Show Rooster pheasants in good ratio survey shows shows' Hy fly John C. C Dickerson Conservation Officer I lv of Wildlife Each year during the pheasant hunt we have numerous people comment that our season is too long and there will not be enough roosters left for bra breeding ling purposes the following spring Granted a rooster pheasant is mighty hard to find after the first day or two but it isn't lx because cause the birds arent aren't there it is mostly lx because cause the birds seem to be begetting begetting getting smarter each year and a alot alot alot lot harder to corner Conservation officers recently recently re re- recently completed their annual pheasant sex-ratio sex counts ana ano again there are plenty of roosters left for breeding purposes in fact a lot more roosters could be harvested with no problems If only we could find a way to get within shotgun ranges range IN TIlE THE Vernal Leota arras areas a total of s bir were counted and of these 03 3 were roosters This figures butto but flut Ut to one rooster for every 34 lens tens obviously this is a top havy ratio since pheasants are polygamous so we coed be cropping crapping the roosters much more heavily There Is no denying hat our overall pheasant is down in Utah from hat Ahat we once had but a lack o roosters is 11 not the cake caise for the decline OUTDOOR sport have really slowed down now the close of the cottontail season but there are a few activities that local sportsmen can still try out We get a l lit bt t of questions asking about Pelican Lake In the wiper winer time Pelican Is open to year around but we dont don't commend trying to fish through h the ice because the bass and blue gill just dont don't bite often enough to make It worth your time Just guessing I would say on the average you would have to fish at least 50 hours to catch one fish and that figure might be optimistic You would have a much better belter chance to put something In your skillet if you tried your luck at Flaming Gorge So far the Gorge has not frozen over and the fishing is pretty spotty but some really big fish have been taken lately For up to date Information give us a call at Our bur office in Vernal before going over the hill One other activity that is creating a lot of interest and also concern is night hunting You must still have a n permit issued by the division before hunting at night This activity can be a lot of fun but it can create some real problems if itis It Itis itis is abused We have had a number of calls complaining about bout people spotlighting in infields infields infields fields right next to homes ranches and livestock Till TILE RULES HULKS and regulations dealing with night hunting are arc very specific about these practices you may not spotlight within one mile of a building or within one-half one mile of livestock There are arc of course other restrictions that are spelled out in the regulations and you should be familiar with them before going hunting Above all be a good sportsman treat other people and their property with the same consideration you would expect expert Night hunting for certain non non- game animals has always been legal in Utah but there were so many problems with this activity that restrictions were placed on it and if problems continue to occur there will undoubtedly be harsher restrictions imposed |