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Show Book Cliffs deer hunting to be closed for two years Vernal Express Wednesday, Apr! 3, 1996 17 Sheriffs office to host golf tourney by Ron Stewart, DWR Northeastern Region Information and Education Manager On March 21, the Utah Wildlife Board voted to close the Book Cliffs to deer hunting for two years. This decision by the statewide, seven-member board followed a series of discussions that began with the Regional Wildlife Advisory Council (RAC) for the Northeastern Region. The RAC discussions centered around the low numbers of deer in the Book Cliffs and a statewide plan to bring buck numbers up to 15 bucks per 100 does, with 30 percent per-cent of the bucks being mature animals. ani-mals. During the last few RAC meetings, members of the public expressed concern about buck num-bers num-bers and asked the Division of Wildlife Resources to change the unit's hunting strategy. Statewide guidelines were requesting re-questing only minimal changes in the rules being considered for this year's Big Game Proclamation. It was felt the 97,000 hunter cap and natural shifts in hunter pressure were sufficient to move most of the deer units closer to the goal of 15 bucks per 100 does. However, deer herds in the Book Cliffs and the Henry Mountains were not re sponding to the cap. Since this was also the public's input, regional division di-vision biologists presented two proposals pro-posals for the Northeastern RAC to review. The first proposal was a limited entry hunt The second proposal was an antler restriction of four-point four-point or better for two years followed fol-lowed by a two-point or less ander restriction, with a limited entry drawing for larger antlered animals. Division staff in Salt Lake City were apprised a change in hunt strategy for 1996 was forthcoming, due to poor herd recovery in the Book Cliffs and significant public concern. In February, the RAC recommended recom-mended a change in the Book Cliffs hunt regulations, starting in 1996, to a four-point or better antler restriction. re-striction. After the two years division divi-sion biologists would review the deer herd status and propose future hunt strategies. The RAC decision initiated a series se-ries of broad discussions inside the division regarding the statewide implications of proposed hunt strategies, including antler point restrictions, re-strictions, limited entry and closure. After a close review of the hunt options, op-tions, the division opted to pursue a deer hunting closure on three units; North and South Book Cliffs and the Henry Mountains. "When we reviewed public comments com-ments submitted on the Deer Management Plans, and at subsequent subse-quent public meetings, many of the public supported a closure in the Book Cliffs," said Steve Cranney, Northeastern Regipn wildlife manager. man-ager. "Although all options would have moved us toward the short-term short-term goal of more bucks in the population, pop-ulation, it was determined that clo-. sure would get us there more quickly- "The challenge ahead of us is to determine what hunting regulations the area should reopen under, after the two-year closure," Cranney said. "We don't want to manage the Book Cliffs as another Elk Ridge or Paunsaugunt, as it would severely restrict future hunter opportunities." opportuni-ties." During the next two years the division di-vision proposes to direct a substantial substan-tial funding effort to reduce preda-tion, preda-tion, principally by coyotes, in the Book Cliffs units. Discussions with land management agencies and the public concerning the impacts of road access also will be initiated, at the direction of the local RAC. It is anticipated an access plan can be in place when the Book Cliffs reopen to deer hunting. The Uintah County Sheriff's office of-fice will host its First Annual Invitational Golf Tournament Friday, May 17 at Dinaland Golf Course. Proceeds from the event will be donated to local special olympians. According to tournament organiz er Sheriff Rick Hawkins over 200 invitations have already been mailed to potential golfers. They include dignitaries and law enforcement enforce-ment officers from around the state. The tournament entry fee is $50 per person. Monetary prizes will be awarded to the top three, five-mem ber teams. Other prizes will be awarded to winners of contests including in-cluding longest drive, longest offhand off-hand drive and drive closest to the hole. A limited number of positions is available, but organizers expect all slots to be taken. r Newspapers are the nations largest advertising medium for a lot of good reasons. You can experiment with size, type, color, etc. And readers actually look for ads rather than consider them an intrusion. 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