Utah considers cow-moose permit hike

Utah's moose population is doing well in Utah; the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources is recommending that the number of cow-moose permits be doubled for this fall's hunt.

Doe pronghorn antelope permits would also increase under DWR recommendations, while doe-deer and cow-elk permits would decrease.

People can learn more about the proposals and provide DWR biologists with their input and suggestions at five public meetings that will be held Tuesday.

Citizen Regional Advisory Council representatives will take the public input they received and present it to the Utah Wildlife Board when it meets April 27 in Salt Lake City to approve Utah's 2006 Antlerless Addendum.

The Tuesday meetings begin at 6:30 p.m. The meetings will be:

Northern Region — Brigham City Community Center, 24 N. 300 West.

Central Region — Springville Junior High School, 165 S. 700 East

Northeastern Region — Uintah Basin Applied Technology Center, 1100 E. Lagoon St. in Roosevelt.

Southeastern Region — John Wesley Powell Museum, 885 E. Main in Green River

Southern Region — Beaver High School, 195 E. Center in Beaver.

The DWR recommendations for 2006:

Cow elk from 5,982 in 2005 to 5,274; doe deer from 1,680 in 2005 to 1,080; doe pronghorn from 452 in 2005 to 587; and cow moose from 25 in 2005 to 63.

Utah's moose populations have grown to the point where the DWR wants to start maintaining numbers.

To help keep moose in Utah at their current level, the DWR is recommending 63 cow-moose permits for this fall's hunts.

The DWR conducted its most recent moose survey in February 2005. After the survey, DWR biologists estimated the state's moose population at 4,130 animals, which is only 40 animals shy of a statewide objective of 4,170.

"While 4,130 moose is really close to the statewide objective, some of the state's individual moose units actually have more moose on them than the units can handle," says Craig McLaughlin, big-game coordinator for the DWR.

McLaughlin said it's important to try and keep moose within the objectives called for in Utah's Moose Management Plan.