The Utah dove hunt opened on Monday with mixed reviews. Northern hunters had a tough shoot, southern hunters better shooting.
As is typical for this hunt, the birds moved south . . . But not as fast, reported Jay Roberson, upland game program coordinator for the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, as in past years."The weather has been good and the birds haven't moved much. There just hasn't been much to cause them to move. Also, there's plenty of feed around . . . waste grain, sunflowers and other seeds," he said.
The peak of the dove population typically hits Utah in mid-August. According to Robertson, by the opener, this year Sept. 2, "anywhere from 70 to 80 percent of the birds have moved out of Utah."
Early indications are that hunting pressure and success was down at the checking stations near Corinne and Nephi.
Better hunting was reported in southern areas, such as Beaver, Millard and Iron counties.
This year about 20,000 hunters were spread out statewide. The limit on dove is 10 birds.
As the season progresses, it ends Sept. 30, better hunting will progressively move south as the weather cools.
Utah's upland game seasons - partridge, chuckar, ptarmigan and rabbits - will open Sept. 14.
LIMIT INCREASED - Fishing may now take up to 16 trout from Scofield Reservoir tributaries. Earlier the board approved the taking of 16 fish from the reservoir.
Liberalization of the bag limit applies to all streams that feed the reservoir, such as upper Fish Creek, Pondtown Creek, Mud Creek and Gooseberry Creek below Gooseberry Reservoir dam.The action comes as a result of recent stream sampling by DWR fisheries biologist, who found carp high in the Scofield drainable.
In order to prevent carp from recolonizing the reservoir after it is chemically treated, tributaries will have to be treated and much of the trout population sacrificed.
An increase i the legal limit will allow anglers to harvest as many of these trout as possible prior to the treatment project on Sept. 24-25.
VOLUNTEERS - The DWR is calling for volunteers to assist with the treatment project at Scofield. Help is especially needed for manning the neutralization station below the dam, which will safeguard the trout fishery in lower Fish Creek and the Price River.
Beginning Sept. 24, extra help will be needed for three to four weeks around the clock. If anyone has at least eight hours they could commit to this effort, they re encouraged to call Kevin Christopherson in Price, 637-3310.
ADVISORY - A public health advisory, warning against consumption of fish, ducks and coots taken from Stewart's Lake and the lower Ashley Creek drainage in Uinta County, has been jointly issued by the Utah Department of Health and Environmental Quality, and the Uinta Basin Public Health Department.
Selenium has been found in some animals. Selenium is a naturally-occurring chemical element resembling sulphur. In trace amounts it is a nutritional requirement, but excess dietary intake of selenium is known to cause ski and gastrointestinal disorders.
There is an unproven possibility that ingesting large amounts of selenium may cause fetal malformations in pregnant women.