OCR Text |
Show Range Rides Planned in Region Each year the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources game managers and district conservation officers conduct rides, generally on horseback, on deer wintering areas to monitor conditions of the range. Bureau of Land Management and U.S. Forest ' Service range technicians also give, valuable assistance in conducting the rides. Range rides are used to monitor winter range conditions after the animlas have left the area to det-mrien the impact wintering deer have had on the range, to look at the vitality of the deer, and to evaluate winter mortality. "Deer losses in the northern and central regions of the state will be substantial," according to Grant Jense, big game coordinator for the division. "The degree of losses, however, will not be known until the range surveys are completed." Because of the unusual amount of snowfall in the northern third of the state, deer were forced to the extreme lower reaches of their winter range. Big game depend upon critical winter range during severe winters. Division officials realize that preservation of critical habitat is essential and must be maintained for big game survival during winters like 1983-84. Keeping critical habitat available and in good condition for wildlife use is a primary concern of the Utah Division of Wildlife Resouces say Jense. Throughout the course of a year, a deer's needs change. During the winter, woody browse (shrubs) provide the protein needed to maintain good health. By early spring, deer turn to grass and other green plants for nourishment. High quality winter range contains both types of forage. Quality habitat' available for big game animals helps to keep deer and elk on their ranges and out of agricultural and residential areas. Individuals interested in learning more about game range in Garfield County are invited to join DWR conservation officers Norman McKee and Ted Gardiner on a range ride. The ride will permit the par ticipant a unique opportunity to join in the game management programm. The following rides are schedueld for the Garfield County area: April 10, Short Neck, meet at Boulder at 8 a.m.; April 11, Salt Gulch Sweetwater, meet in Salt Gulch, 8 a.m.; April 11, Antimony West, meet at Antimony, 10 a.m.; April 12, Bull Rush, meet at U.S. 89 head of Circleville Canyon, 10 a.m.; April 12, Wide Hollow Varney Griffin, meet at USFS Escalante, 8 a.m.; April 13, Twitchell Ranch, meet at Twitchell Ranch, 8 a.m.; April 17, Five Mile, meet at USFS yard in Panguitch, 10 a.m.; April 27, Bull Valley, meet at Cannonville City Park, 9:30 a.m. Participants should bring their own horses and lunches and binocculars would be helpful. |