ST. GEORGE, Utah (AP) — Utah wildlife officials plan on issuing additional cougar hunting permits in an attempt to reverse dwindling mule deer populations. The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources says evidence suggests that reducing the number of cougars may spur an uptick in mule deer populations. The Spectrum reports cougar numbers tend to oscillate in sync with mule deer numbers. An abundance of deer one year will boost cougar numbers in following years. That cougar population increase might cause a decrease in deer population and, later, a corresponding drop in cougar numbers. The plan includes $30 permits that allows cougar hunting without the use of dogs until 2021.