Here's how hunters in southern Utah are once again helping endangered California condors

Salt Lake City — The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources and The Peregrine Fund are once again asking hunters in the Zion hunting unit to stop at check stations where they can enter to win a prize by either using non-lead ammunition or removing all big game remains from the field when hunting with lead ammunition, in an effort to help endangered California condors.

The Hunters Helping Condors program launched in Utah in 2011 to help recover these enormous birds. California condors were listed under the Endangered Species Act in 1967, and by 1982, only 22 were left in the world. Due to the steep decline of the population, the remaining wild condors were captured and held in captivity for safekeeping, which gave rise to a tremendously successful captive breeding program that has allowed for reintroduction of the endangered birds back to the wild. The population now numbers more than 500 birds, with over half of those flying free in the wild. There are currently 114 condors in the wild Arizona/Utah population. This collaborative effort demonstrates a deep-seated conservation ethic demonstrating that hunters are leading the way in conservation.

"Lead poisoning is the leading cause of death for free-flying condors in Utah and Arizona," DWR Avian Conservation Program Coordinator Russell Norvell said. "A frequent source of that lead is the remains of shot animals, a common meal for condors and other scavenging wildlife. The Hunters Helping Condors program is helping to reduce lead exposure, which is helping in the recovery of these unique birds that play an important role in the ecosystem."

Prior to each hunting season, the DWR issues a coupon to hunters who draw an any-legal weapon big game permit in the Zion Unit in southern Utah (where California condors can be found), which allows them to obtain free, or heavily discounted, non-lead ammunition.

During October, the DWR also has check stations where hunters who take actions to help condors can enter to win one of five $800 gift cards donated by The Peregrine Fund for outdoor equipment. The hunters must stop at a check station and demonstrate their use of non-lead ammunition during their big game hunts in the area, or they can show they removed all the remains of their harvested animal from the field.

Check stations are in place at the following locations and will be open from 11 a.m. to dusk on the following dates:

• The intersection of Yellowjacket Road and Hancock Road. (This site is approximately 3.25 miles north of the entrance to Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park.) This checkpoint will be open on Oct. 12, 15-16, 22-25 and 29-30.
• On SR-14 in Cedar Canyon (east of Cedar City, approximately half a mile east of Canyon Park and 3/4 mile west of Rusty's Ranch House.) This checkpoint will be open on Oct. 8-9,12,15-16, 22-24 and 29-30.

"We greatly appreciate all our partners in this program and all the hunters who make an effort to assist in the conservation of this incredible species," Norvell said.