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Show Hunters be careful, the Telephone line you cut may beyour own ri Many hunters have been looking forward to the opening season for dove, pheasant, deer, and other wild game in the Beehive state, but hunters are reminded that one inhabitant of our land remains permanently out of season-telephone lines and related equipment. "It's hard to believe," remarked Ken Hill, Utah Public Relations Manager for Mountain Bell, "but there always seems to be a few careless or malicious hunters who use telephone cables, glass insulators and other utility hardware for target practice." A prime example of this type of damage is a junction box located in a rural Utah county which has been shot up three times over the summer by hunters. Fourteen families are served from this equipment. At the least, having service ser-vice disrupted in such a fashion is an inconvenience. At the most, it can be dangerous. Often the cable damage happens in an isolated area and telephone customers-sometimes the hunters themselves-are left with no way to contact help in case of an emergency. Shotgun pellets and rifle bullets can easily penetrate the protective covering around a telephone cable, cutting the many small wires inside. Bullets and pellets can also shatter glass insulators and sever individual in-dividual telephone and power lines. We're only asking target shooters and hunters to protect themselves, their POOR SPORTS. This junction box in a rural central Utah county, has been shot up three times this summer. With Utah's hunting season getting into full swing, hunters are urged to use caution around telephone equipment. damage, and we appreciate the people who call and report it so we can expedite repairs," he concluded. Willful damage to telephone transmission lines is a violation of Utah law punishable by a fine of up to $299 and-or six months in jail. friends and neighbors by not shooting at or near telephone and power lines," Hill said. He added that hunters who see people shooting at telephone equipment should contact the nearest law enforcement officer. "We realize that sometimes a shot can be fired accidentally causing |