Months of hot, dry weather will likely mean this fall’s general rifle buck deer hunt will be a lot tougher than usual as deer are less active. “Instead of moving,” shares DWR big game coordinator Covy Jones, “the deer bed down in the shade. They stop feeding earlier in the morning and they don’t leave their bedding areas to feed again until just before sundown. Because they’re not moving much, they’re tougher to find and hunt.” Over 60,000 hunters and their families are expected to hit the backcountry during the fall hunt. Eastern Utah is especially dry, shares Jones, but there are still some grassy areas thanks to bouts of rain. While the drought has affected the deer population, Jones says there is still plenty to go around with an estimated 363,000 bucks. All are urged to make safety the top priority on their hunt. Visit
www.wildlife.utah.gov
for more information.
