Hunting

No Limit on Utah Archery Elk Permits If you haven't obtained an archery big game hunting permit yet, no problem-there's still a chance to hunt in Utah this fall. Permits for Utah's general archery bull elk hunt are not limited in number. You can get one anytime between now and the end of the Sanpete Valley extended archery elk hunt on Dec. 31. The general archery elk hunt starts Aug. 16. Justin Shannon, big game coordinator for the Division of Wildlife Resources, says elk are doing really well in Utah. He says the state is home to more than 80,000 elk. "Taking an elk with a bow and arrow is a challenge," Shannon says, "but plenty of elk are out…

Laramie, Wyo. - Offering its hunting expertise, Wyoming-based company Eastmans' Publishing Inc. will provide its antelope packages to women signed up for the 2014 Wyoming Women's Antelope Hunt as part of its sponsorship. Eastmans' Publishing has signed up as a sponsor of the hunt, agreeing to send this year's hunters antelope packages that include its Antelope DVDs - Antelope Safari 2, in which Mike Eastman gives valuable insight on antelope behavior and how to approach hunting the different stages of the fall, and Antelope Safari 3, which covers 100% DIY, public land, fair chase hunts. The package also includes Mike Eastman's book Hunting Trophy Antelope a Do-It-Yourself Guide, and an issue of the Eastmans' Hunting Journal with an article about…

Archery buck deer hunt starts Aug. 16 With the start of Utah's first major hunt just days away, biologists with the Division of Wildlife Resources have good news: in almost every area of the state, the number of buck deer will be similar to, or better, than it was last fall. And biologists have some more good news: two more units have been added to the list of units where deer hunters-who have an antlerless elk-control permit-can take a cow elk during the archery buck deer hunt. More information about antlerless elk-control permits is available on page 21 of the 2014 Utah Big Game Field Regulations Guidebook. You can get the free guidebook at www.wildlife.utah.gov/guidebooks. Utah's general archery buck deer…

PINEDALE, Wyo. - Sportsmen's groups will be gathering in Wyoming this week to confront declining populations of mule deer and how to increase public support for conservation and management of the popular Western big game species. The Wyoming Mule Deer Coalition, a consortium established by Bowhunters of Wyoming, the Mule Deer Foundation, Muley Fanatic Foundation, Wyoming Wildlife Federation and the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership, is sponsoring the event in cooperation with the Wyoming Game and Fish Department. The new group hopes to establish a network of sportsmen and conservation organizations, business and individuals to work together to ensure the future of Wyoming mule deer populations. "Mule deer are a true icon of the West, and they are facing a lot…

IDAHO FALLS - Earlier this month, dry summer conditions prompted the United States Forest Service(USFS) to issue a yearlong ban on the use of exploding targets on USFS managed lands. As the wildlands continue to dry out, the Idaho Department of Fish & Game (IDFG) would like to remind users of Department managed lands and access sites that fireworks and exploding targets are always prohibited. According to Regional Habitat Manager Terry Thomas, "The Department's lands regulations prohibit the use of fireworks or explosives at any time." These regulations cover not just Department lands such as Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs), but also Department managed access sites. The definition of explosives also covers the use of explosive targets and incendiary rounds, such…

DENVER - Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW), in coordination with The Keystone Center, will hold a West Slope Mule Deer Summit in Glenwood Springs, Colo., Aug. 9. The summit agenda includes presentation of a draft of the West Slope Mule Deer Strategy slated to be released early next month. The event is free and open to the public. CPW and The Keystone Center invite public review and comments on the West Slope Mule Deer Strategy draft as it serves as a guide to future CPW efforts to increase mule deer populations in Western Colorado. The summit is in response to recent mule deer population declines across the Western U.S. and specifically, several areas on the West Slope, including the White…

Spring hunt orders to be considered during the Saturday portion of the meeting PHOENIX -- Double Tree by Hilton Hotel at 1175 W. Route 66 in Flagstaff. The meeting begins at 8 a.m. both days. The public is invited to either attend the meeting in person, view it live via video stream at any Game and Fish regional office (Friday only), or view it over the web at www.azgfd.gov/commissioncam. Members of the public who wish to speak to the Commission may submit Speaker Cards (Blue Cards) in person at the meeting or from any regional Game and Fish office (Friday only). The ability to speak to the Commission is not available for those viewing the webcast online. Items on the…

The Department of Natural Resources is seeking to update its network of high conservation value areas (HCVAs), areas of state-managed lands that, among other values, contain rare or sensitive natural communities that add to the robustness and character of Michigan's state forest land. This update is in response to findings from the 2013 annual DNR forest certification audit regarding DNR conformance to forest certification standards. Specifically, the effort is necessary to maintain certification of the 4-million-acre state forest and to better meet standards of the Sustainable Forestry Initiative and Forest Stewardship Council. The DNR has completed an extensive evaluation to identify areas for updating two HCVA categories: ecological reference areas (ERAs) and dedicated habitat areas (DHAs). The DHAs being considered…

PHOENIX -The wait is over for eager hunters who applied for the upcoming season. Draw results for Arizona's 2014 fall deer, turkey, javelina, bighorn sheep, buffalo and pheasant hunts are now available online. To view results, go to www.azgfd.gov and scroll down to the "View results and bonus points" link. Draw results are also available by phone at (602) 942-3000; select option two on the automated menu. More than 125,000 people applied for this year's fall draw, and more than 49,000 hunt-permit tags were issued. Hunters who submitted applications for a fall hunt, but were not drawn, will have a second chance to get a hunt permit-tag. Approximately 4,000 leftover tags for Arizona's fall hunts will be available. For those…