Trail Master Outdoors Radio on KALL 700 Sports, Utah Outdoors to Around the Globe Talk Radio

2011-12-10T09:46:00.001-07:00

Happy Holidays! Visit us at www.trailmasteroutdoors.com for great gufts for the outdoors lover on you list!

New Bow Sight to Support Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation

2011-01-07T10:42:00.000-07:00

MISSOULA, Mont.—A new bow sight with exclusive features for improving low-light accuracy and pin durability is the latest product tabbed to support habitat conservation in elk country. Bowhunting company Archer Xtreme (AXT) has committed a percentage of all 2011 sales to the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation.

AXT’s new PRIMAL X5 series bow sight with RMEF logo will be available this year at retailers nationwide. Each sale will generate funds for wildlife habitat enhancement and protection, elk restoration projects, securing public access and more.

Mark Garcia, founder and president of AXT, said, “If you’re a serious bowhunter, you have to love what RMEF is doing to protect the future of our sport. Like elk, hunters also depend on great habitat. That’s why we’re dedicating one of our new, flagship products for a very worthy organization and cause.”

In 2010, RMEF passed the 5.8 million-acre mark in habitat conserved and helped launch elk restoration initiatives in Missouri and Virginia.

Steve Decker, vice president of marketing for RMEF, said, “Mark Garcia has been a leader in the archery industry for years and we are proud to partner with his new company, Archer Xtreme. Mark aims to provide bowhunters with the highest quality accessories and the PRIMAL X5 is a great example of this effort.”

Select features of the PRIMAL X5:

• Center Core Pin stainless steel tube-pins for superior strength and protection
• Fiber Harness (patent pending) bracket system allows maximum light for each pin
• Rubberized vibration absorbing coat
• 2-inch sight housing for maximum field of view in low light conditions
• Easy-set micro adjusts with tool-less locking knobs
• RH/LH adjustable
• Rear LED deployment for easy access
• Full lifetime warranty on all manufacturer defects
• Fully machined 6061T6 aluminum construction from solid billet

For more information, visit www.archerxtreme.com or look for RMEF licensed gear wherever bowhunting products are sold.

Utah's Wild Mustangs soon to be a missing Icon in our History?

2010-10-18T13:03:00.000-06:00

Please help protect this piece of history and write your Congressman to stop them from removing them all from the Wild.

Elk Calf playing in the water

2010-10-02T05:51:00.000-06:00

Miller Motorsports Park WE ROCK National Championships

2010-10-01T23:13:00.000-06:00

Miller Motorsports Park WE ROCK National Championships

2010-10-01T23:07:00.000-06:00

Miller Motorsports Park WE ROCK National Championships

2010-10-01T22:59:00.000-06:00

The Public Has Spoken- Our Pony Express Goal Has Been Exceeded!!

2010-08-31T08:25:00.000-06:00

On behalf of Madeleine Pickens

Dear Supporters,

Wow! What amazing supporters we have! On August 1st, we gave you a goal of 20,000 letters to take with us for our Pony Express Mustang Delivery to Washington. Our deadline was set for September 1st.

We just wanted to let you know that we have completely blown our goal out of the water with the overwhelming response from so many wild horse supporters! Just over this past weekend, we received 7,234 letters from so many of you, which brings our current count to 26, 995!!!!

*Keep the letters coming and each of you can stand as a voice for each individual mustang that has been rounded up by the Bureau of Land Management and the ones left on the range. We are their voices, their spokespeople.

Saving America's Mustangs has deepest gratitude for the Humane Society of the United States, PETA, and ASPCA for joining us in promoting the Pony Express on your blogs and websites! Without your endorsement in this cause, we would not have generated the awareness that we have. Thank you so much for getting behind this effort and we hope you will be with us in Washington when we deliver the letters. We really appreciate what you have done for our foundation. Additionally, we thank all the other organizations that have promoted it on their websites and to their contacts. Every single person that has told even one person about this campaign has been integral in this effort. Everything matters at this point.

We are still planning the execution and finalizing the date of delivery in Washington, DC. This will be HUGE and we will definitely let you know as soon as the plan is set. All media outlets are invited to join us, as well as our supporters. More details to come. Keep checking Facebook and the SAM website for more information as it comes available. This campaign has inspired people to get involved and has educated the public of what is going on with our American wild horses and how we can protect them just by speaking up! The American public is ALWAYS right!! This time is no different!!

If you haven't done so yet, it takes less than a minute to click the Pony Express button and send your letter to us. Please do this for our wild mustangs and for future generations so that they can see these majestic creatures thriving in their natural environment.

*Because of the amazing interest that has been so apparent with students, teachers, and children all over the nation in this campaign, we are extending the deadline for mailed letters and emails to be September 10th.

We have had a couple of people from outside the US that wanted to write, but cannot do it from the Pony Express button, because it asks for a US zip code. Or if the link isn't working for you, please email directly to madeleinesponyexpress@gmail.com.

Mailed letters can be sent to:

Saving America's Mustangs
2683 Via De La Valle, G 313
Del Mar, CA 92014

Thank you all for your continued support!! You all have been fabulous in sending the letters and promoting the campaign!!! We are overjoyed that this response has been so incredible! We are united together like never before. Let's keep this going strong!! We truly appreciate every single one of you! This will be an iconic change for American history. THANK YOU for being a part of the team.

Very Sincerely,

Madeleine Pickens + The Wild Mustangs

Follow Madeleine on Twitter: http://twitter.com/mpickens
Become Madeleine Pickens' Friend on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/madeleine.pickens
Visit her website for up to the minute information: http://www.savingamericasmustangs.org/
Saving America's Mustangs' Fan Page: http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/pages/Madeleine-Pickens-Wild-Horse-Sanctuary/163062350007?ref=sgm

Federal authorities plan to round up hundreds of wild horses in Utah's west desert.

2010-08-17T16:42:00.000-06:00

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Federal authorities plan to round up hundreds of wild horses in Utah's west desert.

The Bureau of Land Management says the population of horses far exceeds the ability of parched range lands to support them.

The BLM plans to remove more than 400 wild horses in September from management areas in Juab and Millard counties.

The bureau says more than 650 wild horses roam across range lands that can support less than a third of that.

The horse management areas cover some 700 square miles of basin and range around the Conger and Confusion mountains.

The BLM says it plans to put up captured horses for adoption or relocate them to pasture lands.

Archery buck deer hunt starts Aug. 21 in Utah

2010-08-07T04:34:00.000-06:00

Utah’s first hunt of the fall -- the general archery buck deer hunt
-- starts Aug. 21.

As you head into the woods on Aug. 21, the number of young bucks you
see might vary.

If you’re hunting in northern Utah -- where the winter was mild this
past winter -- you could see more young bucks.

If you’re hunting in southwestern Utah, where deep snow covered the
deer’s winter range, you might see less.

Overall, the number of mule deer in Utah is holding steady at just over
300,000 deer. The number of bucks wildlife biologists saw after last
fall’s hunting seasons averaged about 16 bucks per 100 does on the
state’s general season units.

The total number of deer in Utah has been hovering around 300,000 for
several years. “That indicates to me that the habitat we have in Utah
right now can support about 300,000 deer,” says Anis Aoude, big game
coordinator for the Division of Wildlife Resources.

Aoude says the DWR and other agencies and organizations are pouring
millions of dollars into work to improve habitat for mule deer and other
wildlife.

Mule deer winter ranges have received most of the attention, but summer
ranges are starting to receive attention too.

“Habitat improvement work doesn’t pay off overnight,” Aoude says.
“It takes years for plants to grow and establish themselves. But
when they do, and the state’s habitat has the ability to support more
deer, the number of deer in Utah should grow.”

To find success during the archery hunt, Aoude encourages you to do
three things:

- practice shooting your bow until shooting it becomes second nature

- scout the area you’re going to hunt before the season starts

- keep the wind at your face while you’re hunting.

“Those three things can make all the difference between taking a deer
home with you and coming home empty handed,” he says.

The following are deer hunting prospects for each of the DWR’s five
regions:

Northern Region

With the exception of the Cache and Ogden units, all of the general
season units in northern Utah have at least 15 bucks per 100 does.

And some units have more.

Here’s a look at the deer herds on many of the region’s general
season units:

Cache and Ogden units

Wildlife Biologist Darren DeBloois says the three-year average for the
Cache and Ogden units is slightly below the objective of 15 bucks per
100 does.

Like much of the Northern Region, DeBloois says range conditions are
good and the animals are scattered. He also says the past two winters
have been mild, and few fawns have been lost.

“Hunters should see good numbers of two-point bucks on both of these
units,” he says.

Box Elder unit

Two good years with low winter losses, high fawn production and good
range conditions should translate into a good hunt on the Box Elder
unit.

Wildlife Biologist Kirk Enright says the unit’s buck-to-doe ratio is
19 bucks per 100 does. “Habitat improvement projects we’re doing
with landowners and other agencies is creating better habitat and more
deer,” Enright says.

Uintas North Slope units

Biologist Dave Rich says the range on the units is in good shape, and
the animals are scattered. "Recent rains have kept things nice and
green," Rich says.

Summit and East Canyon units

Biologist Scott McFarlane cautions you that most of the land on these
units is private property. Written permission from landowners is
required to hunt much of this area.

Phil Douglass, regional conservation outreach manager, shares two
reminders:

§ If the average buck-to-doe ratio on a unit stays below 15 bucks
per 100 does for a three-year period, Utah’s mule deer management plan
requires that the hunting seasons on the unit be reduced in length until
the buck-to-doe ratio improves.

As a result, the archery season on the Cache and Ogden units will
be
shorter this year.

The season begins Aug. 21 and ends on Sept. 5.

§ To avoid attracting bears into your camp, store food where bears
can’t get to it and keep your camp clean. Additional tips are
available at www.wildlife.utah.gov/dwr/learn-more/bear-safety.html.

Central Region

Where you decide to hunt in the Central Region will be important this
fall. Some areas harbor good numbers of bucks. Other areas have less.

Overall, the number of bucks on the region’s general season units is
15 bucks per 100 does. The area east of Interstate 15, from Spanish
Fork Canyon north to Interstate 80 in Salt Lake City, has the best
habitat and the highest buck-to-doe ratios.

Buck-to-doe ratios are lower outside of that area. For example, the
buck-to-doe ratio on the South Manti unit is 5 to 6 bucks per 100 does.
On the Oquirrh-Stansbury unit, the ratio is 7 to 8 bucks per 100 does.

West of I-15, in Tooele and Juab counties, Wildlife Biologist Tom
Becker says the deer herds average about 10 to 11 bucks per 100 does.
On a positive note, Becker says precipitation has helped the desert
areas this year, and the habitat conditions are better than they were
last year. The improved conditions should help more deer fawns make it
through the upcoming winter.

Scott Root, regional conservation outreach manager, has two reminders:

§ The archery hunt on the Oquirrh-Stansbury unit will shorter this
fall. The archery hunt on the unit runs from Aug. 21 to Sept. 5.

§ You can extend your hunt by hunting on the Wasatch Front
Extended Archery Area. You may use archery equipment to take either a
buck or a doe on the area from Aug. 21 to Nov. 30. From Dec. 1 to Dec.
15, only doe deer may be taken.

Before hunting on the Wasatch Front Extended Archery Area-or any of the
state’s extended archery areas-you must complete the DWR’s Extended
Archery Orientation Course. The free course is available at
www.wildlife.utah.gov/huntereducation.

After completing the course, you must carry your Extended Archery
Orientation Course certificate with you while you’re hunting.

You must complete the course each year before hunting on Utah’s
extended archery areas.

Northeastern Region

The archery hunt in northeastern Utah might be better than it was last
year. Biologists say the number of deer has increased on most of the
region’s general season units.

Even though the number of deer is rising, the overall number of deer is
still below objective on five of the seven units, though.

Ron Stewart, regional conservation outreach manager, says the weather
has been good to deer this year. “The winter was relatively light in
the Uinta Mountains,” Stewart says. “Most of these herds came
through the winter without much winter loss.”

(Most of the region’s general season units are located in the Uinta
Mountains.)

Even though the general season units didn’t receive a lot of snow,
rain this spring and summer has kept the vegetation on the mountains
green. That’s provided good forage for the deer. But it’s a mixed
blessing for hunters.

“The rainfall means the vegetation will be green,” Stewart says,
“so the deer may not receive an early warning by hearing the rustle
of dried leaves and grass as you sneak up on them. But it also means
the deer won’t be clustered near a few, isolated watering holes
either.”

Stewart reminds you that the archery season on the South Slope, Vernal
unit will close early this fall.

The archery season on the unit runs from Aug. 21 to Sept. 5.

The following is a snapshot of the deer herds on the region’s seven
general season units:

Unit Number of deer Bucks per 100
does

North Slope Up, and near objective 18

South Slope, Yellowstone Up, but below objective 14

South Slope, Vernal Up, and at objective 12

Nine Mile, Anthro Up, but well below objective
34

Currant Creek Up, but well below objective
12

Avintaquin Stable, but well below objective 19

Southeastern Region

You might see a few more bucks in southeastern Utah this fall. The
overall number of deer is up from last year.

While that’s good news, there’s still plenty of room for growth --
the overall number of deer on most of the region’s general season
units is between 55 and 60 percent of the number called for in
management plans. “One exception is the Abajo unit,” says Brent
Stettler, regional conservation outreach manager. “The number of deer
on the unit is above the unit’s objective of 13,500 deer.”

Another positive sign is the number of bucks per 100 does that
biologists counted after last fall’s hunting seasons. Stettler says
the number of bucks on all of the region’s general season units is
above the minimum objective of 15 bucks per 100 does.

Stettler says much of southeastern Utah experienced a cool spring and
received plenty of rain in July. “Deer are widely dispersed across
their summer range,” Stettler says.

So what’s the secret to taking a deer in the region this fall?

“Hunters may experience higher success rates by simply spending more
time away from roads and other areas that experience high use by
hunters,” says Justin Shannon, the region’s wildlife manager.
“Hiking an extra mile may be more difficult. But it may also
provide a more rewarding hunting experience.”

Shannon also encourages you to do some pre-season scouting. Once
you’ve selected a particular area, learn where the springs, seeps
and creeks are. Get to know the game trails, the bedding areas and the
escape routes the deer might take once the hunt starts.

Develop a hunting strategy that will account for changes in deer
activity once archers start moving through the woods.

Southern Region

Southern Utah received something last winter that it rarely gets: lots
of snow.

The snow that fell could result in fewer younger bucks in the region
this fall. On the positive side, the moisture has also led to healthy
mature deer with bigger antlers.

Another plus is the number of bucks per 100 does. The buck-to-doe
average on the region’s general season units is 20 bucks per 100 does.
The Southern Region has more bucks per 100 does than any region in the
state.

Buck-to-doe ratios on the general season units vary from a low of 11
bucks per 100 does on the Monroe unit to 30 bucks per 100 does on the
Southwest Desert unit.

Biologists say additional precipitation this spring and summer has
provided excellent forage and water for the deer. The deer should be
spread across their summer range when the hunt starts on Aug. 21.

The following is a look at the deer herds on most of the region’s
general season units:

Monroe and Plateau/Fishlake units

Wildlife Biologist Vance Mumford says this past winter was a long one
on the Monroe and the Plateau, Fishlake units.

“The number of fawns that died this past winter was higher than
normal,” Mumford says. “That will affect the number of yearling
bucks available during the hunt, especially since the number of fawns we
started with was lower than normal before the winter even hit.”

Mumford says there should be plenty of mature deer to hunt, though.
“Those who hunt smart and scout areas for mature deer should have a
good hunt,” he says.

Mumford says lots of rain has fallen on the two units this past spring
and summer. That has led to healthy deer and good antler growth.
“I’ve seen some good mature buck groups on the Fish Lake
unit,” he says.

Mumford reminds you that the archery hunt on the Monroe unit is shorter
than it is on many units in the state.

The archery hunt on the unit runs from Aug. 21 to Sept. 5.

Plateau, Boulder unit

“We just went through the meanest winter around here in memory, even
the memories of the really old guys,” says Jim Lamb, regional wildlife
biologist. “I have seen very few yearling bucks.”

The mature bucks Lamb has seen look good, however. And they’ve had
good antler growth.

“I’m not expecting great success this fall during the deer
hunts,” he says. “The elk hunts, on the other hand, will be
great. The elk seem to have wintered well. I’ve seen quite a few
spikes recently.”

Pine Valley, Zion and Southwest Desert units

Wildlife Biologist Jason Nicholes says he counted more than 20 bucks
per 100 does on each of the three units after last fall’s hunts.
“Yearling bucks may be down slightly due to some light winter
kill,” he says.

Panguitch Lake and Mount Dutton units

More fawns than normal were lost to heavy snowfall on the Panguitch
Lake and Mount Dutton units this past winter. Wildlife Biologist Dustin
Schaible says that may result in fewer younger bucks for hunters.

Utah Special Upland Game Hunts

2010-08-07T04:31:00.002-06:00

Hunters who are 15 years of age and younger can participate in special
chukar and pheasant hunts this fall.

These special youth hunts have been held in Utah for years. They’re
a great way to introduce young people to upland game hunting.

“Kids really enjoy these hunts,” says Dave Olsen, upland game
coordinator for the Division of Wildlife Resources. “They usually
have plenty of birds to shoot at, and they don’t have to compete with
older hunters for a bird.”

Participating in one of the hunts is easy. If you’re 15 years of age
or younger, and you’ve completed Utah’s Hunter Education course,
just go online at www.wildlife.utah.gov/uplandgame and complete an
application.

Application and hunt dates

To be considered for one of the youth chukar hunts, the DWR must
receive your application no later than Aug. 23. Applications for the
youth pheasant hunts are due by Sept. 6.

The youth chukar hunts will be held Sept. 4 on four state wildlife
management areas (WMAs) and one Walk-In Access area. The youth pheasant
hunts will be held Nov. 13 on four state WMAs and one Walk-In Access
area. “We’re holding these hunts across Utah,” Olsen says. “No
matter where you live, you should be able to find a hunt within two
hours of your home.”

The WMAs and the Walk-In Access areas will be closed to all other
hunters on the day the youth hunts are held.

Getting youth excited about upland game hunting

“The number of young people who hunt in Utah has declined through the
years,” Olsen says. “We’re hoping these youth hunts will help
reverse that trend by getting young people into the field and letting
them experience what it’s like to take an upland game bird.

“The hunts also give us a chance to teach young people how to be
responsible and ethical hunters.”

For more information about the hunts, call the nearest DWR office or
see page 22 of the 2010 - 2011 Utah Upland Game Guidebook.

The guidebook is available at www.wildlife.utah.gov/guidebooks

Burbot Captured In Utah's Green River

2010-08-07T04:30:00.000-06:00

On July 28, researchers with the Utah Division of Wildlife
Resources found something they didn’t want to find: a 21-inch burbot
in the Green River below Flaming Gorge dam.

Burbot are a nonnative fish from east of the Rocky Mountains. The fish
was captured during an electrofishing study to recover and study
endangered fish in the Green and Colorado rivers.

“The burbot was captured from an electrofishing raft roughly 1.5
miles upstream of the Split Mountain boat ramp in Dinosaur National
Monument,” says Paul Badame, UDWR native fish project leader. “This
is the first capture of a burbot below Flaming Gorge dam that I’m
aware of.”

The burbot likely came down the Green River after someone illegally
introduced the species upstream in Big Sandy Reservoir in Wyoming. The
burbot have worked their way downstream, bypassing dams at Big Sandy and
Flaming Gorge.

Why the concern?

Burbot are a voracious predator, capable of breeding in both rivers and
reservoirs. As a result, they can have a serious impact on both native
and sport fish populations.

Biologists working on Flaming Gorge Reservoir have already noticed a
rapid increase in the number of burbot in the reservoir and a
corresponding decline in the number of kokanee salmon.

Burbot also pose a major risk to native fish in the Green River.

“We’re concerned that burbot will negatively impact endangered fish
and other native fishes in the Green River,” says Krissy Wilson,
native aquatic species coordinator for the UDWR. “We’ve seen this
happen before with other nonnative fish, including northern pike,
redshiner and smallmouth bass.”

Wilson says the UDWR and its partners in the Upper Colorado River
Endangered Fish Recovery Program are working together to determine the
best way to deal with this latest threat.

Catch and kill regulation

The UDWR has placed a ‘no tolerance’ fishing regulation on burbot
in Utah:

- There’s no limit on the number of burbot an angler can catch.

- Anglers may not release any burbot they catch.

- All burbot must be killed immediately.

For more information, call the UDWR’s Northeastern Region office at
(435) 781-9453.

Antelope Island State Park is the newest hunting preserve for the rich in 2011

2010-08-05T15:57:00.000-06:00

Ever wanted to take a 240 class mule deer or have a chance at a record book full curl Big Horn Sheep? Well, as of today's Wildlife Board Meeting, the fight that has lasted now for over 12 years has come to a head for at least one year, opening a Pandora's Box of future precedent for our State and National Parks, to become hunting grounds for those that can afford to pay the highest amount for the right to hunt there.

With a 6 to 2 Vote, allowing hunting for 2 mule deer and 2 Big Horn Sheep was approved today, with the lack of due process to even allow the public a right to have a say in the matter. With Board Members themselves admitting to final amendments to the verbiage of the proposal, as late as yesterday, how can this be viewed as giving the public a true chance for input other than in today's meeting and one held in July, in which the final draft for the proposal had not even been finalized.

For 2011, these hunts will be allowed, under what circumstances, not one copy of the draft was made available for review by attending general public, we will have to wait to see, but this is another victory for those with deep pockets to take away more and more rights to the general citizens. Although one of each species of animals tag will go into a general pool for the general public, this set us up for potentially seeing this as a move to open all our State and National Parks to hunting to raise finds for managing the Parks. Is Yellowstone National Park next?

With groups like Sportsman for Fish and Wildlife (SFW)and the Mule Deer Foundation backing the passing of this bill, it seemed again that the decision was made before the Board even convened. This groups have a ton to gain by gaining access to the right to auction these permits off at the Hunting Expo held and backed by the State, a portion of the funds stays in their organization and the Hunting Expo, as proposed and passed 5 years ago now has become a financial windfall for the commercial entities that are involved, not as it was proposed, to be a joining together of major Hunting Conventions drawing huge revenue into the State with the attendance of the Convention visitors. It was last year brought to you by commercial entities not by conventions. The only remaining groups left from the original proposal are the Mule Deer Foundation the SFW.

Why is this Expo still being allowed to take these permits away from the tax paying citizens out of the pool going on as the rules of the original proposal have been totally thrown out the door? It has become a venue for those that can afford big dollar hunts or a small chance at a few select premium hunting tags to the extremely lucky or the very rich.

2011, 2012 2013, when will it become a issue of listening to what the public wants, not what the high dollar hunter/citizens of the State of Utah want? When do we draw the line at opening up all hunting rights to only those that can write out a check big enough to satisfy or beat out the next bidder. This is a trend I see more of every day. It is a sad day for the general hunter and I would beat the SFW already has bidders lining up to write out the biggest check to gain access to this new playground for the rich hunter.

We Roc Extreme Rock Crawling at the Miller Motor Sports Park

2010-08-01T00:25:00.000-06:00

SIXTEEEN FATALITIES PROMPT STATE PARK RANGERS TO URGE HELMET, LIFE JACKET USE

2010-07-31T05:28:00.000-06:00

Recent drownings in Morgan and Duchesne counties, boating accidents in Summit and Willard counties, and off-highway vehicle (OHV) fatalities in Summit and Sanpete counties have prompted Utah State Parks Rangers to urge life jacket and helmet use.

Utah State Parks and Recreation, which administers the state boating and OHV programs, reports there have been six boating and 10 OHV fatalities already this year. Program managers say the majority of fatalities are adults.

“Most of the fatal accidents our rangers have responded to this year are adult victims,” said Utah State Parks Acting Deputy Director and OHV Program Manager Fred Hayes. “Our youth OHV and boating education programs seem to be reaching their intended audience, now we must focus on adults.”

All OHV operators and riders should wear a helmet, but it’s mandatory for everyone under 18.

Everyone should wear a life jacket at all times when they are on or near the water. Life jackets are required for anyone boating or floating on rivers, operating or riding on a personal watercraft or being towed behind a boat. Inner tubes, rubber rafts and water toys are considered boats.

Utah Boating Program Manager Dave Harris reports with more people on the water, the need for education is greater. All boaters are strongly encouraged to take a boating education course, and it’s the law for youth 12 through 17 to be certified to operate a personal watercraft (PWC, JetSki-type boat).

“Know your abilities and limitations, and speak out against and stop dangerous behavior,” added Hayes. “Always wear a helmet when riding OHVs and a life jacket while on the water,”

For more education and safety information, please visit stateparks.utah.gov or call 877-UT-PARKS.

Large fish-eating birds called ospreys will be the center of attention on Aug. 7.

2010-07-31T05:27:00.000-06:00

That’s the day the Division of Wildlife Resource’s Watchable
Wildlife program will host a free field trip to see the birds.

The field trip will be held in Summit County.

With their five-foot wing span, the ospreys will be easy to see. And
if you attend the field trip, you might even see some turkey vultures
and great blue herons, says Bob Walters, Watchable Wildlife coordinator
for the DWR.

To participate in the field trip, meet at the Rockport Reservoir dam
from 6 to 7 p.m.

To reach Rockport, travel on Interstate 80 to Wanship. Then exit the
freeway and travel south on state Route 32 to the dam observation site.

From the dam, participants will follow Walters in their own vehicles to
viewing sites in and near Coalville, Wanship and Rockport State Park.

If you’d like to join the field trip at one of the viewing sites,
please call Walters at (801) 209-5326 to make arrangements.

What you’ll see

Walters will have some binoculars and spotting scopes available, but if
you have your own, he encourages you to bring them.

You’ll see osprey pairs and their young during the trip. Walters
says each pair had one to three young, or eyases, this spring.

While there’s a chance you’ll see the ospreys fly, it’s more
likely you’ll watch them as they feed and exercise their wings while
on their nests. Sometimes three feet or taller in height, the nests
themselves are something to see.

“The nests start looking like chimneys,” Waters says. “Sometimes
I think they’d rather build nests than fish. It’s just
incredible.”

During the trip, Walters will also point out waters you can visit at a
later time to witness the spectacular feet-first ‘plunge dive’ of
the osprey. Ospreys make these out-of-the-air dives to snatch fish that
are swimming under the surface of the water.

Walters says ospreys are highly specialized to capture fish. Their
outer toe is reversible, and their talons are covered with sharp hooks
on the lower surface that allow them to grasp slippery fish in the
water.

Walters calls the osprey’s plunge dive ”one of the true spectacles
of nature.”

Free viewing event Aug. 7 on Tushar Mountain See Mountain Goats in Unique Terrain

2010-07-31T05:24:00.000-06:00

You could see as many as 100 mountain goats on Aug. 7.

And you may not need binoculars to see them. At some of the past
viewing events on the Tushar Mountains, the goats have gotten as close
as 35 feet to those viewing them!

On Aug. 7, the Division of Wildlife Resources will host its annual Goat
Watch on the Tushar Mountains east of Beaver.

The event is free.

The trip will begin at 8 a.m. at the convenience store at the bottom of
Exit 109 off Interstate 15. (Exit 109 is the exit on the south side of
Beaver.)

From there, participants will caravan to the top of the Tushar
Mountains. When you reach the top, you’ll be close to 11,500 feet
above sea level.

Lynn Chamberlain, regional conservation outreach manager for the DWR,
says the view from the top of the Tushars is amazing. “You can see
all of southern Utah,” he says. “And we can almost always find the
goats.”

If binoculars or spotting scopes are needed, Chamberlain will have some
you can borrow. But if you have your own viewing equipment, please
bring it.

Chamberlain also encourages you to bring water, a hat, a jacket and a
sack lunch. It’s also a good idea to travel in a vehicle that has
high ground clearance. “The road can be rocky towards the top,” he
says.

A unique area

In addition to seeing the mountain goats, you can explore the
alpine-tundra ecosystem in which the goats live. Found only above the
timberline at high elevations, it’s an ecosystem that’s uncommon in
southern Utah.

Chamberlain says unique animals live in this alpine-tundra terrain,
including yellow-bellied marmots and pika. “These high-elevation
areas get extremely cold in the winter,” he says. ”To survive, the
animals that live in them have adapted some pretty interesting
behaviors.”

For more information about the goat watching event, call the DWR’s
Southern Region office at (435) 865-6100.

Chasing Tiger Muskies

2010-07-25T13:13:00.000-06:00

Newton reservoir in northern Utah, is one of the few great places to try your luck in reeling in the elusive tiger muskie. A fish that can grow to over 40" is sure to delight any angler who is lucky enough to catch one of these beasts. Underwater footage catches a rare glimpse of these monsters in their habitat and there finicky nature in frustrating anglers and eluding their bait.

DWR Proposes Cougar Hunting Rules for the Next Three Years

2010-07-24T06:22:00.000-06:00

If you’re interested in Utah’s cougars, pay attention to the
Division of Wildlife Resource’s latest cougar hunting proposals --
they’ll be in effect for the next three years.

”Keeping the hunting rules and permit numbers consistent will give
our efforts to manage cougars more time to work,” says Kevin Bunnell,
mammals coordinator for the DWR. “And that will result in future
recommendations that will be best for the cougars and for the animals
the cougars prey on.”

Utah’s cougar management plan was updated in 2009. This is the first
season cougars will be managed under the new plan.

In addition to keeping the number of hunting permits consistent for
three years, the plan gives biologists more direction on how to manage
cougars on units that have bighorn sheep. It also provides more
direction on how to manage cougars on units where the number of mule
deer -- the main animal cougars prey on -- is still under the goal
specified in unit management plans.

For the 2010 - 2011 season, biologists are recommending a slight
increase in the number of cougars hunters can take. They estimate
raising the number by about eight percent will result in hunters taking
an average of about 325 cougars each season for the next three seasons.

Over the past three seasons, hunters took an average of 300 cougars
each season.

(The state’s cougar management plan is available at
www.wildlife.utah.gov/pdf/cmgtplan.pdf.)

Learn more, share your ideas

After you’ve reviewed the DWR’s cougar hunting proposals at
www.wildlife.utah.gov/public_meetings, you can let your Regional
Advisory Council members know your thoughts by attending your upcoming
RAC meeting or by sending an e-mail to them.

RAC chairmen will share the input they receive with members of the Utah
Wildlife Board. The board will meet in Salt Lake City on Aug. 19 to
approve cougar hunting rules for the next three seasons.

Dates, times and locations for the RAC meetings are as
follows:

Southern Region
July 27
7 p.m.
Beaver High School
195 E. Center St.
Beaver

Southeastern Region
July 28
6:30 p.m.
John Wesley Powell Museum
1765 E. Main St.
Green River

Northeastern Region
July 29
6:30 p.m.
Uintah Basin Applied Technology College
450 N. 2000 W.
Vernal

Central Region
Aug. 3
6:30 p.m.
Springville Civic Center
110 S. Main St.
Springville

Northern Region
Aug. 4
6 p.m.
Brigham City Community Center
24 N. 300 W.
Brigham City

E-mail

You can also provide your comments to your RAC via e-mail. E-mail
addresses for your RAC members are available at
www.wildlife.utah.gov/public_meetings.

The group each RAC member represents (sportsman, non-consumptive, etc.)
is listed under each person’s e-mail address. You should direct your
e-mail to the people on the RAC who represent your interest.

See Ospreys on Aug. 7 at Watchable Wildlife Event

2010-07-24T06:21:00.000-06:00

Ospreys are large fishing-eating birds

Summit County -- Large fish-eating birds called ospreys will be the
center of attention on Aug. 7.

That’s the day the Division of Wildlife Resource’s Watchable
Wildlife program will host a free field trip to see the birds.

The field trip will be held in Summit County.

With their five-foot wing span, the ospreys will be easy to see. And
if you attend the field trip, you might even see some turkey vultures
and great blue herons, says Bob Walters, Watchable Wildlife coordinator
for the DWR.

To participate in the field trip, meet at the Rockport Reservoir dam
from 6 to 7 p.m.

To reach Rockport, travel on Interstate 80 to Wanship. Then exit the
freeway and travel south on state Route 32 to the dam observation site.

From the dam, participants will follow Walters in their own vehicles to
viewing sites in and near Coalville, Wanship and Rockport State Park.

If you’d like to join the field trip at one of the viewing sites,
please call Walters at (801) 209-5326 to make arrangements.

What you’ll see

Walters will have some binoculars and spotting scopes available, but if
you have your own, he encourages you to bring them.

You’ll see osprey pairs and their young during the trip. Walters
says each pair had one to three young, or eyases, this spring.

While there’s a chance you’ll see the ospreys fly, it’s more
likely you’ll watch them as they feed and exercise their wings while
on their nests. Sometimes three feet or taller in height, the nests
themselves are something to see.

“The nests start looking like chimneys,” Waters says. “Sometimes
I think they’d rather build nests than fish. It’s just
incredible.”

During the trip, Walters will also point out waters you can visit at a
later time to witness the spectacular feet-first ‘plunge dive’ of
the osprey. Ospreys make these out-of-the-air dives to snatch fish that
are swimming under the surface of the water.

Walters says ospreys are highly specialized to capture fish. Their
outer toe is reversible, and their talons are covered with sharp hooks
on the lower surface that allow them to grasp slippery fish in the
water.

Walters calls the osprey’s plunge dive ”one of the true spectacles
of nature.”

See Mountain Goats in Unique Terrain

2010-07-24T06:19:00.002-06:00

Free viewing event Aug. 7 on Tushar Mountain

Beaver -- You could see as many as 100 mountain goats on Aug. 7.

And you may not need binoculars to see them. At some of the past
viewing events on the Tushar Mountains, the goats have gotten as close
as 35 feet to those viewing them!

On Aug. 7, the Division of Wildlife Resources will host its annual Goat
Watch on the Tushar Mountains east of Beaver.

The event is free.

The trip will begin at 8 a.m. at the convenience store at the bottom of
Exit 109 off Interstate 15. (Exit 109 is the exit on the south side of
Beaver.)

From there, participants will caravan to the top of the Tushar
Mountains. When you reach the top, you’ll be close to 11,500 feet
above sea level.

Lynn Chamberlain, regional conservation outreach manager for the DWR,
says the view from the top of the Tushars is amazing. “You can see
all of southern Utah,” he says. “And we can almost always find the
goats.”

If binoculars or spotting scopes are needed, Chamberlain will have some
you can borrow. But if you have your own viewing equipment, please
bring it.

Chamberlain also encourages you to bring water, a hat, a jacket and a
sack lunch. It’s also a good idea to travel in a vehicle that has
high ground clearance. “The road can be rocky towards the top,” he
says.

A unique area

In addition to seeing the mountain goats, you can explore the
alpine-tundra ecosystem in which the goats live. Found only above the
timberline at high elevations, it’s an ecosystem that’s uncommon in
southern Utah.

Chamberlain says unique animals live in this alpine-tundra terrain,
including yellow-bellied marmots and pika. “These high-elevation
areas get extremely cold in the winter,” he says. ”To survive, the
animals that live in them have adapted some pretty interesting
behaviors.”

For more information about the goat watching event, call the DWR’s
Southern Region office at (435) 865-6100.

Adopt a Desert Tortoise

2010-07-24T06:18:00.000-06:00

Nearly a dozen tortoises need homes in Utah

Wouldn’t it be fun to have a pet that makes your neighbors “ooh”
and “ahh”?

As long as you’re willing to give up part of your backyard, you can.

Division of Wildlife Resources biologists are putting nearly a dozen
desert tortoises up for adoption.

Listed as threatened on the federal Endangered Species list, most of
the tortoises were found after people removed them from their native
homes. (Once a wild tortoise is taken from the wild, it can’t be
released. Releasing it could introduce diseases into Utah’s wild
tortoise population.)

Even though desert tortoises require some room, Jason Jones says caring
for one is easier than caring for other pets. “They won’t bark or
chase your neighbor’s cat,” says Jones, a DWR native aquatic species
biologist. “And five months out of the year, they’ll be in
hibernation in your house.”

To adopt a desert tortoise, you need a fenced area that’s at least 15
feet by 10 feet. “Tortoises also need burrows, so you’ll have to
build some,” Jones says. “You’ll also need to plant dandelions,
clover and other plants the tortoise can eat.”

Even though it takes work to provide a tortoise with a place to live,
Jones says it’s worth it. “Desert tortoises are fun pets,” he
says. “They’re unique too. How many people can say they have a
‘desert dinosaur’ living in their backyard?”

Jones says being allowed to care for a federally protected species is
also a rare occurrence and a privilege.

More information about adopting a desert tortoise in Utah is available
in the Desert Tortoise Adoption booklet. The free booklet is available
at www.wildlife.utah.gov/pdf/dt_adopt.pdf.

If you have questions, please call Jones at (801) 538-4830.

1st Annual Utah Irish Music Festival presented by Park City Concerts

2010-07-24T06:14:00.000-06:00

1st Annual Utah Irish Music Festival presented by Park City Concerts

The Festival will be held in the Snow Park Outdoor Amphitheater. The gate opens at 12 p.m., with performances beginning at 1 p.m. and ending at 8 p.m. General Admission only is available and is $15/adult or $5/child (ages 6-11). Tickets are available for purchase at all Smith's Tix outlets (800-888-TIXX or smithstix.com), or in person at Deer Valley Signatures stores located at 625 Main Street and Silver Lake Village or Deer Valley Etc. in the Snow Park Lodge. Please note there is a service charge for all concert tickets.

Deer Valley's food and beverage concession stand will be open during the concert and Gourmet Picnic Baskets are available for purchase. Baskets must be ordered at least 72 hours in advance. To order a basket, please call 435-645-6613 or place your order online.

The gollowing guidelines apply for the Festival: animals are not allowed; coolers and glass containers are permitted; chairs permitted, height must be 9" or less. For more information, please visit myspace.com/irishmusicfestival.

Ancient Fish of Lake Bonneville: the Least Chub

2010-07-11T19:31:00.000-06:00

Idaho Conservation Projects Draw RMEF Funding

2010-06-30T09:59:00.000-06:00

MISSOULA, Mont.—Wildlife conservation projects in seven Idaho counties have been selected to receive grants from the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation in 2010.

The new RMEF funding, totaling $34,929, will affect Boise, Clearwater, Custer, Idaho, Lemhi, Madison and Valley counties.

Another project has statewide interest.

“These grants are possible because of the successful banquets and fundraisers staged over the past year by our Idaho volunteers—most of whom are elk hunters as well as devoted conservationists,” said David Allen, RMEF president and CEO. “Since 1984, our annual grants have helped complete 380 different projects in Idaho with a combined value of more than $41.1 million.”

RMEF grants will help fund the following projects, listed by county:

Boise County—Provide funding for wing fences to help funnel migrating deer and elk into new wildlife underpasses along Highway 21; prescribe burn 1,800 acres to improve forage quality in ponderosa pine forests in Poorman Creek area of Boise National Forest.

Clearwater County—Purchase GPS radio collars to assist with Idaho Department of Fish and Game research on effects of wolf predation on elk survival in Clearwater and Boise national forests (also affects Boise and Valley counties).

Idaho County—Improve forage conditions for elk by prescribe burning 15,000 acres in the Clearwater and Nez Perce national forests (also affects Clearwater County); treat 270 acres of noxious weeds along the Salmon River in Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness to improve habitat for elk, deer, bighorn sheep and other wildlife (also affects Lemhi, Valley and Custer counties).

Madison County—Prescribe burn 1,443 acres to improve forage, cover and calving habitat for elk and mule deer in Big Hole Mountains of Caribou-Targhee National Forest.

Statewide—Sponsor Idaho Sportsmen’s Caucus 2010 Advisory Council, which works to monitor and influence state issues affecting hunters and other sportsmen.

Projects are selected for grants using science-based criteria and a committee of RMEF volunteers and staff along with representatives from partnering agencies and universities.

Partners for 2010 projects in Idaho include the Bureau of Land Management, Idaho Department of Fish and Game, Idaho Department of Transportation, U.S. Forest Service, tribes, other organizations and landowners.