Utah's Big Game....
Pros:
Plenty of public land to hunt.
Plenty of nice animals.
A variety of species.
Archery and Muzzleloader hunts are prior to rifle hunts, as they should be. (Except for Elk.)
Most Archery, Muzzleloader, and some general Rifle season tags are still available over the counter.
Many of the Buck Antelope in the state are trophy-quality.
If you archery hunt, and buy the right tag; you can potentially hunt from August until early January for Deer and Elk.
Cons:
Within the next 4 years, most big game seasons will probably be reduced to 3 or 5 day hunts. (Doesn't that make you happy...)
You'll have to wait 12-14 years to draw a tag for those trophy Antelope.
Rifle season tags available over the counter are typically restricted to crappy areas, or 'Spike Only' (for Elk) bulls.
All antlerless tags must be drawn for, and the units are very small, compared to buck/bull units.
Most of the good areas to hunt are becoming limited entry, or premium limited entry units. (Read that as 3-10 year wait for the average unit. 10-14 for good units.)
CWMUs (Management Units) are over running the state. The forest service is even allowing lease lands to become CWMUs now, so previously accessible public land is being closed to allow these rich **people** to profit even more from hunting.
If you draw a Bull Elk tag in any unit, you start a 5 year waiting period before you can apply again.
Honestly....
My family does still hunt Utah, but we are starting to look for good opportunities in neighboring states. Since before I was born, we have been hunting Antelope in Wyoming, and will continue to do so. We have good knowledge of southern Idaho, but their seasons and drawings are just as messed up. (Although the animals actually exist there.)
We have slowly been losing interest in Utah's big game. Between the drawings, wait periods, CWMUs popping up, and public areas just being closed to hunting.... don't plan on enjoying big game much.
Where Utah shines is the amount of BLM land (not quite as good as Wyoming). No matter where you are in the state, you are no more than 40 minutes from freedom. Few restrictions on travel, almost no restrictions on shooting, almost always open to hunting, and plenty of varmints.
Go where you want (as long as there's a road), do what you want, and probably not see another person all day... what more can you ask for?
As for birds... you'll have to wait for some one else to chime in.
