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Show Utah Records Best Buck Harvest on Record The largest buck deer harvest in Utah's history was recorded in 1981. A total of 80,627 bucks were harvested including 76,634 during the regular season, and 3,095 and 898 on the archery and muzzle loader hunts respectively. Last year the buck harvest was 65,444. The hunter success' of 40.5 percent for bucks during the regular season was the best since 1973 when either sex hunting was still in effect. Deer units in Garfield County also had a greatly increased harvest of deer over recent years. In most cases, the harvest was the highest since 1974 when the numbers of hunters were double the 1981 figure. Highest hunter success as on the Antimony unit where 618 hunters harvested 373 bucks for a 60 percent success. The South Boulder unit followed closely with 612 hunters harvesting 358 bucks for 58 percent success. On the Parowan unit, 2,810 hunters har vested 1,208 bucks for 43 percent success. Much of the increased harvest was made up of young bucks from the large fawn crop of 1980. Fawn production in 1981 was also good and should be reflected in the 1982 season. According to Conservation Officer Norman McKee of the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, the decade of the 1970's was a "tough one weatherwise on the deer populations of Southern Utah. "The fluctuations of, nature produced some of the hardest winters on record as well as some of the driest summers on record. The effect of the weather had a significant effect on deer populations. "Some hunters would like to simplify the problem by blaming the low deer numbers the past few years on predators or over-hunting. However, the effect of weather cannot be overstated. HassHssHb .m .'4UBBWiMBWIlBB8MBhhHBBBlMl flflla All decked out In their chapter Jackets and anxious to serve In their new capacity as 1982-83 Future Farmers of America Officers are David Ipson, McKee noted that in 1980 and again in 1981, summer moisture conditions were much improved over the drought of 1978 and 1979. As a result, he said, the fawn survival almost doubled. The winter of 1980-81 was also open and mild and nearly all the fawns survived. "Plenty of good winter range makes a lot of difference in deer vitality and survival even in a normal winter," McKee pointed out. As long as Mother Nature cooperates with more normal weather conditons McKee feels that the deer herds in Southern Utah will continue to increase to the carrying capacity of the range. The elk and antelope herds of Garfield County also yielded excellent harvest results in 1981. The ten permit-holders for John's Valley antelope were all successful in bagging'bucks for 100 percent success. Fifty hunters tried their luck on the Mt. Dutton elk sentinel; Raymond Roundy, reporter; Kris Barney, treasurer; Mac Hatch, secretary; Tood Henrie, vice prisldent and Korry Sopcr, president. herd. Forty-two were ! successful in harvesting a bull elk for a success j factor of 84 percent, j probably one of the highest hunter successes ever recorded on an elk j hunt. : The Boudler Mountains also yielded 24 bull elk to ; 40 permit-holders. The 63 percent success can also : be counted excellent for j an elk hunt reported : ' McKee. |