Utah has also experienced a long-term decline in the number of upland game hunters in general

The Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Service awarded a $237,858 Formula Grant under the Wildlife Restoration and Basic Hunter Education program (CFDA 15.611) to the State of Utah, Division of Wildlife Resources (UDWR). The objective of this one-year project, with a performance period from July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025, is to increase participation in pheasant and chukar hunting by 5% through the purchase and release of pen-raised birds, as well as outreach and evaluation activities. UDWR, the state wildlife agency, will purchase healthy, disease-free ring-necked pheasants and chukar partridge from certified growers and release them in appropriate areas across Utah prior to and during the hunting seasons. The goal is to provide additional hunting opportunities to the public and help address the long-term decline in upland game hunters in the state.

There were OVER100,000 upland game hunters in utah in the late 1970S. Last year, just under 33,000 upland game hunters huntedin utah. There is growing concern nationwide, as well as in utah, over the loss of hunters. The objective of this project is to increase the number of participants in pheasant and chukar hunting by fivepercent (22,062 to 23,165 for pheasants, and 6,884 to 7,228 for chukars) by the end of the 2028-2029 huntingseason. This objective was created due to the drastic decline in upland game hunters since the 1970S.the approach is to purchase healthy, disease-free ring-necked pheasants and chukar partridge from certifiedgrowers, and release pen-raised pheasants and chukars in appropriate areas statewide to maximize the likelihoodof hunter harvest, prior to and during the hunting seasons. We will also raise awareness for participation andfor the project, and evaluate the project. The expected benefit of this project is to continue to increaserecruitment, retention, and reactivation through providing an additional hunting opportunity to the public.