Garfield County News | 1955-02-24 | Page 63 | Good Hunting, Fishing in Surrounding Area

Good Hunting, Fishing In Surrounding Area Monticello, (altitude 7,066) county seat of San Juan Coutny, is popular with hunters and fishermen as a base from which to start their sporting expeditions. Many areas which provide some of the best hunting and fishing in the state of Utah are easily accessible from Monticello. South Creek, North Creek, and Indian Creek, all within half an hours drive from Monticello, provide excellent trout fishing. The natural mountain streams, beaver dams, and lakes are stocked by the state with several varieties of mountain trout, such as the rainbow and speckled trout. To augment the natural facilities for fishing, several reservoirs have been constructed In both the Abajo and the La Sal Mountains which are also stocked each year before fishing season begins. Natives are convinced that the delicate, delicious flavor and fine texture of freshly caught mountain trout is above being compared with the eating qualities of any other fish. In 1954 there were 3538 nonresident, and 1200 resident hunting permits sold in San Juan County, bringing a total of $70,204.00 into the county coffers. After the 1954 hunting season had ended, a group of officials from the Utah State Fishing and Game department made a three day trip into the San Juan deer country to observe deer conditions. The trip consisted of an extensive loop through deer country; first going north into Hart's Draw, Indian Creek, North Cottonwood, Salt Creek Mesa, and over Milk Ranch Point across the South Elks to the Wooden Shoe country, on to Hideout and Deer Flat near the Natural Bridges, and returning on the south road through Comb Wash and South Cottonwood. Their report is that the deer appeared plentiful after the hunt, so there will be sufficient reason to hunt again in 1955.