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Show Bird Hunters Go Afield Sept. 1 for First Time Nish notes success is most likely for the hunter who either finds the pigeons' feeding grounds or roosting areas. The hirds generally loaf in their roosting area during the day. then move to feeding grounds. Oak area where acorns can be found or croplands adjacent to mountain areas are best, he added. Southern Regional Game Manager Floyd Coles reports, "There is a better crop of pigeons this year. Hunters wh-o wh-o go afield should have a good chance of bageine the birds.", pigeon bag limits are five daily, ten possession. He pointed to Washington county as the best area to visit, particularly in the Kolob Mountain area and in canyons in and around the town of New Harmony. Additionally, concentrations of pigeons have been noted in the Salina Canyon area in-Sevier in-Sevier County. The primary pigeon range in southeastern Utah is found the LaSal and Blue mountains.. Hunters are reminded to respect private property by asking permission to enter private lands and to keep off lands posted "No Trespassing." Utah bird hunters will go afield for their first season this year on September 1 when mourning dove and band-tailed band-tailed pigeon hunting begin in the state Some 30,000 dove hunters are expected, while the band-tailed band-tailed pigeon draws a small number of sportsmen. Last year over :i4,00() dove hunter: took 306,000 doves, Utah's second highest harvest on record. The hunts will continue through September 30. Division of Wildlife Resources Upland Game Supervisor Darrell Nish reports dove populations in the state have been on the upswing the last 2 years, and hunting should be good. The late spring this year did cause some mortality which may affect hunting in southcentral Utah. Weather between now and the opener, however, will be the big factor influencing success on the dove hunt. "If stormy weather doesn't cause the birds to migrate south mopre rapidly than normal, their is a potential for good dove hunting this year," said Nish. Bag limit for doves is 10 daily, 20 possession; and hunting will be statewide. Band-tailed pigeon hunters must obtain a special free permiwhich is available from all Division offices. Areas open for hunting pigeons are Beaver, Garfield, Grand, Iron, Kane, Piute, San Juan, Sevier, Washington and Wayne counties. |
