OCR Text |
Show poor success Utah's 1977 eleven-day general gener-al deer hunt is history, with the season producing very few surprises surpri-ses for Division of Wildlife Resources personnel who had predicted a harvest somewhat better than that of last year. Data collected to date indicates that preseason speculation as to the availability of deer was correct; and success was much improved in the northern half of the state, while improving slightly or holding steady in the south. Success in the La Sal Mountain area was poor, tagged at about 10 per cent. Division biologists had predicted predic-ted that last year's mild winter would have a positive effect on deer herd populations, and most hunters reported seeing more deer this year than in recent previous sesions. Early reports indicated that most of the animals harvested were relatively relativ-ely young, with large bucks uncommon. This year DWR people working in the field and at check stations collected teeth from harvested deer so Division biologists can get an accurate determination of the ages of the animals taken. This information will be used as part of the continuing game management program. J |