More chances to take a turkey
Wildlife Board approves changes for 2018 – 2019 turkey hunt
Salt Lake City -- Starting this fall, you’ll have more chances to take wild turkeys during Utah’s fall hunting season. You’ll also have more firearm and shot shell options to choose from.
At their May 31 meeting, members of the Utah Wildlife Board—a panel of seven citizens appointed by the governor—approved three major changes. Two apply only to Utah’s fall hunting season. A third applies to both the fall and the spring hunts:
· You can buy up to three fall hunting permits.
· During both the fall and spring seasons, you can use any shotgun firing shot that’s BB or smaller in diameter.
· Only during the fall hunt, you can hunt turkeys with rim fire firearms.
Board members also approved a change that will allow young turkey hunters to apply as a group for permits to hunt during the spring limited-entry season. Those who will be 17 years of age or younger on July 31, 2019 can apply as a group for the 2019 spring hunt. Groups can include up to four young hunters.
You can see all of the turkey and upland game hunting rules the board approved in the 2018 – 2019 Utah Upland Game and Turkey Guidebook. The free guidebook should be available at www.wildlife.utah.gov/guidebooks by June 18.
Fall hunt changes
Turkey populations, especially in parts of Cache County, have gotten large enough that the birds are coming into conflict with people. DWR biologists trapped and moved a record number of birds—548—from the county this past winter. Increased fall hunting is another tool that should help reduce the number of birds.
“Hunting is still the best tool biologists have to manage wildlife populations, including turkeys,” says Jason Robinson, upland game coordinator for the Division of Wildlife Resources.
Allowing hunters to use rim fire firearms and have up to three fall permits should increase the number of turkeys hunters take this fall. Rim fire firearms are small caliber firearms, including the popular .22 long rifle and the .17.
“Allowing hunters to buy up to three fall turkey permits will give avid turkey hunters more chances to get into the field and hunt,” Robinson says. “And allowing hunters to use rim fire firearms might really appeal to young hunters who don’t want to shoot a shotgun.”
Gauge, shot size change
Allowing turkey hunters to use any shotgun, including a .410, should benefit both spring and fall hunters. “.410 shotguns are a good option for many hunters who are young and just getting started in the sport,” Robinson says. “Changing the requirement allows hunters to use these smaller guns.”
Allowing the use of smaller shot sizes also gives hunters more options. Robinson says advances in shotgun shell design have made sizes as small as No. 9 effective for turkeys.
“Shells loaded with smaller shot sizes put out dense patterns that can be very effective at bringing a turkey down,” he says. “Hunters in Utah now have the option to choose the gun and ammunition combination that works best for them and their hunting situation.”
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PHOTOS - 10 photos to accompany this story are available at http://udwrnewsphotos.zenfolio.com/p514949747 .
Contact: Mark Hadley, DWR Relations with the Public Specialist, 801-538-4737
See cutthroat trout at Strawberry
Free viewing event happens June 9
Heber City -- You don’t have to be an angler to get a close look at cutthroat trout at Strawberry Reservoir.
Right now, many of the reservoir’s cutthroat trout are migrating out of the reservoir and up the Strawberry River to spawn.
The river runs past the visitor center at Strawberry and into a fish trap and egg-taking facility the Division of Wildlife Resources operates behind the visitor center.
Even though the water can be a little murky this time of the year, biologists from the DWR will host a free cutthroat trout viewing event on June 9.
The event will happen from 9 a.m. to noon at the fish trap and egg-taking facility.
During the event, biologists will net cutthroat trout. Then, they’ll hold them up so you can photograph and touch the fish. The biologists will also answer any questions you have. And they’ll explain the important role Bear Lake cutthroat trout play in managing one of the country’s best trout fishing waters.
Strawberry Reservoir is just off U.S. Highway 40, about 25 miles southeast of Heber City.
A preview of what you’ll see at the event is available in a DWR video at http://bit.ly/1AU62CA. You can also access the video by logging onto www.youtube.com/UDWR and then scanning through the video choices until you find the video titled ‘Cutthroat Trout Viewing Day at Strawberry Reservoir.’
“Even though the Strawberry River and the other tributaries to the reservoir are currently closed to fishing,” says Scott Root, regional conservation outreach manager for the DWR, “you can still try your luck catching one of these big cutthroats in the reservoir itself.”
Root says all cutthroat trout in Strawberry between 15 and 22 inches long must be released immediately.
More information about the fishing regulations at Strawberry Reservoir is available on pages 41 and 42 of the 2018 Utah Fishing Guidebook. The free guidebook is available at www.wildlife.utah.gov/guidebooks.
For more information, call the DWR’s Central Region office at 801-491-5678.
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Rattlesnake safety tips
Give snakes plenty of space
Rattlesnakes often strike fear in the hearts of people. But they shouldn’t. Knowing a little about the animal, and doing a few simple things—like keeping your distance and not harassing a snake—can go a long way to keeping you safe.
Kevin Wheeler, biologist with the Division of Wildlife Resources, says rattlesnakes in Utah are on the move right now, looking for water and rodents after emerging from their dens in May.
Wheeler says the snakes will likely have to travel more to find food this year. “Drought conditions have reduced Utah’s rodent population,” he says, “so snakes will be roaming more, looking for rodents. Because the snakes will be active, there’s a greater chance you’ll see one in the wild this year.”
So, if you see a rattlesnake in the wild, what should you do?
“Don’t approach it,” Wheeler says. “Give it plenty of space, and leave it alone. Respect the snake, and it will respect you.”
Wheeler says most people who are bit by rattlesnakes are bit while harassing or toying with a snake, or trying to kill it. Like most animals, rattlesnakes fear humans and will do anything they can to avoid us. “That changes if a snake thinks it’s threatened and there’s no way to escape,” he says. “In that case, the snake will often strike to protect itself.”
Respecting the snake, and giving it plenty of space, are the keys to avoiding problems.
You can get rattlesnake safety tips at www.wildawareutah.org/utah-wildlife-information/snakes. Southwest Partners also provides rattlesnake safety information. A copy of the organization’s free “Living with Venomous Reptiles” brochure is available at http://bit.ly/1Fd8THh.
Hiking tips
As you’re hiking in Utah this summer, watch the trail ahead of you, and check carefully before stepping over rocks, reaching onto ledges or sitting down on a rock or log. If you see a rattlesnake, Wheeler recommends the following:
Tip 1 - Remain calm. Do not panic. Rattlesnakes will not chase you.
Tip 2 - Stay at least five feet from the snake. Give it plenty of space.
Tip 3 - Do not try to kill the snake. Doing so is illegal and greatly increases the chance the snake bites you.
Tip 4 - Alert people to the snake’s location. Advise them to use caution and to respect the snake. Keep children and pets away.
Tip 5 – Keep your dog on a leash. Allowing your dog to roam increases the chance the dog will find a snake and get bit.
Fully protected
Six rattlesnake subspecies live in Utah. The most common is the Great Basin rattlesnake. The Great Basin ‘rattler’ is found across the state.
Rocky, talus slopes are the places in Utah where you’ll most likely encounter rattlesnakes. In fact, Wheeler says there’s a good chance you’ve been close to a snake while hiking and never knew it. “A snake’s camouflage allows it to blend into its surroundings,” he says. “They’re tough to see.”
Wheeler says rattlesnakes are fully protected by Utah law; it’s illegal to harass or kill one. “Rattlesnakes are an important part of Utah’s ecosystem,” Wheeler says. “They help keep the rodent population in check. And that helps keep the diseases rodents carry in check too.”
Keeping snakes out of your yard
Rocky, talus slopes aren’t the only place in Utah where you might encounter a rattlesnake. Depending on where you live, you could find a snake in your yard.
Aside from building a fence that rattlesnakes can’t penetrate, Wheeler says the following are the best ways to keep rattlesnakes out of your yard:
Tip 1 - Reduce the number of places that provide snakes with shelter. Brush, wood, rock and junk piles are all items you should get rid of.
Tip 2 - Control rodent populations. Bird feeders and water are two of the main items that draw rodents to yards.
Tip 3 - Avoid scaring away harmless snake species, such as gopher snakes. Having other snake species on or near your yard may deter rattlesnakes from wandering through.
Tip 4 – Wheeler says he’s heard of people using "snake repellents." But he isn’t aware of any scientific testing that shows these products are effective.
For more information, call the nearest Division of Wildlife Resources office or the DWR’s Salt Lake City office at 801-538-4700.
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Fish for free on June 9
Fishing license not required on Free Fishing Day
If you’d like to introduce someone to fishing—or you’d like to give fishing a try, but you don’t have a fishing license—mark June 9 on your calendar.
June 9 is Free Fishing Day in Utah. You don’t need a fishing license to fish in the state that day.
Randy Oplinger says Free Fishing Day is a great day not only for beginning anglers but for experienced anglers too.
“Because you don’t need a license to fish that day,” says Oplinger, sport fisheries coordinator for the Division of Wildlife Resources, “it’s the perfect time to take someone fishing with you and introduce them to the sport. And, if you don’t have a license, it’s the perfect time to pick up a fishing pole and give fishing a try.”
Another great thing is Free Fishing Day is held at the start of June. “Early June is one of the best times to fish in Utah,” Oplinger says. “All of the fish in the state, both warmwater fish and coldwater fish, are active and willing to bite this time of the year.”
Special events
If you don’t have any fishing equipment—or you do, but you’d like some help fishing—special events are the place to be.
“At most of the events,” Oplinger says, “equipment will be available for you to use. And volunteers will be on hand, to help you and your kids fish. Also, many of these waters will be stocked with fish before the event, so there should be plenty of fish to catch.”
Northern Utah
Two fun fishing events will be held in Logan and Bountiful:
· Bear River Celebration and Free Fishing Day at Willow West Park, 500 W. 700 S. in Logan. The free event runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The park includes Skylar’s Pond.
Kids can catch fish at Skylar’s Pond using rods and reels that will be available that day. This free community event is full of hands-on educational activities for youth and their families. Each year, hundreds of youth participate and learn more about water quality, wildlife, plants, recreation and fishing in the Bear River watershed. Visit https://bit.ly/2LtEJvD for more information.
· Cops and Kids Fishing Day at Bountiful Pond. The pond is just west of Legacy Highway in Bountiful. The event runs from 9 – 11 a.m.
DWR conservation officers and officers from local police departments will be available to help beginning anglers catch fish. If you have your own fishing rod and reel, please bring it. If you don’t have one, no problem—rods and reels will be available to use.
North-central Utah
Free fishing events will be held at two locations in north-central Utah:
· The fishing pond at Wasatch Mountain State Park. The park is in Midway. Fishing rods will be available to rent, and worms will be available for purchase. Volunteers will also be on hand, to help you fish. Fishing runs from dawn to dusk.
· Pole Canyon fishing pond, 9 a.m. to noon. The pond is near Santaquin. If you’re 16 years of age or younger, you can participate in a Youth Fishing Derby that day. The first boy and the first girl who catch a fish will win a prize. Prizes will also be awarded for the biggest fish caught in each age division. A raffle for prizes will also be held, and hotdogs will be served for lunch. The Santaquin City Recreation Department is sponsoring the event.
· Community Lake (also called Lake Hill Pond) in Ephraim Canyon, about five miles east of Ephraim. The free event includes a fishing contest. Registration for the contest begins at 9 a.m. The contest starts at 10 a.m. Food and prizes will be available. You must bring your own fishing equipment and bait. Before the event, the DWR will stock the pond with trout. The U.S. Forest Service is sponsoring the free event. For more information, call the Sanpete Ranger District office at 435-283-4151.
Northeastern Utah
Free fishing events will be held at three locations. At one of the locations—Steinaker Reservoir—prizes will be awarded for catching the most bluegill and the largest bluegill. If you have your own fishing rod, please bring it to the events. If you don’t have your own rod and reel, no problem: a limited number will be available to use. Personnel from the sponsoring agencies will also be available to help you fish and answer your questions about local fishing hot spots:
· Moose Pond, 9 a.m. to noon. The lake is in Daggett County.
· Lower Stillwater Ponds, 9 a.m. to noon. The ponds are in Duchesne County.
· Steinaker Reservoir, 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. The reservoir is in Uintah County.
Southeastern Utah
Wildlife & Wardens event at the Carbon County Community Fishing Pond, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The pond is in Price at 450 S. Fairgrounds Road. Division of Wildlife Resources’ conservation officers and Carbon County Sheriff’s deputies will be available to help young anglers catch fish. Youngsters can also shoot bows and arrows and learn about wildlife at several learning stations. Lunch will be provided.
Southwestern Utah
Free food, prizes and fun are waiting for you at two events in southwestern Utah. Fishing equipment will be available to check out and use. DWR personnel and volunteers will be available to help young anglers fish and to help them keep their hooks baited:
· Little Reservoir, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The reservoir is east of Beaver.
· Bristlecone Pond, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The pond is at the Brian Head Ski Resort east of Parowan.
In addition to food and prizes, Sportsmen for Fish and Wildlife will host a free fishing workshop at Bristlecone Pond.
Fishing basics
If you’re going to pick up a rod and reel and fish on your own on June 9, hop on the Internet before June 9 and check out the many instructional websites and videos that teach the basics of fishing. A good place to start is www.takemefishing.org/how-to-fish/how-to-catch-fish.
Community fishing ponds
You’ll likely have company on June 9, but waters in communities across Utah—called community fishing ponds—are great places for beginning anglers to fish. The ponds are close to home, most have restrooms and other facilities, and many of them will be stocked with channel catfish—averaging 14 inches long—before June 9.
You can learn more about the ponds at www.wildlife.utah.gov/fishing-in-utah/community-fisheries.html.
Other good waters
In addition to the community fishing ponds, several additional waters should also be good places to fish on June 9. Oplinger divides the best fisheries to visit on Free Fishing Day into two categories: ‘best family fishing waters’ and ‘places to fish and get away from it all.’
“Waters in the second category will offer good fishing on June 9 without the crowds,” he says.
Best family fishing waters
· Mantua and Willard Bay reservoirs (Northern Utah)
· Lakes on the Manti Mountains (North-central Utah)
· Brown’s Draw, Cottonwood, Currant Creek, East Park and Steinaker reservoirs (Northeastern Utah)
Places to fish and get away from it all
· Lost Creek Reservoir and lakes on the Uinta Mountains (Northern Utah)
· Long Park Reservoir, Flaming Gorge Reservoir and Spirit Lake (Northeastern Utah)
· Navajo Lake and lakes on the Boulder Mountains (Southwestern Utah)
Fishing reports
You can stay updated on fishing at these waters, and other waters in Utah, by reading the DWR’s fishing reports at www.wildlife.utah.gov/hotspots.
Two additional websites—bigfishtackle.com and utahwildlife.net—also provide up-to-date fishing information.
Learn the rules
You don’t need a license to fish on June 9, but the remaining fishing rules in Utah will be in effect. The rules are available in the 2018 Utah Fishing Guidebook. You can get the free guidebook at www.wildlife.utah.gov/guidebooks.
“If you have questions about a rule or about fishing in Utah,” Oplinger says, “please give our offices a call. We’d be happy to help you.”
A list of DWR offices is available at www.wildlife.utah.gov/about-us/contact-us.html.
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Have fun, catch fish at Wildlife & Wardens event
Free family recreation event on Free Fishing Day
Price -- Fishing is hot at southeastern Utah’s community fisheries. If you’re a young angler, and you want to get in on the action, don’t miss a free Wildlife & Wardens event on June 9.
The event will be held at the Carbon County Community Fishing Pond, 450 S. Fairgrounds Road in Price. Conservation officers with the Division of Wildlife Resources and Carbon County Sheriff’s deputies will be available to help young anglers fish. The free event runs from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
June 9 is Free Fishing Day in Utah, so you won’t need a fishing license to fish that day. Youth of all ages are invited to participate.
“Wildlife & Wardens is an opportunity to learn and have fun at one of Utah’s spectacular community fisheries,” says DWR Lt. Ben Wolford. “We’ll have some fishing poles on hand for those who need them. Another highlight is an archery range that’s part of the event. We’ll provide bows, arrows and a variety of targets, including moving targets, to shoot at.”
In addition to fishing and archery, young outdoor enthusiasts can handle a collection of pelts, antlers and skulls while learning about the animals that live in Utah’s wild places. Lunch will be provided.
“There’s something here for everyone who enjoys being outside,” Wolford says.
To register for the free event, visit https://goo.gl/YpUmNU. If you have questions, call the DWR’s Southeastern Region office at 435-613-3700.
Free Fishing Day is the only day of the year when anglers can fish without a fishing license in Utah. All other fishing laws and rules, including daily limits, still apply.
Anglers to the rescue: saving fish at Steinaker Reservoir
‘Salvage’ event includes free fishing tournament on June 9
Vernal -- This summer and fall, Steinaker Reservoir north of Vernal will be reduced to a ‘mud puddle’ as important repairs are made to its dam. Any fish not caught and removed from the reservoir will likely be lost.
To try to save as many bluegill as possible, the Division of Wildlife Resources needs your help. On June 7, 8 and 10, a bluegill ‘salvage’ event will be held. Anglers are asked to turn out those days, catch bluegill and then give the live fish to DWR biologists who will also be catching bluegill at the reservoir during the event. The biologists will transport the fish to holding ponds where the fish will remain until the reservoir refills. After it refills, biologists will place the bluegill back into the reservoir to help jumpstart the fishery.
To learn more about the three-day event—including the time of day when biologists need the bluegill in order to transport the fish—visit http://bit.ly/steinaker_bluegill.
To add some extra fun to the salvage effort, on June 9, the DWR, Utah State Parks and the Bureau of Reclamation will hold a free bluegill fishing tournament at Steinaker. June 9 is Free Fishing Day, so you won’t need a fishing license to participate. You can learn more about the tournament, and register to participate, at http://bit.ly/bluegill_tourney.
“The four-day event, including the tournament, is a chance for the public to join with us to save fish that will be lost if we don’t remove them from the reservoir,” says Tonya Kieffer, regional conservation outreach manager for the DWR.
One event already held
To try to save as many fish as possible, the DWR held a largemouth bass ‘salvage’ event in May. Natalie Boren, regional aquatics biologist for the DWR, says more than 50 volunteer anglers—from all over Utah—showed up to help.
“They caught bass from their own personal boats and from the shore,” she says, “Unfortunately, with the water temperature hovering in the mid 50s, catching fish proved difficult. That’s why we’re asking for the public’s help again in June.”
The June 7 – 10 event will mostly focus on collecting bluegill, but biologists will also take any largemouth bass anglers catch. “We’re looking for volunteers—both boat anglers and shore anglers—to help us out,” Kieffer says.
In addition to helping jumpstart the fishery when Steinaker refills, those who participate will help anglers who enjoy fishing in community ponds along the Wasatch Front.
“DWR biologists from the Wasatch Front are coming out to assist us,” Kieffer says. “In return, they’ll receive up to 4,000 bluegill that they’ll transplant in the community ponds.”
Free tournament on June 9
Chante Lundskog, regional wildlife recreation specialist for the DWR, says the June 9 tournament will be a fun way for families, no matter their skill level, to get out and have fun while helping the fishery. “Prizes will be awarded to those who catch the most bluegill and the largest bluegill that day,” she says.
Up to 150 anglers can participate. Registration will close June 6 at midnight or whenever all of the spots are filled, whichever comes first. You can see official rules for the tournament when you register at http://bit.ly/bluegill_tourney.
“The tournament is free,” Lundskog says, “but if you want to enter Steinaker State Park, you’ll need to pay the entrance fee.”
Recovering the fishery
Kieffer says the drawdown will take Steinaker Reservoir past dead pool, and a complete fish kill is expected. “After repairs are completed and the reservoir fills back up,” she says, “we’ll restock it with bluegill, rainbow trout and brown trout. Largemouth bass will be added a year after refilling begins.”
Kieffer reminds anglers that it’s illegal to move live fish from one body of water to another. Only DWR biologists can do that.
If you have questions about the June 7 – 10 event, call Boren at 435-219-2644 or Lundskog at 385-225-4322.
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Sharpen your abilities at DWR Archery Clinic
Free event for beginning and intermediate archers happens June 16
Price -- Archery can be enjoyed by just about anyone, whether you’re a new or an old hand at shooting sports.
If you’re interested in trying archery for the first time, or getting your shot groupings a little tighter, a free event is coming up that you won’t want to miss.
On June 16, the Division of Wildlife Resources will host a free Archery Clinic at the Gordon Creek Wildlife Management Area near Price. The clinic starts at 9 a.m. and ends at 11 a.m.
“Archery is a sport that encompasses a variety of methods and styles: hunting, target shooting, competition, primitive methods, modern technology and so much more,” says Walt Maldonado, the DWR’s wildlife recreation program specialist in southeastern Utah. “We’ll provide hands-on instruction that will help you shoot better. An array of shooting opportunities will also be available to try.”
A variety of compound bows will be available for participants of all ages, but you’re also welcome to bring your own archery equipment. The clinic will include bullseye targets, 3-D wildlife targets, moving targets and a crossbow.
To participate, you must register for the event. Driving directions to the clinic’s location will be provided during the registration process. To register, visit https://goo.gl/fNiYT8.
Sportsman’s Corner of Bill’s Home Furnishings in Price is providing door prizes, which will be awarded at the end of the clinic.
If you have questions about the clinic, call the DWR’s Southeastern Region office at 435-613-3707.
Fishing reports - available at http://wildlife.utah.gov/hotspots .
