While not a huge leap, the Division of Wildlife Resources is looking to offer more cougar hunting permits this fall. Last season, hunters were allowed to take 531 cougars and biologists are recommending that hunters be allowed 565 this coming season. A meeting to give feedback on the recommendations is taking place August 3rd at 6:30pm at the DWR Northeastern Region Office in Vernal. Cougars taken during the hunt provide the DWR with valuable information as all cougars must be brought in to a DWR biologist. “The first thing we do is examine the animal to see if it’s a male or a female,” shares DWR game coordinator Darren DeBloois. “Next, we determine the animal’s age by removing and analyzing one of its teeth.” One of the major guidelines to ensure the population stay healthy is that not more than 40 percent of the cougars that hunters take can be female. It’s also required that at least 15 percent of the cougars taken must be five years of age or older. Starting today, the cougar and bobcat hunting recommendations are available to view on www.wildlife.utah.gov.
