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SALT LAKE CITY - Utah^s 2001 general buck deer seasons might be months away but it^s already time for hunters to decide which region and season they want to hunt.
Utah^s general buck deer application period has been moved to January, with applications for the 2001 seasons accepted Jan. 3 - 31, 2001. Utah^s 2001 ML300 elk, limited entry, once-in-a-lifetime and Cooperative Wildlife Management Unit application period also runs Jan. 3 - 31.
Hunters who applied for general season or limited entry hunts last year should receive an application in the mail by Jan. 3.
Beginning Jan. 3, applications also will be available from hunting and fishing license agents statewide, the Division of Wildlife Resources^ Internet web site (www.nr.state.ut.us/dwr/dwr.htm) and Division offices in Ogden, Salt Lake City, Springville, Vernal, Price and Cedar City.
Hunters are encouraged to complete their application correctly and to mail it back at the beginning of the application period. Hunters also may apply at the Division^s Internet web site.
"I^d encourage hunters to take their time when completing their application and to make sure it^s completed correctly," said Judi Tutorow, wildlife licensing coordinator for the Division of Wildlife Resources. "There are a number of tools to help them do that."
An instruction sheet will be included with applications hunters receive in the mail. Instructions also are found on pages 8 and 9 of the 2001 Utah Big Game Proclamation, which will be available by the end of December.
"If hunters have any questions at all, we^d encourage them to call their nearest Division office or to come in and see us," Tutorow said. "We^d be happy to review their application with them."
To assure their application meets the 5 p.m., Jan. 31 due date, Tutorow encourages hunters to mail their application early in the application period. "This way you^re giving your application plenty of time to arrive before the due date," she said. "Also, if you make an error and your application is received by 5 p.m., Jan. 21, you^ll receive a correction letter and a chance to correct and resubmit your application."
In 2001, general buck deer hunters may apply for a statewide archery permit, or a rifle or muzzleloader permit for a specific region.
The following number of general buck deer permits will be available:
Statewide Archery - 16,000
Northern Region - 23,000
Central Region - 13,000
Northeastern Region - 14,000
Southeastern Region - 13,000
Southern Region - 18,000
Hunters who obtain a general buck deer archery permit may hunt in any of the Division^s five general season regions. They may not hunt on limited entry units within those regions, however.
Tutorow has three other reminders for big game hunters:
* hunters will receive two applications in the mail. The application that says "2001 Resident General Buck Deer & Muzzleloader Elk (ML300) Application Form" at the top is the form Utah residents must use when applying for general buck deer and ML300 elk permits. The other application is for 2001 limited entry, once-in-a-lifetime and Cooperative Wildlife Management Unit big game permits.
* hunters are no longer required to purchase a Wildlife Habitat Authorization when buying their permit. The habitat authorization fee is now included in the permit fee.
* preference points will only be awarded to hunters who are unsuccessful in the January draw for general buck deer and muzzleloader elk (ML300) permits. Unless hunters are willing to sit out a year, they should apply in the January drawing for all regions they are interested in hunting. In 2000, Southeastern and Southern region permits sold out in the drawing and Central Region permits almost did. If hunters wait for a second drawing (which will be held in May this year), they may not get their region.
For more information call the nearest Division of Wildlife Resources office, or the Utah Wildlife Administrative Services office at 1-800-221-0659.
Uploaded: 12/20/2000
Uploaded: 12/20/2000