Archers downed 723, and less than half that many in 1999. In 1998, bowhunters spent an average of 44.1 days afield per elk taken, while in 1999, that number leaped to 103. Archers on the South Slope of the Uintas took 90 elk, down from 146 in 1998. Bull elk can sometimes be called in with fighting bugle challenges during the rut, and that advantage was one motive for moving the archery season, said Mike Welch, former Utah big game manager. And much-needed harvest on cow elk fell drastically, too, while interest in bowhunting tapered.
Elk are inactive in hot weather.
It works for rifle hunters, because they can shoot up to 400 yards. Larry Smith, owner of Salt Lake Archery, says he did not feel a drop in interest among bowhunters because the majority of his customers hunt special late seasons limited to the Wasatch Front. It's difficult territory, but the season change doesn't affect it at all. All material found on Utah Bound is copyrighted The Salt Lake Tribune and associated news services. No material may be reproduced or reused without explicit permission from The Salt Lake Tribune.