Gunlock Reservoir named Utah’s newest Blue Ribbon Fishery
SALT LAKE CITY — Blue Ribbon Fishery: It’s a term some Utahns may not be familiar with, but one that every angler should pay close attention to, given that these waterbodies offer some of the best fishing experiences Utah has to offer.
The Blue Ribbon Fisheries program was created in 2001 by then-Gov. Mike Leavitt, and was formally established in 2005 through an executive order by then-Gov. Jon Huntsman.
“The program was created because Utah’s leaders recognized that fishing is one of the state’s most popular recreational activities,” Randy Oplinger, Utah Division of Wildlife Resources sportfish coordinator, said. “There was a need to improve fisheries in Utah and to recognize the best angling opportunities in the state. This program helps fulfill both of those needs.”
In order to be named a Blue Ribbon Fishery, a waterbody has to meet several requirements and provide highly-satisfying fishing and recreational experiences for diverse groups of anglers and outdoor enthusiasts. The waterbodies are selected and reviewed by the Blue Ribbon Fisheries Advisory Council, which is made up of a representative committee of 13 anglers appointed by the governor.
Gunlock Reservoir was selected as the newest Blue Ribbon Fishery during the council’s meeting on Thursday, Nov. 21, making it the 39th waterbody in Utah to currently hold this elite status. The reservoir had previously been named to the prestigious list, but was removed after undergoing a rotenone treatment to remove illegally introduced smallmouth bass.
“These waters are among the best fishing spots in Utah and have been proven to provide not only great fishing, but also ideal habitat for the fish, economic benefits to the local communities, and an overall high-quality experience in the outdoors,” Oplinger said. “They offer high fishing success rates and usually have great amenities like boat ramps and fishing piers.”
High-quality fishing waterbodies are only one important part of the Blue Ribbon Fisheries program. The program also allocates funds for improvements to help maintain that quality experience and to allow other waterbodies to reach Blue Ribbon status. The Advisory Council selects improvement projects for various waterbodies each year, and those projects are then funded by a portion of Utah’s annual fishing license sales.
In 2019, $450,000 went toward 13 Blue Ribbon Fisheries projects and initiatives. The majority of the overall funding was allocated for major upgrades, improvements and enhanced facilities at Pelican Lake, Fish Lake and Lost Creek Reservoir. Details about the Pelican Lake work can be found on the DWR website.
Since the program began, $3.2 million has been allocated to 125 projects that have been completed at various waterbodies across the state. Nearly $850,000 of this money was used to restore 236 acres of riparian habitat and more than 2,000 acres of reservoir habitat at Blue Ribbon or potential Blue Ribbon waters. Around $1.1 million has been used to secure angler access to more than 7 miles of stream corridors and nearly 6,000 acres of reservoir fishing.
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Gunlock Reservoir named Utah’s newest Blue Ribbon Fishery
SALT LAKE CITY — Blue Ribbon Fishery: It’s a term some Utahns may not be familiar with, but one that every angler should pay close attention to, given that these waterbodies offer some of the best fishing experiences Utah has to offer.
The Blue Ribbon Fisheries program was created in 2001 by then-Gov. Mike Leavitt, and was formally established in 2005 through an executive order by then-Gov. Jon Huntsman.
“The program was created because Utah’s leaders recognized that fishing is one of the state’s most popular recreational activities,” Randy Oplinger, Utah Division of Wildlife Resources sportfish coordinator, said. “There was a need to improve fisheries in Utah and to recognize the best angling opportunities in the state. This program helps fulfill both of those needs.”
In order to be named a Blue Ribbon Fishery, a waterbody has to meet several requirements and provide highly-satisfying fishing and recreational experiences for diverse groups of anglers and outdoor enthusiasts. The waterbodies are selected and reviewed by the Blue Ribbon Fisheries Advisory Council, which is made up of a representative committee of 13 anglers appointed by the governor.
Gunlock Reservoir was selected as the newest Blue Ribbon Fishery during the council’s meeting on Thursday, Nov. 21, making it the 39th waterbody in Utah to currently hold this elite status. The reservoir had previously been named to the prestigious list, but was removed after undergoing a rotenone treatment to remove illegally introduced smallmouth bass.
“These waters are among the best fishing spots in Utah and have been proven to provide not only great fishing, but also ideal habitat for the fish, economic benefits to the local communities, and an overall high-quality experience in the outdoors,” Oplinger said. “They offer high fishing success rates and usually have great amenities like boat ramps and fishing piers.”
High-quality fishing waterbodies are only one important part of the Blue Ribbon Fisheries program. The program also allocates funds for improvements to help maintain that quality experience and to allow other waterbodies to reach Blue Ribbon status. The Advisory Council selects improvement projects for various waterbodies each year, and those projects are then funded by a portion of Utah’s annual fishing license sales.
In 2019, $450,000 went toward 13 Blue Ribbon Fisheries projects and initiatives. The majority of the overall funding was allocated for major upgrades, improvements and enhanced facilities at Pelican Lake, Fish Lake and Lost Creek Reservoir. Details about the Pelican Lake work can be found on the DWR website.
Since the program began, $3.2 million has been allocated to 125 projects that have been completed at various waterbodies across the state. Nearly $850,000 of this money was used to restore 236 acres of riparian habitat and more than 2,000 acres of reservoir habitat at Blue Ribbon or potential Blue Ribbon waters. Around $1.1 million has been used to secure angler access to more than 7 miles of stream corridors and nearly 6,000 acres of reservoir fishing.
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Good morning, members of the media!
Since we gave an update halfway through the year on the number of bear incidents, we wanted to give another update at the end of the season. We also wanted to get people thinking about bear safety ahead of next summer.
Thanks!
For Immediate Release
Nov. 18, 2019
Reported black bear incidents in Utah nearly double in 2019 from previous year
SALT LAKE CITY — Most of Utah’s black bears have begun entering dens to hibernate for the winter, ending a busy summer of wildlife biologists relocating nuisance bears throughout Utah.
The total number of black bear incidents reported to the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources was 53 statewide, as of Nov. 7. The majority of the incidents involved bears getting into garbage or food at campgrounds or neighborhoods, but two involved a bear making physical contact with a person.
In 2018, 27 bear incidents were reported statewide, less than half of the reported incidents from 2019. While the number of incidents hasn’t increased year over year, biologists believe there are several reasons for this year’s increase.
“The most likely reason is that we have increased the numbers of black bears in the state over the last decade or so,” Darren DeBloois, DWR game mammals coordinator, said. “So more bears can mean more conflict. You must also allow for some randomness, however. Although 2019 had more reported bear incidents than 2018, it had fewer than in 2017. Some of this is due to local conditions each year like drought, the length of winter hibernations (2019 had a late spring which kept bears hibernating for longer) or a lack of natural foods, which can push bears into conflict situations in search of food.”
The three areas that had the most reported bear incidents across the state in 2019 were:
Between Salt Lake City and Santaquin
Grand County
The north end of Zion National Park
Coincidentally, these areas also have the largest populations of people or receive high traffic from people hiking or camping in the outdoors.
Black bears in Utah begin to enter dens for hibernation as early as the end of October, and the majority are hibernating by mid-November. While bears won’t emerge from hibernation until March or April, people should start planning now for how to prevent conflicts in the coming year.
“One of the most effective ways to reduce conflicts with bears is to deny them a food source,” DeBloois said. “This can include a wide range of things like bird feeders (especially hummingbird feeders), pet food, unsecured garbage and coolers to things that aren’t food, but might smell like a food source to a bear, like toothpaste and deodorant. Whether you are camping or whether you live in a mountain or canyon area, you should always make sure to keep your food and garbage secure to keep you and the bears safe from harm.”
Black bears are the only bear species currently in Utah. Learn other ways to prevent conflicts with them on the Wild Aware Utah website.
Apply for Utah’s spring turkey hunting permits starting Dec. 3
SALT LAKE CITY — Thanksgiving is a time that centers around all-things turkey. From cute home decor to deliciously prepared main courses, turkeys are a big focal point of this holiday. If you like the idea of harvesting your own locally-sourced turkey instead of fighting the crowds to buy one at your neighborhood supermarket, you can start planning now for next year’s Thanksgiving feast — apply for an opportunity to hunt turkeys in Utah next spring.
The application period for the spring 2020 limited-entry turkey hunt opens on Dec. 3. To be included in the permit drawing, you must submit your application before 11 p.m. on Dec. 30. You can apply on the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources website or over the phone by calling the nearest DWR regional office.
The results of the drawing will be released no later than Jan. 7, 2020. You'll be notified by email, but you can also get the drawing results online or by calling 1-800-221-0659.
The limited-entry hunt will be held April 11-30, 2020. The following permits are available for each of the DWR’s five regions:
Northern: 242
Central: 141
Northeastern: 155
Southeastern: 192
Southern: 1,000
If you don’t draw one of the limited-entry permits, however, you can still hunt turkeys in the spring. After the limited-entry hunt is over, the general statewide turkey hunt happens in May. Permits for the general-season hunt are not limited, so you’ll have no problem getting one.
Permits for Utah’s general statewide turkey hunt go on sale at 8 a.m. on Feb. 20, 2020.
More information about Utah’s upcoming spring turkey hunting season is available in the 2019-2020 Utah Upland Game and Turkey Guidebook. The free guidebook is available on the DWR website or you can pick up a copy at a DWR office or from hunting and fishing license agents across Utah.
History of turkeys in Utah
There are currently between 25,000-35,000 wild turkeys throughout the state, and they’re doing really well. There are two turkey subspecies that live in Utah: Rio Grande and Merriam’s. Turkeys have a long history of being in Utah, but while today’s populations are thriving, that wasn’t always the case.
“Based on historical and archeological evidence, it’s clear Native Americans and turkeys coexisted in Utah,” DWR Upland Game Coordinator Heather Talley said. “That evidence includes pictographs, petroglyphs, blankets made from turkey feathers, and turkey bones that have been found at places where Native Americans lived historically.”
However, until the 1950s, established turkey populations hadn’t been seen in Utah in 100 years or more. Except for a failed reintroduction in the 1920s, no records exist of turkeys being in Utah from the time Europeans started exploring the state to the successful reintroduction of the birds in the 1950s.
During the 1950s, biologists with the Utah Department of Fish and Game (the agency’s name was later changed to the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources in 1967) successfully released Merriam’s wild turkeys in southern Utah. Subsequent releases of both Merriam’s and Rio Grande turkeys happened through the years. Wild turkey populations in Utah really took off, though, starting in 1989.
“As the years went by, houses and roads started eating up pheasant habitat in parts of the state,” Talley said. “As a result, pheasant populations in those areas declined. We wanted to give the state’s upland game hunters another opportunity, and wild turkeys fit the bill perfectly. Turkey reintroductions increased, and the state’s turkey population took off.”
At first, biologists brought birds in from other states, with South Dakota providing most of the birds Utah received. Now, turkeys in Utah are doing so well that biologists can simply move birds within the state, either to start new populations or to supplement populatio
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WR proposes minor changes to black bear permit numbers
SALT LAKE CITY — The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources is proposing a few changes to the number of black bear permits for the 2020 hunting and pursuit seasons and is requesting the public’s feedback on the proposals.
Black bear permit and pursuit proposals
In 2018, the Utah Wildlife Board approved the permit numbers and season structure for bear hunting in Utah for the next three years. However, concerns about large numbers of pursuers and dogs on some hunting units, mule deer populations on one unit, and clarifications about fair chase aspects of hunting bears using dogs have prompted a few recommended changes.
The DWR is proposing the following recommendations:
Implementing restricted pursuit seasons in the spring for the La Sal, San Juan and Book Cliffs units, with 75 pursuit permits available for each unit. Of those permits, only 10% will be available for non-residents.
Limiting the number of dogs that can be used to pursue or harvest a single bear or mountain lion to 16 dogs.
Retaining the eight-dog limit for the restricted summer pursuit seasons.
Clarifying in rule that a person may not pursue a single bear or mountain lion in repeated pursuits, where it could render the animal physically unable to escape. Also clarifying that a person must make reasonable efforts to call dogs off of a bear or mountain lion after it has been cornered and held at bay.
Recommending an increase of 30 spot-and-stalk permits in the fall for the Plateau and Boulder/Kaiparowits units to help address concerns about mule deer population numbers (bringing the total to 50 permits).
Recommending an increase of five permits for the summer bait season also on the Plateau and Boulder/Kairparowits units (bringing the total to 17 permits).
“We wanted to implement some of these changes to address concerns about fair chase and resource damage during the pursuit seasons for bears and mountain lions,” DWR game mammals coordinator Darren DeBloois said. “We feel confident that these recommendations will help with that.”
Other agenda items
Along with the recommendations regarding bears, the DWR is also proposing to extend the current Wolf Management Plan for another 10 years. It was approved in 2005 for a 10-year period, and then a five-year extension was approved in 2015. Gray wolves are currently classified as endangered (except for in a small portion of northeastern Utah where they have been delisted) and as an endangered species, they fall under the management of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The Utah Wolf Management Plan will only take effect when wolves are delisted statewide.
The DWR is also proposing an amendment that would allow brine shrimp harvesting companies to more easily transfer their Certificate of Registration, which allows them to harvest brine shrimp from the Great Salt Lake, to another business.
Additional details for all the recommendations can be found on the DWR website.
Give feedback
You can view the proposal presentations and share your feedback online or attend a Regional Advisory Council meeting in person. Online feedback must be submitted before 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 1.
If you’d like to attend the RAC meetings, here are the dates and times for the different regions across Utah:
Central Utah: Dec. 3 at 6:30 p.m. at the Springville DWR office at 1115 N. Main St., Springville
Northern Utah: Dec. 4 at 6 p.m. at the Brigham City Community Center at 24 N. 300 West, Brigham City
Southern Utah: Dec. 10 at 6 p.m. at Cedar City Middle School at 2215 W. Royal Hunte Drive, Cedar
Southeastern Utah: Dec. 11 at 6:30 p.m. at the John Wesley Powell Museum at 1765 E. Main St., Green River
Northeastern Utah: Dec. 12 at 6:30 p.m. at the Vernal DWR office at 318 N. Vernal Ave., Vernal
Wildlife Board Meeting: Jan. 7, 2020 at 9 a.m. at the Utah Department of Natural Resources building at 1594 W. North Temple, Salt Lake City
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