Show I Game Head Sees Deer Reductions After experiencing the most severe winter on record in many parts of oC the state it becomes increasingly evident that drastic drastic drastic dras dras- tic reductions must be made in inthe inthe inthe the number of oC deer in problem areas according to Harold S. S Crane supervisor of oC Game Management Management Management Man Man- in Utah Fortunately these those problem herds of oC deer number less than animals animals ani ani- mals of oC an estimated deer leer in the state Near Cities and Farms The areas affected are arc generally generally gener gener- ally located near centers of oC population population population pop pop- or intensely cultivated ground adjacent to the western front of oC the Wasatch range along along along a- a long the central valleys of or the state it Jl is in these areas that mat newly cultivated ground and growing ever-growing subdivisions have taken over what had previously been part of oC the too never tiCul deer winter feed range During the winter just finishing finishing finishing finish finish- ing something over has been expended in an attempt to sustain these problem herds and ail to keep them above the drainage drainage drain drain- age areas This has been a heavy financial drain on the Game Department funds The figure represents money spent for feed extra employees damage damage damage dam dam- age payments and many others but the program shows small success Not Very Successful i Feeding and anil herding have not proven a adequate equate to hold the thede de deer r back from the problem areas arens where considerable damage damage dam dmn- age and a serious ro road d hazard has hns resulted Surveys show that losses will be the greatest where the heaviest feeding programs have been carried on with some critical areas showing a 50 per percent percent percent cent herd loss Director J. J I Perry crry Egan has this to say about the problem It lilt is imperative that we confine confine confine con con- fine the numbers of oC any given deer herd to the carrying capacity capacity capa capa- city of that herds herd's combined summer an and winter wintel range The latter range is in shortage and ami andis is the key to herd numbers in our critical areas arens along the front mountains of our central val val- leys The severe winter period just experienced has again demonstrated demonstrated demonstrated dem dem- to all aU of oC us that re reductions reductions re- re must be made in these herd numbers to fit existing range conditions Sportsmen and the Department alike must nest work to that end in the seasons ahead |