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Show Local Areas Note Hike Li Big Game Harvest Big game herds in Utah proved very productive for 1980 in spite of serious habitat losses in some areas of the state according to a report released recently by the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources. The 1980 buck deer harvest of 68,481 has only been exceeded twice (in 1970 and 972) since 1964. The decrease in elk hunters showed a decrease in animals harvested but the open bull hunter success increased four percent over 1979. Antelope, moose, bighorn sheep, mountain goat, and buffalo herds continue to increase or remain stable with no serious losses noted. Locally the Mount Dutton area was the best for the deer hunt. Since the low harvest year of 1978 (136 bucks), the unit has continued to Improve in 1979 and 1980 until last fall's buck harvest was 228. Conservation officer Norm McKee reports that hunter success has Each year the crowds gather earlier and grow bigger waiting for go ahead for the annual Questers Easter Egg Hunt. Winners this year for grand prizes were Charlie Swin-dall, age 3 yrs., Rebecca Riggs, 6 yrs., Celeste Brown, 7 yrs., Scott Gardner, 9 yrs., and Drent Irish, 11. also continued to improve to 38 percent in 1980. comparing favorably to a statewide average of 32 percent. Unfortunately other deer units in Garfield County have not fared so well. The drought of 1977 and 1978 depressed the populations to low numbers. In 1980 came the first sign of an improving condition on most of these units. It will still be two or three years before significant gains are noted. The Mt. Dutton and Boulder Mountain elk herds again produced well for the 60 permit holders allowed to hunt on these two units. Hunters on Mt. Dutton harvested 17 bulls for 49 percent success. The Boulders yielded 12 bulls for 52 percent success. The John's Valley antelope herd again produced a 100 percent success for the ten lucky permit holders. The herd is not increasing significantly. However it does appear to be establishing well in its former habitat of John's Valley. "Deer, elk, and an telope populations of Garfield County all have done well during this mild winter," says McKee. In 1980 the production of deer fawns and elk calves was excellent on all county herd units. It is expected by DWR officers and biologists that the deer herds particularly will increase on all units as a result of the 1980 production. Continued high fawn production will utlimately depend upon good habitat ar veather conditions. |