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Show Utah's only moose herd appeared ap-peared to be doing well as 54 animals were sighted during a recent preliminary aerial sex ratio survey by the department of fish and game. Department spokesmen said surveys later this winter are expected to show an increase in herd numbers as the moose "yard up" along the streams and are more readily seen from the air. The number stood at 59 animals following the complete com-plete counts last winter. The animals, which range along the north slopes of the Uinta Mountains, have shown a slight but steady increase during the past several years. The count listed to date shows 15 bulls, 28 cows, and eleven calves. Last Sunday saw the termination termin-ation of all Utah's 1957 deer hunts except for the extended weekends only, regular license season on the Nebo Range and one post season special permit hunt. Reports received in department depart-ment of fish and game offices from several extended and post season hunting areas have indicated in-dicated a good hunter success and plentiful numbers of deer. Best reported success was on the Gordon Creek post season hunt where 587 deer were checked out on the opening weekend of the hunt. The Utah State Department of Fish and Game today announced an-nounced the final figures for the 1957 regular elk hunts. This year 1755 permit holders hunting on the 15 elk herd units killed a total of 915 elk for an average hunter success of 52 percent. These figures, it was noted, compare closely with totals from last year. Utah Department of Fish and Game spokesmen indicated disappointment in a rather poor harvest of furbearers reported so far this season. At present, four species of furbearing animals may be taken by individuals possessing a trapper's license. Seasons are now in progress for the taking of mink, marten, beaver, and muskrat. Seasons close for marten trapping on January 31, and for mink and beaver on April 30, 1958. Muskrat, no longer on the Utah furbearer list but still a valuable fur, may be taken at any time. This is the first year in the history of the state that a general gen-eral beaver trapping season has been held and the first time since 1947 that marten have been legal game for the trapper. trap-per. Department spokesmen announced an-nounced also, that a new film entitled, "From Traps to Wraps" depicting the complete fur trapping and manufacturing manufactur-ing procedures has recently been completed and is now available upon request to interested in-terested organizations. |