This past month, Utah's Division of Wildlife Resources presented its big game permit recommendations for this fall during a series of public meetings held at various locations across our state.

According to a news release issued by Mark Hadley, of Utah's Division of Wildlife Resources -- management officials were planning for each of Utah's limited entry elk units and would also be looking at updates to Utah's Bighorn Sheep Management Plan.

Going into last month's RAC meetings, officials, as part of their vision, were recommending there be 1,000 fewer deer permits in Northern Utah. However, more hunters could be hunting on some of Utah's best big game units this fall. There are many reasons why, but in most cases the bottom line is the same -- big game animals in Utah are doing well.

"This is a great time to hunt big game in Utah," said Anis Aoude, big game coordinator for the Division of Wildlife Resources. "Utah has a wider variety of animals to hunt than ever before. And despite some loss of animals this winter, the state's big game populations are doing well."

"We want to be cautious," Aoude said. "The deer herds in parts of northern Utah had a tough time this winter.

"When we do our after-winter surveys later this spring, we'll know better how many deer were lost. But our big game permit drawing happens in April, so we need to set the permits numbers before we do the surveys."

According to this same report, DWR management was looking to increase other permits. Aoude explains why:

• Elk: Biologists manage Utah's limited entry elk units so those who hunt the units can be confident they'll take a bull that will fall into one of four age categories: 6 to 7 years old, 5 to 6 years old, 4 to 5 years old, or 3 to 4 years old. The age of the bull a hunter might take depends on the unit he or she is hunting.

Utah has 28 limited entry bull elk units. On 26 of the 28 units, hunters are taking bulls that are older than the age objective for the unit. "For example, a hunter can go onto a unit expecting to take, say a 5- to 6-year-old bull, and end up taking one that's one or two years older.

"We need to increase the number of permits so more bulls can be taken and we can get the herds to their age objectives," Aoude said. "That's good news for hunters. It means we can offer more elk hunting permits for this fall's hunts and still provide quality bulls for hunters to take."

• Deer: Biologists manage Utah's limited entry deer units so there will be plenty of big bucks for hunters each fall.

The Paunsaugunt and Henry Mountains units are the two premium limited-entry units in Utah. Biologists manage these units so at least 35 bucks per 100 does are left in the herds after the hunts are over each fall.

The rest of Utah's limited entry units are managed so at least 25 bucks per 100 does are still in the herds after the fall hunts.

Only two units in southern Utah aren't meeting that goal. On the rest of the state's units, the number of bucks biologists are finding after the hunts is higher than the buck-to-doe ratio for each unit. "We have plenty of bucks on these units. And that's great news for hunters. It means more of them can hunt these units this fall," Aoude said.

• Moose: Utah's moose herds are also doing well. In many of the herds, there are almost as many bulls in the herds as cows.

Again, the "division" has since taken public input and will now wait to hear back from Utah's Wildlife Board members. Board members will view this year's recommendations at their April 9 and 10 meeting in Salt Lake City (DNR Auditorium, 1594 W. North Temple).

The meetings begin at 9 a.m. both days. The public is invited and encouraged to attend.