OCR Text |
Show Range Surveys Near Completion The ultimate objective of big game management in Utah is to maintain a proper balance between herd numbers and available range Range conditions is the most important im-portant factor to be considered in setting the number of animals to be harvested annually. Throughout Through-out the state, except in very few instances, the available winter ranges ran-ges in Utah are studied and trend counts are made to formulate recommendations to the Board of Big Game Control for the following follow-ing fall hunt. It is not possible to count all the deer when they are on the winter ranges, so counting units are set up in each deer herd area, and these units are counted each spring in the same manner. These trend counts yield valuable information as to whether our herds are increasing or decreasing At the time these spring trend counts are being made, the range conditions are studied by the personnel per-sonnel making the counts. Participation in these annual surveys is by the following groups: State Fish and Game Management, Manage-ment, U. S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, local Sportsman Sports-man groups, livestock men, landowners, land-owners, if private land is involved. All of these groups are not always al-ways represented in each area. Participation in these surveys is variable throughout the state. In some areas only the state game warden and forest range make the studies, while in other areas all of the above groups are represented. represen-ted. In some instances as high as 20 mn participate. Sportsmen and livestock men throughout the state are becoming cognizant of the value of the studies and the participation is growing each year. In many areas, where all interested groups get together in the field and discuss their recommendations on the spot, unanimous agreement is reached. Disagreements among the interested groups are usually due to lack of information as to the range conditions. On many of the critical areas exclosures have been erected to aid in determination determina-tion of range conditions. These ex-closures ex-closures usually consist of two one-acre plots, one fenced deer-proof deer-proof so that nothing can get in and the other livestock-proof but low enough that deer are not excluded. These plots show quite readily the extent of utilization by game animals and by livestock. Other aids in these surveys are tagged plants on which the annual growth and utilization are measured. meas-ured. Photographs are also valu- able to record range conditions and show the people who are unable un-able to participate in the surveys. Other studies are carried on throughout the year, but the annual an-nual spring trend count and range survey carried out in March and April is probably the most important import-ant single factor contributing to better big game management. Conditions throughout the state this spring showed that the deer came through the winter in excellent excel-lent condition. Very little abnormal abnor-mal winter loss has been reported. Because of the open winter the deer were not forced to concentrate concen-trate in small areas and much of the winter brouse that was not available to them during previous winters was utilized this past winter. win-ter. In most areas the trend counts indicate that the herd numbers are approximately the same as a year ago. Deer numbers throughout the state are fairly well stabilized, and with continued improvements in our management practices, we can' expect excellent deer hunting in Utah for a long time to come. |