A proposal is being presented that would make deer and elk hunting seasons the same statewide.

What it would mean is hunters would have more days to hunt.

Many hunters believe that taking a few days off a hunting season means fewer deer will be taken.

But Division of Wildlife Resources surveys show that's not always the case. On average, Utah deer hunters take more deer during five-day hunts than they do during nine-day hunts.

That's why the DWR is recommending that the general rifle season in both the Southeastern and Southern regions return to a nine-day hunt for the 2008 season.

The DWR is also recommending that the statewide general spike bull elk hunt return to a 13-day season. That would make the spike season the same length as the general any bull elk season.

Information regarding deer and elk management in Utah will be discussed at a series of upcoming public meetings.

The meetings provide an opportunity for sportsmen to learn more about the proposals and to provide biologists with their input and suggestions.

Members of Utah's five Regional Advisory Councils will take the public input received to the Utah Wildlife Board when it meets in Salt Lake City on Nov. 29 to approve Utah's 2008 Big Game Guidebook.

Meetings will be:

• Nov. 6 — Southern Region meeting at 5 p.m. at Hurricane High School, 345 W. Tiger Blvd.

• Nov. 7 — Southeastern Region meeting at 6:30 p.m. at John Wesley Powell Museum, 1765 E. Main in Green River.

• Nov. 8 — Northeastern Region meeting 6:30 p.m. at Western Park, Room 2, 302 E. 200 South in Vernal.

• Nov. 13 — Central Region meeting at 6:30 p.m. at Springville Junior High School, 165 S. 700 East.

• Nov. 15 — Northern Region meeting at 6 p.m. at the Brigham City Community Center, 24 N. 300 West.

The proposal is intended to provide hunters with more opportunity.

"It might be hard to believe, but our harvest data shows that more deer are typically taken during five-day hunts than during nine-day hunts," said Anis Aoude, big game coordinator for the DWR.

The attached chart compares five-day hunts in Utah to nine-day hunts. The chart begins in 1999, when Utah's first five-day deer hunt was held in parts of the Southeastern Region:

The reason, he noted, is: "I think it might have something to do with hunters putting in more effort during a five-day hunt. They know the hunt isn't going to last long, so they put some extra effort in. Because the hunt is fairly short, I think they're also willing to take one of the first deer they see.