SALT LAKE CITY — Drought conditions, followed by a tough winter in parts of Utah, means 1,625 fewer hunters will be hunting buck deer during the state’s general hunt this fall.

More hunters will be hunting desert bighorn sheep, bison and pronghorn, though.

After hearing presentations from Division of Wildlife Resources biologists, chairmen from Utah’s five Regional Advisory Councils and members of the public, the Utah Wildlife Board — a panel of seven citizens appointed by Gov. Gary R. Herbert — approved permits for this fall’s hunts.

Even though hunters harvested plenty of bucks last fall, that’s not the main reason the number of bucks per 100 does has declined slightly in some areas in the state. Justin Shannon, big game coordinator for the DWR, says a difficult winter two years ago, followed by drought conditions in 2016 — and then a severe winter this past winter — have reduced the number of younger bucks in some areas.

“Before this winter started,” he says, “we found a statewide average of 59 fawns per 100 does. In some parts of Utah, the winter of 2016–2017 was pretty severe, and we know some fawns died. In northern Utah, there will probably be fewer 1-year-old bucks on some of the units this fall.”

The hunting units that were hardest hit last winter are the units on which the number of permits was decreased.

On a positive note, after the hunts were over last fall, the statewide buck-to-doe ratio, on general season units in Utah, averaged 21 bucks per 100 does. That’s slightly higher than the 15 to 17 bucks per 100 does objective, and 18 to 20 bucks per 100 does objective, that the various general season units are managed for. “There should still be plenty of bucks to hunt in Utah this fall,” Shannon says.

While the number of buck deer has decreased slightly in Utah, other big game populations are growing. Desert bighorn sheep, bison and pronghorn are three species that had the number of approved permits increase.