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Show lljjl A It's Yur Wildlife ? J4f - ' ByGrthrrter Jell Je-ll ijr fj " " TOLi L ' U"' ' lon Of' J Grand County isn't presently pre-sently noted for it's abundance of pheasants or quail. Most of the pheasant hunters exited to Green River for the opening of the 1978 pheasant season. Hunting wasn't bad for those with dogs, but heavy cover made hunting without the canine next to impossible. Quail hunting is closed in only one county in the state of Utah. That county is Grand County. About a year and half ago the DWR transplanted some quail along the Colorado River. They are protected this year in an effort to increase their chances of taking hold. Hopefully the initial transplant will be followed by another next spring - quail lovers cross your fingers. Due to the extremely light winter the deer haven't migrated to their winter ranges. For some 500 Delores-LaSal (unit 28-B, Delores Triangle) permit holders that's bad ' news. Although the usual large number of winter residence deer haven't moved into the Delores Triangle, some have, and I checked a few of our local boys out chasing them. Like Boa Proctor, who found time to bag a nice big fat three point muley. The Triangle hunters were surprised to not only be checked by me but also stopped by the BLM. Brian Mills, a wildlife biologist for the BLM, found time to stop vehi- cles, check camps, etc. all in an effort to hand out large trash bags to the sportsmen. Thanks Brian, the triangle looks nicer with a lot less trash scattered from camp to camp. A few years back, deer hunters took to the woods in an effort to outsmart a wiley old buck. Presently the majority of Utah deer hunters go deer hunting half expecting a spooked buck to run past them -ending the "hunt" for the sportsmen. It might seem the science of "hunting" has been lost somewhere between be-tween the motorhome and the high powered rifle with a telescopic sight. If you feel like you have 1 started to fall into the "majority" category you might try going back to "hunting". Unlike most of Utah, the local residents of Grand County have the opportunity to get back into the spirit of the hunt. It's called "track hunting" hunt-ing" by some of the locals. Instead of heading for timberline these "hunt-' "hunt-' ers" head for the desert or marginal deer habitat ' areas. Driving roads, checking waterholes, etc. 1 until they find a single set ' of fresh deer tracks - then the "hunt" begins. The hunt consists of tracking the desert buck until one outsmarts the other. Often times the hunt starts one day and continues day after day with the hunter beginning each day where , dark caught him the evening before. "Track hunting" - the Shunter usually ends up with nothing but memories mem-ories of the "hunt". |