Utah Shuts Down Shed Hunting Until April in Response to Harsh Winter

Utah has shut down shed hunting until April.

This winter has been a rough one in many parts of the American west and Utah is no exception. And now authorities have shut down shed hunting until April in response to it.

The state had already put a stop to shed hunting in 11 counties back on January 31. But a new order signed by Division of Wildlife Resources Director Greg Sheehan extended the ban on antler hunting to the entire state.

The ban covers not only public land, but private land as well.

"Although winter conditions are generally less severe in the southern portions of the state, snowpack is still above average, and deer and elk are stressed," Sheehan said in a press release.

The new ban comes in response to reports of shed hunters moving their efforts to counties still open to gathering after the initial ban.

Wildlife officials hope stress on animals during this rough time of the year will be reduced if there are fewer people in the areas where animals are wintering.

It seems Utah residents will have to find a different way to deal with any winter cabin fever for the next month and a half. The good news is, most of the deer and elk should be shed out by then.

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