Shed hunting closed till April 1 in 11 counties in Utah

[jackelope]

https://wildlife.utah.gov/wildlife-news/1988-shed-antler-gathering-closed-in-11-counties.html

Emergency closure will help protect deer and elk

You'll have to wait until April 1 to gather shed deer, elk and moose antlers in 11 counties in Utah this year.

Folks should keep this sort of thing in mind when out shed hunting this time of year. Be responsible about it or this could be us here in Washington real easy I'd bet.

[greenhead_killer]

Shouldn't 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.

[Skyvalhunter]

That's the way it should be here in WA also

[benhuntin]

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.

We have that here and half of those horns end up gone. Laws keep honest people honest. It is a good idea and I support it but it doesn't mean the horns will be there still.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[quadrafire]

I'd better keep quiet on this as last time I spouted off I was called a 
But I agree with BenHuntin there will always be the user group that can't wait

[bigtex]

Shed hunting is not regulated in WA, but it is in other states. I think we will see it become a regulated activity in WA soon. 

[samsqatch]

Agreed. Cold as hell out side again this morning and another system moving in over the weekend. This looooong winter has become very tough on every thing.

[bearpaw]

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.

[daydreamn]

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.

  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!

[jackelope]

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.

  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!

It's not about the antlers. It's about the stress put on the animals by the folks tromping all over the winter range looking for those sheds on snowmobiles, quads, whatever else when they're already trying to survive the winter, eat, recover from the rut, etc. Eliminate the shed hunting and you eliminate 90% of that added stress to the animals.

[mkcj]

  Great news!

[Roosevelt walleye]

I enjoy snowshoeing the mountains this time of year and finding sheds is a bonus, I would continue to get in the outdoors as often as time allows whether shed hunting is legal or not. Maybe GPS some sheds and go back in the spring to see if they are still there.

 Maybe we should close all hunting in November and December in order to send the animals into winter as healthy as possible.

Probably not a great answer as I love to hunt that time of year also. Be very careful supporting bans as we all know the next one may just be your favorite hobby.

[jackelope]

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 counties

Outside 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.

[Roosevelt walleye]

Thanks for reposting the article and yes I had read it previously.

My point is there is always someone wanting to close something and they always have their reasons. I know there are some that enjoy the outdoors during a short time period of their chosen hunting season, there are some of us that choose to enjoy it year around.