THE UTAH UPLAND GAME ADVISORY COMMITTEE

July 9, 2001

A committee meeting was held this date: Present were:

Ray Lee, Dean Mitchell (DWR Upland Game Program Manager), Ernie Perkins, John Staley (Chair), Terry Sanslow, and Luke Topper. Minutes from the last meeting, May 21st, 2001, were approved as submitted.

OLD BUSINESS:

Chukar Partridge Management Plan:

The majority of this meeting was spent on the Chukar Management Plan, adding to the “issues and concerns” that were developed at the last meeting and adding some goals and strategies. As of the end of this meeting – the current listing is:

ISSUES AND CONCERNS

1. Habitat Issues and Concerns:

a. Understanding and defining the importance of water to Chukar in Utah.

b. Understanding and defining the importance of wildfires, and the lack of rehabilitative management to re-establish shrubs, cover and forbs.

c. Delineating optimum Utah habitats.

2. Population Management Issues and Concerns:

a. Determining Chukar distribution in Utah.

b. Establishing and maintaining Chukars in Utah.

c. The lack of sufficient authoritative data to drive management decisions such as harvest management strategies and season opening dates.

d. Understanding of the impacts of disease on Utah Chukar populations.

e. Understanding of the impacts of predation on Utah Chukar populations.

3. Resource Issues and Concerns:

a. The lack of resources to restore habitat, and to build populations.

b. The lack of a model or showcase project to convincingly demonstrate the potential populations that could be established.

c. The lack of a plan to increase Chukar recreational opportunities.

GOALS, OBJECTIVES AND STRATEGIES

GOAL A: Establish and Maintain Optimum Chukar Populations in All Suitable Habitat in Utah.

Objective 1. Increase Utah Base Chukar Populations by 100% by 2010.

Strategy a. Refine/validate current Chukar distribution and populations and

optimum habitat in Utah

Strategy b. Develop a transplant priority list

Strategy c. Develop a Utah Chukar census methodology and plan

Strategy d. Develop a Chukar “population loss/event” emergency response plan

Objective 2. Improve Chukar Habitat on 64,000 acres by 2010.

Strategy a. Develop a Chukar habitat projects list

Strategy b. Define habitat development guidelines / target habitat goals

GOAL B: Increase Chukar Hunting and Viewing Opportunity in Utah

Objective 1. Increase Chukar Hunting Opportunity by 100% by 2010.

Objective 2. Establish “viewable” Chukar populations at all practical parks and public sites.

These issues, concerns, goals, objectives, and strategies will be reviewed and refined at the next meeting.

Youth Pheasant Hunt: Applications are available on the internet and in the Upland proclamation. Applications are due postmarked by September 7th. Some adjustment may be necessary in the Central Region due to a large fire on the Walt Fitzgerald WMA. Everything is on track at this point.

Guzzler Study: We're making progress! The Water for Wildlife Foundation (Lander, Wy.) has pledged $5,000.00 per year for several years to the effort. The Forest Service has also committed for the first year. Major (hopefully) contributors we are still waiting to hear decisions from include the National Wild Turkey Foundation and the BLM. The Committee reaffirmed the critical importance of this study to Utah’s wildlife and it’s management.

Walk-In-Access Project: John Staley updated the Committee on this project. Surveys to Farm Bureau State Meeting attendees are being collected this week. Mr. Wes Johnson (Utah Blue Ribbon Fisheries and Trout Unlimited) and Mr. Jerry Mason (Utah Wildlife Federation) should be at the next meeting on August 1st. Minutes of these meeting are now posted on the DWR internet site.

Chukar Transplants: A brief discussion on Chukar transplants ensued. Adjustments in transplant locations are feasible if drought conditions in an area or region warrant changes. Surprisingly, there are some anectodal stories of good recruitment (reproduction) coming in from locations in Utah and Idaho. The committee concluded that, even in periods of extreme drought, well spaced showers or well located showers can produce vegetation, insects and birds.

NEW BUSINESS: There was no new business presented at this meeting. It looks like the present topics will keep the Committee busy for some time.

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, August 20th, 2001, at 6:00 P.M. at the DWR State offices at 1594 West North Temple, Salt Lake City. (This meeting has been canceled)This meeting will again be largely dedicated to progress on the Chukar Management Plan, specifically working Chukar management goals, objectives and strategies. The second next meeting is planned for Thursday, September 20th, 2001, at 6:00 P.M. at the DWR State offices at 1594 West North Temple, Salt Lake City. This meeting will work on the Youth Pheasant Hunt and then other topics. Everyone is invited to attend these meetings.