From Deseret News archives:

Utah upland game hunts viewed as a 'mixed bag'

Published: Thursday, Sept. 6, 2007 12:06 a.m. MDT
 |  E-MAIL | PRINT | FONT + - 
This year's series of upland game hunts is being called a "mixed bag," with a side note that a lot of the bird taken will be adults.

Hunting for partridge, grouse, chukar and rabbits opens Sept. 15.

The hot, dry weather has reduced the number of younger birds in some parts of the state.

The hunts opened last month for dove and will end with the cottontail rabbit and snowshoe hare hunts Feb. 29.

"Upland game bird chicks need two things: insects and water. With the hot, dry weather this year, neither of those is in good supply," said Dennis Southerland, upland game coordinator for the Division of Wildlife Resources.

He noted that lush, green vegetation produces more insects. And insects are 90 percent of what an upland game bird chick eats.

Cottontails are near the peak of their annual 10-year population cycle, so there should be plenty of cottontails available to hunters in certain parts of the state.

"Despite the dry conditions, there will still be some good upland game hunting in Utah this fall and winter," he added.

Story continues below
Southerland reminds parents that the minimum age to hunt small game in Utah has been removed. Young people of any age can hunt small game, but they must pass the DWR's Hunter Education course first and must be accompanied by an adult while hunting.

For more information about Hunter Education classes, visit www.wildlife.utah.gov/huntereducation.

Here is a brief look at hunting conditions statewide:

Northern Region

In Cache and Rich counties, forest grouse and chukar numbers are similar to last year. Hunters should look at water sources and riparian habitats. Based on breeding ground surveys, sage grouse populations in Rich County are up about 29 percent from last year. Rabbit populations are slightly improved from last year.

In Box Elder County, a drier-than-normal spring was not favorable for upland game productions. Hungarian partridge populations are down, and hunters should expect poor to fair hunting. Chukar populations in eastern Box Elder County are similar to last year, but in the western part of the county, numbers are down.

Strutting counts for sharp-tailed grouse suggest populations have increased by 17 percent, but the sage grouse has decreased by 16 percent. Rabbit populations are still on their up-cycle.

Comments

You can be the first to comment on this story.

Image
Christopher Watkins, for the Deseret Morning News

A male sage-grouse struts at a lake near Henefer. Hunting for partridge, grouse, chukar and rabbits opens Sept. 15 this year.

previousnext

Latest comments

Gifts for gamers

There are some games I love not on your list. Arkham Asylum for one.

Daughter: Mitchell fed me my pet

Our parents made my brothers help kill and clean our rabbits before we ate...

Why would you keep it open? I would understand if there was a lot of amazing...

The government will run our health care well? Read Reader's Digest, November...

BCS stable at top, Y. up to 14

TCU stomped on the MWC so they are naturally ready to crush Florida, Alabama...

Jazz win 6th in 7 games

could you understand Dave Locke any more than my mom does and she is not even...

Notre Dame fires Weis

Attending the ND/BYU game 3 years ago in south bend, a couple of things stuck...

I missed the game, actually i heard a little bit of Locke on the radio (man...

Hall's pain reflects self-betrayal

quotes were good: Article was dumb and unnecessary.

Understanding translation process

I believe the art depicting Joseph looking at the plates may possibly be...

Advertisements