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Show Deer and Elk Harvest Drops during the previous winter. Muzzleloaders havested 792 deer in 1979 compared to 193 in 1978. The increase was attributed to the mid-November mid-November season and to 1470 more muzzleloaders afield. In 1979, 22,201 archers harvested 2,753 deer with a success ratio of 12 percent. The number of archers afield increased by nearly 5,000 in 1979. This was the first time in three years that the archery permit had a tag attached so a hunter could possibly take two deer. Big game harvest figures for the 1979 hunting seasons, released by the Utah Division of .. Wildlife, Resource s game management seciton, showed a slight drop in the deer and elk harvest. This . was partially due to poor weather conditions. More than 37,000 elk permits were sold in 1979 for the state's open bull elk season and 2,313 bulls were harvested for a 7 percent hunter success ratio. During the 1979 season, 5,000 more hunters were in the field and 713 fewer bull elk were harvest than in 1978. Jim Burruss, wildlife biologist for the Division, said the elk harvest was down on some herd units possibly due to hot, dry weather conditions. These conditions may have discouraged many hunters and those who did hunt found the dusty, dry conditions unpleasant. More than 188,000 hunters harvested 57,210 deer during Utah's general deer season for a success ratio of 30 percent. Burruss pointed out that : the slightly lower deer harvest in 1979 was probalby due to a snow storm that hit the state on opening day. Generally about 43 percent of the deer harvested are taken on opening day, but, the snow storm the evening b efore and during the 1979 opening day cut the percentage per-centage down to only 22 percent. Also, some units had substantial losses |