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RAC approves elk, pronghorn and antlerless permit recommendations; transplant results prompt caution for pronghorn moves
Summary
The Southeast RAC approved DWR recommendations for elk, pronghorn and antlerless permits. DWR reported mixed results from recent pronghorn translocations from Parker Mountain and urged caution while evaluating higher post-capture mortality and site suitability.
The Southeast Regional Advisory Council accepted the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources's permit recommendations for elk, pronghorn and antlerless hunts and the CWMU (Cooperative Wildlife Management Unit) antlerless permits, with discussion on unit-specific conditions and transplant outcomes.
Elk: DWR presented the third year of permits under the statewide elk plan and said early changes have mostly produced stable age-class and success-rate patterns. Dax noted the plan is on a 10-year horizon and that a mid-plan review is scheduled after three years of data collection. For several elk units, including some described as "stockpiled" with older bulls, RAC members urged continued monitoring and a cautious approach to permit increases; the RAC moved to accept the elk recommendations and the motion passed unanimously.
Pronghorn: DWR staff reviewed a large transplant effort that moved about 300 pronghorn off Parker Mountain to bolstering populations elsewhere. Agency biologists reported higher-than-expected initial mortality among collared animals after the most recent capture effort and said they will evaluate methods and timing; they noted Parker Mountain is a productive source herd. The RAC accepted the pronghorn permit recommendations but discussed the need to be cautious when transplant mortality is elevated.
Antlerless and CWMU antlerless permits: RAC members discussed private-land constraints on some antlerless harvest (private lands that limit harvest can concentrate elk on nearby WMAs). DWR said some units show resource limitation (lower pregnancy rates and summer-range condition), which may warrant re-evaluation of unit objectives in the future. The RAC approved the antlerless and CWMU antlerless recommendations as presented.
Selected quotes
"We put a larger sample size of collars out this year than we've ever done before...I hope it is an anomaly," Dax said about higher initial mortality among transplanted pronghorn.
"When we have these die-offs...we'd much rather a hunter come in and take care of that problem than us," Rusty said during the once-in-a-lifetime/sheep discussion (see separate article), summarizing agency priorities for herd health.
Ending: The RAC's approvals will be forwarded to the wildlife board; DWR said it will continue monitoring age-class and harvest data and adapt permit totals as needed in future seasons.
