OCR Text |
Show DIe lEttTOSNrfos Nephi, Utah Page 10 Hunters may learn antlerless draw results a variety of ways Results of Utahs 2003 Antlerless Big Game Draw, and a list of hunting permits not taken in the draw, will be available soon. Hunters may learn the results, and obtain a list of remaining permits, the fol- in the mail before July 31. Everyone who applied should receive a list of permits not taken in the draw. Beginning July 31 Beginning at 8 a.m. on July 31, results of the draw, and a list of permits not taken in the draw, will be available: lowing ways: at Division of Wildlife Results Mailed Prior to July Resources offices in Ogden, Salt Lake City, Springville, Vernal, Price and 31 Successful applicants should receive their permit Cedar City. at the DWRs Internet Web site (wildlife.utah.gov). by calling the Utah Wildlife Administrative Services office at Those with questions may call the Utah Wildlife Administrative Services Office, the nearest Division of Wildlife Resources office or the DWRs Salt Lake City office at (801) 538-470- 0. Hunters may apply for a remaining cow elk permit if they do not have more than one elk permit beginning July 31 Another opportunity to obtain a second elk permit for this years hunts begins July 31, when hunters may apply for cow elk permits in Utahs second antlerless draw. The following may apply for a second elk permit: Hunters who obtain a cow elk permit in Utahs first (initial) antlerless draw may apply for a second cow elk permit beginning July 31. Results of Utahs first antlerless draw will be available by July 31. Hunters have until 5 p.m. on Aug. 8, to submit applications for antlerless permits not taken in the first draw. Hunters who have obtained a bull elk or hunters choice elk permit, but havent obtained a cow elk permit yet, may apply for a cow elk per- mit beginning July 31. Hunters who havent obtained an elk permit by July Judi Tutorow, wildlife licensing coordinator for the Division of Wildlife Resources, says hunters may have two elk permits in any of the following combinations: One bull elk permit and one cow elk permit; Two cow elk permits; or, One hunters choice permit and one cow elk permit. Hunters may NOT obtain two bull elk permits, or a bull elk and hunters choice permit. Hunters who qualify to apply for a remaining cow elk permit, and have a major credit card, may apply for a permit at the DWRs Internet Web site (wildlife.utah.gov) beginning July 31. Hunters who dont have a major credit card must mail an application in. Application 26. Any permits still remaining after the draw will be available from the DWRs Salt Lake City office only, either or through the mail, beginning Aug. 28. For more information, call the nearest Division of Wildlife Resources office or the DWRs Salt Lake City office at (801) 538-470- 0. Where$ 31 may apply for two cow elk permits. Hunters who do this .ns. are reminded that if they draw two cow elk permits, they may not purchase a bull elk or hunters choice permit this year. Hunters who draw a cow elk permit in the first antlerless draw have another option. Instead of applying for a second cow permit, they Visit the National Historic Trails Center, Mormon Handcart Visitor Center and Fort Caspar. Fish or raft on the North Platte River. Lodging and dining available for any budget. Travel the trail to Casper! CSrSSrEBi Coper Ar it Commit! 4 may buy a bull elk or hunters choice permit. y.t forms and a list of remaining permits will be available from DWR offices, and the DWR Web site, beginning July 31. A list of remaining permits also will be mailed to everyone who applied in the first antlerless draw. Applications must be received no later than 5 p.m. on Aug. 8 to be entered in the second antlerless draw.Draw results will be posted by Aug. www.casperwyom ng.in'oupa Visitors tSOtWltSS nitorscasperwyoming irfo iv 'V? t7' 4; Burnt dp Wednesday, July 23, 2003 Cougars, white-taile- d prairie dogs and bobcats focus of upcoming public meetings Taking more cougars to help struggling deer herds, not allowing the shooting of white-taileprairie dogs from April 15 and reducing the number of bobcats that can be trapped in Utah are among Division d of Wildlife Resources proposals people may comment on at upcoming Regional Advisory Council meetings. RAC citizen representatives will take the public input received to the Utah Wildlife Board when it meets in Salt Lake City on Aug. 12. The board will approve a number of proclamations at the meeting. The Central Region meeting will be held July 29 at 6:30 p.m. at Springville Junior High School, 165 South 700 East. Taking Cougars to Help Struggling Mule Deer The DWR will propose increasing the total number of cougars to be taken on 33 harvest objective units in Utah. Coupled with the number of cougars taken on 20 limited entry units, the increase will likely result in 470 to 500 cougars being taken by hunters during season. Thats a 20 percent the increase from the 418 taken last season. Mule deer, especially in eastern Utah, are struggling because of the drought and deteriorating range conditions, said Craig McLaughlin, mammals coordinator for the DWR. Controlling the number of cougars that prey on them is one thing we can do to try and help the herds. Were also concerned about the impact cougars have on bighorn sheep, particularly small bands of sheep that have been transplanted into new areas. The DWR is proposing that a total of 445 cougars be taken on the 33 harvest objective units.Last seasons quota was 297 cougars. About 66 percent of the total quota is usually reached, so the 445 target should result in about 295 cougars being taken on the harvest objective units this season. The DWR is also proposing that a total of 316 permits be offered for the states 20 limited entry units. Thats a decrease of 46 permits from the 362 permits offered last season. Sixty percent of the hunters who draw a limited entry permit are usually successful in taking a cougar, so a total of 190 cougars should be taken on these units. White-taile- d Prairie Dog Shooting Closure Under another DWR proposal, shooters would not be allowed to shoot white-taileprairie dogs from April 1 to June 15, 2004. White-taileprairie dogs are found throughout much of eastern Utah. The closure would protect them when theyre raising their young and is in response to a petition filed with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to place whitetailed prairie dogs on the federal Endangered Species list. The biggest threat to white-taile- d prairie dogs is Sylvatic plague, a disease that results 2003-200- 4 d d CHOP in high mortality. Also, much of their habitat has been altered to raise crops and graze livestock, McLaughlin said. Shooting isnt a big threat. However, we want to protect these' animals when theyre raising their young. McLaughlin says a survey conducted in southeastern Utahs Cisco Desert in 2002 found white-taile- d prairie dogs had declined 84 percent from the numbers found in the We think dissame area in the ease is the biggest reason for this, he said. White-taileprairie dog populations are very fragmented now and are more susceptible to mid-1980- s. d threats. ; McLaughlin reminds shooters that Coyote Basin southeast of Vernal remains closed to the sliooting of prairie dogs. This closure was put in place to protect a reintroduced populad ferrets that tion of endangered live in the area. In addition to seeking input about the closure, the DWR wants ideas from the public about ways to monitor the number of whitetailed prairie dogs that are shot. Reduction in Bobcat Trapping The DWR will also present recommendations aimed at lowering the number of bobcats harvested in the state. During the 2002 - 2003 season, 2,176 bobcats were taken, mostly by trappers. Last seasons bobcat harvest was 746 more than the 1,430 taken during the black-foote- 1999-200- 0 season. To reduce the take, the DWR will propose that the number of tags each trapper may purchase be reduced from 8 to 6 and that the season be shortened by two weeks. The two weeks would be taken off of the end of the season. Last season, almost 400 bobcats were taken during the last two weeks. These changes should result in a harvest of about 1,700 to 1,800 bobcats, which is the average taken in recent seasons, McLaughlin said. ; McLaughlin says the DWR has two concerns about the number of bobcats that are being trapped. The price for bobcat pelts has increased from about $50 two years ago to more than $250 last year, he said. Theres a greater demand for pelts now than theres been since the At the same time, the number of bobcats in Utah appears to be declining because of the drought, which has reduced the number of cottontail rabbits and snowshoe hares that mid-1980- s. bobcats prey on. Very few juvenile bobcats were taken by trappers last year, which tells us that reproduction is down, he said. We believe the measures were recommending will ensure that Utahs bobcat populations remain healthy. For more information about the upcoming meetings, call the nearest Division of Wildlife Resources office or the DWRs Salt Lake City office at (801) 538-470- 0. a mY Open Enrollment Wiittlh) Begins Monday, uly 28, 2003 sj 5 a CirosDey TOmdlow Momt Keeping your children healthy is important But its not always easy. Without health insurance, medical bills and prescriptions can break the family budget CHIP (Utahs Childrens Health Insurance Program) provides health insurance for the children of Mir working families who qualify. For one week, CHIP will be accepting applications by mail, or in person. This is your chance to get your kids covered by CHIP before they go back to school! on-lin- e, CHIP will be holding Open Enrollment July 28 CHIP will look at the number of people - August 1, CoimdiitiiioDDeir 8.000 Btu. Cools 350 sq. ft 2003. your family and your familys current income to determine eligibility. For example, even a family of four earning up to $36,800 each year may qualify To qualify, children must be under age 19, a U.S. citizen or legal resident and not currently covered by health insurance. Call or in toll-fre- e apply online 10.000 I CHIP Z OlILEXfN 1 A good call for kids. prelim t Iwnw t HlACTH ptnr.MM of the Utah Department o Health Cools 500 sq. ft 12.000 Btu. Cools 650 sq. ft We A 535000 Btu. ss370oo at www.health.uuh.govchip application available July 28 - August 1,2003) (on-lin- e 530000 carry filters, motors, pumps, pads and floats to fix your swamp cooler Plumbing & Builders Supply 66 South Main, Nephi 623-119- 9 Open Mon - Fri. 8 to 6 - Sat. 8 to 5 4--D '!i U |