Outdoor notes

ANNUAL SPORTSMAN PERMITS

Applications for next year's most prized Utah hunting permits — 2011 sportsman permits — will be available by Nov. 1.

Only Utah residents may apply for sportsman permits. One sportsman 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's choice bison, hunter's choice Rocky Mountain goat, black bear, cougar and wild turkey.

Applications for the permits will open Nov. 1 at www.wildlife.utah.gov. Applications must be submitted no later than 11 p.m. on Nov. 18. Draw results will be posted by Dec. 9. Those who draw a permit will also receive a letter in the mail.

For more information, see page 31 of the 2010 Utah Big Game Guidebook (www.wildlife.utah.gov/guidebooks) or call the nearest Division of Wildlife Resources office, or the DWR's Salt Lake City office at (801) 538-4700.

DEER HUNTING CHANGES

Deer hunters across Utah have been waiting for the chance to review possible changes to the state's most popular hunt.

Well, the wait is finally over. The changes — the biggest deer hunting changes proposed in Utah in almost 15 years — are now available. If you like to hunt deer in Utah, you need to let the Utah Wildlife Board know which hunting option you want the board to pass.

The Division of Wildlife Resources will present some major changes for the 2011 hunt at a series of statewide public meetings in November.

You can learn about the proposed changes and find the meeting schedule by visiting this Web page — www.wildlife.utah.gov/dwr/2011-deer-changes.html.

Anis Aoude, big game coordinator for the DWR, says the proposed deer hunting changes are the biggest proposed in Utah in almost 15 years.

PHEASANT, QUAIL HUNTS

This fall might be the time to give quail hunting in Utah a try.

California quail and Gambel's quail populations have done well in Utah the past few years. And they appear to be doing even better this year.

Hunts for both species of quail start Nov. 6. Utah's ring-necked pheasant hunt starts the same day.

Despite a continuing loss of habitat, more upland game hunters — about 15,000 — pursue pheasants than any other upland game species in Utah.