Utah

Utah’s ‘shed hunting’ season to begin on time as deer conditions improve

Published

2 years ago

January 31, 2024

Utah’s ‘shed hunting’ season to begin on time as deer conditions improve

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SALT LAKE CITY — Male deer, elk, moose and other big game animals typically shed their antlers around late winter and early spring, before regrowth later in the year. When this natural process happens, many people are eager to swoop in and collect the antlers.

“Shed hunting,” as it’s called, is quite popular in Utah. State wildlife officials estimate that more than 20,000 people go out and search for dropped antlers every season.

Since late winter and early spring are typically the toughest times for wildlife, the state requires participants take an ethics course to help avoid causing any issues.

With closer-to-normal winter conditions reported statewide this winter and deer herds showing signs of improvement, this year’s antler season will begin on time after a lengthy delay last year.

Thursday marks the opening day for people who complete the free online ethics course offered by the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources. The course is required for anyone planning to collect wildlife antlers through mid-April. People planning to hunt for shed antlers after April 15 aren’t required to take the course.

The reason for the ethics course

Utah has required this course for people participating between February and mid-April since 2009 largely because of the stress that comes with more people heading into wildlife habitats during a fragile time for various species, especially deer.

Big game animals can have a “difficult time finding food” and usually have to rely on fat reserves to survive the winter, said Rusty Robinson, coordinator of the division’s once-in-a-lifetime species permit program. Since the animals may move around or run more with people around, they may use up their remaining energy before spring arrives.

“Being disturbed briefly, once or twice, isn’t too significant, but we have over 20,000 people who routinely shed hunt in Utah each year, so ongoing, repeated disturbances can be detrimental to deer,” he explained.

In extreme cases, the shed hunting season is put on hold. Last year’s shed hunt didn’t start until May because of the state’s record snowpack collection. Wildlife biologists conducting annual winter fieldwork found Utah’s deer, already struggling from years of drought conditions, were also struggling to make it through the harsh winter.

Deer health update

The season is back on schedule because deer conditions have improved and the landscape conditions are better.

Faith Heaton Jolley, spokeswoman for the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, told KSL.com biologists are still tabulating data from the latest winter fieldwork period in December, where more than 900 deer statewide were analyzed. She said they observed the “highest statewide average body fat” among deer in at least a decade.

Doe body fat levels jumped 27% between the 2022 and 2023 December counts, Jolley said. Record-high fat percentages in does were recorded in the Cache, Monroe, Morgan, Pine Valley and Wasatch-Manti units.

Jolley noted “above-average weights” were recorded for fawns, as well, with records set in the Book Cliffs, Monroe, Pine Valley and San Juan units — all indications deer herds are healthier than in years past.

Meanwhile, Utah’s snowpack is much closer to normal. As of Wednesday morning, Utah’s snowpack average is nearly half of what was collected by the end of January last year, but it’s also 96% of the state’s average median snowpack. That’s made for better winter conditions.

“With the mild winter and great deer conditions, we are optimistic that we will see high overwinter survival for both does and fawns,” Jolley said.

What to know before shed hunting

Those who complete the ethics course are required to save their certificate of completion in the division’s hunting and fishing app, or print out a copy to carry out into the field.

While people are allowed to collect antlers throughout most of Utah, there are some limitations. Collection isn’t allowed on Native American lands, national parks, “many” national monuments or any state wildlife management area that is closed for the season, according to the division. Shed hunting on private property requires written permission of the landowner.

Division officials said people should not collect and instead report any “deadheads” — antlers or horns still attached to a skull — they come across, too, as the animal may have died in a poaching case. Conservation officers are assigned to investigate those after a report is filed. More than 650 deadheads were reported in Utah last year.

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Carter Williams is an award-winning reporter who covers general news, outdoors, history and sports for KSL.com.

Utah State Ranked No. 23 in Men’s Basketball Poll

Published

1 hour ago

January 12, 2026

Press Room

Courtesy of Utah State Athletics

LOGAN, Utah – Utah State men’s basketball is ranked in the AP Top 25 Poll for the first time of the 2025-26 season, checking in at No. 23 with 161 points in the poll. This is the third-straight year the Aggies have been ranked in the AP Poll, the first time in program history that has happened.

Currently sitting at 14-1 overall and an unbeaten 5-0 in Mountain West play, Utah State is the lone ranked team from the league, and is one of just two teams from mid-major leagues ranked this week, along with future Pac-12 mate Gonzaga (No. 9).

The Aggies also made their season debut in the USA Today Coaches Poll, checking in at No. 24. In today’s NET Rankings, Utah State ranks No. 12. USU has received votes in seven of the past eight AP Polls this season.

Utah State spent two weeks ranked last season, peaking at No. 22. In 2023-24, the Aggies were ranked for nine weeks and climbed as high as No. 16 in the poll.

UP NEXT
Utah State will return to Logan next week to host Nevada on Wednesday, Jan. 14, at Dee Glen Smith Spectrum. Tip-off is slated for 8 p.m., and the game will be broadcast on CBS Sports Network.

TICKETS
Season tickets for the 2025-26 men’s basketball season have sold out. Fans can purchase single game tickets for available remaining games here. A waitlist for 2026-27 season tickets is now available here.

FOLLOW
For more information on Utah State’s men’s basketball program, follow the Aggies on Facebook at usumensbasketball, on Twitter at @usubasketball and on Instagram at @usubasketball. Fans can also watch USU men’s basketball highlights by visiting youtube.com/utahstateathletics.

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Utah Earns a Point Against Columbus | Utah Mammoth

Published

14 hours ago

January 12, 2026

Press Room

Utah Earns a Point Against Columbus | Utah Mammoth

In his first game since Dec. 29, Vaněček stopped 33 of the 36 shots he faced; however, the netminder only allowed one even-strength goal. The Blue Jackets had 11 shots in the first period, 14 in the second, nine in the third, and two in overtime. The 36 shots he faced are a season-high for Vaněček.

“Really good, I think,” Tourigny explained. “Tough situation, he didn’t play for a little bit, and came in and the guys did not play their A game in front of him, and he kept us there. I think he did a great job.”

“He was amazing,” Sergachev said of Vaněček. “He held the ground for us. We gave up a little too much, as I said. He was big for us tonight. We just couldn’t get it done for him.”

McBain and Mikhail Sergachev scored Utah’s goals. McBain’s tally tied the game, 1-1 in the first, while Sergachev’s gave the Mammoth a 2-1 lead in the second period.

With Sergachev’s tally, Utah’s defensemen have scored in five of the last six contests as the Mammoth’s blueline continues to deliver. Sergachev has six points in the first six games of the year, two of which were goals.

“There’s a trust from the forwards that we’re going to get it (on net),” Sergachev explained. “Once they saw that we started scoring, they’re going to pass it more. That’s the game plan that we’re trying to execute–every game, pretty much. Every team is trying to stay lower.”

Utah continues the homestand next week and will look to bounce back on Tuesday. However, it’s important for the team to be disappointed from today’s game.

“First of all, you need to sting a little bit,” Tourigny said. “It’s not just about moving on. It’s about learning from it. I think there’s a lesson to learn from that game. Like I said, it’s not a matter of execution or effort. It was a matter of mindset, be ready to play the game the way it should have been played, and our decision with the puck. There’s many things that were not on par.”

Additional Notes from Tonight

Captain Clayton Keller is on a three-game multi-assist streak and has seven assists, in the last three games. Keller had the primary assist on McBain and Sergachev’s goals. Tonight was his seventh multi-assist game and 14th multi-point game in 2025-26, both of which are the most of any Mammoth skater (per Mammoth PR).
All three of Utah’s meetings with Columbus have now been won by the road team in overtime by a 3-2 margin (per Mammoth PR).
McBain opened the scoring tonight with his second point through three games on this homestand (also 1/7 vs. OTT: 1A). Four of his five goals this season have been game-tying tallies (per Mammoth PR).

The Mammoth’s homestand continues Tuesday night against the Toronto Maple Leafs. Cheer on Utah’s team at Delta Center! Tickets are available here.

Upcoming Schedule

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5 vehicles hit exercise equipment on I-15 near Arizona-Utah border

Published

1 day ago

January 11, 2026

Press Room

5 vehicles hit exercise equipment on I-15 near Arizona-Utah border

SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) — Five vehicles collided with a piece of exercise equipment on I-15 near the Arizona-Utah border on Friday, according to Beaver Dam/Littlefield Fire Department.

At around 7:30 p.m. on Jan. 9, fire personnel responded to an incident involving five vehicles on I-15 Southbound at Mile Marker 17. Crews arrived on scene to find “slightly used exercise equipment” in the middle of the road, officials said.

Five vehicles collided with a piece of exercise equipment on I-15 near the Arizona-Utah border on Friday. (Courtesy: Beaver Dam/Littlefield Fire Department)

A total of 14 people were involved in the collisions, though only one was taken to the hospital, St. George Regional, as a result.

“Please drive defensively; Keep your eyes on the road,” a social media post from Beaver Dam/Littlefield Fire states.

No further information is available at this time.

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