Bambistew
Well-known member
Where specifically? In unaware of any total closures of USFS lands on the West side. There are some closures of wildlife management areas. Are areas around Tom Miner or in the Paradise valley?
Utah closes shed antler hunting until May 1st
- Thread starter elkantlers
- Start date
Southern Elk
Well-known member
I know one area of national Forest for sure that has a gate on the main road. The gate is locked until May 15 and there’s a sign on the gate that says no motorized traffic until May 15 due to the area being winter range for elk. I always assumed that you could go in on foot, but I’m not positive about that.
Straight Arrow
Well-known member
Not certain about those areas, but would not be surprised. On west side drainages such as Teepee Creek are closed.
elkduds
Well-known member
A chunk of Pike NF near my summer place is closed by USFS from Jan-mid June annually for habitat protection and elk wintering/calving.
Bambistew
Well-known member
Closed to motorized travel or closed to everyone? Lots of the forest closes to motorized travel. But most all of it is open to snowmobiles after Dec 1 I think. I don't know of any FS that's closed to foot travel. Pretty sure you can snowmobile in Teepee. The only closures I know of are game ranges owned by the State.
DouglasR
Well-known member
View attachment 263933
Seen here: A skier preparing to disturb ungulates on their winter range near LittleCottonwoodCuckoldwood Canyon...
Last I checked, winter range doesn't make for the best skiing, and ski favorites don't make for the best winter range. Something about animals moving to where there's food, and skiers going to where there's more snow
Not saying that Shed Hunters are the sole problem, but they are still a very large part of the problem, as they are the ones directly interacting on the winter range while the animals are there, and they are also the easiest to regulate, since I don't see the residential sprawl of housing and roads slowing anytime soon, bringing the dog walkers with it.
Straight Arrow
Well-known member
Updated info shows foot traffic only April 1 through June 15, then foot, horse or bike through summer. Not sure of snowmobile access dates.
My forest maps are all outdated; need to update, esp regarding closures.
Elkmagnet
Well-known member
BearLakeHunter
Member
Along the immediate benches of the Wasatch Front in Utah, closing areas to only shed hunters and not to the runners, hikers, and dog walkers doesn’t make much sense at all. The hikers and runners are all over those foothills and low level Mtn peaks and trails. If the goal is to not pressure the animals then you really need to think about prohibiting any type of access to the foothills.
Carnage2011
Well-known member
The Utah DWR doesn’t have the ability to close USFS land to activities that aren’t wildlife related. That would have to come through the USFS.
