12-26-2007, 06:28 PM
[size 1]A blanket of snow covers Utah mountains and valleys. It's the time of year when several of our hunts are over or winding to a close. Guess I should clean my shotgun and put it away until turkey season opens next spring.
When snow and cold temperatures grip Utah, many upland game hunters turn to indoor activities. However, if you choose the warm fireplace route, you'll miss some of the exciting upland game seasons that remain open well into the new calendar year.[/size]
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In select areas of Utah, chukar partridge season is open until the end of January, and cottontail rabbit and snowshoe hare seasons continue until the end of February.
Rabbit and hare populations in Utah are cyclic. That is, every 7-10 years, these populations reach fairly predictable highs and lows. Both populations are due to peak again in Utah in 2008.[/size]
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The snowshoe hare is one of three mammals classed as upland game in Utah, but it is hunted by only 1.21 percent of upland game hunters. In 2006, there were 496 hunters who pursued snowshoe hares in Utah. Among them, they harvested 1,683 hares. Despite somewhat low hunter interest, snowshoe hare hunting offers the adventurous upland game sportsman a very unique opportunity.
You'll find snowshoe hares in Utah's pine and spruce forests, especially in areas with interspersed thickets of aspen, alder and willow. These forest-dwelling hares prefer mountainous areas above 7,000 feet.[/size]
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Because of where snowshoe hares live, you might literally have an entire mountain to yourself! Of course, it will be much easier to access and travel across snow-covered hare habitat if you use snowshoes or cross-country skis. [/size]
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[size 1]A side note - Be carefull when ever you enter potential avalanche areas. Be prepared with shovel, probe and beacon if possible.[/size]
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When snow and cold temperatures grip Utah, many upland game hunters turn to indoor activities. However, if you choose the warm fireplace route, you'll miss some of the exciting upland game seasons that remain open well into the new calendar year.[/size]
[size 1]
In select areas of Utah, chukar partridge season is open until the end of January, and cottontail rabbit and snowshoe hare seasons continue until the end of February.
Rabbit and hare populations in Utah are cyclic. That is, every 7-10 years, these populations reach fairly predictable highs and lows. Both populations are due to peak again in Utah in 2008.[/size]
[size 1]
The snowshoe hare is one of three mammals classed as upland game in Utah, but it is hunted by only 1.21 percent of upland game hunters. In 2006, there were 496 hunters who pursued snowshoe hares in Utah. Among them, they harvested 1,683 hares. Despite somewhat low hunter interest, snowshoe hare hunting offers the adventurous upland game sportsman a very unique opportunity.
You'll find snowshoe hares in Utah's pine and spruce forests, especially in areas with interspersed thickets of aspen, alder and willow. These forest-dwelling hares prefer mountainous areas above 7,000 feet.[/size]
[size 1]
Because of where snowshoe hares live, you might literally have an entire mountain to yourself! Of course, it will be much easier to access and travel across snow-covered hare habitat if you use snowshoes or cross-country skis. [/size]
[size 1][/size]
[size 1]A side note - Be carefull when ever you enter potential avalanche areas. Be prepared with shovel, probe and beacon if possible.[/size]
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