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Show aq OO HILL TOP TIMES Fridoy, DcmbT 5, 1986 wildlife news Parle to charge for sleigh ride not be By Steve Phillips Utoh Division of Wildlife Resources To help the large shortfall in General Fund revenues, the Hardware Ranch Visitor Center and associated winter sleigh rides have lost their funding. To continue providing this service, yet at the same time offset the cost of the operation, the Division of Wildlife Resources will be charging $1 for sleigh rides during the 1987 season. Beginning Jan. 1, 1987, the $1 fee will be collected at the sleigh ride area. Those under three years of age may ride free provided they sit on the lap of another rider. The visitor center, which provides a view of the ranch plus information about it, will be open with no charge. Prescheduled bus tours will charged this year. All other bus tours will be charged the $1 fee for taking the sled. Fees will be effective season throughout the sleigh-ridinthat, depending on the snow condig tions, lasts through It costs about $40,000 annually to maintain the visitor center and sleigh rides. This includes utilities, horse care and equipment costs, plus personnel to manage the center and the sleighs, and the grooming of parking areas. Nearly 40,000 people visit the area each year. The elk feeding program is separate from the visitor aspects and will not be affected by the cuts in funding. Hardware Ranch is located up Blacksmith Fork Canyon east of Hyrum in mid-Februar- Cache County. feed the ordeer Don't There will be no sanctioned state-authorize- y. d feeding of deer or elk in Utah this winter, according to the Division of Wildlife Resources Assistant Director Homer Stapley. d The Hardware Ranch near Hyrum in Cache County, where several hundred elk are fed each winter to keep them away from agricultural areas, is the only exception to the rule. Mr. Stapley, who oversees the state's big game management program, said winter feeding will not be necessary this winter, and isn't a good idea even in severe winter conditions. "Our policy is that we don't feed big game animals during average winters. It's just not good state-operate- m A 1985 census showed a peak count of 1,062 swans in Utah. The present count for 1986 is similar to 1985, according to Joel Huener, waterfowl biologist for the DWR. "The peak of the migration is usually around the first of November. Changes in weather conditions could increase or decrease the numbers and shift the peaking time," Mr. Huener said. The rising waters of the Great Salt Lake have effectively scattered populations of the bird the subject of the 1986 Utah Waterfowl stamp. "Nevada is doing great," Mr. Huener said, referring to the swan's change in flight patterns. Swan numbers down By Phil Douglas Information Officer Loss of habitat and changing flight patterns have combined to drastically reduce tundra swan JO t rf,, populations in Utah. In 1983, as many as sixty thousand swans used Utah marshes as a rest stop in their fall migration. wildlife management technique for long-termanagement," he said. He added that feeding programs, especially near urban areas such as the Wasatch Front, create more problems than they solve. Some of these problems are: high animal stress, alteration of wintering habits, habitat damage, increased vulnerability to disease, and harassment by people and domestic dogs. n All You Can Eat SEAS QMPiB 20$ extra for Drink (11:00 Ml HOURS: m Fri.-Sa- 11 1111 if 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 $m9. Chinese and Merchants LUNCH pm 1295 So. " Keg. $2149. and roll top. Deluxe features include fully finished dove tailed drawers, solid oak raised panel sides, swing out sides like the original, roller or bearing guides on all drawers and when the roll is down the drawers are locked. Light or dark finish. PREPARE YOUR HOLIDAY PARTY TRAYS 8 FROM 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 773-50- 34 LET US 8 bankers DINNER MENUS State, Clearfield, Phone: " 8 8 a ry p.m.) Come and try our New and Exciting Tito 18 Authentic replica of 2:30 SPECIAL GROUPS WELCOME WW BANKER'S ROLL TOP El t. am-1- 1 a.m. to BANQUETS CHINESE & AMERICAN Sun.-Thu- n. LUNCH BUFFET U SANDWICHES 8 8 8 LOWEST PRICE OF THE YEAR s K 8 g HP 'jlS STORK HOURS TUES. THRU SAT.' 10 00-- 6 MON. 8c FRI. TILL 8 00 00 SflStm nMANCma HERITAGEQAK Classic American Furnishings OGDEN 4077 RIVERDALE 399-392- 8 2 RD. MEATS CHEESES -- SALADS HORS DOEUVRES DELI ITEMS SANDWICHES EVERYTHING TO MAKE YOUR HOLIDAYS SPECIAL Phono: 546-650- 0 8 Layton Mall Convenience Center Between Safeway and Ernst Hardware. |