Show SAGE HEN SEASON IS CLOSED there will be no open season on grouse in utah this year announced J arthur mecham state fish and game commissioner monday the edict which grants protection to all so called wild chickens sage hens willow grouse ruffle tails partridges and pine hens comes in an effort to prevent utter extinction of the game commissioner mecham said scarcity of the game usually comes in lysles the commissioner pointed out this year he said sage hens especially are unusually scarce grand rich and box elder counties alone showing any great population of this member of the grouse family sportsmen of these three counties petitioned mr mecham to allow no open season in their counties unless the entire state were thrown open to hunters because they feared concentration of hunters in those particular areas would virtually extinct the game willow grouse and pine grouse too are scarce this year mr mecham said closing the season tor for a year the th game chief believes will aid considerably sider ably in restoring the game population to normal with the announcement of the closed season on grouse mr mecham assured hunters that there will be an open season on pheasants this year the time will be set for late september or early october he said and in some counties to acord the best hunting the open dates will be split by intervening closed days ot of hunting pheasants as a result of extensive planting activities tivi ties and protection afforded them in late years are quite numerous this year |