loved it because the deer herd was doing so well, with some great bucks being taken. The division gets so much pressure, andw ith the legislature in charge, there are a lot of special interest groups. If we could convince them that archery is that good of a managment tool, it would help, but I don't see anyone listening at the moment.
As far as a tradional hunt, I would love to see a Nov rut hunt on some units for trad, that would be fun. Good luck, and I hope you can get some folks to listen, then have the courage to stand up for what they think is right for game, and for sportsmen, not what's right for the pocket book.

[sorno]

RAC or Board?  They are two different entities.  RACs are regional, the Wildlife Board is statewide.

As far as I can tell, the RACs are eyewash, and now days very little happens at them that is taken seriously.  The Board, on the other hand, has become an all-powerful entity creating it's own path dictated largely by SFW, and to a lesser extent heavily influenced by MDF and RMEF.  Biology is a thing of the past it seems, an inconvenience easily brushed aside by powerful individuals who now think it's their place to tell me what constitutes a 'successful' outdoor experience.  I have all but quit hunting because of it.  I hope your friends can have some influence in changing the course of this juggernaut.
I really think a good place to start would be to bring back to the table the possibility of a statewide archery tags.  I know I'm not interested in this unit by unit circus in place now.  A longer season (in more than just the extended areas) would be a great bonus too.  Face it, archery in general, and traditional archery even more so, is pretty much ignored in Utah until a big buck hits the media.  Then the SFW machine fires up to squash the early season opportunities for archers.  They don't seem to view archers as allies and fellow sportsmen, but as competitors, out to get a crack at a big buck before the rifle hunters.  
Sorry for the rant, but maybe I'm just too close to it.  The politics of it all is unnatural...

S.

[bsoper]

 They don't seem to view archers as allies and fellow sportsmen, but as competitors, out to get a crack at a big buck before the rifle hunters.

Wow, this says it perfectly!

[tim roberts]

It won't change here until Don Peay, and his influence is removed from here, and when he goes, I hope it is East, far away east.  He has done more to hurt hunter numbers, and opportunity in Utah than all the efforts of the anti's combined.  
I tip my hat to ya for trying, have been there myself, but 2 people on one RAC, ani't going to change anything.

[twitchstick]

Yes sorno I belief they are on  the RAC sorry about my wording.  I agree with everyone on it being a up hill battle to even to be listen to. The problem is most people make decessions on emotions and not on biology with our wildlife. I'm not saying I even remotely know what the answers are but I would still like to put a bug in some ones ear and maybe educate myself alittle more.

I get mix "emotions" on what will benifit me and the wildlife the best. I must emitt that I'm selfish like most and what lots of opportunity to hunt my way. I think that good habitat is key before anything. With our advese year to year changes between draught to heavy water years. things can very greatly from area to area. I am not nessarly oppossed to the unit by unit management if it's handle right. I don't think we ever need to over hunt a unit or under hunt one ether. I think that a unlimitted state wide or region wide archery deer and elk hunt could be done if they would do sound biological management. I think that the only way we can even get any kind of say in the state is to show the economical value of bowhunters. You can sell alot more tags in an area because of the low success rate of bowhunters. With the low impact of bowhunters and success rate it the 7% to 15 % range(don't quote me) we mybe able to impacted thier pocket book. I know it's probably not near enought but maybe we can save a spot for bowhunters in thier money machine. What do you think?

[tim roberts]

Sorno,
You are pretty much spot on with you comments.  There are answers to fixing this in Utah, but there isn't a bowhunting group in Utah that is willing to push it through, or stand up for what is right.  Maybe it is time for a Traditional Bowhunters of Utah?

Twitchstick,
This has been going on here for a long time, it is one of the main reasons I haven't had a resident license of any kind in my pocket for over 10 years.

[Gentle-Savage]

Is it bad that after reading this I began contemplating "deer smuggling" to hunt? (after the kill, field dress, harvest, store, then devise a secret compartment in a truck to store all the meat/trophy so if you're pulled over they won't find anything suspicious). ^_^

Sometimes (quite a lot lately) I want to spend a year learning to live off the land, and disappear into alaska/wilderness and do my own thing, legislation be damned