Outdoor notes

ANTELOPE ISLAND STAMPEDE

SYRACUSE — The annual Antelope Island Stampede will be held this weekend.

Activities begin Friday at 5 p.m., when participants can enjoy good food and stroll through vendor booths, then watch as balloonists and kites fly above Antelope Island and the Great Salt Lake. Family entertainment continues through 10 p.m., with a balloon glow at dusk.

Saturday's events begin with a balloon launch at 7:30 a.m. Participants can enjoy the island throughout the day by watching kite demonstrations, visiting vendor booths and listening to live music, with dancers, children's activities and the Historic Fielding Garr Ranch also available. A balloon glow will be held at dusk followed by a fireworks show at 9:30 p.m. Activities continue until 10 p.m. All balloon and kite events depend on weather conditions.

The cost is $10 per vehicle.

For more information, call 801-774-8200 or visitantelopeislandstampede.com.

TUNDRA SWAN PERMITS

Those wishing to hunt tundra swans in Utah this fall must apply for a permit no later than 11 p.m. on Sept. 9.

Permit applications are now available at www.wildlife.utah.gov. Anyone who needs help in applying should call 801-538-4700 no later than 6 p.m. on Sept. 9, or by checking the 2010-11 Utah Waterfowl Guidebook, pages 11-12.

Hunters must complete Utah's one-time Swan Hunter Orientation course before they apply for a permit. The course is available in the waterfowl portion of the Division of Wildlife Resource's website (wildlife.utah.gov/dwr/hunting). The course takes about 30 minutes to complete.

A total of 2,000 permits will be available for this fall's hunt. Last year, 4,406 hunters applied.

Tom Aldrich, migratory game bird coordinator for the DWR, said Utah is one of four states in the Pacific Flyway where hunters can hunt tundra swans.

"If you want an experience that'll get your heart pounding," Aldrich said, "try hunting tundra swans. These birds are huge. Waiting for one to fly in close enough for a good shot is a thrill.

"And just hearing and seeing swans in the marsh in the fall — whether you have a swan permit or not — is quite a thrill, too."

OHV PROGRAM FOR YOUTH

SALT LAKE CITY — The Utah State Parks and Recreation Department's Off-Highway Vehicle program offers two hands-on OHV education courses for youth ages 8 to 15 on Saturday, Sept. 11, and Saturday, Oct. 9, at the Jordan River OHV State Recreation Area.

Students interested in registering for these hands-on courses must first complete and pass the online certification class. The hands-on OHV classes are free, but pre-registration is required by calling 1-800-OHV-RIDE.