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Get an inside view of hunting, fishing and our day-to-day work with wildlife. Read the Utah wildlife blog and learn from biologists, wildlife and habitat managers, and other specialists from across the state.
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Where there's a will, there's a way
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"You are successful." Those long-awaited words were so exciting to read last spring after 10 years of trying to draw a limited-entry buck deer permit in the Book Cliffs. I was in a group with my brother, Corey, and we were both going hunting!
Ice fishing: Moving beyond the basics
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It's time to gear up for ice-fishing season! If you're serious about ice fishing and want to catch more fish, this post is for you.
When good algae goes bad
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Warm weather in the summer months can sometimes cause a harmful algal bloom at your favorite Utah waterbody. Just a few years ago, we rarely heard about these blooms. Now, there are advisories every year. What changed? And how do these blooms affect recreation and fishing?
The strategy and science behind fish stocking
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"Why did you stock that species of fish in that water?" is one of the most common questions I get as a fisheries professional. That question is usually followed by "And, why did you stock the fish at that size?"
Channeling my inner Hobbit
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My favorite reason for hunting forest grouse (also called dusky and ruffed grouse) is because I absolutely love hiking through their majestic, forested home.
When wildlife wanders into your neighborhood
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You've probably seen a news story or social media post that showed the DWR relocating bears, cougars or moose that wandered into neighborhoods. We live in Utah, which has a lot of wildlife — and a growing human population — so this happens from time to time.
Rebuilding Pelican Lake for future generations
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As a kid, Pelican Lake was the most fun place you could fish in the whole world. I vividly remember days of catching so many bluegill and bass that my thumb was raw from taking them off the hook. Now, as a regional fisheries biologist in my hometown, it's my job to restore this fishery to its past glory.
Walleye on the dinner plate
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Spring means all kinds of walleye activity around these parts, and we're pretty excited about it. Our aquatic biologists are currently in the middle of spawning operations out at Willard Bay, preparing to grow millions of sterile walleye to plant into waters throughout the state.
Elk hit. Elk down.
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Wow. Holy smokes. I was almost having an out-of-body experience. I couldn't quite comprehend what had just happened as I walked up to this huge, beautiful creature. Being able to hike around the same places the elk frequent and learn so much about them and their environment was an amazing experience.
Water for wildlife
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With Utah being such a dry state, there are many areas that cannot sustain healthy wildlife populations, simply due to lack of water. These areas often contain the food, cover and other items necessary for wildlife to thrive, but wildlife do not use them because water is such a limiting factor.