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Show Page 10 The Ogden Valley news Volume XVI Issue X August 1, 2009 Upland Game Guidebook Available Summer Rattlesnake Awareness It’s hot in Utah right now, but a sign that fall is on its way is waiting for you at your local sporting goods store or the Division of Wildlife Resources’ Web site. Utah’s Upland Game Guidebook for the 2009 - 2010 hunting season is now available. In addition to sporting goods stores and the DWR’s Web site (www.wildlife.utah.gov/guidebooks), you can pick the guide up at your nearest DWR office. “Utah’s upland game hunts begin with the ptarmigan season on August 22,” says Dean Mitchell, Conservation Outreach Section chief for the DWR. “The upland game season doesn’t end until the cottontail rabbit and snowshoe hare hunts end on February 28. That’s six full months of hunting.” In addition to providing hunters with lots of opportunity, Utah’s upland game also provides a lot of diversity. “Utah has a wide variety of upland game species, “Mitchell says. “If you want, you can hunt white-tailed ptarmigan high in the Uinta Mountains one day and chukar partridge on the rocky slopes of the West Desert the next.” Great Hunt for Kids Mitchell says upland game hunting is also a great way to get young people into hunting. “The Utah Legislature has removed the minimum age at which a young person can hunt small game in Utah,” he says. “If you’re a parent, we encourage you to take your kids hunting this year. “But kids must still pass our Hunter Education course before they can hunt, so make sure you register them early for the four-week class. Once they pass the course, they’ll receive a free hunting license.” A list of Hunter Education courses is available at <www.wildlife.utah.gov/huntereducation> More Permits and More Places to Hunt—DWR shares ideas for next spring’s turkey hunts Every person who wants to hunt wild turkeys next spring could if ideas the Division of Wildlife Resources is proposing for Utah’s 2010 hunts are approved. And you’d have more places to hunt turkeys than ever before. “Even though we’d be putting more hunters in the field, we don’t think that would have a negative effect on Utah’s turkey populations,” says Dave Olsen, upland game coordinator for the DWR. “Each hunter in Utah is restricted to taking only one male turkey. And female turkeys in the state are very successful at reproducing.” You can review all of the DWR’s turkey hunting proposals at <www.wildlife. utah.gov/public_meetings/next.php> Once you’ve read the proposals, you can share your thoughts and ideas one of two ways— by attending a RAC meeting, or via e-mail. RAC Meetings - Five Regional Advisory Council meetings will be held across Utah. Citizens representing the RACs will take the input received at the meetings to the Utah Wildlife Board. Board members will use the input to help them set rules for Utah’s 2010 turkey hunts. They’ll set those rules at their August 19 - 20 meeting in Salt Lake City. The nearest RAC meeting for Weber County residents to attend will be held in the Northern Region. The next meeting will be held August 5 at 6:00 p.m. at the Brigham City Community Center, 24 N. 300 W., Brigham City. You can also provide your comments to your RAC via e-mail. E-mail addresses for your RAC members are available at <www. wildlife.utah.gov/public_meetings> The group each RAC member represents (sportsman, non-consumptive, etc.) is listed under each person’s e-mail address. You should direct your e-mail to the people on the RAC who represent your interest. Turkey Hunting Changes Olsen says DWR biologists have watched and studied turkeys in Utah closely for more than 20 years. He says the biologists are comfortable allowing more hunters into the field. “Turkeys and other upland game birds reproduce at a high rate,” Olsen says. “It’s not unusual for a single male turkey to breed as many as 10 females. And female turkeys are very productive. They usually lay a clutch of between 10 to 12 eggs. “Because one male will breed several females, and because female turkeys are so productive, removing males out of the population will have little effect on the overall number of turkeys in Utah.” For more information about the meetings, call the nearest Division of Wildlife Resources office or the DWR’s Salt Lake City office at (801) 538-4700. Cougar, Waterfowl, and Bobcat Ideas— DWR shares ideas for upcoming hunting and trapping seasons The number of cougars hunters take in Utah this season should be similar to the number taken over the past four seasons. The Division of Wildlife Resources’ cougar hunting ideas—along with ideas for Utah’s upcoming waterfowl hunting and bobcat trapping seasons—are available for review at <www.wildlife.utah.gov/public_ meetings/next.php> Cougar Hunting - About 300 cougars would probably be taken in Utah under ideas the DWR is proposing for the state’s 2009 - 2010 hunting season. That number would be similar to the past four seasons in Utah. Hunters took an average of 306 cougars during each of those seasons. “About 15 years ago, the Utah Wildlife Board increased the number of cougar hunting permits a bunch,” says Kevin Bunnell, mammals program coordinator for the DWR. Bunnell says helping mule deer herds recover after hard winters in the early 1990s was the biggest reason for the increase. “Cougars were one of several factors that kept mule deer herds from rebounding after those winters,” Bunnell says. Biologists had two things in mind when they proposed the permit increase: they wanted to help the mule deer herds recover while making sure Utah’s cougar population stayed protected. “Our main goal was to find a balance between the two species,” Bunnell says. He says it appears the effort over the past 15 years worked. Permits were increased for several years. Then, for the past four years, permit numbers have been reduced. “Based on the number of cougars that hunters took in 2009, and the number of cougars houndsmen put up trees last year, it appears Utah’s cougar population has started to stabilize,” Bunnell says. “Now we’re working to find the proper balance between cougars and their prey. We think the proposals we’re recommending for 2010 are another step in that direction.” The number of hunting permits the DWR is recommending for Utah’s limited entry units, and the total number of cougars to be taken on the state’s harvest objective units, are down slightly from 2009. For more information, call the nearest Division of Wildlife Resources office or the DWR’s Salt Lake City office at (801) 538-4700. 801-745-4000 2555 WOLF CREEK DR. EDEN STORE HOURS: MON. - SAT. 7 AM - 10 PM SUNDAY 7 AM - 9 PM Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breasts $1.00 OFF with coupon Expires 8/15/09 Family Pack Size Any Seedless Watermelon $1.00 OFF with coupon Expires 8/15/09 Any Rotisserie Chicken in the $1.00 OFF with coupon Expires 8/15/09 1 gal. Service Deli Farr’s Ice Cream Bucket $1.00 Expires OFF with coupon 8/15/09 Any Dozen Donuts from the $1.00 OFF with coupon Bakery Expires 8/15/09 “Once again, we look forward to summer visitors enjoying camping, hiking, mountain biking, fishing, and a variety of other recreational activities on the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest,” said Brian Ferebee, Forest Supervisor. “Spending summer months in the great outdoors often means dealing with rattlesnakes,” stated Ferebee, “and if you follow a few important guidelines, you can avoid scary encounters with them.” Understanding a little about rattlesnakes is an important first step. Rattlesnakes are most active during spring and fall. Evening, night, or morning hours are favored activity periods; mid-day is generally shunned. These snakes retreat underground to avoid temperature extremes. Like other reptiles, rattlesnakes are “cold-blooded” relying essentially on outside heat sources rather than an internal metabolism to maintain their body temperature. They typically function most effectively at temperatures between about 70 and 90 degrees Fahrenheit. During time in the outdoors, be sure to keep the following guidelines in mind: • Be careful where you put your hands or feet, and where you sit. Most snakes are inactive animals that depend upon concealment for protection. A rattlesnake in its natural habitat is almost impossible to see when motionless and silent. • Do not depend on a rattlesnake to rattle before it strikes. Most rattlesnakes will not rattle unless they are frightened or endangered. • Don't jump or step over logs, rocks, or plant material; walk around these obstacles. Be careful in the outdoors when turning over logs, rocks, or other large objects; a snake may be laying underneath resting or looking for food. • When hiking, watch where you step; stay on paths or in clearings if possible. Avoid tall grassy areas with heavy underbrush. Do not put your hands or feet into places where you cannot see. Look closely at the ground before crossing over or under fences. • If you come across a snake, maintain a safe distance. Stay at least a body length away from the snake. A snake can normally strike 1/2 their body length, but this could be further if they are facing downhill. Snakes normally aren't aggressive, but be prepared to retreat if a snake comes toward you; it may only be seeking escape cover. • Wear suitable clothing and footwear when outdoors. Leather boots provide protection for the feet and ankles; low cut shoes or sandals should not be worn in rattlesnake country, especially at night. Rattlesnakes fangs can penetrate through clothing, loose-fitting is better than close binding styles. Great Basin Rattlesnake How do I know it’s a Great Basin rattlesnake? Light tan, yellowish or light gray with dark blotches on back. Thick heavy body with flattened, triangular shaped head Vertical pupils, heat sensory pits on face Rattles at tip of tails (warning rattle a hiss or buzz) How do I keep from being bitten by a snake? Wear boots and long pants when hiking. Stay on paths as much as possible. Use a walking stick to rustle the shrubs along the side of the trail to alert snakes to your presence. Don’t reach or step into/over places you can’t see (over rocks or woody debris). They don’t always rattle so you won’t know they are present. Wear gloves when moving rocks, brush, or firewood If you find a snake, leave it alone and keep your distance; rattlesnakes can strike 1/3 to 1/2 of their body length, and don’t have to be coiled to strike. Don’t touch a dead snake. The heat sen- sors on its head will function for a while after death. A warm hand will trigger the bite reflex. Be careful around ledges, cracks, or holes—common areas where rattlesnakes can be found resting What if I am bitten? Go to closest emergency room. If unable to reach medical care within 30 minutes, a bandage wrapped 2 to 4 inches between the bite and the heart may slow the venom. Do not apply a narrow, constrictive tourniquet. Don’t waste time trying to catch the snake. Minimize activity if possible; stay calm. Keep the bitten area lower than the heart. If bitten on hand or arm, remove jewelry in case your arm swells Do not cut the bite and try to suction the poison out Do not place ice or heat packs directly on the wound Do not drink alcohol or take aspirin or ibuprofen While snakes may provoke instinctual fear and/or loathing in humans, all snakes, including rattlesnakes, are protected animals in National Parks; therefore, it is illegal to harass or harm them. In the desert southwest, snakes are a key group of species that control rodent populations. It has been documented that high populations of white-footed deer mice lead to deadly Hanta Virus outbreaks. If you are anti-snake, consider the following reality: While there is no known cure for Hanta Virus, rattlesnake bites are almost never fatal when proper medical treatment is administered. Nationwide, almost half of all rattlesnake bites occur when people are trying to kill, capture, or otherwise harm the snakes. Your safest action is to leave rattlesnakes alone and they will leave you alone. You can greatly reduce your chance of encountering a rattlesnake by staying on trails. Areas of rocky slopes or lowlands of tall sagebrush should be avoided as they offer shade and cover for snakes and can make them hard to spot. If you happen upon a rattlesnake, the smartest thing to do is give the animal a wide berth. If you happen to find one sunning on the trail in front of you, step off the trail and walk around. Rattlesnake bites are seldom fatal. Nevertheless, professional medical care should be sought out as soon as possible. Proper first aid treatment is debated. Some sources suggest that oral sucking of venom from the wound is still a sound treatment. Others caution that oral sucking is dangerous especially if any open wounds are present in the rescuer’s mouth—while the venom is harmless if ingested, you don’t want it in your blood. Devices like the Sawyer extractor are safe mechanical ways to suck the venom from the wound. What is widely agreed upon is that for absolutely no reason should the wound be opened with a knife or probed by any other instrument. The victim should remain as calm as possible and avoid physical exertion as panic and exercise will only cause the venom to move through the body more quickly. Contrary to popular belief, rattlesnake venom does not “travel through the blood straight to the heart.” Instead, rattlesnake venom causes a breakdown of the capillary walls creating internal bleeding. More often, it is the loss of blood from the system (usually taking several hours or days) that may cause heart failure and/or pulmonary edema. This means that tourniquets are not only unnecessary, but that they will also do more harm than good by increasing blood pressure, which increases internal bleeding. Statistically, only one 1 in 500 people die from rattlesnake bites and the vast majority of these deaths occur when people refuse medical treatment. In fact, only 30% to 40% of bites are accompanied with a venom injection. Rattlesnakes use venom to kill prey (small creatures like mice and other rodents). They prefer not to waste precious venom when delivering a defensive bite. Remember that a biting snake is responding defensively to your actions. Protect them and yourself by leaving rattlesnakes alone. |