2023 Utah general-season buck deer hunt begins Saturday

Oct 20, 2023, 12:45 PM

buck deer shown --SALT LAKE CITY -- From Saturday until Oct. 29, Utah hunters with the necessary pe...

(Utah Division of Wildlife Resources)

Reporter, Utah's Morning News

SALT LAKE CITY — From Saturday until Oct. 29, Utah hunters with the necessary permits can hunt buck deer with any legal weapon, including rifles, throughout Utah.

“[This] hunt is arguably the most popular, so we’ll see a lot of people out this weekend,” said Faith Heaton Jolley, spokesperson for the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources.

Jolley told KSL NewsRadio whether people see more bucks this year really could depend on where they got permits to hunt.

She said Cache, Weber, Summit and Morgan counties were hit especially hard by last year’s record winter, and consequently, so fewer deer survived in these areas.

However, deer in other parts of the state, including southern Utah, had above-average survival rates and their habitats are in great shape.

The DWR has been limiting the number of deer permits in recent years since the population is still short of their goal of having 404,000 deer throughout Utah. As of last year, there were an estimated 335,000 deer across the state.

Hunters this year are encouraged to follow all state regulations and to be prepared for the elements.

During this hunt, Jolley said it is not permitted to hunt or kill does or fawns.

Jolley also encouraged hunters to:

Make sure you have their permits and licenses.
Know your hunting area.
Make sure you have the proper equipment.
Get permission if you want to hunt on private land.

“All of that research is really crucial and it will help you prevent any mistakes or violations that could get you in trouble,” Jolley said.

On the DWR’s website, officials encourage hunters to:

Keep up-to-date with their equipment skills.
Hunt away from roads because wildlife avoids them.
Look for rugged terrain because bucks like these types of areas.
Pay attention to wind direction.
Be prepared for severe weather and other emergencies.
Use binoculars and be stealthy.
Keep carcasses and the meat inside them cool.

The DWR encouraged hunters to follow the same advice for the general-season muzzleloader elk hunt which runs from Nov. 1-9.

“[We’re] hoping everyone can have a good and safe hunt,” Jolley said.

We want to hear from you.

Have a story idea or tip? Send it to the KSL NewsRadio team here.

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