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MISC. PUBLICATION 9 0, IT. S. DEPT. OF AGRICULTURE 



MANAGEMENT OF WILD LIFE AND RECREATIONAL 



RESOURCES 



GAME, FISH, AND FUR 



The early settlers in Utah found the abundance of fish and game 

 of great assistance during the struggle to support themselves. Rec- 

 ords indicate that there were great numbers of antelope on the open 

 plains and deer in the rougher sections. (Fig. 47.) Elk, mountain 



sheep, and game birds were 

 abundant, and fish were in 

 most waters. 



The establishment o f 

 game preserves, the protec- 

 tion provided by the per- 

 manent closed season fol- 

 lowed by the short open 

 season for the killing of 

 bucks only, and the better 

 control of predatory ani- 

 mals has resulted in a de- 

 cided increase in the num- 

 ber of deer. The number 

 of bucks killed by hunters 

 steadily increased, until in 

 in 1927 it was over five 

 times what it was in 1919. 

 It was estimated that in 

 1926 there were four times 

 as many deer on the national 

 forests of Utah as there 

 were in 1922. Elk also have 

 increased, particularly on 

 the Cache National Forest, 

 on Mount Nebo, and on 

 the Manti National Forest. 

 (Fig. 48.) There have been 

 several plantings of elk 

 from Wyoming. Mountain 

 sheep are rare, occurring principally along the Green and Colorado 

 Rivers and in the Uinta Mountains. Antelope are found in rela- 

 tively small numbers, chiefly in the western part of the State. 



METHODS OF PROTECTION 



Game and fish have been protected in Utah by reducing the length 

 of the open seasons, protecting breeding stock, limiting the catches 

 (bag limit), placing a minimum on size, preventing sale, establish- 

 ing game sanctuaries or closing sections to all fishing or hunting, 

 and limiting methods of capture. 



Many millions of trout are reared in hatcheries to be planted in 

 the various waters of the State. A considerable proportion of these 

 are held in the hatcheries or rearing ponds until they are several 

 inches long and well able to care for themselves. The advantage of 

 hatchery practice is that more than 95 per cent of the eggs may be 



Figure 47. — Mule deer are abundant in Utah 



