Free: Contests & Raffles.
Should do it anyways in known wintering areas. No reason to be adding additional stress to the critters. Bone will still be there come April/may.
I've been hunting in Utah this January, the snow is deeper than I've ever seen in some areas. March is a critical month, good that they are looking forward in those counties! Glad to see they are not over reacting statewide where it isn't needed.
Quote from: bearpaw on February 01, 2017, 10:31:28 AMI've been hunting in Utah this January, the snow is deeper than I've ever seen in some areas. March is a critical month, good that they are looking forward in those counties! Glad to see they are not over reacting statewide where it isn't needed. I imagine all your cow hunters filled their tags this year? They have literally slaughtered the elk down low this year. Totally agree that people need to leave the wildlife alone this time of year but I don't know how they figure they can legally ban shed hunting. Once that antler falls it is no longer "part" of that animal and doesn't belong to the state. Just my opinion!
Extreme, prolonged cold and deep snow are the reasons for the closure. These conditions are expected to continue for the next several weeks, making it difficult for deer, elk and moose to find food. To help the animals survive the winter, it's essential that activities that take place on winter ranges be kept to a minimum, to reduce stressing the animals."These animals and other wildlife in the areas are stressed," Sheehan says. "They cannot sustain being repeatedly moved around by shed hunters looking for dropped antlers."We support shed antler gathering," Sheehan says, "but we're asking, through this emergency order, that you wait until April 1 to move through these winter range areas."Those caught gathering shed antlers before April 1, in any of the 11 counties, will be cited.In late winter and early spring, the antlers of deer, elk and moose fall off the animals' heads. Then, they start growing a new set of antlers. By mid-summer, the new set is in place.You can still gather shed antlers in 18 countiesOutside of the 11 counties in the emergency amendment, shed antler gathering is open across Utah. Before you gather antlers on public land, though, you must complete the DWR's free shed antler gathering course. The course will teach you how to gather shed antlers in a way that doesn't disturb deer, elk and moose and doesn't damage their habitat.You can take the course online. After completing it, you must print your certificate of completion and carry it with you while you're gathering shed antlers. If you don't, you could receive a citation.One note: even though shed antler gathering is open in the 18 counties, many of the DWR's wildlife management areas in the counties are closed in the winter and spring. The closure is designed to give wildlife on the WMAs some extra protection during a critical time of the year.