OTHER PROPOSED CHANGES IN UTAH – Yesterday, we posted an article about Utah’s proposed changes to the elk management plan. In the press release, the Utah DWR also announced other proposed changes that we would like to highlight.
Hunting Dates
The DWR continues to work to keep the opening day of most hunts to be on a Saturday. This allows most hunters to be in the field on opening day. The proposed dates for elk and deer were published in the press release:
DEER
- General-season archery: Aug. 19–Sept. 15, 2023
- General-season muzzleloader: Sept. 27–Oct. 5, 2023
- General-season early any legal weapon: Oct. 11–15, 2023
- General-season any legal weapon: Oct. 21–29, 2023
ELK
- General-season archery spike bull: Aug. 19–Sept. 8, 2023
- General-season archery any bull: Aug. 19–Sept. 20, 2023
- General-season muzzleloader: Nov. 1–9, 2023
- General-season any legal weapon spike bull: Oct. 7–19, 2023
- General-season early any legal weapon any bull: Oct. 7–13, 2023
- General-season late any legal weapon any bull: Oct. 14–20, 2023
- Limited-entry elk archery: Aug. 23–Sept. 19, 2023
- Limited-entry late-season archery elk: Dec. 2–17, 2023
- Limited-entry elk muzzleloader: Sept. 25–Oct. 6, 2023
- Limited-entry elk early any weapon: Sept. 20–24, 2023
- Limited-entry elk HAMS/restricted weapons: Nov. 11–30, 2023
- Limited-entry any legal weapon hunt on 14 units that didn’t previously have a mid-season hunt: Oct. 7–19, 2023
- Limited-entry late-season any legal weapon hunt on Diamond Mountain: Nov. 11–19, 2023
Possible New Hunts
The DWR is also proposing several new hunts be added to allow for more opportunity. Due to changes in hunt boundaries, the DWR has proposed new general elk, deer and pronghorn hunts. They have also recommended a couple new limited entry hunts as well.
“Some of the new hunts and unit boundary changes for deer will allow us to manage the populations and conduct buck hunting on these units at the same scale,” Mangus said. “The changes will also allow for more precision in addressing emerging chronic wasting disease concerns in some of the areas.”
HAMS Hunts
HAMS hunts are weapon specific, which include handgun, archery, muzzleloader, and shotgun. The DWR has proposed technology restrictions that would apply to the HAMS hunts only. These restrictions will not apply to the other general and limited entry hunts.
A few of the changes include archery being limited to longbow and recurve. Muzzleloaders and shotguns being open-sights only. No semi-automatic guns. And much more.
Once-In-A-Lifetime Hunt Changes
There are 3 exciting changes that could possibly take place for these hunts. The reason they are exciting is due to the fact that more hunts are being added. The changes are as follows:
- New hunt for desert bighorn sheep on the Mineral Mountains in 2024
- New hunt for bison on the Book Cliffs, Little Creek/South Unit
- New archery hunt for mountain goats on the Beaver Unit (and discontinuing the North Slope/South Slope, High Unitas Central Unit archery hunt)
There were also other changes announced, including some changes to the CWMU units. You can read the full press release here. Are these changes items that you would support. What other changes would you like to see?
