Utah mule deer permits to be more expensive, less available in 2012

Sportsmen will have fewer opportunities to hunt mule deer in 2012, and a permit to do so could cost more.

As the deer population declines, wildlife officials and sportsmen struggle to protect both the animals and the opportunities for sportsmen.

After about two hours of public comment, the Wildlife Board voted 4-2 Thursday to approve option two of four, which divides the state into 29 separate hunting areas, based on known deer herds. The motion did give the state Division of Wildlife Resources flexibility if some of those areas need to be combined or split.

While a few people spoke in favor of the status quo, most wanted a change.

"If we continue doing the same things, we'll get the same results," said Lance Roberts of Monroe.

Every year, the state sells more than 91,000 permits to deer hunters, but with Thursday's change, that could drop by about 13,000.

"It's been a very hot topic," said board member Jake Albrecht, who represents the state's southern region. "I think in the long run, the board here is very concerned about our deer herd statewide."

Right now, and next fall, the state hunt is divided into five geographic regions.

Currently, Division of Wildlife Resources biologists study mule deer herds in 29 different units, but they make hunting recommendations based on the five hunting regions.

In addition to fewer opportunities for hunters, the change also means a loss in revenue for the division.

Greg Sheehan, administrative services director for DWR, said the reductions translate into a loss of $404,600. Currently, about 90 percent of mule deer permits are sold to residents, while 10 percent are sold to nonresidents.

The board cannot raise the cost of permits, but it can recommend the Legislature do so. The DWR can also cut programs or services to deal with the decline in revenue.

Another change is the buck-to-doe ratio that will determine the number of permits sold to hunters.

After each hunt, biologists go out into the state's regions and study the deer populations. They look for an average of 15 bucks to 100 does statewide in order to maintain the number of permits allowed.

With the change, biologists will be managing each of the 29 units with an 18 bucks-to-100 does ratio in each region. That means permits could go down in one region but up in another, as the numbers are no longer averaged.