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Show Winter, Water ftlake Beer, Ducks Scarce roM lmssKi.m.uT; ' : l.AYTON -- It' you've always dreamed of that six-point buck, this isn't the year to get your hopes up. THEY'RE OUT there, but will be a lot harder to find, says AH;m Hash. Davis County wildlife resources officer, blaming the j relative scarcity on "about the worst weather" in 30 years. -Some places lost 80 percent," he said, with Cache Valley the 5 hardest hit although Morgan and Summit counties both suffered as-well. And if you want to hunt deer close to home, don't get set up for disappointment by staying in Davis County opening day, estimating estimat-ing dOO-800 easily on the trail, usually, that morning, alone. "I : ,vcommend Richfield or Salina areas," he said, adding that, in ' Davis County, hunters likely will have more hick south of l'arm-jngton l'arm-jngton Canyon, where the winter feeding efforts paid off a bit J more. FARMING I ON Canyon, for example, is usually loaded with bucks but in a recent check. Mr. Hash spotted only four, he said, Iand they were up the cany on. Traffic up there could be a problem this year, due to bridge construction that's narrowed the road to one lane. "A hunter could walk his legs off," though, he said, depend-ing depend-ing on which canyon he chooses. One may be plentiful-likely near the center, though and not near the road-while another may be bare. "I'll be really shocked if we have anywhere near 50 : percent of last year," he continued, noting up to three-fifths of the fawns were lost and half the buck, on top of 20 percent of the v adults. "Some may get three or four points but it'll be hard." THIS YEAR, no doe permits will be issued and if you see .'' someone killing one, Mr. Hash asks that you get a description of " the hunter and license plate and telephone toll-free 1-800-662-DEER. Scheduled for Saturday through the 30th, he noted further that v use of helicopters is unlawful to transport hunters, equipment or legally taken big game carcasses or hunting camps from 48 hours before the hunt starts, during the hunt and 48 hours after without a certificate that has to be obtained 72 hours prior. That prob-J' prob-J' lem'sbeen peculiar to the Bountiful area. Mr. Hash added, noting spotlighting is also forbidden. THE DI CK or waterfowl hunt started last Saturday-and Mr. Hash is at least as pessimistic in his forecasts for results there. "Last year w e had 50 percent of the available marshland of the ear before and now it's cut in half again," he said, and looking at usually big areas like Farmington Bay underlines the problem. THANKS TO the high-rising Great Salt Lake, access there is T limited to boats only, with no parking for walk-in hunters and a 1 "poor" outlook. Virtually no vegetation remains for nesting and dikes would be underw ater had it not been for continuous buildup efforts over the summer, that included hauling in piles from the Farmington mudslides. Elsewhere, the outlook isn't great either. Mr. Hash says. Ho-ward's Ho-ward's Slough, like Farmington Bay. has deep water and the marsh is virtually gone, poor for foot traffic with an equally poor outlook. In the Layton-Kaysville area, access is available on the . ' west end of Gentile and on w est. and off Angel in Kaysville. The r. outlook's "fair there and there's lots of geese although about "Z 3.000 ducks were lost and some geese due to botulism. -v "THE STATE lost virtually 100 percent of Farmington Bay-u; Bay-u; there's no live vegetation to feed the birds at all," he emphasized, " Brent Hutchings. waterfowl management area manager there, said upwards of S3 million in damage will have to be repaired. But he also cautioned hunters coming to the Bay, emphasizing ' there's potential for drowning due to high water levels producing ' "a lot of deep channels," adding that the south entrance is open ;" to foot traffic. THIS YEAR, a five bird daily limit has been imposed for ducks and geese. "'; If you want some better chances at bagging that limit. Mr. Hash --; suggests any rivers or areas further from the Great Salt Lake. |