OCR Text |
Show -Dinosaurland Outdoors By Hartt Wixom Vernal Express Outdoors W riter '.VNV.-.v.-.v.v.vr .-.v. v. .-.'.-..v.'-.'.,-!'.'.';y. .'.-.'-','.' -.v. s J i zX.,Md..,v A matter of fair play It may seem that hunters are interested in-terested only in killing something, but at the end of this big game hunting season I'm reminded of an incident indicating otherwise. And I'm sure any nimrod would have done the same. It involved a yet-spotted fawn deer trapped in East Canyon Creek. The helpless animal had apparently fallen from a steep bank into a deep pool. Current washed the fawn up into willows which offered no solid footing. How long he had been there I didn't know. But, I was sure of one thing: he didn't have much longer to live. Wading in was no problem, but I hesitated for a split second just before picking him up. To keep his head above water I had to cradle him in my arms. The question was whether he would let me save him. One blow from even a tiny hoof could put out an eye, cut like a knife. As it turned out, I did not have to worry: he was too exhausted to do anything but flicker an eye at me. In time I had him on meadow grass. But, he was unable to do more than slump out helplessly. I knew the doe was likely around somewhere. It is also illegal to take wildlife home, or even to place one in a vehicle Besides, it is usually ill-advised. If becoming dependent upon man at that early dge, the critter would never adjust to the wild. I left him there to recover. It is true he was vulnerable to any predator, but then my man-scent w as all about him. I knew there was nothing to do but leave him, and check back later on. The next morning I had my reward: he was gone. There were several deer prints about, and I envisioned an "I-told you-so" you-so" mother walking away w ith a wiser offspring. In another year that fawn would be a huntable buck, probably a spike, ' possibly a forkhorn. I do not see anything incongruous that he may be taken (legally) by some hunter. Although I have not hunted that area, it is even possible some day I might even tie a tag to that very buck. It is simply a matter of fair play. When it gains another year of experience, ex-perience, that deer will be physically mature, with many wily techniques to escape the hunter then going for him. And although I'm a hunter. I would also risk a lethal hoof anytime to rescue such a helpless young creature I think any hunter would. I've had other opportunities op-portunities to save young pheasants and quail from gone-wild house cats, a constant menace, and other similar perils. I've cut leader-snagged (rout loose, and continued fishing Of course, the greatest peril of all is loss of habitat. It only takes one ill-placed ill-placed highway, or housing unit, to wipe out an entire deer herd in key winter range lost foiever. in discriminate use of a bulldozer or drained swamp to eliminate a vital nesting site for myriad birds. In my opinion these are the greatest killers of our wildlife. Apparently game managers and biologists throughout America agree. They set hunting seasons, and in face need them to harvest surplus animals. What they don't need is loss of the resource "seed." That is what happens when entire habitat is lost. It is something to remember as winter approaches, for it is not where deer summer which restricts their numbers nearly so much as how well they get through the next five months. Time to Scout One reader asked me on that subject of deer and winter, to elaborate on this idea of doing your scouting now for next year. The idea behind it is this: when snow and frozen water at higher elevations, as well as the rut, bring highland bucks down into the foothills, it is easy to see what you missed the season before. Deer are bunched into areas readily glassed (but it is also wise not to get too close and spook them at a time when they need all their energy reserves to make it through the winter) so you can examine available buckskins. It is also true that these bucks will likely be in different, lower altitudes, than in any following hunting season. But, you can scout them when they are visible and still have antlers which begin to shed in January learning in general, where best racks are found. Of course, you will have to go up that mountain a few thousand feet when weather conditions are not as severe next October. But. you can locate a big buck area It is surprising how often those deer will tie right in the same canyon or ridge in hunting season, albeit uphill Seeing these deer also gives you confidence they are there next season, particularly important when the going gets tough If you know that, then you keep at it. Naturally. I scout the following summer if the winter has been a rough one. just lo make sure "my buck" made it through. Even if you don't see it. I check for tracks or other sign of oversize bucks before drawing final hunting plans on a specific spot to start the season |