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.

"During a nine-day hunt, I think hunters are more selective. If they don't see a deer they want the first weekend, they know they can come back and hunt the second weekend. But, despite their best intentions, most hunters don't make it back the second weekend."

Aoude said Utah deer hunters hunt an average of 3 1/2 days during a five-day hunt. During a nine-day hunt, they hunt an average of four days.

"If Utah stays with a five-day hunt in southern Utah, four days — including a weekend — will be taken away from hunters. Most hunters wouldn't take advantage of the extra days, but those who would like to hunt some extra days could if we went to a nine-day hunt.

"That's very important for young hunters who are in school during the week and for those who have jobs that allow them to hunt only on the weekends."

Another DWR proposal would give hunters more time to hunt spike bull elk.

The DWR is recommending the general spike bull elk hunt return to a 13-day season, instead of the nine-day hunt held the past few years.

The general spike bull hunt would run from Oct. 4 -16. Those are also the season dates for the any bull elk hunt.

"The length of the spike bull elk hunt was shortened a few years ago when the age objective for bulls taken on limited entry units was lowered on most of the units," Aoude said. "Lowering the objective allows more permits to be issued and more bulls to be taken. The idea behind shortening the season was to save more spike bulls so they could grow into mature bulls."

Since that time, Aoude said the age objective on most of the elk units has been raised. Raising the objective means fewer bulls will be taken.

Even if there was a need to protect spike bulls, keeping the season at nine days wouldn't make much of a difference.

"The elk situation is the same as the deer situation," he said. "Even if the season is lengthened by four days, most hunters won't take advantage of the extra days."

Hunters who hunt nine-day elk seasons in Utah hunt an average of five days. That number goes to 5 1/2 days when the season is 13 days long.

Other big-game proposals include:

• Change the Fillmore, Oak Creek South bull elk unit from a limited entry unit to a general any bull elk unit.

"The habitat on the unit isn't very good for elk, and there aren't many bulls on the unit," he said. "If you draw a tag for the unit, there's a pretty good chance you'll take a bull. But we can't offer many permits for the unit, and we don't believe it meets the requirements to be a limited entry unit."