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Show Spring Storms Aid Condition Of Area Ranges "It's been an ideal winter to manage game," says Bob Nielson, north-eastern regional game manager for the Division of Wildlife Resources. And his sentiments are echoed by most managers in the Division's other four regions. The biologists noted that the winter was pretty mild until late in the year-late February, early March. The spring storms have kept the deer lower longer than normal. "I'm optimistic about the outlook for deer and range in this regjon." says Norm Bowden, one of the Southern Region's two game managers. "The range shows improvement, and moisture conditions this spring are excellent," he said. "The outlook for browse growth is good now, after last year's drought and the dry weather earlier this winter." Thus, the spring storms in the Southern Region, like those in southeastern Utah, have helped range conditions. Bowden saw good concentrations of deer in some areas, but added that herd numbers appear slightly below carrying capacity on most ranges. He reported sportsmen who participated in the range rides this year expressed optimistic views about the area. Game managers are now in the process of putting together recommendations for next year's big game hunts to present to the Interagency Committee. The Committee is comprised of representatives from the Division, the U.S. Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management. That Committee will, in turn, give recommendations to the Board of Big Game Control, which meets in June. |