"Several of the state's elk herds are getting close to their population objective. We want to slow their growth a bit so the herds don't overshoot their objective. If they overshoot it, then we'll have to offer a lot of cow elk permits in 2009. We'd prefer to increase permit numbers slowly rather than all at once," he added.

Aoude said several herds are also at or over their population objective. "Raising the number of permits will help us keep these herds at or near their population objective," he added.

Biologists have worked for years to reduce the number of pronghorn in the large herds on the Parker Mountains in southwestern Utah. Lots of hunting permits have been issued, and animals have been taken off the unit and transplanted elsewhere.

Biologists conducted an aerial survey of the unit a few weeks ago and found there's still a large number of pronghorn on the unit.

They are recommending 350 doe pronghorn permits for the Parker Mountains. The Parker Mountains are part of the Plateau unit.

The remaining 377 doe pronghorn permits the DWR is recommending would be split among the rest of the state's pronghorn units to deal with depredation issues.

Utah's moose herds, including those along the Wasatch Front, continue to flourish. For this reason, the DWR is recommending 109 cow moose permits for this fall's hunts.