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Show L.,1 J" l * * * i — Presorted Standard U.S. Postage PAID Permit No, 11 Gunnison, UT GUNNISON VALLEY azettc Press Association E. 3900 S. Suite 100 Lake City, UT 84124 Copy Price • 75 cents Thursday, October 12, 2006 Volume 2 • Number 41 More youn by MARK HADLEY DWR Conservation Outreach Specialist If the number of deer that archery and muzzleloader hunters have seen is any indication, Utah's rifle hunters could enjoy some good success this season. The state's 2006 rifle buck deer hunt begins October 21. More than 60,000 hunters, plus their family and friends, are expected afield for Utah's most popular hunt. "We've received some great reports from both archery and muzzleloader hunters," says Craig McLaughlin, big game coordinator for the Division of Wildlife Resources. "Many of them have reported seeing good numbers of bucks, especially a lot of smaller bucks." Unless snow falls before the opener, McLaughlin says the bucks will probably be scattered at various elevations. "Hunters will need to get out and look for the deer," he said. "The deer could be at any elevation." The good news is that wetter conditions should make spotting and stalking those bucks easier. "Hunting conditions for deer are excellent right now," McLaughlin said on October 5th. "The vegetation is a lot wetter than it was last fall, arid that should make it easier for hunters to spot and stalk the bucks they see." McLaughlin reminds hunters to obtain written permission from landowners before hunting on private land, to keep their off-highway vehicles on designated roads and trails and to let someone know where they're going and when they plan to return. Permits for the hunt are sold out. Biologists say deer herds are rebounding in the Central Region, and rifle hunters should see more younger bucks. "The Central Region received decent amounts of precipitation this winter and spring," says Scott Root, Central Region conservation outreach manager. T h e deer are in very good condition, which can be attributed to the abundant vegetation and water sources available throughout the region." During surveys this spring, DWR biologists found excellent numbers of fawns on the mountainous eastern half of the region. The deer herd west of 1-15 had good fawn production too. "The region's three-year **>>.>A- ~vm.^m ^m^-m\}« Kristi C li ris t ens en/Co urtesy hoto Local resident, Don Christensen recently took his son, Don. and brother, Roger along with his daughter Kindra on the kid's first muzzleloader hunt. All four hunters were successful and from the look of it, the kids outdid their fathers. buck-to-doe ratio is slightly under but is approaching the 15 bucks per 100 docs management objective," Root said. "Biologists have seen many younger buck deer this year, which indi- cates lots of fawns born in 2005 made it through the past winter." Root says deer will be widely scattered because of the plentiful food sources found throughout most of the region. "Look for wellused jjamc trails and invest time on pro-hunt scouting trips to learn the habits of the deer," says Wildlife Biologist Craig Clyde. "Higher elevation areas may have significant snow. In this ca^e, hunters should pay attention lo the south and west facing slopes, where the deer tend lo congregate when conditions are snuwv." Flag Football Finishes up Gunnison Little League Flag Football wrapped up this week with the championship playoffs on Tuesday night. Front row left to right are the Panthers' Jaden MD* Gill, Dillon "Dill Pickle" Peterson, Triston "Taco" Anderson and Drake "Curly King" Nelson. Standing: Coach Tom Sorenson, Sadee "Nacho" Sorenson and Drake "Porkchop" Reynolds. See all the team photos on page 8. Mark Hentine/Gunnisuii Valley Gazette Parents were invited to join their children for lunch at the elementary school this week in conjunction with National School Lunch Week. Pictured is Dirk and Amanda King with their children Paige and Garrett. 'mgren/Lourtesy Photo GVHS Class of 2001 held their five year class reunion on September 23rd. The former classmates had a great time catching up with all those who they went to school with and haven't seen for the past five years. Front row left to right: Devin Ball, Chris Larsen, Casey Dyreng, Ammon Sorenson, Jayde Christiansen, Jordan Hill, Joe Jensen and Rhonda Bartholomew. Standing: Cody Olsen, Trena Reid, Sandy Anderson, Rachel Childs; Mekesha Malmgren, Michael Wanner, Rhonda Mecham, Lonnie Peterson, Bobby Dal ley. Justin Bowles, Lars Lambensun. ivituuiuw Wanner, Meredith Fjeldsted and Amber Engel. • ' |
