mpriest

Usually how these kinds of projects work is you first collar a bunch of animals and see where they cross. Then you build overpasses/underpasses in the location that you have the most crossings and put fencing everywhere else so you don't try and force animals into areas that they don't normally use. This project was done with out the pre-study work therefor animals are going to where they normally cross and there is a fence in the way. Underpasses have been proven to work for deer. They are also significantly less expensive thus the decision to use overpasses. Also this type of work is relativity new so further trial and error is needed to see what works for each species. A good example is SR68 vs US93 in AZ. On SR68 they had something like 28 sheep use their underpasses in 2 years (all rams). On US93 they have had over 1500 sheep use their overpasses in the same time frame (rams, ewes and lambs). But on I-17 they have seen double the amount of elk and deer using the underpasses in the two years before and two years after fencing (~900 elk pre-fencing and ~1800 elk post fencing. Also zero elk collisions within the fenced area). I think the main difference lies in the type of populations. US93, I-17 and SR260 all have resident populations of their respective species. They don't have an immediate need to get across the highway so they have time to learn where the underpasses and overpasses are. The deer population in Utah is a migrant population meaning they show up along the roadway and need to get across the roadway but encounter the fence for the first time. They lack the time to learn where the underpasses are located. It is a foreign concept to them where resident populations have time to adapt. It takes time for animals to figure these things out. For some of the underpasses on SR260 it took almost two years for the elk to learn to cross under some of the underpasses. Once they figured it out the number of elk that used them grew exponentially.

I believe the stories have been blown out of proportion. Aside from the usual road hunters that will take advantage of a buck on the side of the road I doubt that they pushed the deer into the fence to shoot them. However I do believe that a number of deer were probably visible along the fence. These kinds of fences are called "funnel fences" and are designed to funnel deer along the roadway to an underpass. since this is a migratory heard this was their first time encountering the fence and they have not pegged the locations of underpasses yet thus causing them to hit the fence and have to follow it to one. This will improve over the years as the deer learn the locations of the underpasses. There is a study going on to determine the effectiveness of the underpasses. Only time will tell but based on the success of similar projects here in AZ (US93, SR260 and I-17) I would be willing to guess that the deer will figure it out and will result in a successful project.

Past you heading south by Fox Ranch Road around 8 a.m. Today

Update added

There is someone on that site that I wanted to get in contact with regarding an upcoming hunt I have? It looks like you have to have a subscription to North American Hunter magazine to join. I am looking for someone to just relay my questions and contact info to him with the hopes he will contact me back. Thanks

Charlie Daniels Band is where its at

That's what happened to me on the first go around. Everything sold out so fast and as soon as they were sold there were campsite all over Craigslist for 2X the price.

They don't limit the number of campsites someone can buy so people buy like 50 of them and just sell them all on Craigslist at a profit. They were all bought up within a couple hours this year

I will be not attending this one because of the campsite issue. Scalpers are ruining this event

Got to love those copper bullets!

Good luck. I hunt 7E almost every year for elk and very rarely see elk from the road. There are some good areas. Between the peaks and the PJ stuff to the north that are pretty short walks

Good thing I asked.

Never used anyone buy Casey and never will

Always see a couple along waterways in 6A

I put a HAM hunt for my second choice this year, archery first choice. If I happen to pull that that HAM tag I plan to use my 1911. Do you guys prefer a good hollow point like a Hydra-shock or a FMJ to get better penetration?

I had it but I donated my tag after I got one in August. I know most of the guides hunt the northern part of the unit in the PJ stuff. Lower deer density out there but better bucks

Their LE officers are still allowed to work.

I was forced to donate my 7 deer tag because my dang bow went off and killed a buck in august. Always next year I guess...

Stupid auto correct. supposed to say "helped" and "on". We didnt see another hunter those two nights. We were 2.5 miles away from roads so i guess everyone else stayed away.

I belles a friend on a who had a cow tag for two nights ob the first weekend. were I took them we heard 75+ bugles each night...

What thread is that 7E bull in? I love seeing good bulls from that unit

Only picture I got of it. Likes like it to me with the long tail.

Bump for a good rifle. I own two both in 7mm mag

Wouldn't even consider sitting water with how much rain we have had up north. Every tank is full. They will get enough water from all the green grass and dew over night

What broadhead? Looks like a big exit