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Posted
Monday, January 27, 2003
The Utah Upland Game Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes, Jan. 13, 2003 Opening A meeting of the Utah Upland Game Advisory Committee was held on this date. Present
Old business Chukar Management Plan Dean has not been able to get to the plan due to higher priorities. He asked if someone could take on the final edit job. Dan Potts and Ernie Perkins volunteered. Ernie has a lot of free time coming available in the future and ended up with the project. It needs to be finished to go to the RACs in May. Walk-in access Dean was queried on how this program is progressing. He indicated no change since the last meeting. The committee was less than satisfied there has been no movement for some six months. John Staley and Ernie Perkins were asked to set up a meeting with Alan Clark, Wes Shields, and Dean and then to report back to the committee at the next meeting. Youth pheasant hunts The youth pheasant hunts went very well! Thanks to all who helped put them on. Upland game winter trapping Due to the very mild winter, no trapping of pheasants and quail in the urban areas is happening this year. The committee fully supports this decision. Upland game winter feeding policy This policy, which the committee endorsed at its last meeting, was approved and adopted by the RACs and Wildlife Board. Sagebrush steppe habitat projects A related meeting considering a landowner cooperative project (largely for Sharp-tailed Grouse in White's Valley) will occur on January 17th in the Northern Region Offices. There has not been a follow up on the meeting re: very large scale Sagebrush Steppe Habitat Projects yet. Follow up is needed. Upland game survey Dean advised that the survey is in work. No detail on when it will be conducted or results published. New Business Turkey transplant efforts A good turkey transplant effort is going on this winter. 600 turkeys from SD, KS and OK are planned for movement to Utah. In State, 400 600 turkeys are planned for movement working down the priority listing. Budget cuts dictate that NWTF volunteers in place of DWR employees will be used to move the turkeys from other States to Utah. Also, DWR employees will not be doing out of state trapping. Turkey organization report Lynn Baum provided a brief update on NWTF Utah growth, activities and interaction with DWR. A great success story. Chapters, membership & projects all growing at a rapid pace. Pen raised bird purchase contracts The original contracts for purchase of pen raised pheasant and chukar have expired. The contracts will be rebid this year. The "Request for Proposals" should be on the street soon. The committee reaffirmed their appreciation for the excellent birds recently furnished under the current contracts. Sharp-tailed Grouse study A USU Graduate Student, Ron Greer, has been hired to begin the Sharp-tailed Grouse study to include winter habitat use and requirements, tele-monitored birds, etc. Sage-grouse updates Sage-grouse is taking up a tremendous amount of Division time and energy. A massive # of initiatives are underway in the western U.S. Utah DWR will partially fund a manpower position and host an individual who will work to collect and integrate the huge amount of data that has and will be collected. Lots of federal monies are becoming available to restore Sage Brush Steppe Habitat. Our Utah (and DWR) problem will be in having / finding the matching funds that are required to get the federal monies. Guzzler study status The committee asked for an update on the guzzler study. What do we know so far and when it the target for completion? When are the deliverables coming? Dean Mitchell will invite the principals to report at the next meeting. Predator control expenditures The committee discusses continuing expenditure of $70,000 per year for predator control. The committee is not real comfortable with the Upland Game benefits from this use of these funds vs. other uses. (Note: This expenditure is presently mandated by the legislature via "intent" language. This concern is based upon the recently completed Utah study as well as a number of others in other states. Dean Mitchell was asked to provide the committee with an update on specific expenditures and results. Upland game on the Internet You can get more Utah upland game information at http://www.wildlife.utah.gov/uplandgame/ including the past minutes for this committee, news, proclamations, and information about upcoming public meetings. Agenda for next two meetings Our next meeting will be held on Thursday, February 20th at 6:00 P.M. at the DWR State offices at 1594 West North Temple, Salt Lake City. Topics will be:
Our 2nd next meeting will be held on Thursday, March 27th at 6:00 P.M. at the DWR State offices at 1594 West North Temple, Salt Lake City. Topics will be:
Everyone is invited to attend these meetings; it's an opportunity for you to get any issues you know about onto the table. Let us know of donations, projects, etc., made by your group we want to publicize good activities! If you know of other interested parties who should get copies of the minutes, and who are involved in upland game organizations or programs, please get us their name. If you want to make an electronic mail input, please send it to one of the following:
Respectfully submitted Ernie Perkins |