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Posted
Thursday, November 07, 2002
The Utah Upland Game Advisory Committee Meeting minutes, Feb. 20, 2003 Opening A meeting of the Utah Upland Game Advisory Committee was held on this date. Present:
Old business Chukar management plan Walk-in access New business Guzzler study update The study is focusing on the use of guzzlers by turkeys and chukars and the impact on their populations. It is still in the early stages, but Danny and Randy were able to give us some great information about their methodology and initial results. Fifty-two turkeys were released last fall at 3 guzzler sites relatively near each other but remote from any other guzzlers. The birds have been fitted with radio transponders and are monitored twice weekly. The study will document nesting sites, roosting areas and will monitor the clutch sizes and poult recruitment through the 3 year lifetime of the study. So far, the researchers have reported relatively low mortality amongst the planted birds and they have had good success tracking them and documenting their habits. For chukars, the researchers will be studying the wild population at the same location as the planted turkeys. Some preliminary research and observation seems to support the theory that adult chukars do not require a great deal of standing water throughout the year. However, the research does seem to indicate that chicks do require access to water in order to have a good chance of recruitment. The research also has pointed to some critical factors when placing a guzzler for it to be successful for chukars: it must be close to escape cover and must have good sagebrush cover. Even a change of 10 feet or less distance from escape cover (e.g. cliffs) can make a major difference in how much chukars will use the guzzler. The researchers will report back periodically to the committee throughout the life of the study. They are also asking for help from the chukar hunters in this state. If you shoot any chukar this season, please save the crops from the birds. The researchers asked that you place them in ziplock bags along with a paper stating the date, time and location that you harvested the bird. The location can be as general as the name of the mountain range you were on or as precise as GPS coordinates. If you do provide coordinates, please also include the datum (e.g. WGS 84, NAD 27) that your GPS is using. It was a superb presentation, and the committee is looking forward to getting more updates and seeing the final results of the study. Wildlife Board Nominating Committee nomination Sharptail Grouse survey 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 meeting Our 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 Tony Perkins |