Utah Wild Horse Bench Bison Hunt

[JimP]

Did you apply this year for the Wildhorse Bench Bison hunt this year? If so and huge curve ball has just been thrown into your plans.

Last year there were problems with access in a certain area where the bison had migrated to. The herd of bison that were in this area were then pushed back onto Indian Lands. Now here is the curve ball. 18 hunters did not harvest a bison on the hunt in 2017/2018 and the DOW figured that they deserved a second chance. These 18 hunters will now get a tag for the 2018/2019 hunt. These tags will come from the number of tags that are allotted for the 2018/2019 hunt. So if they decide that there will only be 22 bison tags for this hunt 18 of those tags will go to those who did not harvest a animal during the 2017/2018 season leaving only 4 tags for the draw.

Did you swing and miss?

If you would like to listen to the meeting that set all this up here is the link to it.

https://wildlife.utah.gov/wildlife-news/2177-watch-the-wildlife-board-meeting-march-7-18.html

 

[gonhunting247]

Did you apply this year for the Wildhorse Bench Bison hunt this year? If so and huge curve ball has just been thrown into your plans.

Last year there were problems with access in a certain area where the bison had migrated to. The herd of bison that were in this area were then pushed back onto Indian Lands. Now here is the curve ball. 18 hunters did not harvest a bison on the hunt in 2017/2018 and the DOW figured that they deserved a second chance. These 18 hunters will now get a tag for the 2018/2019 hunt. These tags will come from the number of tags that are allotted for the 2018/2019 hunt. So if they decide that there will only be 22 bison tags for this hunt 18 of those tags will go to those who did not harvest a animal during the 2017/2018 season leaving only 4 tags for the draw.

Did you swing and miss?

If you would like to listen to the meeting that set all this up here is the link to it.

https://wildlife.utah.gov/wildlife-news/2177-watch-the-wildlife-board-meeting-march-7-18.html

I didn't figure I had much of a shot at a tag, but my odds might be a lot worse now

 

[JimP]

You and me both and I am close to max points for that area.

They stated that last year there were 1100 applicants and that this year there are 1400, so if you are like me you just saved $1500 for the tag and whatever it would cost to go on the hunt.

 

[Don K]

I watched the meeting and found it interesting

I can see where they are coming from with past years success, what happened with them pushing the Bison with a helicopter, and last years success.The part that stinks is people like you that applied for this hunt not knowing that these changes where going to happen as I'm sure it would have changed a lot of peoples plans.

 

[Yell Co AR Hunter]

I would be happy if I was one of those 18 that had a tag and no chance at one last year. Seems like a good thing to me.

 

[JimP]

They didn't say if they had no chance just that they didn't fill their tags. It would be sweet to go on a once in a lifetime hunt and then get to do it all over again the next year.

Some more information on what is happening out there this year. The Ute Tribe will build fences to try and keep most of the bison on their lands. They have also just finished a new slaughter house to process the bison to thin the herd that is on Tribal Trust Lands.

Also the Utah DWR has moved the south western boundry of the unit to eliminate the Range Creek Canyon and Nine Mile Canyon parts of the unit. The Range Creek area is a private ranch that was deeded to the State of Utah because of the Indian artifacts that are found there. It is a very pristine area that contains hundreds if not thousands of sites inside of it. I once talked to the original owner of it and he said that you couldn't walk 10 feet without finding something. He deeded the ranch to the State of Utah in the hopes that it would never be developed and the sites would be protected forever. Right now I believe that the University of Utah is working on the sites in the canyon. The Nine Mile Canyon is mostly private lands so that could of been a problem with hunters getting access.

It is working out that there may be fewer tags offered this year just because of the size reduction and the Ute Tribe keeping more of their bison on their trust lands. The number that I herd kicking around is 22 tags will be allotted minus the 18 from last year so perhaps only 4 to the general public.

I just hope that I am one of the 4.

 

[Don K]

With 4 tags I thought I read that would leave 1 NR tag.

Gonna be power-ball odds, but you will have a chance