Central region

Biologists say deer herds are rebounding, and rifle hunters should see more younger bucks.

"The Central region received decent amounts of precipitation this winter and spring," said Scott Root, conservation outreach manager.

"The deer are in very good condition, which can be attributed to the abundant vegetation and water sources available throughout the region."

Surveys this spring showed an excellent number of fawns.

"The region's three-year buck-to-doe ratio is slightly under but is approaching the 15 bucks per 100 does management objective," Root said. "Biologists have seen many younger buck deer this year, which indicates lots of fawns born in 2005 made it through the past winter."

Root said deer will be widely scattered because of the plentiful food sources.

"Look for well-used game trails, and invest time on pre-hunt scouting trips to learn the habits of the deer," suggested Craig Clyde, wildlife biologist. "Higher elevation areas may have significant snow. In this case, hunters should pay attention to the south- and west-facing slopes, where the deer tend to congregate when conditions are snowy."

Root said most hunters concentrate on the Tintic, Deep Creek, Oquirrh and Stansbury mountain ranges, but pockets of deer can be found throughout the western portion of the region.

Hunters in the regions are reminded that:

• The Vernon limited entry deer unit takes up a good portion of the western part of the region, and general deer hunters need to stay out of these boundaries (a boundary description is available in the 2006 Utah Big Game Proclamation).

• The eastern portion of Salt Lake County, south of I-80, is not open to rifle deer hunting. It's part of the Wasatch Front Extended Archery Area and is open only to archery deer and archery elk permit holders.

• Voluntary game check stations will be set up at the mouth of Spanish Fork Canyon, along I-15 near Santaquin and possibly at other locations. Biologists will check harvested deer for chronic wasting disease at no charge to the hunter.

Northeastern region

Depending on where they hunt, hunters should see more bucks this fall.

"In general, deer herds in the northeastern region wintered well during the mild winter of 2005," said Boyde Blackwell, wildlife manager.

Based on surveys, he estimates about 20 percent of the deer in the region died during the past winter.