Utah big game regs are very heavily influenced by sfw and they are not the friend of the basic hunter. They compare big game hunting to logging and mineral rights on public ground. The rights to logging or mineral exploratuion go.to the highest bidder, and the rights to hunt big game in specific units should also go to the highest bidder. Hunters flock to their big convention and wish they had the money to participate in auctions or throw money at the various lotteries and only encourage them to pressure game departments to restrict more areas for limted hunting. A close look at areas they've poured money into and you'll see most of it went to areas benefiting the various cwmu"s and restricted units. Imagine if they can get $$500,000 for the right to shoot one deer in an area what it would be like if they could establish several such units. It's big.money if you get 10% of the pie. They've managed to get pretty much all deer hunting to draw permit only and, if you notice. Every year they push for fewer and fewer permits. Finance pressured game departments are hard pressed to turn down their donations in trade for their influence on decision making. I'm to old for it to effect me, but younger hunters should take a hard look at the direction we're going.
