From Deseret News archives:
5 meetings to discuss hunting permits
Cougar hunting proposals the Division of Wildlife Resources is recommending would probably result in about 325 cougars being taken in Utah during the state's 2006—07 season. That's similar to the 332 cougars taken during the 2005—06 season and the 321 taken during the 2004—05 season.
"An effort has been under way in Utah for years to reduce the number of cougars in the state, and it appears those efforts have worked," says Kevin Bunnell, mammals program coordinator for the DWR.
"Now we're shifting the emphasis from trying to reduce the number of cougars to maintaining a balance between cougars and the deer, bighorn sheep and other animals cougars prey on."
There will also be a proposal to create separate Canada goose hunting zone in northern Utah, which is the major waterfowl hunting change the DWR is proposing for the upcoming season.
The zone would include all of Cache and Rich counties, and the northeast portion of Box Elder County. The goose hunt in the zone would begin at the start of the waterfowl season in October and would run until mid-January.
The goose-hunting season in the remainder of the state would be a split season, but it would be a bit different from last year. The season would begin in early October, and then it would close during the last week in October. The season would then reopen and run until the end of January.
"Federal law only allows the goose hunting season to be a certain number of days," said Tom Aldrich, migratory game bird coordinator for the DWR.
"Last year we wanted to allow hunters to hunt geese in late January. That's the time of year when geese begin leaving urban areas along the Wasatch Front and start visiting the marshes again to begin the breeding and nesting season."
The season had to be closed for two weeks last year to allow hunters to hunt geese at the beginning of the season and still have some days available to hunt in late January. Because the general waterfowl season will open one week later this year — on Oct. 7 — closing the goose season for only one week will still leave hunters with enough days to hunt into late January.
Aldrich said some of the hunters in northern Utah, and some of the state and federal agency waterfowl managers in the area, have indicated they'd like to go back to a straight season.
"That's why we're recommending a zone with an early, straight season for that area this year," he said.
The meetings will be:
July 25 — southern region, 7 p.m., Delta High School, 50 W. 300 North in Delta.
July 26 — southeastern region, 6:30 p.m., John Wesley Powell Museum, 885 E. Main in Green River.
July 27 — northeastern region, 6:30 p.m., Western Park No. 2, 302 E. 200 South in Vernal.
Aug. 1 — central region, 6:30 p.m., Springville High School, 1205 E. 900 South in Springville.
Aug. 2 — northern region, 6:30 p.m., Brigham City Community Center, 24 N. 300 West, in Brigham City.
For more information contact the nearest Division of Wildlife Resources office or the DWR's Salt Lake City office at 801-538-4700.
