{"id":773,"date":"2023-02-08T00:35:06","date_gmt":"2023-02-08T00:35:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/americangunpeople.com\/?p=773"},"modified":"2023-02-08T00:35:06","modified_gmt":"2023-02-08T00:35:06","slug":"utah-closes-shed-hunting-until-may","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/americangunpeople.com\/?p=773","title":{"rendered":"Utah Closes Shed Hunting Until May"},"content":{"rendered":"


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The Utah Department of Wildlife Resources announced Tuesday that the whole state will be closed to shed and horn hunting until April 30 in an effort to support and protect the state\u2019s big game populations. This winter has been a particularly harsh one for mule deer as snow continues to pile up and frigid temperatures blast the northern part of the state. DWR biologists have been monitoring deer health<\/a> all winter and are specifically concerned by mule deer fawn survival rates, a press release<\/a> says. <\/p>\n

\u201cIn these types of conditions, big game animals are weakened and highly vulnerable to repeated human-caused disturbances,\u201d DWR director J. Shirley said. \u201cThe unnecessary expenditure of energy and stress associated with disturbance\u2014like being repeatedly followed by someone gathering shed antlers\u2014may significantly decrease the survival rates of big game animals, particularly deer, this winter.\u201d<\/p>\n

Shed hunting has gotten popular in recent years as the market for antlers explodes<\/a> and hunting influencers promote the activity. This has both increased shed hunting pressure across the West and catalyzed the establishment of more regulations surrounding the practice, limiting both when and where one can legally shed hunt. Utah DWR already requires<\/a> that all shed hunters take a free course and get a certificate in shed hunting ethics before setting out any time from Feb. 1 and April 15. <\/p>\n

\u201cClosing the shed antler and horn gathering season will minimize a major source of disturbance in the areas and during the time periods when big game animals are the most exposed and vulnerable,\u201d Shirley said.<\/p>\n

Problems with Pressure <\/h2>\n

The move has triggered a variety of responses from outdoorsmen and women and conservation organizations. Some, like the Mule Deer Foundation (who commented with supportive claps on the DWR\u2019s Instagram post<\/a>) and Backcountry Hunters & Anglers, applaud the ban. <\/p>\n

\u201cUtah BHA supports the division\u2019s decision because of the impact this winter is having on the mule deer and elk herds in the state,\u201d Utah BHA chapter chair Perry Hall tells Outdoor Life<\/em>. \u201cThey\u2019ve had to close I-80 a few times now due to elk being on the major interchange between 215 and I-80 on the east side of Salt Lake. They\u2019ve had to relocate at least three bulls out of Salt Lake City proper due to them coming out of the hills. The herd\u2019s feeling the pressure.\u201d<\/p>\n

Some opponents to the statewide ban argue that the southern part of the state doesn\u2019t have the same snow and climate, and therefore a shed hunting ban to relieve pressure on herds isn\u2019t necessary. But DWR big game coordinator Dax Mangus recalls what happened during the 2016-2017 winter when DWR closed just the northern region of Utah to shed hunting.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe last time we had a shed antler closure, it initially started in just the northern part of the state,\u201d Mangus tells Outdoor Life<\/em>. \u201cBut then after just a few days we expanded it to include the entire state, due in large part to the concern that we displaced all the shed hunters from northern Utah, where the bulk of our human population lives, into the southern part.\u201d<\/p>\n

What About Other Recreation?<\/h2>\n

It\u2019s not just the statewide nature of the ban that has opponents up in arms. Some of them took to Instagram after DWR made the announcement to decry the move entirely, saying that it overlooks the impact winter hikers, bikers, trail runners, cross-country skiers, and snowmobilers must have on the same wildlife populations. Why not close these other activities as well? <\/p>\n

This is something DWR addresses in the press release.<\/p>\n

\u201cShed antler gathering is not the only winter activity with the potential to disturb wintering wildlife,\u201d Shirley said. \u201cWe encourage everyone to be aware of wildlife during this vulnerable period and do their best to not disturb them.\u201d<\/p>\n

Mangus says other winter activities aren\u2019t as detrimental to big game herds as shed hunting is.<\/p>\n

\u201cTypically, the folks participating in other forms of outdoor recreation aren\u2019t as keyed in on wildlife,\u201d Mangus says. \u201cThey encounter it, but they aren\u2019t as keyed in on the habitats wildlife use in the winter. There\u2019s going to be more impact from shed hunters than from other recreational activities, not to say those activities couldn\u2019t contribute as well, but most of the impact will be from shed hunters.\u201d<\/p>\n

A Question of Authority<\/h2>\n

Mangus points out that the DWR\u2019s regulatory authority only stretches so far, and closing trails to all activity on public lands is not something the agency can do.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have authority over regulation of wildlife in the parks, we have regulatory authority over our own lands, which are Wildlife Management Areas that the Division owns, but we don\u2019t have have regulatory authority over other recreational uses on the land,\u201d Mangus says. \u201cWe would ask folks that are out recreating or participating in other activities in areas where we have wintering wildlife to be mindful and give wildlife some space, but we have limited authority in terms of what we can and can\u2019t regulate.\u201d<\/p>\n

If folks want to search for shed antlers in Utah, they can wait until May 1 to do it or risk a citation. According to the press release, if conditions improve, DWR might lift the restrictions before April 30.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n