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Show ti ? .... 11 ' '" 1 . ) v , . .. ...... : s -!V t x . ' '' i ,' ' ' . ii' --J .- . " '.. i i i i mini . i ft 1 . ' . "" K - - -a-- -'? - xV:--; : ''."s; 4Tt - . J-- ' . .1 5 ' A - T' 4- . ".w-' - ' i . v . 9" ' v . . rf ' , " - ."if i jump SHOOTING for geese along lower By Hartt Wixom Vernal Express Outdoors Writer If you want to bag a Christmas goose, you still have time. You've got until end of the year in fact, sundown Dec. 31 if you would rather have it fresh for New Year's Day. Ducks are legal in Utah, however, until Jan. 3. But, if you want to try something totally different and now is an excellent ex-cellent time for it before snow depth increases mountain lions are fair game to April 15. Bears are in hiber-" hiber-" nation with no open season at present, so you will have to wait until next spring. Check the proclamation closely on these two big game animals (correctly classified that way in most states now rather than shoot-on-sight predators) since there are many requirements in addition to license. As for upland species, you can pursue chukar partridges to Jan. 31, 1982, in most of the state. But, there are county 1 closures in effect, so you will have to read the fine print. Same with the "cousin" Hungarian partridges, found mostly in northern and central foothill i grain field areas. Most other seasons have closed, except for cottontail rabbits, same as the later chukar hunt. Bunny limits are 10 and 20, daily and ; possession, in most of Utah, j Jack rabbits don't get much mention in the shooting calendar, yet they are actually the most hunted of all critters throughout the West. With school out, and more vacation time, plus a mantle i of snow aiding visibility, the jacks will 1 receive much attention during December. Some of the top spots are (with cottontails also abundant in rocky ravine regions) in the foothills of the Uinta Mountains, and the outskirts of farmlands in Duchesne and Uintah counties, southern Tooele County, v Duchesne River is a sportsman challenge. Bagging co ChrisfBTaos goose is 3 hunter's challenge n.. ti 1 tlf! including the country south and west of Vernon, from Nephi to Delta, sage near croplands in Morgan, Wasatch, Summit, Sanpete, Carbon, southern Utah counties. The nice thing about "long ears" is Utah places no closed season on them. Of course, if you hike higher in the hills, you should come across the snowshoe hare, with same season as cottontails. A word of caution here in that deer will often be in the same terrain. While watching for next year's giant buck, you don't want to "spook" its relatively low energy reserves. Better it remain healthy enough to make it through the winter. Snowshoes can also be found on many occasions at lower elevations than when you last saw them in deer season. But, back to the waterfowl. Hunt tactics must be altered for geese in December with most of the ponds frozen. You most likely wouldn't find them within shotting range on the water anyway more likely in a morning visit to grain fields. If you know how to use a goose call (try the sporting goods man who want to sell you one) it can help steer them your way. Putting out decoys helps, but remember geese feed against the wind as well as land against it. Don't make the mistake of having your phonies looking downwind! Canadians won't cotton to it. Also be certain you do not leave anything lying around which spells a change, for if it isn't like it was last time, these "elk of the sky" won't come in. You might also spot snow geese, but keep in mind they are the big white birds with black-tipped wings. Whistling swans, now on the marsh, are . larger with no such tips. And you should make sure you're close enough before blasting away to determine if you are looking at the curve-beaked pelican. Geese can be taken by jump shooting this time of year in Utah, but forget it on crunchy morning snow. You are better off trying to sneak up on them over at least slightly slushy afternoon or evening snow. Goose limit, two, Canadians, three, snow. Add sparkle to your iced cakes by garnishing them with crumbled rock candy. |