Outdoor notes

BEAR RIVER FISH

Phaedra Budy, Utah State University fish ecologist and professor, will discuss the condition of trout populations in the Bear River watershed in northern Utah.

Her presentation will be Saturday from 10 a.m. to noon at the Utah Museum of Natural History.

The presentation is part of the museum's current exhibit — Bear River: Last Chance to Change Course.

Budy has studied the fish in the river, including population assessments and habitat.

The museum is located at the University of Utah, 1390 E. Presidents Circle. Museum admission is $6 for adults, $3.50 for seniors and children 3-12.

For information visit www.umnh.utah.edu.

PRIZED SPORTSMAN PERMITS

Applications for the most prized Utah hunting permits — the 2008 Sportsman Permit — will be available Nov. 1.

Only Utah residents may apply for the permits. One permit is offered for each of the following species: Desert bighorn ram, Rocky Mountain bighorn ram, buck deer, buck pronghorn, bull elk, bull moose, hunter and a choice bison, Rocky Mountain goat, black bear, cougar, sandhill crane and wild turkey.

Hunting dates vary, but in most cases they are longer than the regular season dates.

The only way to apply for a Sportsman Permit is online at www.wildlife.utah.gov. Hunters can start applying on Nov. 1.

Applications must be submitted no later than 11 p.m. on Nov. 15 to be entered in the draw for permits. Draw results will be posted by Dec. 6.

For more information, see pages 31 and 32 of the 2007 Utah Big Game Proclamation or visit www.wildlife.utah.gov/proclamations or call the nearest DWR office.

APPLY FOR COUGAR PERMITS

Permits to hunt cougars on harvest-objective units will go on sale Nov. 7.

Harvest objective units differ in that there is no limit on the number of harvest objective permits that can be sold, and the hunt can close before the season ends if hunters take the number of cougars biologists want taken.

Harvest objective hunting is allowed on 32 units in Utah. If the unit being hunted is closed, hunters can still hunt on any harvest objective unit that is open to hunting.

The 2007-08 cougar harvest objective season begins Nov. 21 on some units and Feb. 16 on others.

Dates can be found in the 2007-08 Utah Cougar Proclamation on www.wildlife.utah.gov/proclamations and from hunting and fishing license agents and DWR offices statewide.

Before each hunting trip, hunters must call 1-888-668-5466 or visit the DWR's Web site to verify that the unit is open.

For more information call the nearest DWR office or 801-538-4700.

TOUR OF UTAH RETURNS

The bicycle Tour of Utah, removed from the race calendar earlier this year, is back on for 2008.