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June 28, 2002
Utah DWR
Fewer spike bull elk permits available this year
Salt Lake City — A total of 14,500 Utah spike bull elk permits — 4,500 less than the 19,000 listed in the 2002 Utah Big Game Proclamation — will be available to resident and nonresident hunters beginning July 18.
In addition to the spike bull permits, 13,000 any bull elk permits for this fall's hunts also will be available beginning July 18.
Permits may be purchased from more than 230 license agents statewide, from the Division of Wildlife Resources Internet Web site (www.wildlife.utah.gov) and from Division offices.
Buying a permit from a license agent or the Division's Web site is probably the way to go on July 18. "General buck deer permits will also go on sale July 18 and we're expecting long lines at some of our offices," says Judi Tutorow, wildlife licensing coordinator for the Division of Wildlife Resources.
"Hunting license agents no longer sell Utah buck deer permits, so the lines at license agents locations across the state should be a lot shorter that day and we're encouraging bull elk hunters to go there for their permits," Tutorow says. "We don't want them to stand in a long line if they don't need to.
"Another great option is our Internet Web site," she says. "If you have an American Express, Discover, MasterCard or Visa credit card, you can log onto the site and buy a permit from the convenience of your home."
Bull elk hunters are reminded that antlerless elk control permits will not be available this year and that results of Utah's 2002 Antlerless Draw will not be available until Aug. 1. Any permits not taken in the Antlerless Draw will be available during a second draw. Applications for the second draw will be accepted from Aug. 1 to 5 p.m. on Aug. 9.
Reason for spike bull permit reduction
Spike bull elk permits have been reduced as one way to bring the number of elk on the Fishlake and Thousand Lake portions of the Plateau unit to their management objective. These areas are located mostly on the Fishlake National Forest in south central Utah.
At a meeting held earlier this year in Salt Lake City, members of the Utah Wildlife Board approved a number of changes to increase the number of elk on the areas. Among them was closing the areas to spike bull elk hunting this fall.
"We conducted an aerial survey of the area a few months ago and found an average of 30 bulls per 100 cows, so there's still a good bull elk population in the area but drought conditions have reduced the number of elk calves," says Steve Cranney, big game coordinator for the Division of Wildlife Resources. "Not hunting spikes in the area this fall will help assure that sufficient spike bulls make it to a mature age."
The board was concerned that closing the areas to spike bull hunting would move hunters who normally hunt them to surrounding units. To try and reduce hunting pressure on the surrounding areas, the board voted to reduce the total number of spike bull elk permits offered in Utah from 19,000 to 14,500. The 4,500 fewer permits represents the 2,400 hunters who hunted the Fishlake and Thousand Lake areas last fall and 2,100 spike bull permits that were not sold in 2001.
For more information call the nearest Division of Wildlife Resources office, or the Division's Salt Lake City office at (801) 538-4700.
Utah DWR
Fewer spike bull elk permits available this year
Salt Lake City — A total of 14,500 Utah spike bull elk permits — 4,500 less than the 19,000 listed in the 2002 Utah Big Game Proclamation — will be available to resident and nonresident hunters beginning July 18.
In addition to the spike bull permits, 13,000 any bull elk permits for this fall's hunts also will be available beginning July 18.
Permits may be purchased from more than 230 license agents statewide, from the Division of Wildlife Resources Internet Web site (www.wildlife.utah.gov) and from Division offices.
Buying a permit from a license agent or the Division's Web site is probably the way to go on July 18. "General buck deer permits will also go on sale July 18 and we're expecting long lines at some of our offices," says Judi Tutorow, wildlife licensing coordinator for the Division of Wildlife Resources.
"Hunting license agents no longer sell Utah buck deer permits, so the lines at license agents locations across the state should be a lot shorter that day and we're encouraging bull elk hunters to go there for their permits," Tutorow says. "We don't want them to stand in a long line if they don't need to.
"Another great option is our Internet Web site," she says. "If you have an American Express, Discover, MasterCard or Visa credit card, you can log onto the site and buy a permit from the convenience of your home."
Bull elk hunters are reminded that antlerless elk control permits will not be available this year and that results of Utah's 2002 Antlerless Draw will not be available until Aug. 1. Any permits not taken in the Antlerless Draw will be available during a second draw. Applications for the second draw will be accepted from Aug. 1 to 5 p.m. on Aug. 9.
Reason for spike bull permit reduction
Spike bull elk permits have been reduced as one way to bring the number of elk on the Fishlake and Thousand Lake portions of the Plateau unit to their management objective. These areas are located mostly on the Fishlake National Forest in south central Utah.
At a meeting held earlier this year in Salt Lake City, members of the Utah Wildlife Board approved a number of changes to increase the number of elk on the areas. Among them was closing the areas to spike bull elk hunting this fall.
"We conducted an aerial survey of the area a few months ago and found an average of 30 bulls per 100 cows, so there's still a good bull elk population in the area but drought conditions have reduced the number of elk calves," says Steve Cranney, big game coordinator for the Division of Wildlife Resources. "Not hunting spikes in the area this fall will help assure that sufficient spike bulls make it to a mature age."
The board was concerned that closing the areas to spike bull hunting would move hunters who normally hunt them to surrounding units. To try and reduce hunting pressure on the surrounding areas, the board voted to reduce the total number of spike bull elk permits offered in Utah from 19,000 to 14,500. The 4,500 fewer permits represents the 2,400 hunters who hunted the Fishlake and Thousand Lake areas last fall and 2,100 spike bull permits that were not sold in 2001.
For more information call the nearest Division of Wildlife Resources office, or the Division's Salt Lake City office at (801) 538-4700.
