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Show Tuesday, November 28, 1995 7A, Emery County Progress Elk herd thrives in Emery County tured in the Jackson Hole and Yellowstone National Park By LAYNE MILLER Staff writer area of Wyoming, then brought to Price in large crates atop train cars. Half the animals were eventually released on the Cache National Forest and the remainder taken to corrals at the Peacock and Miles ranches eight miles west of Orangeville, near the junction of Cottonwood and Straight canyons. The ranch is now owned by Jim Peacock. Hunters on the Wasatch Plateau are used to seeing herds of elk with animals numbering in the hundreds. The mountains above Emery County now hide the largest elk herd in the state. Statewide, the elk popula tion is healthy. But it hasnt always been that way. Few people know that the highly successful herd originated with a few animals kept for the winter at an Orangeville ranch. Early settlers in Utah often found themselves desperate for food and the stately elk was often easy prey. It didnt take long for the animals numbers to be decimated and its range replaced by cattle. By 1915, the states elk population had been reduced to an estimated 700 animals. Utah wildlife officials decided that in order to save the native animals, an infusion of numbers was needed. Fifty animals were cap , The Utah Game Commission contracted with Emery County residents Del Peacock and his sons, Jess and Kenneth, along with Orson and Samuel Miles, to feed and care for the elk through the first winter. The animals were kept and fed in a pole corral with several cows, while officials decided what to do with the elk. Accounts of the transplant given to Jim Peacock from his father, Jess, and from Art and Sam Miles indicate the elk wintered well and several of the females calved in the S , pW i - '4 4'i 14 Ranchers keep a small herd of elk in an Emery County corral during the winter before transplanting the animals to the Wasatch Plateau. The animals eventually produced the largest spring. When summer more like the old traditional deer hunt, said DWR spokesman Brent Stettler. Last year, we sold 97,000 deer tags and 35,000 elk tags. Elk hunting is becoming more popular every year." away after becoming quite a nuisance to the ranchers. arrived, several local men and boys attempted to drive the animals up Cottonwood report the herd now numbers around 10,000 and is being managed to keep it that size. DWR officials Canyon to Trail and East mountains. Most of the elk headed up Cottonwood Canyon, but a few of the more stubborn ones The popularity of elk hunting is rivaling the deer hunt. Elk hunting is becoming hung around the Peacock place and eventually drifted elk herd in Utah. herd began with a small group of animals kept for the winter in a pole corral in Emery County. Most local residents dont realize the states largest elk Wildlife briefs (Continued, from page 6) Bass fishing is slowing, but the catch is rewarding at Lake Powell. Although it should be cold at Utah's best warm-water fishery, tem- spring-lik- e peratures have convinced largemouth and smallmouth bass to play tag with spinner-bait- s and jigs. Stripers are scattered but still available for the taking near Hite and in Piute Farms at the tip of the San Juan arm of the lake. With an abundance of shad to feed on, anglers will work hard fishing the right combination for a strike. It's worth it because two-an- d bucket-mout- three-poun- d hs will give you a ride. "Fish stocked last spring at six and eight inches are showing up around 12 inches now. Some trout are 16 to 18 inches and weigh two to two and pounds and look really healthy! We also have excellent walleye of all classes, even a 10 pounder. Perch are showing up and anglers are reporting catching some too." Many years ago, Deer Creek Reservoir was considered a premier fishery. Big bass, big trout, and plenty of perch one-hal- f, brought anglers statewide. Based on samples taken over the past couple of years, Deer Creek may again reach that status. Fisheries biologists recently Spinners are a very effective method for hooking into some pulled large trout from fall gill-neat Deer Creek Reservoir. big fish. Brown trout are preThere was a good variety of paring to spawn and during fish and their sizes mean Deer this time of year, when stream Creek is on its way to regain- water temperatures fall, brown ing trophy status for trout. "Its trout catching picks up. "Right been an outstanding reservoir now the water temperature has with high water and excepdropped and the fish are more tional growth," said Charlie aggressive in their spawning Thompson, central region mode," said Kirk Mullins, aquatics manager for the Utah southeastern region fisheries Division ofWildlife Resources. biologist for the Utah Division ts Lake Powell- - Wayne Gustaveson, Lake Powell Project leader, reports that striped bass fishing has been good at Piute Farms and at the Hite Marina. For large and smallmouth bass, Gustaveson recommends working spinner-bait- s, crankbaits or surface lures in the backs of canyons that hold shad. Covering a lot of water is the secret to worth cold ankles. Panther Marin spinners, Mepps and even Rooster Tails will produce fish. "A lot of people don't fly fish," said Ed Johnson, re- success, according to Gustaveson. For more information, call Electric Lake- - Fishing has been excellent for fly fishermen using 116 ounce black jigs or black and brown wooly worms and leeches. Almost any lure has been catching and Krocodiles, to name a few, have trout. been deadly. Grassy Trail Reservoir-- Fishing is expected to be good. Gooseberry Reservoir- - On hold for late fall stocking. Joes Valley Reservoir- - Good for both shoreline and boat fishermen. Recommended lures include black Panther Martins with red spots, Kastmasters, Krocodiles and Rapalas. - Mammoth Lake-Worand pop gear have been effective. Scofield Reservoir- - Fishing conditions have slowed down for both boaters and bank fishermen. 'Willow Lake- - Good fishing is expected as the brookies are spawning. Scud and leech fly patterns or black marabou jigs are recommended. Spin-a-lur- gional fisheries biologist. "When fishing streams with artificial flies and lures only regulations, spinners offer more people a chance to catch browns." es Tracy Wilcox So. Center, Castle Dale 71 381-289- 5 , SPORTS FANS! Turkey permit applications available Applications are available from all DWR offices. DWR writer According to Dean Mitchell, to parSportsmen desiring game program coordupland wild in Utah's turkey ticipate went to a limited "Utah inator, of in season the spring hunting 1996 are reminded that the entry only turkey hunt in 1993 application period for permits to eliminate increasing presis Dec. 1 through Dec. 30, 1995. sure on Utah's finite wild tur- - By Dean Mitchell key resource and to provide a quality experience for hunters while afield." In 1996, 174 permits will be available for Rio Grande turkeys on 13 units throughout the state. A total of 355 permits will be available (Continued tin Puge IB) 1 IF YOU'RE THINKING ABOUT (CHRISTMAS SHOPPING IN GRAND JUNCTION, GUT IT OUT! post-seaso- All-Regi- UESTIONS $39" Budget Host Inn $35 Junction Country Inn $49 Days Inn of Grand Junction $41" Peachtree Inn $26""' Grand Junction Hilton $55 Raniada Inn $49 Historic Hotel Melrose $30 Travelers Inn $30 B&B KNOW Brought to you By Chris Nelson When was the only time in football listory that 2 players on the SAME team finished first AND second in the Heisman Trophy voting the SAME year?...lt happened in 1945 when fullback Doc Blanchard of Army won the Heisman, and halfback Glenn Davis of Army finished second in the voting. phy, Jay Berwanger.Jn one game, touchBerwanger had an down run in which he down the field and, amazingly , broke 11 tackles on the pla- y- that is, he went into and out of the grasp of EVEfiY opponent on the field...E very one of his 11 opponents tried, and failed, to tackle him! 85-ya- Participating Hotels and Motels Howard Johnson Lodge DIDNT One of the most unbelievable runs history was made by the man who won the first Heisman Tro- Downtown Shopping Park to help you trim down your Christmas list. $25""' YOU in football All-Sta- te Best Value Inn BET 15". Just clip out this ad and bring it to any of these Grand Junction properties to get a cut rate on a room. Youll find over 300 unique stores including the Western Slopes largest regional mall and the te I Here's a sports question for you.Jn which sport do you get the most pointsforone score?..Answer is tennis where the first point is post-seaso- IGttHWNTlMANUAI and save. ms six-pou- Area athletes receive n awards All-Sta- Bring us your house ana car ch The technique is simple. Cast your spinner upstream into a riffle or pool. As soon as it hits the water, retrieve it quickly. You will know when the fish test line strikes. Use to protect your spinner r honon Two high school athletes have received rs-- Ryan Parsons and Marisa Vipperman. Ryan, a member of the Green River High School baseball team at the team, was named to the 1A Academic conclusion of the 1995 fall baseball season. The son of Stanford and Teri Parsons, Ryan, a senior, carries a 3.9 grade point average. Marisa, a senior member of the Emery High volleyball Team team, was named to the second team 3 A 11 These honors team. and to the first team were reported in an article in last week's Progress. jut her picture was not included. Following is a DWR fishing report for the Southeastern Utah Region. It was released Nov. 25: of Wildlife Resources. "This is the best time of the year to catch brown trout." Using spinners offers an exciting challenge to everyone to catch a big brown trout. Their fall colors of orange, yellow and brown spots make them a prize ' I bet you didn't know that...leaslng is becoming a more and more popular way to drive a new vehicle. Call us for the benefits of leasing. We have special lease rates available on several models. MOUNTAIN sells good cars at to the good people of good prices VIEW MOTORS FOR A SHINING, SHIMMERING, Holiday Inn. West Gate Inn $49 $38 HOLIDAY TREAT, TAKE EXIT 261 Star of wonder. Star of light. 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