Antler hunting shouldn't harm habitat

Those searching for antlers this spring are reminded to search only on foot and to keep ATVs and trucks on roads open to vehicle travel.

Those who violate these rules can do serious damage to the habitat on which deer, elk and other wildlife rely.

The ground in the spring is muddy. Vehicles can easily leave deep tracks that cause erosion and reduce the land's ability to support deer, elk and other wildlife. Those scars take years to heal and are an eyesore that cause people to further oppose OHV use and shed-antler hunting.

Those looking for antlers should follow some simple rules, provided by the Division of Wildlife Resources, that make it possible to collect shed antlers and have fun without damaging the landscape and causing animals stress:

— Once arriving at a shed antler hunting area, park the vehicle and hunt for shed antlers on foot.

— Once antlers have been found, pack them to the nearest road. Then leave them near the side of the road and drive back to pick them up.

The rest of Utah is open to collecting year-round.

The antler gathering restriction in northern Utah was imposed to reduce stress to big game animals during a time of year when the animals are coming out of the winter and are in their worst shape.

The closure also helps reduce damage to the wet roads and rangelands.

Those looking for antlers are reminded that they cannot take antlers still attached to a skull plate.

This restriction was enacted after DWR conservation officers discovered people were shooting trophy animals on their winter range. In the spring, they'd return and retrieve the heads and antlers of the animals they had poached.