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Hunters to enter deer tag lottery because permits oversold last year
By Eric Buchanan
Due to overselling permits in past years, the Division of Wildlife Resources has decided to go with a drawing in which hunters would apply for a permit by mail and their name would be put into a drawing to decide whether or not they can hunt that season. Mike Welch, the DWR big game coordinator, said Utah is just following suit after other mule deer states have held drawings. He said Oregon and Colorado are some of the many states that have drawings for deer permits as a way to control how many hunters go into the field each year. "The major impact on buck/doe ratio are the hunters," Welch said. Utah tries to maintain 15 bucks to every 100 does observed after hunting season is over, and Welch said this drawing is a way to help maintain that figure. "Since `94 the overselling of permits has been overwhelming, said Matt Shepherd, an Information Technician with the DWR. "Last year the southern region was sold out in two hours and there was no way to keep track of it." Caps are placed on the five hunting regions in the state, and when those caps are met the area is closed to the selling of more permits. Shepherd said that when local stores are selling permits and a cap is met, it is hard to contact all of the other stores in that area and tell them to stop selling more permits. Welch said this is why the DWR went with a drawing. The 97,000 permit cap was being oversold by 15,000 to 16,000 permits. The drawing will eliminate overselling while still keeping the cap at 97,000. Some sporting goods stores are concerned that the drawing will affect their sales and income around hunting season. "Those who come in to buy hunting licenses usually come in to buy ammunition and clothing," said Jim Poulsen, of Al's Sporting Goods Gun Department. Poulsen said the drawing may deter people from hunting because of deadlines and using the mail. Sarah Lindley, Wal-Mart's Sporting Goods Department Manager, said that it probably wouldn't affect their overall profits because Wal-Mart only makes about 20 cents per license. "The only reason we sell licenses is to get customers to come in and get other things to go with it," Lindley said. "It's not for the money. People will still have to buy their supplies." Fred Meyer's Sporting Goods Department won't be affected by the change as much as other sporting goods stores will, according to Jason O'Brien, sporting goods department manager. He said Fred Meyer does not sell guns and only sells fishing and small game hunting licenses. Next year's drawing will not include limited entry areas of the state and the regional caps will remain about the same number as they were last year. Shepherd said the area caps would be as follows: Northern region-30,000 permits; North Eastern region-15,900 permits; Central region-15,500 permits; South Eastern region-15,700 permits; and the Southern region-19,900 permits. Hunters must apply between May 1 and May 22 to get their name in the drawing. If there are any permits left after the draw, they will be sold at DWR offices throughout the state beginning July 10.
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Archived Months:
September
1998 |
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