OCR Text |
Show J - - . '" - f .-. , - . ... r. 1 - , i - ' , r i 5 ,l . v ' . - ;. ' : -m:-- ;. '!? : . 1 ' ' . . . ; - ' "' . ' .' . ITCHY FINGERED bow hunter gets an early shot at a buck, with the help of trick Ml photography, before the annual archery hunt opens this Saturday. Uicah's rchery d!eeir hun opener has rrasray quesvaons j By Hartt Wixom Vernal Express Outdoor Writer Traditionally, Utah's archery deer hunt opener, Aug. 22, has been for experts. You had to practice throughout the year to have any reason J forgoing. : But, there are many more reasons I other than possessing a Robin Hood 1 ski with the bow. One is scouting I ahead for all the big game seasons. With rifle deer, elk, moose, even grouse seasons coming later, you can check outboth game and game habitat now. It isalsoan opportunity for an outing with the entire family when weather is not dangerously cold, and you won't get struck in ice or snow. The archery permit is $10. And it is true that if you buy one, you cannot purchase a control permit-or go out on both rifle and muzzle-loader hunts. But, tkn , 11 t 11 1 urctuiiuui nuiiui are ail anieness again this year anyway, not much challenge. 1 You can take two bucks with bow and V rifle tags during the archery quest, providing both are William Tell style. 'A to this the bowman has an advantage, J tor muzzleloaders must decide between rifle and primitive weapon. I But, where will the deer be for the bowhunt? You can bet in this heat they F ' will be high. They will be in shaded areas during the middle of the day. You will also have fully-leaved aspens and oak, whereas during the rifle shoot later those leaves will be gone. Certain areas of the state will also be off-limits to bowmen which are open to riflemen. It doesn't make sense. But, that is J ,hat fie Utah Board of Big Game WDtrol has gone and done: they have se1 '0 bowman all units open to s seven-day rifle hunting. It is obvious J mle-toters can do more damage in to seven days than a whole year of ckasmg animals with the most sophisticated stick and string missies devised since the ancient Indian, that's the ruling this year: if not Tn to the full n days of hunting, it isn't open at all for bowmen. That doesn't work much of a hardship for northern Utah units, but it does in the south. Around Kanab for example, hunters (even riflemen) can't go into the Paunsaugunt country from Arizona border north to Panguitch east to Lake Powell. Other surrounding units are 7-day. 7-day. Thus, the first practical place to seek venison northward is the "back side" of Monroe Mountain. From there to Fish Lake to Salina Canyon is, however, expected to provide excellent deer hunting. Big game biologists from the Utah Div. Wildlife Resources say there "is a healthy population of deer" in there, with fawn crops recovering from the 1977-78 drought years. The same type of hunting is expected throughout the remainder of the state, with exceDtion of San Juan- Elk Ridge, and Dixie-East Pine Valley, also closed to all deer hunting this year. This, too, in a. year when buck -only hunting has generally (with a mild winter) increased herds. The Book Cliffs are not up to par. No one is quite sure why. Many bow hunters have like to "patrol" those back roads morning and evening checking for easy quarry. But, there isn't much "easy" hunting left in these rolling hills between Green River and Colorado border. Deer will concentrate with heavy snow, but are widely scattered this time of year. However, do not overlook the highest timbered ridges and peaks. As for equipment, check with the archery shop pros. It's their business to know what works best for you, and your budget. You can also buy your permit there, as well as obtaining a proclamation. Wl Lake countr 0 g0 bow hunting? Browne J try on east end of Uinta Mountains. Some of the best bow hunting should be on the north end of Manti Mountain, especially in the ravines farthest from roads; Rock Creek to Whiterocks and Ashley Creek on the south slope of the Uintas to Browne Lake on the northeast end; Daggett area; Duchesne to Price; Marysvale westward through the high country; some of the west desert ranges to Box Elder County's Sawtooth forest to Clear Creek; Monte Cristo north to Bear Lake; and the Lost Creek area to upper Ogden River and Weber River, although much of this is private property. . You'll have to ask permission in sucn ' places. Be careful of fire! Close gates. Be sure to carry your big game and archery license with you. And get game out quickly. J a. .-;;v . '. ': .;J i . , ' Saturday, archery aeer hunters will test their skills in locating and' shooting their prey in the first big game season of the year. |