Elk Hunting: One Reason to Start Looking for Ranches for Sale in Utah

Big game hunting is quite popular in Utah, but this pastime may become more of a necessity than a hobby in the near future. According to the Salt Lake Tribune, the state recently saw a surge in the population of elk and wild horses to the point where they may now be competing with local livestock for food. The solution proposed by some ranchers? Issue more elk hunting permits—a decision that the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is considering:

“Federal land managers acknowledge there are “too many mouths on the range” and say changing public values will likely play a larger role in determining how many, and which, animals roam and graze on public lands in the future.

“If the conditions are good then it is kind of like a large smorgasbord; there is enough food at the table and everybody is happy,” said Eric Thacker, range extension specialist for the College of Natural Resources at Utah State University.”

In view of the much larger demand for elk hunting in the state, would-be ranchers may want to start looking for hunting ranches for sale in Utah, such as those offered by Mirr Ranch Group. Although elk hunting is thriving in the state even without the sudden growth in the local elk population, natural elk habitats are fewer than they were before.

This, in turn, means that competition among elk hunters will likely be high once new permits are issued. It is a good thing, then, that federal authorities like the BLM and Utah’s game managers were able to keep the remaining habitats, some of which are considered the best elk hunting grounds in the U.S., from dwindling any further.

Thanks to its topography, Utah has a great abundance of grasses, forbs, and shrubs which elk use as food. Most of the state’s mountain ranges and some of its deserts have herds of elk running freely about, although most of them aren’t endemic to Utah. From 1912 to 1925, interstate “transplants” of elk occurred, bringing herds from places like Oregon and Montana.

Regardless of their place of origin, though, elk in Utah typically spend their summer days in elevated, forested areas. During the winter season, they congregate in low elevations rife with shrubs and sagebrush. Those who intend to hunt big game all year-round can head to hunting ranches that incorporate these geographical features.

Aspiring ranchers, meanwhile, can consult a reputable ranch marketing company like Mirr Ranch Group that offers covetable Utah ranches for sale. In any case, anyone who’s looking forward to accommodate scores of elk hunters in the near future should consider prospective hunting properties wisely.

(Source: As Western range suffers, should Utah cull wildlife?, The Salt Lake Tribune, May 19, 2014)