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Show Wffk Rlt'sYourWildlife j I M r-l By Garth Carter The 17th day of October is the official end of the 1976 Elk Season on the LaSal Mountains. Moun-tains. Except for a few-hard-nosed hunters, the hunt might as well be over. The elk refuse to be harassed any longer, the aspen leaves are as crisp as cornflakes to walk on, and there is a vacancy of hunters afield to move the prey. -gkc- Have you ever wondered just what percentage of the fawn crop is lost to coyotes? There are several studies being carried on presently within the state of Utah to gain a better understanding of fawn mortality due to predators. One such study is due to start this winter in our area. The study will commence with a two year program on deer herd Units 31 A and B (Blue Mountain-Elk Ridge area) to attempt to control the coyote population. The principle princi-ple means of control will be helicopter use during winter months and the application of M44's. The following two years no control on coyotes will be exerted. The last two years of the six year project will consist of control of coyotes on deer herd Unit 30A (LaSal) with no control on Units 31A and B. Fawn production and survival survi-val trends will be monitored for the entire six years on Units 31 A and B and Unit 30A. Each winter potential fawn production estimates will be carried out by laparotomizing of an appropriate sample of does. Prchunting season fawn production figures will be collected by means of classification classifi-cation counts in late September Septem-ber and early October, with a minimum of 200 head of deer being classified. Post season classification counts will be taken to determine doe-fawn ratios and buck to doe ratios. Fawn survival through the winter will be checked annually annual-ly during March-April. A helicopter will be used to obtain a 300-head sample. Although it is common knowledge that coyotes do utilize deer as a food source, the effect on the total herd is still just speculation. Through better programs and management, manage-ment, the factors that truly are decreasing our deer herds will be discussed. -gkc- How about checking pregnant preg-nant does before birth, then observing actual fawn survival rates at birth? Then following the fawns through adolescence observing mortality and the causes. Sounds impossible? Well, there is a study in our state under the direction of the Division of Wildlife Resources that is doing just that. Full details and results will be discussed in a later article, -gkc- Hats off to Tommy White, a true sportsman sportsman of the week. Last Friday Tommy phoned me to inform me that a young buck deer had been killed earlier that day, apparently appar-ently by coyotes, getting the information to me early, which allowed time for verification and documentation of the event. This type of documented document-ed facts act to stimulate proper wildlife management recommendations. recom-mendations. -gkc-- Rabbit hunters take notice of the following recipe from my wife's collection of game recipes: Braised Rabbit Tidbits Remove some l'i pounds of rabbit meat from the bones, cutting the larger chunks into bite-size portions. Roll in flour seasoned to taste with garlic salt, freshly ground black pepper, and paprika. Then begin to brown in a large frypan with 3 tablespoons of. preferably olive oil or of some other good vegetable oil. Before the rabbit is thoroughly thorough-ly golden, add four thinly sliced large carrots, one thinly sliced large onion, and one thinly sliced green pepper. When everything is satisfact- only tan. pour in a large can of tomatoes, .cover and simmer an hour or until the meat U tender. Serve over hot rice, -gkc- Each year before winter a sample of browse plants are examined to determine the growth since spring. Following the winter the same plants are examined with care to deter-mine deter-mine how much of the growth was utilized by big game as a winter food source. This way we can estimate if there is an abundance of winter food or a shortage. The winter range is in most cases the limiting factor on wildlife populations This year October is the start of our annual Big Game study. The public is encouraged to accompany Bill Wright front the Forest Service and myself feel free to call for a time and place to meet. -gkc- |