But higher quality forage in the region is allowing deer numbers to increase slowly. Data collected over the past three years indicate that the general deer units in the region are near management objectives of 15 bucks per 100 does.

The Uinta Mountains remain one area in the region where deer are doing the best.

Blackwell expects hunt success on the north and south slopes to be average to slightly less than average. He said fawn production on the south and north slopes of the Unitas was average this past spring.

Southeastern region

Hunters will find more bucks in this region.

"Good fawn production in 2005 and 2006 and good survival this past winter have strengthened herds across the region," said Bill Bates, wildlife manager. "Most units show both short- and long-term upward trends as far as the total number of deer in the herds."

Two of the best areas for yearlings and 2-year-old bucks are the Manti, LaSal and Abajo units.

While the number of deer is up this year, all of southeastern herds are still under the management objective as far as the total number of deer.

Southern region

Deer herds are rebounding after several years of drought.

The number of bucks per 100 does increased from 18 bucks per 100 does after the 2004 hunt to 19 bucks per 100 does after the 2005 hunt.

The number of fawns biologists counted also increased, from 63 fawns per 100 does in the spring of 2005 to 66 fawns per 100 does this past spring.

"All of the increases are very slight, but the deer herds are heading in the right direction," said Lynn Chamberlain, conservation outreach manager. Very few deer died this past winter.

"We had less moisture this past winter, and a drier spring, but range conditions appear to be decent," he said. Very few dear died this past winter.

Hunting in the southern and southeastern regions will close Oct. 25. The rest of the regions will remain open through Oct. 29.

2006 Utah deer hunt

Dates: Oct. 21-29

Deer population: 289,000

Hunting licenses issued: 96,000 (all hunts)

Total number of deer taken: 25,000 (2005)

Record number of deer taken: 132,000 (1961)

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