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Show Fish & Game Notes The heavy snows and cold temperatures of this year have already pushed deer into people's backyards and orchards along the Wasatch Front. Encroachment of people into areas that were once exclusively deer range causes problems. Deer need to eat to keep alive and, in many of the lower reaches of their winter range, they forage on ornamental shrubs, fallen apples and even twigs of fruit trees. Already this year the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources is receiving calls on deer in areas they "shouldn't be." Unfortunately the deer do historically belong in these areas. In most cases, people can only hope to discourage deer from eating their ornamental shrubs by wire caging them or . wrapping the exposed area with burlap. Feeding deer usually causes more problems than it solves. It concentrates deer in unusually high numbers which puts a strain on; the pocketbook and the yard, and ultimately tries the feeder's patience, if not his neighbor's, too. Worst of all it creates a hazardous situation for deer by increasing stresses on them such as added exposure to being hit by cars or being chased or killed by dogs. Feeding them also makes them stay in an area longer than necessary. When snow subsides the deer should naturally move out of the area to a higher clearing where natural food is available. When a complaint involving harvestable crops is received, the Division of Wildlife Resources attempts to solve the problem by herding deer out of the area, or by providing fencing for stack yards and orchards. Sometimes landowners refuse to fence, such as in a recent case in Utah County, or other methods fail to fully satisfy the landowner particularly where cultivated crops are involved. If the Division officer and the landowner are unable to reach an acceptable solution, the last resort is to destroy the offending animals, such as is now occuring in Utah County. Deer Creek Open. Deer Creek Reservoir, near Heber City, opened January 1 to year-round fishing for yellow perch and walleye only. Mark Connolly, Heber area conservation officer for the Division of Wildlife Resources, says ice is forming on the reservoir, but it won't be safe for fishermen for several more days. "There's still some open water on the reservoir, especially around Charleston Bridge where the Provo River comes in," says Connolly. He added that this would be the best spot for walleyes. The Utah Wildlife Board added Deer Creek to the list of year-round waters at their November meeting when they set the 1983-84 fishing regulations. But unlike most year-round waters, the lake is open for only two species-yellow perch and walleye. The two trout limit, set for many whitefish areas, does not apply to Deer Creek. All trout must be released. Yellow perch are abundant in Deer Creek and offer excellent sport for local fishermen. According to Connolly, the tasty pan fish are readily caught using natural baits and occasionally with artificial lures. "Worms or small pieces of carp meat are good for perch," says Connolly, who cautions that game fish or portions thereof are not legal for bait. The conservation officer says perch may be caught just about anywhere on the reservoir. Both yellow perch and walleye are schooling fish, so the action is usually either red hot or ice cold. There is no limit on yellow perch, but the walleye limit on Deer Creek is six fish. |