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Show Uintah Basin's FREE ROTafloom Guide What to Do, and Where to Go in the Great Uintah Basin! Summer ItauhBMiSundrttc. RootM.UL 1999 N Kill! Elk im the Basil It would be safe to say that no other bg game animal n the Basin has made the news as Big, beautiful and embroiled in controversy, we explore the reasons behind the headlines . October, there a a certain ey mag on the rrxxnsn. Many t but w4 never experience those who do never forget a. Those who five for a protect the time zealously, which expUned the intensity of emotion over the trapprg program earned out by the trbe in 1995 or eK. First frequently as have the headlines centered around the Ute Tribes trappng and swapping program. Then there was the proposed legislation to legalize ek ranching. Most recently, the state's proposed runber of anteriess permits for the area northwest of town had more than a few sportsmen tp in arms. (The sportsmen wanted through 1997. Villains in the Mule deer decline the runber of permits reduced to protea the integrity of the herd. So much for that blood thirsty label the fcberal portion of the wants to hang on population them.) Wiat is it about these animals that invites so much intelectuaBy-chafenge- There are questions among game managers, sportsmen and randier? n the west over the dedrvrg number of nxe deer. The decine is common througv-ou- t the western saes. Some wotid attribute some cf the d. dedine to ncreasmg compettion from growmg ek herds. Others can't qerte swaPow the notion on a broad scae. They feel that perhaps a few mat areas may be impacted but to bame a deer runten general decline on ek competition seems a ba controversy? Ahurter might be inclined to reflect on the size of a mature hi. the sweep of tmes on massive anders. a perbng bugle echoing through blade timber on a misty, early fal morning or the challenge of findrtg a bul on its home turf. Elk season, in early October, has a ivory-tipp- ed much. Reduced numbers of a prey speoes can be rejects of detenoraftng range condbons, which doesnt seem to be the case on a broad scale n the character wnatched by any other. The nights are cool, sometimes ookL yet the days are usually fairly warm, often shirt sleeve weather. The leaves on the quakies are as gold as Solomon's throne. The breeze carries the musky smel of mature foliage that wfl soon be reduced carpeting on the ground. The light from a sun headed south for the writer, bnghtens the resplendent West, although winter range development has tut in some areas. Reduced reproduction rates. whh are often ted to the con&oon of the rarge. can obviously reduce numbers, as can increased predation. the heyday cf mJe deer numbers n the West, coyotes, kons and other predator nurv be"S wee agfessvey reduced to protect ssockmen's news. Pnjfcabiy the most eecfcve means was posonrg. whh was subsequence outawed. Predator rvmbers xreised. Trappers In fafl colors and early mornings and evenings are never more beautAJ. In a few short weeks. ; or one storm, whichever comes first, the color? wifi quickly fade as the gory the mountains are wrapped in is subdued by the surety of the coming winter. But now. these few days of r t On I Vfam continued on next page 16 |