07-02-2008, 08:47 PM
Wednesday, 02 July 2008
Board approves upland game changes
Daily Herald
According to a recent report issued by Mark Hadley of Utah's Division of Wildlife Resources, you'll have more chances to hunt upland game birds in Utah over the next three years.
Members of the Utah Wildlife Board approved several upland game changes at their June 19 meeting in Salt Lake City. The changes will give you more time to hunt upland game. They'll also make Utah's upland game hunting seasons more consistent across the state.
"Hunters and the state's Upland Game Advisory Committee have told us two major things since the rules were last reviewed in 2005: They want more opportunities to hunt, and they want the rules to be as simple and consistent across Utah as possible," said Dave Olsen, upland game coordinator for the Division of Wildlife Resources.
The following are among the upland game changes the board approved:
• Starting this fall, the general pheasant hunt will run for 16 days across the state. In the past, the hunt in Utah County ran for only one week. Extending the hunt in the county from one week to two weeks provides hunters with a single, statewide general season.
• You can enjoy an extra month of forest grouse hunting. The season begins in mid-September and runs until the end of December.
• You can enjoy some extra chukar and Hungarian partridge hunting during a single, statewide season that begins two weeks later than past years. The season opens the last Saturday in September and runs until mid-February.
Olsen said moving the start of the season back should protect vegetation around artificial guzzlers and other water sources. Chukars are less dependent on these water sources in late September. As the chukars leave the water sources, the hunters should follow them. That should decrease the amount of vegetation that's damaged by hunters and others driving their vehicles near these sites.
• Utah has two new quail hunts. The new hunts will be held in Daggett and Sanpete counties.
• A new sharp-tailed grouse hunt will be held in Cache County.
• You can enjoy an extra week of sage-grouse hunting. At the same time, adult sage-grouse hens will receive some extra protection.
The start of the sage-grouse season has been moved from mid-September to the last Saturday in September. Starting the season two weeks later should reduce the number of mature sage-grouse hens that hunters take.
"When it comes to hunting, Utah's Sage-Grouse Management Plan sets some pretty conservative standards," Olsen says.
"The plan first sets parameters that help us determine whether or not various sage-grouse populations can be hunted. If a population can be hunted, we set permit numbers so not more than 10 percent of the fall population are taken during the hunt.
"Moving the start of the season back gives sage-grouse populations even more protection."
Olsen said starting the season in late September will give young birds more time to mature. When the chicks mature, they leave their mothers. Broods begin to break up, and the birds scatter more. Not having the birds as concentrated should reduce the number of mature hens that hunters take.
• Dallas John can be reached at 344-2972 or at djohn@heraldextra.com.This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
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