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Show BOX ELDER JOURNAL, Brigham City, Utah December 25, 1975 Thursday, (Deep (sIqcoCds deer hunters (the unsuccessful ones) and haggle argue over who to blame for their lack of luck, the thought probably seldom to them that predators might have had a hand in reducing deer numbers. This is not to say that low deer numbers are to be blamed on the coyote or mountain lion. Many, many other factors are involved in carryover from year to year. However, a Utah State university professor has completed a study of a deer wintering area near Hardware ranch and concludes coyotes do take deer each winter. Darwin B. Nielsen, professor of economics, ran a study just south and west of Hardware ranch, selected because of reports of deer deaths the year before and accessability by "While BOX ELDER ACTION SPORTS 723-347- 1 oc-cur- snowmobile. Nelson found dead deer from Dec. 7, 1974 to March 15 of this year. All but three were killed by coyotes. 31 three of the remaining 28 were yearling fawns. The others were a two point buck and two adult does. All apparently had been killed by a single animal, although there was evidence two animals had visited one kill. Method of kill, said Nelson, was to grab the deer high on the neck, often taking the deers All but jawbone in the mouth. Some jawbones were found to be broken. Coyotes were wasteful, he noted. They usually chew through the rib cage and consume the heart, liver and other viscera in the body cavity. The birds consume the muscle tissue and remaining edible parts of the body. After the coyotes and birds finish, there is only a bit of the hide and a few bones remaining, said Nelson. The birds he speaks of were magpies and eagles, most bald eagles. Many kills were located by watching for concentrations of birds on the ground, he said, wintering animals. It would be indeed hard to convince me that these deer were suffering from malnutrition and would probably have died anyway... The question remains unanswered as to how significant winter coyote predation is on deer herd populations and more study needs to be done. On the other hand, it is evident that coyote predation on deer herds does take place and that with some effort the dead deer can be found, Nelson concluded. Perhaps preditor control can benefit more than the stockmen. Probably more than 28 deer were killed in the Hardware ranch area that winter. Multiply that number by the other wintering areas in the state and the problem could be substantial. Some 30 deer died on Box Elder county highways last year and as many as 200 die on highways down south. The problem is large enough to warrant special studies and investment of thousands of dollars for fences to change migration routes. Its just possible the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources may need to take a longer look at the preditor problem and address funds specifically to it. Kn)F The deer have moved into their lower winter ranges earlier than usual and thats bringing about an increase in the number of deaths on highways. Motorists are urged to keep a lookout for the animals during hours of darkness when deer travel to and from feeding grounds. John Fricke, local Division of Wildlife Resources officer, said 12 deaths have been recorded this year already and the big months of January and February when most deaths occur are yet to come. The deer came down about Thanksgiving, due to the big storm and the continued cold weather we had. Thats about three usual, weeks earlier said Fricke. than Mostly Fawns Fricke said most of the deer killed are fawns, with two bucks and a doe also among the deceased. He said two or three others apparently were killed and removed from the highway. Although the chance of deer dying on the highways are greater, the early migration has increased the ease of getting THIS STRETCH OF a He said most deaths have been recorded south of the Willard city limits to Hot Springs. However, another pocket of deaths has occurred just north of Mantua where a heard of 35 to 40 deer is wintering. He said the deer there spend the days in the southeast, then cross the highway at night. Four have been killed there already this year. There is no reason to have as many deer killed as we do, the officer said. "If people would watch for deer along the high- - Service Texaco . ...... ways and slow down when they do see them, then it would save them damage to their car and possible damage to themselves if they strike one. ential danger. He asked people to drive slower when passing through these areas and when they see a deer, to go even slower until they pass it. "January and February are Dig months coming up for deer deaths. We get 30 to 40 deer killed every month during this time. If people want to keep their cars from getting dented, they need to reduce speed, especially during the periods of fog and slippery highways Fricke said the Utah Highway Patrol has been concerned about the deaths, since the organization feels a serious accident is due to occur. Local People Fricke said quite a few local people are involved in the deer accidents, which is hard for him to understand since they are aware of the problem and pot were experiencing, Fricke said. Get bus tickets to ski by 5 today game scratch Taylor Farm Bear River Drug 669. Wes's 710 628 game handicap Tavlor Farm Service - 838 R&R Hardware - 829, RaVons Beauty - 822 series scratch Taylor Farm Service - 1933. Bear River Drug - 1849 Wess Texaco 1843 Hi team series handicap Wes s Texaco 2344. RaVon's Beauty - 2341, Taylor Farm Service 2317 riu g. Hu1 m i iu h Jan tti dm i 21 21 2m. LJ Bfenkman Ju..ij l.iii.ik.t Nelson said a myth that coyotes use crusted make most of their kills doesnt hold up, since kills were found in areas containing almost f' no srfbw tfi deeffsnow tover two feet).,15 In fact, it appeared that less than ten yards were covered from the time the coyote and deer tracks came together and until the deer carcass was found, he said. Nelson said the winter was not severe at all and was probably one of the best in the state for highway north of Mantua has turned into deer graveyard" this winter. At least four deer have been struck and killed by vehicles on the short portion and 24 others have died near Willard The Mantua area usually has very few fatalities by autos. Most Deaths Moonhle Mixed Doubles Golden Bowl Tiemonlon Results for Dec 16 snow to ,..u ii urn.. n i . Hlfii Huggins IHti itiml u m.t. liaudicdp Lil Brenkman 241 Ken DeJarnett - 242 Jan Gardner kie Walker 239 Sylvia Wood 233. Curtis Kanoko 228 series scratch John Tanaka 371 Curtis Kaneko - 513 Garv Scoffield 510 Ellen Huggins - 514 Lil Brenkman 241 Roc Jan Gardner 479 Hnnd series handicap Curtis Kaneko 621 629 Svhid Wood 628 Sheila Doman 507 lal Brenkman - 618 Garv Scoffield Rockie Walker 607 Winners of first half Chases Cafe 28 lost 17 Tavlor Farm Service !8L Bear River Drug 26 19 won 26 . Glen Casperson, city recreation director, has noted a change in purchasing bus tickets this week. Tickets must be purchased by 5 p.m. today (Wednesday) due to Christmas falling on Thursday, said Casperson. It was announced earlier that bus tickets could be purchased by 5 p.m. on Thursday. Buses will run to Beaver Mountain beginning Saturday morning. They will leave from City hall. Tickets cost $1.25. Casperson also urged beginner skiers to come to the dry land ski clinic Friday at John Adams park. Ski instructors will be on hand to help skiers adjust equipment and other equipment for their first day on the slopes. Two free ski lesson packages will be given away at the clinic, he also advised. contest Tremonton hunter wins snowmobile Max McNeely, veteran big game hunter from Tremonton took top honors in the Polaris Big Buck contest and a new 340 Colt 1976 Polaris snowmobile. "Competing with deer hunters from throughout Utah, Southern Idaho, and Western Wyoming, McNeely successfully tracked the previously sighted monarch and brought home the rack with the highest point total in the three-stat- e contest. McNeely, who has hunted big game in Alaska and throughout the West, had spotted the big muley on earlier trips into the Grouse oeet counts in me area. In local areas, 190 deer have been classified. Twenty were bucks, the rest does with fawns. The ratio of doe to fawns is one which is to one, said Fricke, extremely good. The larger bucks are not seen because they usually hang back until extreme conditions drive them into the lower elevations. Fricke said the reduction of winter range by housing which limits the size of the range, pushes deer across the highway to other ureas and is a factor in deer deaths. Bowling Results Most of the deer found were killed in a way almost identical to the way coyotes kill sheep. From the sheep verification studies, death is usually caused by collapsing the trachea and smothering the animal to death, Nelson reports. In buck fep DD birninigi 7 Creek area near Tremonton. Registering for the Polaris Big Buck .contest at Tremonton Polaris 'dealer, Petes Sports, McNeely felt he MAX MCNEELY, left receives the keys to a new snowmobile from dealer Dennis Peterson Polaris big buck contest McNeely s wife Sherry holds after McNeely won the three-statthe 36' rack which topped all other entries. e OO INTERMOUNTAIN SCHOOL Oo had a good chance to win. Opening day found him on the trail and by 3 p.m. he had successfully concluded his stalk. The prize winning buck field dressed at about 225 pounds and carried a rack with 24 points over an inch long. (11 and 13) The big buck contest was sponsored by local MTS NAVAJO & CRAFTS SWOP 36-'- 2 Polaris dealers Wilson Transport Lake City. Authentic Handmade Indian Arts and Crafts Supply, Salt Spread and point were verified by Dennis Peterson of Petes Sports. Max McNeely is the Phillips Petroleum Distributor for northern Box Elder county and operates the R & M 66 Service station at the crossroads on highway 191. Merru Christmas leather goods paintings q & jewelry taos mocc assins Happy New beads Year rom Mary & & Distributor, Blaine Olsen OLSEN FUNERAL HOME Quzc&J&l HIS HERS rugs (follow the signs) OPEN MONDAY -- FRIDAY 1- -5 P.M. |
