The Utah Division of Wildlife (DWR) has asked SFW to fill a seat on the Utah Statewide Mule Deer Planning Committee. The committee, which held its first meeting in late April, has the responsibility to evaluate Utah’s ongoing mule deer management plans and explore strategies for improving Utah’s mule deer populations. SFW President Byron Bateman and SFW chapter leaders from regions throughout the state will meet regularly through September 2014 when the committee’s recommendations will be incorporated into the DWR’s 5-year Mule Deer Management Plan (2015–2019).
“Increasing the number of mule deer in areas that can support it, and targeting a higher buck:doe ratio where hunters expect to see larger and better bucks int he fall is SFW’s number one priority,” Mr. Bateman said. “We are working to improve mule deer hunting for every hunter in the state with continued investments of large-dollar projects for mule deer habitat restoration, research, transplants and highway crossings. Our position at the planning table is a key component to all of that. We are very focused on our mission, and we appreciate the strong partnership SFW has with the DWR.”
