If you’re not a Utah upland game hunter, the following probably doesn’t have much interest for you. Utah’s upland game regulations are undergoing a review and are now up for some significant changes. The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources has met with the Upland Game Advisory Council and taken comments from citizens about changes to upland game hunting regulations in the state and are proposing some of the following changes:
1.) Standardize the current split pheasant seasions, Utah County (7-day) vs. the rest of the state (2-week) into one uniform 16-day season statewide. The extended 30-day season on public lands in certain counties will still exist. Further, the opening day shooting hours will start 30 minutes before sunrise rather than the traditional 8:00 am start.
2.) Extend the forest grouse season by one month (mid-September through the end of December).
3.) Unify the current split chukar seasons and lengthen the seasons from late September to mid-February. They are also recommending a two week later opening day for the season to lessen bird’s dependence on water sources, especially guzzlers. This will provide chukar hunters statewide a lot more opportunity to hunt chukars (2 ½ months more in some cases).
4.) Offer additional/new California quail hunts in Daggett and Sanpete County.
5.) Offer an additional/new sharp-tail grouse hunt in Cache County.
6.) Shift the sharp-tail grouse and the sage-grouse seasons two weeks later in September. Season length would be kept the same, but this change would allow broods to disperse more and provide a lower likelihood of harvesting brood hens (3+ year old), a critical element in grouse production.
One of the current recommendations is to have two different Hungarian partridge seasons in Northern Utah, rather than one uniform season. I oppose this change for two reasons: First, there is no biological basis for this regulation. Second, regulations should be simplified rather than made more complex. And third, the season has always coincided with the chukar season to avoid problems with hunters misidentifying these two species and inadvertently taking a species out of season. I suggest that there should be one statewide Hungarian partridge seasion that matches the chukar season.
Another change I would like to see changed is the pheasant season. I suggest that we go to a statewide 30-day season. Rather than a 16 day season on private lands and a 30 day season on public lands in certain counties. Habitat is the limiting factor on pheasant populations, rather than a male only harvest strategy. Give hunters more opportunity at the most popular upland game species in the state.
If you have comments you would like to voice, attend your Regional Advisory Council meeting this week, or contact your local RAC members via email and voice your comments. They are your public voice on wildlife regulations. Information can be found at http://wildlife.utah.gov/news/08-05/upland_game.php .
