Show Wildlife Resources law lair changes vi viand and spring rides scheduled BY JOIN JOHN C C. C DICKERSON DICKEnsoN DIVISION OF WILDLIFE RESOURCES There have been a number of or changes In the Wildlife Resources es laws l ws that sportsmen should be interested in and also aware of or One of or the bl big changes passed by the recent State Legislature is an l Increase In hunting and ana fishing license fees which will go Into effect in 1976 The biggest hikes will affect the fishermen and rightly so because became the cost of or producing and stocking fish has increased tremendously in recent years Our fisheries program has always cost more than the revenue taken in through license sales Under the new setup persons 15 12 years of age will pay rather than 64 64 16 years of age will pay rather than and persons 65 and older will pay rather than BIG game licenses will increase Increase increase in In- crease from to small game licenses for adults will go from to and small game licenses for youngsters 15 12 from to The combination license will Increase increase increase in In- crease from 1000 to 1800 this license which entitles entities you to hunt for all animals and also to fish Is ts your best buy since you will save rather than If tr the licenses were purchased separately resident Non fees rees for fishing have tave also Increased but the hunting licenses have not gone up Actually the cost rost of or a nonresident nonresident nonresident non non- resident deer license at isas Isas is as 33 high as any other state the state the majority of or western states states' non non- res resident ent deer license fees are considerably lower than Utah's This bill has not been signed by the Governor yet yeti there is no indication that he will not sign it and when it becomes law it should realize about a 26 percent percent per per- cent Increase in badly needed revenue revenuer This increase is the second hike in hunting and fishing license fees rees in 22 years The Legislature also passed a a law that changed two existing laws from Class B misdemeanors to Class A misdemeanors these misdemeanors these laws cover the illegal taking of or big game animals and assault of ot a Conservation Officer Both these offenses carry a maximum penalty of a 1000 fine and one year in jail Still remaining on the books is isa isa isa a law authorizing the Division to collect civil damages over the loss lass of or illegally taken wildlife so the game law violator can look for a much rougher road to hoe when he is caught And in case you are wondering it is our standard policy to sue for civil damages in all big game cases and Inmany in inmany inmany many small game cases depending on the circumstances cir clr OUR oun SPRING range rides and studies are fast rast approaching and once again we urge every interested person to come out and join us These rides consist of covering the most important winter ranges of or each deer herd unit mostly by horseback to note use on the browse species during the winter to actually measure the use on on selected plants and to estimate deer days use per acre by pellet group counts These rides are not only enjoyable but will acquaint you with the methods used in determining our big game regula regulations regulation If U you have any questions about the rides give us usa a a call at atour atour atour our Regional Office in Vernal or contact your local Conservation Officer Following is the schedule for the Vernal Vernal- Roosevelt areas |