Show 7 Gifts & gadgets for by Bob Bahlmann Staff writer Finding the Christmas gift for someone that enjoys the outdoor can be a challenge at times A lot of sporting equipment can be expensive As an aid to Christand specialized mas shopping here are a few suggestions: Starting on the higher price range and assuming that a $ (X)(XX) Hum vee is too big to lit under the tree I would suggest a CPS For those who don’t know a GPS is an electronic device that uses satellites to pinpoint your position nearly any w here in the world They can be used to help you fi nd your way into and out of the backcountry by Emily Harwood Editorial staff Prices for GPS systems range from $I(X) to over $5(X) Anyone that rides a four wheeler or snowmobile in cold weather will enjoy hot grips These electric hand grip heaters are as one owner put it “truly nice" They'll keep your hands warm in any kind of weather Priced at around $50 ($80 or so installed) they are a nice addition to an ATV For those on a tighter budget storage bags warm gloves flashlights and less expensive hunting supplies or fishing lures are always welcome Another idea might be to purchase year 2(XX) Habitat Authorization lags or licenses for your favorite hunter or fisherman (or woman) Editorial Deer hunting: just a sport for kings? by Bob Bahlmann If I remember my high school litRobin Hood first erature correctly got in trouble for hunting the King’s it seems like deer Unfortunately Utah's deer hunting is becoming more restrictive and some sportsmen fear that hunting may once again become the sport of kings I can remember when as a struggling college student our young family depended on the deer hunt for our meat supply Shirley and each got a buck and doe tag for $5 each and every year we put four deer in the freezer (Yes she did really shoot her ow n deer) At year 2(XX) permit prices that same $20 would just cover the application fees In addition we'd have to purchase two habitat authorizations and fork out $25 each for the tags a total of over $ 30 As a hunter education instructor Application required for new deer tags by Bob Bahlmann Staff writer A recent decision by the Utah Big Game Board will make deer hunters in the state apply for regular season deer tags According to the Central and Education Region Information Officer Scott Root the change was implemented because too many permits were being sold with the old system “Southern Region tags were grossly oversold” said Root “Some vendors wouldn't quit selling when they were told to” This fall the DWR implemented a voucher system in an effort to resolve the problem but according to Root the voucher system had some problems too The new application process will require potential deer hunters to submit an application along with an application fee Hunters will need to specify which region they wish to hunt and will be allowed to apply in “We groups as large as 10 people I've been told every year for nearly 20 years that hunter numbers are decreasing and have been asked to encourage new hunters in order to help preserve the sport It's hard to gain new recruits when it takes an attorney to figure out the regulations and an ft's countant to add up the expenses simply not worth the effort for most More and more kids youngsters are opting to spend their $25 on computer hunting games that let them stalk big game on a key board with their fingers I suppose the new application regulation will have the desired result of At eliminating oversell of permits nearly $40 for permit authorization and application fees think many hunters will choose to pay $10 more fora chance to harvest an elk or give up big game hunting altogether think I’ll buy a hamburger and do my hunting with a camera at least until have to buy a permit for that A holiday tradition is in the making at the Wanlass Elk Ranch where annual hayrides have proven a big hit with local visitors This marks the second year for the event which kicked off the day after Thanksgiving and runs every weekend until Christmas five ( )w ners Carl and Julie Wanlass invite everyone to visit the ranch which is home to over (X) elk It is located southeast of Aurora on ost C'icck Road and the cost is $2 per pet son Advance reservations are encouraged especially for large groups “It was (list wonderful" said Elsie Hussey ol Sigurd whocame witheighl other family members Everyone in the group even the smallest children enjoyed seeing the elk up close “We didn’t expect to be able to touch them and feed them" she added The large creatures aren't shy at shove their noses into the faces and hands of hayriders looking for some oats and corn or perhaps just a pat on the head Everyone on board seems a little amazed by the friendliness of the animals w ho follow alongside the truck waiting for it to make another stop As the visitors-sowearing coals or light jackets others in short sleeved in the abnormal warmth el Carl recalls last year's rides w hen the "eld was blanketed with 14 inches of snow Regardless of the weather people the interest come to see the grows each year During the weekend guests came in droves bringing friends and family from near and far "We’re going to come back a lot" said Mary Hansen who heard about the hay rides from a liver at work The Sterling resident along with relatives from Price made the drive to Aurora to visit the ranch The idea for the hay rides say s Carl came from a public curiosity about the ranch In its three years of opera- - ages enjoy a trip to the Wanlass Thanksgiving to Christmas Eve Visitors of all lion he states the ranch has grown from about 20 elk to 102 and the 'iiMic like to come and see the animals The family moved to the ranch about one year ago The elk are raised for breeding w ith many of them being purchased by The Wanlasses also other breeders haivest and sell the antlers from the bull elk While most of the elk are know n by a number on a plastic ear tag there are some such as BJ Pearl and Annie that have names There are even a couple of elk cal es that the Wanlass family fed with bottles because their mothers would not feed them Depending on humans for their food makes these elk much more trusting of people — f l 1 zr -- 2 ' ' Ac Elk Ranch Hayrides are held each weekend K cximplc How to get there ii Take Old Highway 8d (highway 24) to Aurora but do not exit into Follow the Lost Creek Aurora Road that is across from Mason Diesel Service Traveling southeast follow the road one mile to Wanlass Elk Ranch for reservations and more information It would be best to call for in large reservations especially there's a herd ot elk in your twk-- aid" he 'ay s For more mtormation about the Ik Raneh or to make reserWanlass '1 vations call 4 '5 groups Never plug your generator into an outlet and don’t connect a generator to your home’s main — fuse box or circuit panel n merator eonnei ted power e pou or from tn" genera tor to iu kteed ov enoad and mtoclestiii line- - u d! a damage the generator hazard tor our lino crew - power an appliance temporarily plug directly into the generator To v i ptapi-lthe m u'lii- - and tripped Don’t do it yourself elk named Homer for ’V dti'pjvd m un the Wanlass s hinksao m dower While hcihcnhcv hau anameoranum-K- i Cat he sm tell the ditlercnt elk apart hy their during and different markings He loves working with the animals and living so dose to them "I don’t think there's any thing than looking out your window and Schedule It’s the ultimate power tool But a portable electric generator should help not hurt you incorrectly a generator can become a serious hazard to PovJtr crew - w ho w ork Sn you vour home and Utah power lines You mu- use an approved transfer switch to connect a generator to your home's w iring so the power can't travel back into U tah Power's And the switch must comply with the National Sitetv bv a Code and local building codes - hav e it licensed electrician What else can you do to stav safe? A lot as tually from they were caimg Homer walked up to their hkk window and InokeJ right in hoping that Julie would come out and leed him Saturdays and Sundays through Christmas Eve Admission is $2 Call (435)529-773per person er o e ne pov eu d gene’itor- monoxide and the mine- - an be carbon deadlv Don’t overload your generator Be Follow it eten-io- o tbev w or in feda’k Always properly ventilate a portable generators our cenerator me the total euxtrk load on - iiting exceed the manufacturer’s Be careful using your generator You’ll want around to get some other things done You can reach us 24 hours a day Just call want to still allow families to hunt together” said Root "Unsuccessful applicants will be given a preference point that will practically guarantee a permit for the next year” The applieation period will probably be in May Anyone interested in hunting deer should watch for the proclamations that usually come out the first of the year r 1999 1 Holidays and hayrides go hand in hand at area elk ranch the great outdoors steadily December Gunnison Valley NewsSanpete NewsSalina Sun t 7 to be days a week UTAH POWER I' "’C o’’ Ci”tvmv Making it happen N Enter Our Christmas Photo Contest have a favorite Christmas Photograph? Maybe a story that goes with it? Submit them to our judges and you may win a PENTAX CAMERA! A Free Roll of Film For Just Entering the Contest Photos to be published Dec 24 Do you Send Photos SASE and this Form to: Gunnison Valley NewsSalina Sun Sanpete News PO Box 189 Gunnison UT 84634 Your Name Phone Address City Zip Photo Descriptions Photo One: Photo Two: Photo Three: Deadline extended to DECEMBER COPY 10 1999! |