Utah wildlife council proposes increase in pronghorn hunting permits for 2024

The recent DWR RAC Meeting for the Central Region, held on April 10, 2025, focused on critical discussions surrounding pronghorn and elk management in Utah. The meeting highlighted the success of pronghorn population management and the ongoing challenges related to elk hunting permits.

One of the key topics was the recommendation for limited entry buck pronghorn permits. The state has seen a significant increase in pronghorn populations since the revision of the statewide pronghorn plan in 2017, with a proposed doubling of permits since then. The average age of harvested bucks remains within the targeted range of 2 to 3 years, and the success rate for hunters has remained high at approximately 85%. This positive trend is particularly notable for the Parker Mountain unit, which has experienced a surge in pronghorn numbers, prompting the need for increased harvest to manage the growing population effectively.

However, concerns were raised by local residents regarding pronghorn depredation and competition for forage on federal lands. The management team acknowledged past mistakes in handling permit allocations, which led to negative hunting experiences. To address these issues, they proposed a more strategic distribution of hunting permits across different seasons and boundaries to alleviate pressure on the population and improve hunter satisfaction.

In addition to pronghorn discussions, the meeting also covered antlerless elk permit recommendations. The management strategy aims to maintain elk populations at sustainable levels, particularly in areas where overpopulation can lead to conflicts with agricultural interests. The recommendations included a careful balance of permits based on population estimates and land ownership dynamics, as private land access significantly influences hunting success rates.

Public feedback on the recommendations was mixed, with some expressing concerns about the number of archery permits and the overall management strategies. Despite these concerns, the majority of participants recognized the importance of maintaining healthy wildlife populations and supported the proposed recommendations.

In conclusion, the DWR RAC Meeting underscored the ongoing efforts to manage Utah's wildlife populations effectively while addressing community concerns. As pronghorn populations continue to thrive, the management team remains committed to learning from past experiences to ensure sustainable hunting practices. The next steps will involve monitoring the outcomes of the proposed permit increases and adjusting strategies as necessary to balance ecological health with hunting opportunities.