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Show RECREATION c3 Tuesday, March 26, 1996 Cougar Proposal Divides Californians By Tom Stienstra ANCISCO EXAMINER Californians are divided again and yep, they're taking their differences personally. This timeit’s over the mountain lion and Prop. 197, which proposes to removeits status as California’s only designated “specially protected mammal” and allow the Department of Fish and Game to undertake a comprehensive study and establish a mountain lion management plan. And al- though not mentioned in the ini- tiative, it does mean mountain lionscould eventually be hunted as part of that management This issue has not only polarized different regionsof the state. butthelevel of passion is as in- tense as that over any wildlife issue in the past 50 years. Thereis a lot of crazy stuff on both sides. Thereare ranchers in the Central Valley foothills who saythat if Prop. 197 fails, and their livestock, pets and families are threatened by mountain lions, they will use the “SSS approach.” Thatstandsfor “shoot, shovel and shut up.” Meanwhile, in Auburn, where the leader of an organization promoting Prop. 197 as a way to help ensure better public safety — after all, two people have recently been killed by mountain lions — had her houseshotat allegedlyby the leader of an animal rights group. After the drive-by shoot ing, the woman quit the organization, changed her phone number to an unlisted one, and is selling her house. Elsewhere, the arguments may seem more rational but are equally zealous. In the San Francisco Bay Area and Los Angeles, the Humane Societyis calling for continued com plete protection of mountainli- ons, and has built tremendous support on one point: to block hunting. They say that hunting mountainlions is morelike a vid- eo game, where dogs with radio ‘The Boat Owners Association ofthe US. (BOAT/U.S.) has prepareda free Guide to Buying and Selling A Boat ‘Thereare 30 pages of advice to consider before launchinginto a boat purchase. Call (703) 461-2864 for a free copyof the brochure EASTER RENDEZVOUS Fort Buenaventura State Park will be hosting an Easter weekend rendezvous April 5, 6 and 7. Camping, a trader's row, shooting events, a mountain-man run, frying-pan toss, knife and tomahawk throws, a Dutch-oven cookoff, activities for kids, candy cannons and canoe races are available. For information, call 399-2308, 829-6641 or 392-5581 oO CAMP ROGER TO OPEN ‘The University of Utah College of Health and the YMCAofGreater Salt Lakehave joined forces to offera summerresidential camping experience to area youth. The event offers summer campexperiences at Camp Roger, high in the Uinta Mountains near Kamas on the Mirror Lake Highway, for children seven through 17. Some full andpartial scholarships are available ‘Our focus is on children and youth developing skills that transcend the campsetting and applyto every dayliving experiences,” said Erik Rosegard program director. For information or a free brochure call 585-7765. the real issue is the devastating impact that lions have on deer and other wildlife. In a test area. Round Valley near Bishop, the deer herdhasfallen from 5,500 to fewer than 1,000 adults in the past eight years, with 51 percent of the deaths coming from mountain lion kills, 22 percent from coyote kills, 14 percent from road kills, 7 percent from hunting, and 6 percent from a variety of other factors. Bighorn sheep are listed as a threatened species in California yet when 106 werefitted with radio collars so eal, a violation of the hunters’ code offair chase, theysay, and so manypeople agree that the proposition may be defeated on this point alone But that is ridiculous. respond hunters, who point out that the last time mountain lion hunting was permitted in California — 25 years ago — thekill rate was only 2 percent. In addition, since lion depredation permitsare issued by the state, problem lions are going to end up just as dead anyway by their migration routes could be tracked, biolo- gists discovered that within a year, 24 were killed by mountain lions, which are not a threatened species. So who is right? The answer is that everybody is right. All of these arguments are valid. That is whytheissue cannot besettled by discussion. That is whythereis a vote Myprojections show that the vote keeps coming up almost 5050. I have no idea which way it will tip on Tuesday night, butit will be close. NATURE LOG can be reserved in advance. The agency Hereis a list of nature-related Utah happenings. Sendevents to: Brett Pret tyman, Recreation, The Salt LakeTrib. une, P.O. Box 867, Salt Lake City, UT 84110 o ing vacation to begin making reser REI CLINICS oO CAMPING RESERVATIONS Many US. Forest Service campground sites, including many in Utah is encouraging thoseplanning a camp: tions now to avoid busy lines andget a betterselection. The systemcovers 600 campgrounds with 13,000 campsites More than 111,000 reservations were made last year. The national reservation center ex. tended its hours and increased the number of phone lines, From now through May 5, reservations can be made from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 7 am. to 5 p.m, Saturday and Sunday Campers should know the nameof the campground, National Forest state, their planned arrival date, num- ber of nights, number of persons in their party and the typeof recreation equipmenttheyplanto bring. Campers making reservations will be asked to prepaytheir camping fees and a $7.95 family site reservation servicefee with a credit card. Personal checks are ac- cepted for mailed reservation requests The number is 1-800-280-2267, SNOW CANYON FEES All visitors to Snow Canyon State Park will now be required to pay a dayuse fee to help operational dollars. Fee signs have been postedat the north and south boundaries of the park along Highway 300, a change from the past policy Utah State Parks and Recreation has been charging day-use fees for morethan 25 years,” said Gordon Topham, the agency's Southwest Regiuon manager. "Because of logistics problems at Snow Canyon State Park, dayuse fees were collected only at the campground area. Many Snow Canyon visitors assumed thatas long as theydid not enter the campground area, they werenot required to pay a day-use fee The assumption wasincorrect and not enforced. Day-usefees are $4 perprivate vehi cle or $1.50 per person for walk-in and bicyclists. CONSUMER CORNER REI, 3285 E. 3300 South, offers these 2100 Monday — Thedeadlinefor the REI and Sports Guide amateur photo contest. Rules are available at the store clinics. For more information, call 486- ag NATURALHISTORY MUSEUM For information on the Utah Museum of Natural History on the University of Utah campus, call 581-4303 Today — Spring docenttraining be gins oO WHITEWATER PROGRAM April 4 — The Utah Rivers Council will present a program of whitewater descents in Utah at 7 p.m, at Wasatch Touring, 700 E. 100 South, Sait Lake City. The program, which chronicles the history of first descents in Utah. will be narrated by Mark White, Call 359-9361 for information April 20 — The Patagonia Outlet will host a swap to allow river enthusi asts to buy andsell used kayaks, rafts, canoes, fly-fishing reels and rods and other river goods to benefit the Utah Rivers Council. Call 466-2226 forinfor- durable polycarbonate case. Con: Whileit has accessories, thereis no easy way to keep them all together unless you go out and find a mini-stuff sack. Consequently, the tendencywill be to leave a desired accessorybehind, hills” will be the topic of the second free lecture on Land UseIssues in the South Valley. jim White, recreation manager for the U.S. Forest Service: Ralph Becker, planner for Bear West: Draper resident Ann Par, and West Jordan City planner Brian Maxfield are scheduled to talk. The meeting is at Public-Private Part ond free lecture on Land Use Issues in the South Valley. Wendy Fisher of of Development Services in Salt Lake County; Gerry Tully of the Tully Design Group;Brad Barber of the Utah Office opmentin Draper, are featured speak ers. The meeting is at 7:30 p.m. at the Sandy Campusofthe Division of Continuing Education GREAT SALT LAKE vis County Public Works, will present some way to the main unit. A far better solution would be to create a night-vision lens which attaches over the main lens by easyslipping on or screwing into place. Comments:This greatlittle package offers the versatility of fourorfive flashlights in one affordable unit Company: Pelican Products, 23215 Early Ave., 90505; 310 326-4700. Torrance, CA — Michael Hodgson aes! THE X-FILES: Deep Throat/The Pilot, Fallen Angel/Eve, Conduit/Ice THE BRADY BUNCH MOVIE 2 Episodes per Tape Pri Prana ae ‘Tonight — Sid Smith, director of Da the rationale and somespecifics re garding the Davis County Wetlands PreservationPlan at the monthly meet ing of Friends of the Great Sait Lakeat 6p.m. at the Sugar House Gar den Center. John Thomas, transportation engineer for Parsons Brinkerhoff THE MANY ADVENTURES OF WINNIE THE POOH will present information regardingthe proposed West Davis Highway. Forinformation, call 5226, UTAH OPEN LANDS Suggested Retail: $20 Tepe Back fo Save Americ from The "s, DRIVING TOUR May 11 — The Bureauof Land Man: agement is holdingthe Silver Island Back Country Byway Driving Tour as part of the Utah Prehistory and Heri tage Week. Drivers should meet at 8 a.m, at the WendoverInformationCen: ter. Four-wheel-drive vehicles arerec: ommended. For more information, cail Mel Brewster at 977-4358 a bummerif youfind a needfor either the magnet mount or night addition. Also, while not a major problem, having to remove the if main lensto attachthe night vision lens can be a pain, especially it is dark. The bulb pops out too easily, dirt is attracted too readily to to the O-ring each timethe lenses are changed, and it is too easy lose the main lens or misplace it when it is no longer attached in i] of Planning and Budget, and Paul Glauser, director of CommunityDevel- whenthe belt is in place, to the belt itself would be a super vision lens. Creating a tiny pouch that attachesto the belt clip or, Stephen King Ust 2.99 a Utah Open Lands; Ken Jones, director mood to attract insects from miles around. Water-resistant and THE TWO SOUTH VALLEY OPEN SPACE Thursday — “Our Community Foot- Comeswith two AA batteries. Available in black only. of a caror the lid on a two-burner Colemanstove. Thebuilt-in clip allows the flashlight to securely stow in a shirt or pant's pocket with the light still shining brightly, illuminating the path ahead The night vision lens is a boon when trying to read mapsat night without destroying your night vision. It also is a great idea if you are working with a stove or around camp at night and aren't in the THE PART mation. nerships" will be the topicoft the light is most needed. Using the magnet mount, theflashlight attaches securely to almost any metalsurface, including the side ar! Ae De de Oo and Park Land: and five hours, depending on store-bought battery strength and outside temperature. With the elastic headband, you can wear the light easily and comfortablyeither directly on the head or on a hard-hat, helmet or hat. The spotlight beam head swivels 180 degrees, meaning you can virtuallyposition the beam where ever he dee For information on Red Butte Gar den and Arboretum events, call 5248511 Thursdays — Enjoy a middleof the day break listening to lectures on gar dening. This week: “Spring Lawn Care,” Brad Peterson of LawnLife Description: A 7-ounce, 3-inch-long, 1%4 inch wide, 1%-inchhigh hand-heldflashlight with 6,000 candlepower Xenon bulb. Pro: Long burntimeforthelight, which averages between four STONE TEMPLE PILOTS RED BUTTE GARDEN 7:30 p.m, at the Sandy Campusof the Division of Continuing Education 4 — “Preserving Open Space VersaBrite MEDI There is yet another view, that lows the tracking beacon to the tree, then simplyshoots thelion at point-blank range. This is unethi- TAXIDERMY SHOW FREE BOAT-BUYING GUIDE mit(if the proposition fails) or by a hunter (if it passes) collars tree a lion, the hunterfol- OUTDOOR NOTEBOOK An exhibit featuring the works of Utah taxidermists will open Monday at the Bean Museum on the Brigham YoungUniversity campus in Provo and run through April 26. Museum hours for the free exhibit are from10 a.m. to 9 p.m, Mondaythrough Fridayand 10 ‘a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday Close to 100 mountsincludingthose of an Africanlion taking downa greater kuda, a hyena, a brown bear, a Tibertan blue sheep and several large muledeer mounts are among the featured exhibits o the same means, whether by a hired gunwith a depredation per- MOVIES «BOOKS MUSIC ° SOFTWARE ©the Wal Disney Company __ TheSalt Lake Tribune April 2— Utah Open Lands will hold its sixth annual meeting at the Bear Hollow Winter Sports Park in Park City at 7 pm. The theme: gaining ground. For information on attending or joiningthe organization, call Wendy Fisher at 649 Sale ends April 4 0 © Family Center - Orem, 22 Family Center - Taylorsville, Salt Loke ty, 968-6404 * Family Center - Fort Union, 1100 W. Riverdale Rd., Riverdale, STORE HOURS OPEN MON-THURS: TOAM-OPM, FRI-SAT 1OAM-1OPM, SUM: (OREM) I2PM-SPM, (ALL OTHER STORES) T1AM-GPM |