February 12, 2001

A Committee meeting was held this date: Present were:

Kay Craig, Vic Fatovic, Robb Leishman, Dean Mitchell (DWR Upland Game Program Manager), Ernie Perkins, Hal Smith and John Staley (Chair). The minutes from the meeting held on January 8th, 2001, were approved as submitted – except that Robb Leishman attended and Rob Aravich did not.

OLD BUSINESS:

Dean Mitchell distributed new Division publications and info sheets on the youth upland game (pheasant) hunting program, and the 2000 Annual Habitat Report.

Chukar Partridge Management Plan:

Dean Mitchell distributed a compilation of the inputs received from the committee members on the topics of natural history, management, habitat and populations. The committee will review these inputs and provide feedback to Dean – who is serving as compiler and editor. The committee then developed a draft list of potential “issues and concerns” as follows:

1. Viability of pen raised birds
2. Impact of guzzlers
3. Loss of historic established populations
4. Understanding the tremendous fluctuations of Utah Chukar populations
5. Estimating / understanding the impacts of predation
6. The lack of a written plan and elements for building maximum populations in an area
7. A specific definition of the preferred/optimum Utah habitat
8. The lack of resources ($$) to build populations and opportunity
9. The lack of guzzlers and water development
10. Understanding the impacts of weather and climate
11. A plan to increase Chukar hunting and viewing opportunities in Utah
12. The lack of sufficient and solid data to drive management decisions and recommendations
13. The lack of habitat management for Chukar on BLM lands
14. The need for a model or showcase project in Utah
15. The impacts of disease
16. A genetic analysis of Utah populations vs. European and Asian populations – do we have birds from areas that are comparably arid and affected by winter rigors?
17. Population building/recovery plans following loss of localized or general populations due to severe winters

These will be reviewed, refined, and assigned out for draft write-up at the next meeting.

NEW BUSINESS:

Additional Youth Pheasant Hunt:

An individual who is applying for a new Commercial Hunting Area in the Northern Region has inquired regarding support to put on an additional youth pheasant hunt this year. Birds for the hunt would be provided by private funds. The Division and the Committee were delighted to learn of another opportunity in the State.

The committee discussed the many pros and cons of trying to make this happen this year versus delaying until the following year. The primary issues are legality, advertising and finding volunteer support for the requestor.

Dean Mitchell advised that this could only work for this year if the property is formally approved as a Commercial Hunting Area (CHA). Once that hurdle is past, Dean believes that the advertising and publicity can be reasonably worked. Dean has asked the Northern Region Wildlife Section to contact the applicant, and to decide if they can support the hunt this year.

Ernie Perkins will look for volunteer support – dependent upon Northern Region Office support and CHA approval.

Guzzler Study:

Dean Mitchell advised the committee of progress getting a formal study of Utah guzzlers (types, placement, benefits, etc.) going. BYU will tackle the project as a doctoral thesis project. The committee looked at, and discussed at some length, the draft study objectives, etc. The study will include big game – as well as upland – guzzlers and species.

This is a major project of great significance for upland game in most area of Utah. We have put some 300 guzzlers out in the past several years, but this pales by comparison with the Nevada operation. The study is needed to define and/or confirm the pros and cons of guzzler types, useage, placement, and risks, as well as the need for (and anticipated benefits from) additional resources.

CLOSING:

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:

Ray Lee rlee@mail.rhs.weber.k12.ut.us
Rob Leishman Robbrpt@uswest.net
Dean Mitchell nrdwr.dmitchel@state.ut.us
Darrell Noble roofs@inconnect.com
Ernie Perkins eperkins@uswest.net
Joe Riches Starrline@efortress.com
Hal Smith hmsmith@parkcity.net
John Staley jsmunster@aol.com

The next Committee meeting is planned for Monday, March 19th, 2001, at 6:00 P.M. at the DWR State offices at 1594 West North Temple, Salt Lake City. Topics planned are to work the Chukar Management Plan. Specific tasks will be to provide input on the current draft, to refine the list of issues and concerns, to assign out this refined list for drafts, and to develop a list of goals, objectives and strategies. The meeting scheduled for March 19th has been canceled. The next meeting will take place on Monday April 23, 2001 at the DWR Salt Lake Office beginning at 6:00 pm.

Everyone is invited to attend these meetings.