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Show Page 12 The Ogden Valley news Volume XVII Issue X November 1, 2009 utah Wildlife News for November Statewide Deer Archery Hunting Could Happen Again in 2010 The facts are in, and the findings are clear—based on the acres of public land that have deer habitat, the Southern Region doesn’t have any more archery hunters in it than any other region in the state. In fact, based on the number of acres per archery hunter, the Southern Region is actually the least crowded region in Utah. For that reason, the Division of Wildlife Resources is proposing that general archery deer hunters be allowed to hunt anywhere in Utah that’s open to general-season hunting. In 2009, archery hunters had to choose one region to hunt in during the first two weeks of the hunt. After the first two weeks, they could hunt anywhere in Utah that was open to general-season hunting. All of the DWR’s recommendations for Utah’s 2010 big game seasons are available at <www.wildlife.utah.gov/public_meetings> Learn more, share your ideas Once you’ve read the proposals, you can share your thoughts and ideas one of two ways: 1. Attend an area RAC meeting—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 big game hunts. They’ll set those rules at their December 3 meeting in Salt Lake City. You can participate and provide your input at any of the following RAC meetings: The Southern Region (November 3), Southeastern Region (November 4), Northeastern Region (November 5), the Central Region (November 12), or the Northern Region meeting to be held November 10 at 6:00 p.m. at the Brigham City Community Center, 24 N. 300 W. in 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 along with times and places of the out-of-area RAC meetings listed above. 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. Acres of Land Per Hunter “The data is clear—archery hunters are not the only reason some people feel the Southern Region is crowded during the first part of the archery hunt,” says Anis Aoude, big game coordinator for the DWR. Aoude bases his finding on two statistics: 1. The acres of public land in the region that have deer habitat. 2. The number of archers who hunt in the region. You can see the statistics at <www.wildlife. utah.gov/public_meetings/info/09-11-08.pdf> Even though the Southern Region has more acres of public land per hunter than any region in Utah, that doesn’t mean certain parts of the region aren’t crowded from mid August to mid September. “Southern Utah is a very popular place to camp and hike. And that’s what’s causing most of the crowding,” Aoude says. “We don’t feel we should restrict and penalize archery hunters because other people enjoy being in the woods too.” Aoude says archers can also be part of the crowding challenge, but that situation isn’t unique to the Southern Region—it happens in every region in the state. “There are certain areas in every region that are popular and draw a lot of hunters,” he says. Archery Committee A committee helped the DWR draft the statewide proposal for 2010. The committee included three archery hunters from southern Utah, two members of the Utah Bowhunter’s Association, two members of Bowhunters of Utah and Bill Fenimore, a member of the Utah Wildlife Board. “The data helped the committee see that archers aren’t the only reason the Southern Region gets crowded during the first part of the archery hunt,” Aoude says. “The committee took the data, looked through it and then recommended to us that Utah return to a statewide hunt for the entire general archery season.” Apply for a 2010 Sportsman Permit—Applications for Utah’s most prized hunting permits accepted soon Applications for next year’s most prized Utah hunting permits—2010 sportsman permits—will be available by November 2. Only Utah residents may apply for sportsman permits. One sportsman permit is offered for each of the following species: Desert bighorn ram, Rocky Mountain bighorn ram, buck deer, buck pronghorn, bull elk, bull moose, hunter’s choice bison, hunter’s choice Rocky Mountain goat, black bear, cougar, sandhill crane, and wild turkey. If you draw a sportsman permit, the dates you can hunt vary. But in most cases, they’re longer than the regular season dates. You can also hunt on almost any unit in Utah that’s open to hunting the species you drew a permit for. Highly Prized “Sportsman permits are highly prized,” says Judi Tutorow, wildlife licensing coordinator for the Division of Wildlife Resources. “If you’re one of the lucky hunters who draw one, you’ll have plenty of days—and plenty of areas—to hunt.” You can apply for a sportsman permit starting November 2 at <www.wildlife.utah. gov> Applications must be submitted no later than 11 p.m. on Nov. 19 to be entered in the draw for permits. Draw results will be posted by December 10. If you draw a permit, you’ll also receive a letter in the mail. “Not many hunters draw these permits,” Tutorow says. “If you receive a letter in the mail, it wouldn’t surprise me if you frame it!” For more information, see pages 23 and 24 of the 2009 Utah Big Game Guidebook (www.wildlife.utah.gov/guidebooks) or call the nearest Division of Wildlife Resources office. You can also call the DWR’s Salt Lake City office at (801) 538-4700. Major Big game Hunting Changes Could Happen in 2011 The time of year when you can hunt deer and elk in Utah might change in 2011. Several months ago, the Utah Wildlife Board “We live whirlwind lives, always traveling between concerts, tours and our primary residence in Nashville, TN. With our hectic schedules, the one thing we never lose sleep over is our home in the valley. The reliability, care and first class service we receive from Lakeside Resort Properties, makes our vacation home ownership a true pleasure for us.” Monty Powell AnnA wilson-Powell hit songwriter / record producer jazz artist / songwriter VACATION HOME ESTATE CARE [ SERVICES INCLUDE ] WEEKLY INSPECTIONS LANDSCAPING SPA MAINTENANCE WINTERIZATION SNOW REMOVAL What do we do? Our homecare Program at Lakeside Village has been so well received that we have decided to open participation to all homeowners in the Ogden Valley. Your vacation property is an important investment. Our Vacation Home and Estate Care program allows you, the homeowner to feel HOUSEKEEPING at ease when leaving your second home after periodic stays or for PRE AND POST VACATION CARE the season. CONCIERGE SERVICES What makes us different? HOLIDAY DECORATING You can choose one of our standard packages or customize a VEHICLE CARE package to suit your needs including our concierge services. Our level of service and attention to detail are unmatched. FIREWOOD DELIVERY Property management is our core business, we are not real estate ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES agents, we are a professional property management company with over seven years of experience. Our staff is available 24 AND MUCH MORE Special Needs? We are happy to discuss any special needs unique to your home and circumstance. Call us anytime. hours a day, 7 days a week to serve you, the homeowner. Participation is Limited. call now! directed the state’s wildlife agency to: • Give big game hunters more hunting options to choose from. • Reduce crowding among hunters who are in the field. The ideas the Division of Wildlife Resources has come up with wouldn’t be implemented until the 2011 hunts. But the changes are big enough that the DWR wants to get the ideas out now so there’s plenty of time for you to comment. Rules for the 2011 hunts will not be approved until November 2010. “The ideas we’ve come up with would give hunters some new options,” says Anis Aoude, big game coordinator for the DWR. You can learn more about the DWR’s ideas—and provide your input and suggestions—at five Regional Advisory Council meetings held across Utah. Citizens representing the RACs will share with the Utah Wildlife Board the input received at the meetings. 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> Big game Ideas for 2011 The following are among the ideas the DWR is considering. A calendar that shows when the proposed seasons would be held is available at <www.wildlife.utah.gov/public_meetings/info/09-11-03.pdf > 1. general Deer and elk Hunts Four major general-season deer and elk changes could occur in 2011: 2. Two general rifle deer hunts The first idea would keep the number of general rifle buck deer permits the same as it is now (no more than 97,000 permits), but it would split Utah’s general rifle deer hunt into two hunts. Each hunt would be nine days long, just like the hunt is now, but hunters could choose to participate in an early hunt or a late hunt. The early hunt would be held at the start of October. The late hunt would happen at the end of October. Having two rifle deer hunts would reduce by half the number of hunters in the field at any one time. “You’d still be able to hunt the same number of days you can hunt now, but you’d have fewer hunters in the field with you,” Aoude says. “We think this change would make your rifle hunt even better.” 3. Hunting deer and elk at the same time. Another idea would let you hunt deer and elk at the same time. The DWR is considering holding the general rifle buck deer hunt and the general rifle bull elk hunt on the same days. “This change would allow you to hunt deer and elk at the same time,” Aoude says. “But you wouldn’t have to do that. If you wanted, you could obtain a deer permit to hunt during either the early or the late season, and also obtain an elk permit to hunt during the season when you’re not hunting deer. “This change wouldn’t take anything WILDLIFe NeWs cont. on page 13 JAPANese ACCuPuNCTure & MAssAge Yuri Pain Relief ~ Anxiety Quit Smoking Weight Loss ~Allergies Mentrual Disorders & More. by 818 26th Street Ogden, Utah Phone: 801-654-1800 |