http://droughtreporter.unl.edu/

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Several years of drought in Utah have reduced big game populations across most of the state. The Division of Wildlife Resources evaluated the health of deer populations and recommended issuing a total of 73,075 general-season deer hunting permits, 950 permits fewer than the previous year. Cache Valley Daily (Logan, Utah), May 25, 2022 Drought in Utah reduced the deer population to about 305,700, based on December assessments, which is about 9,150 less than the previous year and almost 100,000 below the division’s deer population goal. Consequently, the division would like to reduce the number of permits by 950 general season buck permits, 300 antlerless deer permits, and 50 limited-entry deer permits. This is the fourth consecutive year that the division hopes to decrease the number of general season buck permits. The division plan would add about 2,200 general permits in its northern Utah region and 150 permits in southeastern Utah, where populations are faring better. It would reduce 2,750 permits in its southern region, 450 permits in central Utah, and 100 permits in northeastern Utah, where populations are faring worse. Elk populations haven't been as affected by the drought as deer. KSL.com (Salt Lake City, Utah), March 24, 2022