this fall, and that's good news for hunters who haven't obtained a general muzzleloader or rifle buck deer permit.
Permits for the other four regions in Utah have sold out for this fall, but more than 13,000 Northern Region muzzleloader and rifle permits are still available. Permits may be purchased at the Division of Wildlife Resources' website (wildlife.utah.gov), from 150 hunting license agents statewide or the DWR's six offices.
Utah's 2004 general muzzleloader buck deer hunt begins September 29. The state's general rifle buck deer hunt begins October 23.
"Good rainfall in the northern half of Utah in the spring of 2003 improved habitat conditions, and that in turn helped the number of fawns per 100 does increase," said Jim Karpowitz, big game coordinator for the DWR. "Fawn-to-doe ratios in the Northern Region last fall averaged 72 fawns per 100 does. That's a better ratio than southern Utah, which has been the most popular place for deer hunters to go in recent years."
Despite heavy snowfall from Brigham City southward this past winter, most of the fawns born in northern Utah made it through the winter. And that means Northern Region hunters should see more bucks this fall.
"Buck-to-doe ratios on public land units in the Northern Region also average 15 to 16 bucks per 100 does, which is the same ratio as the popular Southern Region," Karpowitz said.
One drawback to hunting the Northern Region is the lack of public land. "There are two big public land units in the region — the Box Elder and the Cache — but that's about it," Karpowitz said. "Hunters should see more yearling bucks on those units, though, and we hope hunters have a great time hunting those units this year."
For more information, call the DWR's Northern Region office at (801) 476-2740.
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