This week is Off-Highway Vehicle Safety Week in Utah.
"Riding OHVs is a great sport and a great family activity," said Garth Taylor, OHV education specialist with the Utah Division of Parks and Recreation."The purpose of OHV Safety Week is to remind people that when they're properly trained and prepared, riding OHVs is fun and safe. Riders also need to remember that our environment is fragile and to ride in a responsible manner."
The Utah Division of Parks and Recreation provides a number of services that promote safe and responsible riding.
These include the "Know Before You Go!" training program and an OHV Information Center in Salt Lake City, where riders can ask questions about OHV laws and receive safety tip information and assistance in finding areas to ride.
In order to operate an OHV on public land, Utah law requires that all riders from the age of eight until a Utah driver-license is received, complete the training. The purpose of the program is to help riders enjoy the sport by teaching them how to ride safely and responsibly.
To register for class, and for information on OHV laws, safety tips and locating areas to ride, contact the division's OHV Information Center at 322-3770, or 1-800-OHV-RIDE (648-7433) outside of Salt Lake City.
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STUDY - A Canadian study suggests that trout exposed to the air for 60 seconds or more after exhaustive exercise and then released by anglers may appear to swim away unharmed, but almost 75 percent die within 12 hours.
According to the study, conducted by Queen's University in Ontario, Canada, "only 28 percent of those fish which were exposed to air for 60 seconds after exercise survived the next 12 hours as compared with 88 percent of those fish which were only exercised." What does this mean for avid catch-and-release anglers? Keep you fish in the water!
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PHOTO WINNERS - REI and "Sports Guide" magazine recently completed their 2nd annual Amateur Photo Contest. This year 94 entries were received.
Monthly winners were: March - Lisa R. Downs, first; Steve Rathbun, second; Larry R. Urry, third; Robert Corson, honorable mention. February - Aaron Rumfallo, first; Minh Tran, second; Todd Schmidt, third; Douglas Brown, honorable mention. January - Howie Garber, first; Liza Poole, second; Geb Souhan, third; Doug Fulkerson, honorable mention.
Winning photos are on exhibit at REI, 3285 East 3300 South, Salt Lake City, through June.