Antler-gathering rules considered

• Requiring written authorization from the DWR to gather shed antlers in Utah from Jan. 1-May 15. Written authorization would be given after the person completed an ethics course at the DWR's Web site. The course would provide tips on how to gather antlers in a way that doesn't disturb big-game animals or damage their habitat.

• Those who wanted to gather antlers after May 15 would not be required to complete the course.

• The director of the DWR could close shed-antler gathering, on an emergency basis, in any part of the state where the practice was harming wildlife.

The Shed Antler Gathering Committee is undecided on whether a fee should be charged to complete the course. The 10-person committee includes representatives from the Mule Deer Foundation, the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Sportsmen for Fish and Wildlife, the Utah Bowmen's Association and two at-large representatives. DWR staff have made themselves available to answer the group's questions and provide them with information.

"Please let us know what you think about the committee's ideas," Fowlks said. "We're also open to any new ideas you may have."

After gathering public input, the committee will put its final recommendations together and present them at a series of public meetings in November.

About 300 cougars would probably be taken in Utah under the DWR's recommendations for 2008-09.

That number would be similar to the past four seasons in Utah. Hunters took an average of 306 cougars during each of those seasons.

"From the mid 1990s through the early 2000s, an effort was under way to reduce the number of cougars in certain parts of Utah," said the DWR's Kevin Bunnell. "The goal was to bring cougars and the deer, bighorn sheep and

other animals that cougars prey on into better balance.

"Over the past couple of years, the number of cougars in Utah has started to stabilize," he said. "Now we're working to find the proper balance between cougars and their prey. We think the proposals we're recommending are another step in that direction."

The number of hunting permits the DWR is recommending for Utah's limited entry units, and the total number of cougars to be taken on the state's harvest objective units, are almost identical to last year.

For more information about the meetings, call the nearest DWR office or the main office at 801-538-4700.