Deer hunting permits already sold out

Those hunters making plans to hunt big game this fall, but who have yet to buy a permit, are left with but one choice — elk.

The 97,000 tags for the general deer hunting seasons have all been sold. Earlier this week, however, there were still 18,700 elk tags available.

The "sold out" sign for deer tags went out June 13, which is roughly two weeks earlier than last year.

Tags in four of the five regions were applied for and given out in a drawing. Hunters had the option of applying early for one of the five regions or waiting and hoping there were permits available after the drawing.

Once all of the applications had been filled, there were 2,500 archery tags and 6,500 permits available for the Northern Region. All of the permits were given out for the northeastern, southeastern, central and southern regions.

"The remaining permits went on sale on June 11," said Mark Hadley with the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources. "Within two hours of going on sale, all of the archery permits were gone. By midnight on June 13, all of the remaining deer permits were sold."

Last year, archery tags were sold out by June 19, and rifle and muzzleloader permits were all sold by June 29. Permits went on sale June 12.

In order to get a better count on hunting pressure during the archery hunt, new requirements were put in place this year.

In the past, an archery tag entitled the hunter to hunt statewide. This year, archers had to choose one of the five regions to hunt during the first two weeks and before being allowed to hunt statewide during the second two weeks.

"What was happening is that the southern region appeared to have been getting most of the hunting pressure from archers," said Hadley.

"By being required to declare a region at the start of the hunt, we will be able to get a better feel for where people want to hunt. This, too, might reduce some pressure in the southern region."

The state's general archery season will open Aug. 15.

Hunters with muzzleloader and general rifle permits will be required to hunt in the regions where the permit is valid.

There is no limit on the number of archery elk permits being issued this year.

Available for elk hunters for the general rifle hunt are 8,100 spike bull tags and 10,600 any bull permits.

Last year, spike elk permits sold by Sept. 24 and any bull elk tags by Sept. 25.