SALT LAKE CITY — The general rifle buck deer hunt opened over the weekend in Utah, yielding impressive returns for hunters, the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources reports.

In total, hunters across the state checked in with 865 deer on Saturday and Sunday, according to the agency.

“I’ve been with the agency for 21 years,” Randall Thacker, assistant wildlife manager of the DWR's northeastern region, said in a statement, “and I’ve never seen anything like this. The number of big, mature deer hunters are taking is phenomenal.”

Hunters experienced success despite seeing clear, warm conditions that typically work to their disadvantage, said DWR spokesman Mark Hadley.

The general rifle buck deer hunt runs through Sunday.

A large majority of the bucks killed by hunters were checked into the DWR's northern and north-central stations, with a total of 724 checked in between the two. Both stations reported significantly higher totals than last year's opening weekend.

”Hunters who were willing to get out and hike found good success, less competition from other hunters and some bigger bucks,” said Phil Douglass, a conservation outreach manager for the DWR's northern region. “During some years, the bigger bucks seem to come off private lands. That did not seem to be the case this year, though."

Dax Mangus, a wildlife manager for the northeastern region, said the hunt's yields could continue to improve in the coming days due to weather.

"It's starting to rain a bit," Mangus said. "Stormy conditions could get the deer moving and make hunting even better."

Some hunters were frustrated by others who went into backcountry areas with ATVs, despite signs prohibiting motorized vehicles in those spots.

"When the BLM puts a gate across a road or blocks it with boulders, it means no motor vehicle access. It doesn't mean go around the gate with your motorcycle or ATV," said Troy Burgess, who hunted in the northern region.

Amid the encouraging news about a productive hunt, the DWR also sent out a notice Tuesday asking for the public's help solving a potential poaching case in Farmington Canyon.

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Someone in the area of Arthur's Fork reported a dead bull moose on Oct. 10. An examination of the animal's body "revealed severe trauma resulting from a gunshot wound in the front shoulder region," the agency said.

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call DWR officer Krystal Tucker at 801-391-9846 or Utah's poaching hotline at 800-391-9846. Tipsters can remain anonymous at their own request. A reward is also potentially available in exchange for information leading to the prosecution of whoever is responsible, according to authorities.

Email: blockhart@deseretnews.com

Twitter: benlockhartnews

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