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Show f,-. I -i. ,'. ? , 'i-. M i " ......... ". v.-"1: -v. k..i.;i.?.i,.,....i...v(...!.,..... -..v'w. .. ".--.'.-.ji,ii..ist.!,. ' .. - ; . ;; .,;.'-ks.. Worried that sales might end by midday, local residents started lining up early Monday morning outside Escalante Outfitters and Garfield County residents who didn't get their permit on Monday won't be hunting deer in their own back yard. With sales starting at 12:01 a.m. Monday throughout the state, no one here was too surprised when the 18,845 permits for this Southern Region were gone by the " end of the day. The Division of Wildlife Resources notified its license sales agents late Monday afternoon to cut off sales for Southern Region resident deer permits at 6 p.m. Anyone who didn't get a permit on Monday is out of luck and can expect to hunt elsewhere in the state. Hunters in this area, historically accustomed to stepping up to the counter to buy their license just before the hunt starts, are having trouble adjusting to the DWR's new system. It was hard to find a happy hunter anywhere in the Southern Region on Saturday. Hunters were afraid there wouldn't be enough permits to meet local needs. Mandated by the governor 18 months ago to reduce the number of deer permits statewide to 97,000, the DWR pre-sold all non-resident deer permits by mail. Resident permits went on sale in the middle of the night Sunday, and hundreds of hunters here waited in line to get their permit. Many of those who were unable to get theirs because some of the smaller sales agents had too few, were able to get their Bunkhouse to get the jump on deer permit sales for hunting in the southern end of the state. permits when other larger establishments opened at 8 a.m. Hunter Bart Palmer, a Tropic businessman, said, "This is the closest thing that I've experienced to that new movie release Dumb and Dumber and the hunters are now the 'dumbest' for putting up with all of this," Palmer got his permit. Only a few of the of the smaller suppliers actually ran out, but hunters were frustrated at the uncertainty and at having to travel substantial distances to get their permits. At the KOA Campground north of Glendale in Kane County, the only source for permits in the Kanab area, hunters started to line up at 7 a.m. on Sunday morning. Originally, owner Ellen Lamb had received only 65 resident deer permits but by Sunday, DWR Conservation Officer Scott While had brought another 200. Lamb said Kane Sheriff Lamont Smith arrived at 10 a.m. on Sunday, left briefly a couple of times, then changed into full uniform at 7 p.m. and remained until 3:45 a.m. Monday morning, helping to keep order. Hunters listed their names on a sign up sheet as they arrived, then were free to picnic with their families, pitch horse shoes, and enjoy the afternoon and pleasant evening. Just before midnight, under the sheriffs direction, more than 200 people lined up in order of their names on the list just before . sales started Assisting Smith at various times throughout the evening and early morning hours were four of his deputies and Orderville police chief Leon Brinkerhoff. Lamb said that she had nine people helping with sales and paperwork, including White who returned when sales started to handle questions and help with sales. "We couldn't have done it without the officers' help," Lamb said. "They kept order and kept people happy." Most license agents were frustrated and discouraged that the service they provide may not only prove to be a losing one financially, but also may have failed to accomplish their purpose of I ... '-, s . "W . r. 1 i ' ) V v - - I I Kir- ' i 1 Bryce Syrett, assisted by family and managers at Best Western Ruby's, had licensing and permit per-mit sales for deer hunters organized and run- ning smoothly. Store opened sharply at midnight mid-night to customers, even from Kanab.who had waited in line since early evening at 9 o.m. System Angers Hunters, License Agents Wildlife Division Stops Resident Deer Permit Sale Monday Night In Utali1 s Southern Region pleasing their customers as they fated often angry and equally frustrated hunters. Traditionally, the southern Utah area has attracted large numbers of hunters because of its scenic beauty, its high population of quality big game, and its success rjve. Regional Wildlife Advisory Council Coordinator Clair Jensen, Cedar City, explained that the Southern Region for hunting takes in most of the southwest part of the state. Jensen feels the DWR has been successfully meeting its challenge to service the state's approximately 200,000 license buyers. "It was certainly less than perfect last year, it's better this year and it will be still better next "as we continue to refine the system," Jensen said. When the governor's mandate required changes, the DWR came up with last year's all-draw all-draw system which seemed to make no one happy. This year the agency tried to return to a mostly walk-in system in an effort, Jensen said, to try to help the license sales agents. Agents reported that they were promised a better deal this year by the DWR, but few seemed to think they got one. They were told they would receive 190 percent of the licenses and permits they sold over-the-counter two years ago, but many said they did not get what they were promised. They claim they were also told that, rather than a set amount for each license or permit, they would receive 4 percent of all sales. Under the 1993 system, they received 50 cents on a (See Resident Deer Permits Are Gone By Monday Night Page 4 A) Resident Deer Permits Gone By Monday Night From Front Page regular $5 license; under this year's system they will receive 20 cents. But they thought they would be able to make up the loss on the more expensive non-resident permits, $13, for example, on a $328 elk permit. When the DWR decided to pre-sell its non-resident permits by mail in May, that left the Southern Region non-resident permits sold out by the time they could go on sale over-the-counter at 12:01 a.m. Monday. It's a matter of adjustment, said Jensen, for Utahns who, historically, are used to an unlimited hunt. Everything is new to the DWR this year, he said, but he believes the wrinkles can be ironed out of the system. Responding to agent complaints, Jensen said that agents were all invited to attend a full-day seminar in April where the system was explained to them. He said he thinks some did not realize the potential impact of the changes at that time. There were 18,845 resident deer permits allotted for the Southern Region and 2,300 non-resident permits. Local DWR conservation officers, who seem to be caught in between the agents and the hunters and the mandates of their own agency have been taking the brunt of local anger. License agents are saying, however, that the officers have been very helpful and supportive and many were on hand for local sales to deal with questions and explanations from hunters. Jensen defended the DWR's decision to pre-sell non-resident licenses and permits as practical for those living out of state. 'It simply isn't reasonable to expect someone from out of state to stand in line," he said, "and experience disappointment." Jensen said that all non-residents who had previously purchased licenses were notified by mail that they could make a mail purchase of their license for this year's hunt, but the DWR's proclamation failed to include notice of that fact. That mistake, according to Cory Cannon, assistant manager in sporting goods at Hurst Hardware in St. George, one of the largest sellers of hunting licenses in the southern part of the state, will be costly in terms of public relations. Cannon said his store has traditionally drawn many nonresident non-resident hunters from the southern Nevada and northern Arizona area who have come in for permit for the Southern Region. "When they find out there are none left, they are going to be very unhappy," Cannon predicted on Saturday. License agents can sell tags for other regions, but the potential for doing so is small, most Southern Region agents say. License agents have always counted on sales of hunt-associated goods to supplement supple-ment the small amount they have realized from license sales. Hunters are not buying rifles, ammunition and camping equipment as they did when there was a more clearly defined hunt set to begin right after they purchased their hunting license several years ago. Hunters may have a tough time finding a place to buy their licenses and permits next year if the system remains the same. The DWR lost about half its agents since permits were last sold over the counter in 1993, and about half of those remaining who were interviewed in this area today have said they will not sell them again. Other unhappy hunters have decided it's just no longer worth the effort. Panguitch businessman Harold Staton who regularly spent well over a $1,000 a year on the hunt for his three-member family has decided to take his $1,000 to California this year where he will take his wife and daughter crabbing. "You feel kind of prostituted," Staton said, "like the state is only in it for the money. It changes every year; they don't have a clue to what they're doing." More than one hunter, none of whom would be quoted, said he would have to poach his deer. Big game hunting is more than a sport in much of rural southern Utah where many families count on big game for food through the winter. At Escalante Outfitters in Escalante where nearby Boulder Mountain is one of the state's most popular hunting sites, co-owner Celeste Bernards said," Hunters here were worried they were not going to be able to hunt in their own back yard. We opened at 8 a.m., "she said, "and we quickly sold out. We hired extra people to help and that was costly for us." Bernard's husband Barry said, "Unless things change for the better next year, we won't be selling licenses. It was a losing proposition proposi-tion for us. We didn't make enough on the license sales to cover our costs and the hunters were interested only in buying their permits per-mits and nothing else." Escalante Outfitters sells ammunition , camping cam-ping equipment and other hunter supplies. Celeste Bernards said that DWR Conservation Officer Roy Marchant was on hand to field complaints and questions from hunters and had been helpful.. At Antimony Merc, the only store in the tiny town of Antimony in northwestern Garfield County, another popular hunting area, co-owner co-owner Marian Van Kaenel said, "We sell these primarily to keep our customers happy. Not only are they not happy but we won't be making any money. " She said they opened at midnight and when she could quickly see that she would be running out, she urged people in line to go elsewhere so they would not be disappointed. Local DWR Conservation Officer Brent Christensen was present to field questions from permit buyers. VanKaenel said she received only 35 resident deer tags. "These are people who trade here every day," she said, "and they're going to be angry." At nearby Otter Creek Reservoir, agent Patrick White said he received only 50 resident deer tags and no instructions with his packet while at Panguitch Lake General Store received 75 general season archery elk permits "enough for the entire region" and only 30 (SeeResident Deer Permits Are Gone By Monday Night Page 6A) Resident Deer Permits Gone From Page 4A resident deer tags. One of the largest sellers of licenses in the county, Rubys Inn at Bryce which received 400 tags accommodated its customers by opening at midnight. Tod's Travel Center in Panguitch, the only regular 24-hour business among the agents in the county, put 265 on sale at midnight and H&R Builders in Panguitch opened at 8 a.m. Monday with 600 permits and 500 licenses ready for sale. Most hunters who were aware of the system , its possible glitches and the potential for an early cutoff of sales managed to get their permits Monday. Agents said there were quite a few disappointed people on tuesday. Hunters must purchase a big game license at $5 in order to get their permit. If no big game licenses are available, they may opt for a combination license (good year round) for $25, which costs the hunter an extra S20. Those already holding a combination license need not purchaser a separate big game license. |