Outdoor notes

ELK PERMITS STILL AVAILABLE

Permits to hunt buck deer in Utah this fall sold out last week.

"With the exception of 1,500 archery permits that will be available next month to hunters who are 18 years of age or younger, all of Utah deer permits are gone," said Judi Tutorow, wildlife licensing coordinator for the Division of Wildlife Resources. "But plenty of general bull elk permits are still available. This should be a great year to hunt elk."

The state's general archery elk season starts Aug. 21, and the DWR isn't limited as to the number of general archery elk permits it can sell. In addition to the archery permits, more than 10,300 permits to hunt on spike bull elk units were still available last week. More than 8,900 permits were also available to hunt on the state's any bull elk units.

Elk permits are available at the DWR's website (www.wildlife.utah.gov), from more than 300 license agents across Utah or at any DWR office.

For more information, call the nearest Division of Wildlife Resources office or the DWR's Salt Lake City office at 801-538-4700. The 2010 Utah Big Game Guidebook is available at www.wildlife.utah.gov/guidebooks.

2 RACES SET SATURDAY

The Blacksmith Fork Freedom Run is a mostly downhill 9.3-mile race that starts Saturday morning in Hyrum Hydropark in Blacksmith Fork Canyon.

Runners have to find their own rides up (carpooling encouraged), as there are no buses. The race begins at 7 a.m. and ends in Hyrum City Park, Center Street and Main.

Packet pickup and race-day registration begin at 5:45 a.m. at the starting line. Aid stations at miles 4 and 7 will have water and Gatorade. The race ends with fruit and Great Harvest Bread in the park.

It's $35 for race-day registration. More about the Blacksmith Fork Freedom run is available on its Facebook page.

If 9.3 miles is too long of a distance, try a 5K for a great cause. On Saturday, at 7:30 a.m. the Weber/Morgan Domestic Violence Coalition is hosting a 5K. It will be held at the Ogden City Rodeo Grounds and is $25 for race-day registration.

UPLAND GAME GUIDEBOOK

Sure, it's summertime in Utah right now.

But visit your local sporting goods store or the Division of Wildlife Resources' website, and you'll find a sure sign that fall is on its way: Utah's Upland Game Guidebook for the 2010-11 hunting season is available.