Utah deer hunt 2005: Expect fewer big animals but more young ones this fall

Fewer big deer, more young deer, thicker brush, more water and just about the same number of hunters. That's pretty much what is expected on the opening of the Utah general deer hunt.

The hunt will open at daybreak on Oct. 22. It will run anywhere from five to nine days, depending on the region a hunter chooses.

Overall, Utah's mule deer are in excellent shape. This past winter was kind to them and to the forests, which resulted in plenty of food and water.

As a result, there will be more yearling and two-point bucks roaming the mountains on opening weekend.

There will be fewer larger bucks seen in the central and northeastern regions. The simple explanation is that hunters did too well last year. There were more deer 3 1/2 years or older harvested than is typical.

"Heavy snow fell throughout much of the state right before the rifle hunt last year. The snow drove deer out of the higher elevations and right to the hunters. Those hunting in central and northeastern Utah took a lot of mature bucks," said Craig McLaughlin, big game coordinator for the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources.

Many of those mature bucks will be replaced by younger bucks this year.

"After four years of decline, the number of fawns per 100 does rebounded in 2003 and 2004," McLaughlin said. "During surveys this past March and April, biologists found an average of 70 fawns per 100 does across the state, so I think hunters will see good numbers of young bucks this fall."

There will be about 60,000 hunters afield, about the same number on the general rifle hunt since a cap on the number of deer tags issued was placed back in 1994.

Based on surveys conducted after Utah's 2004 rifle hunt, DWR biologists estimate 289,000 deer were in Utah at the start of last winter. That's 21,000 more animals than the 268,000 deer estimated after the 2003 hunt.

"Unless snow falls between now and the start of the hunt, the deer will be scattered, which will make it more challenging for hunters to find them," he said. "Also, all of the vegetation that's in the backcountry this year will make it more difficult to spot deer."

McLaughlin encourages hunters to scout their hunting areas before the season opens.

"Scouting before the opener will pay off because you'll learn the travel routes deer are taking in the area you'll be hunting," he said. "Also, if there have been any changes in areas that are open to hunting, you'll know about those changes in advance.