The Wildlife Board has approved decreasing the number of general-season permits for the 2020 deer hunt.
The current mule deer unit management plans have an objective of 18 to 20 bucks per 100 does on 18 general-season hunting units and an objective of 15 to 17 bucks per 100 does on the other 11 general-season hunting units.
To manage for these objectives, the Wildlife Board approved a total of 79,675 general-season permits for the 2020 deer hunt, a decrease of 10,225 permits from 2019. Nineteen of the 29 general-season hunting units will have decreased permits, with no changes on the other units.
"In 2019, the statewide deer population estimate decreased by approximately 57,000 animals to a total of just over 319,000 deer," said Covy Jones, big game coordinator.
"This decrease was primarily due to drought conditions in the spring, summer and fall of 2018, followed by a heavy winter in 2019. Deer populations in areas of the southern and northern parts of the state showed the most loss, with central Utah populations showing the least impact."
The Wildlife Board also approved a decrease in antlerless deer permits for the 2020 hunting season. The removal of 1,045 antlerless deer permits leaves a total of 1,175 permits for the upcoming season.
A new antlerless deer hunt in 2020 was also approved to help address CWD concerns, while 11 other antlerless deer hunts were discontinued.
"Antlerless deer hunts are designed to reduce depredation on private lands, tackle urban deer issues, address chronic wasting disease hotspots and help slow the decline of range conditions," Jones said.
Statewide, elk populations also decreased slightly in 2019, so the wildlife board approved a decrease in antlerless elk permits, as well. The statewide elk population objective is 78,215, and currently there is a statewide estimate of 76,550 elk. The wildlife board approved 8,165 antlerless elk permits for the 2020 public drawing, a decrease of 1,470 from 2019.