Volunteers Help Wetlands Preserve Preserve bounce back

Moab -- On Oct. 24, a bunch of volunteers assembled behind the Archway Inn in Moab. The team was armed with shovels, water buckets and a lot of determination.

Their mission? Plant more than 2,000 native plants at the Scott M. Matheson Wetlands Preserve, which was ravaged by fire last fall.

The team focused its efforts on the north side of the preserve.

A successful day
The group’s determination and hard work paid off. Workers, both young and old, successfully planted 2,022 native plants. The plants included trees, shrubs and grasses.

The shovel brigade included a bunch of students from Kelly Wilson’s science class from Grand County Middle School. The students were especially helpful. The work party also included residents of Moab, personnel from The Nature Conservancy and the Division of Wildlife Resources, and people from towns as far away as Park City and Grand Junction.

Another planting project is scheduled for this Saturday, Nov. 7. This project will focus on the south side of the preserve. The Nature Conservancy hopes to attract scout groups, church groups and environmentally-minded people who care about the preserve and want to help rehabilitate it.

If you’d like to help, meet at the TNC parking lot on Kane Creek Boulevard in Moab at 9 a.m.

Fire
On Oct. 21 and 22, 2008, a fire charred more than 400 acres at the Matheson Wetlands Preserve. In addition to destroying vegetation, the fire destroyed trail systems, boardwalks and the preserve’s wildlife-viewing blind.

Formerly known as the Moab Sloughs, the preserve was established in 1990. It encompasses more than 895 acres. This unique system represents the largest intact wetlands on the Colorado River in Utah. The preserve is home to more than 200 species of birds, amphibians and mammals.

For more information, contact Linda Whitham with The Nature Conservancy at (435) 259-4629 or lwhitham@tnc.org   .

Pheasant Preparation Tips from Camp Chef

Utah's Pheasant Opener begins on Saturday and when prepared properly, nothing beats it this time of year at the table.

Guy Perkins with Camp Chef provides the following tips to prepare a tasty meal.


Pheasant from the Field to the Table

By Guy Perkins, Camp Chef

The first thing you need to do to get a pheasant dinner is well...purchase some pheasant. We prefer to "purchase" them the old fashion way with a gun. (One cocky teenager chose to use his bow and yes he got two....one from the air, kids)

The base is and cast iron are the key to this recipe. After that the seasoning is to your flavor.  I was surprised with the luck I had with the Log Cabin Grub seasoning.

After you clean and cut up your pheasant prepare a flour dredge with your seasoning blended in.

Cover the pheasant with the dredge

I like the solid Crisco vegetable oil and use about a cup of it in a 14 inch dutch oven to brown the pheasant pieces. The 14 inch dutch oven gives me a bit more surface to do more at one time. In this case I was using three pheasants. After all the pieces are brown I load the oven back up with the pheasant and then add a cup of diced onions spread on top. I cover the oven and put it on low low heat. I used the Dutch Oven Cover and in an hour it was fall from the bone time.

I unloaded the Pheasant and place it on a tray in the home oven to stay warm while I made flour gravy from the drippings in the oven. That also helped with oven clean up.

Mashed potatoes, garden peas, bakin powder biscuits topped it all of on the side...and then of course the family.

For more Outdoor Cooking Tips, stop by http://www.campchef.com/

2009 Christmas Tree Permits Soon Available

SALT LAKE CITY, October 29, 2009 - It is that time again as Christmas is just around the corner. Families can have a unique recreational outing by cutting their own Christmas trees on Utah National Forests.

The tree cutting program is carefully managed and permit holders must adhere to the following guidelines. Trees must always be cut close to the ground leaving the stump no higher than 6 inches. A shovel will come in handy to dig through the snow to reach the base of the tree. Make sure your permit is attached to the tree before leaving the cutting area. Tree topping is not allowed. No cutting within 200 feet of riparian areas (lakes and streams) roads, campgrounds, picnic areas, administrative sites, summer home areas, or within designated closed areas shown on the tree cutting area maps.

Remember to always be prepared for winter weather. Always stay on designated roads and trails. Be prepared for slick, snow packed roads and have chains, a 4-wheel drive vehicle or a snow machine available. Always let someone know where you are planning to go and approximate time you will return. Carry a cell phone; bring additional warm clothing, good warm gloves, boots, and a container of hot liquid, water, lunch or snack as it may take longer than expected. Carry a flashlight, chains, shovel, first aid kit, matches, a hatchet, ax or handsaw, and rope to secure your tree.



ASHLEY NATIONAL FOREST: (435) 789-1181 - www.fs.fed.us/r4/ashley

Flaming Gorge Ranger District: (435) 784-3445 - Permits go on sale Friday, November 27, 2009. Permits will be available at the Flaming Gorge Ranger District Office, intersection Highway 43 & 44, Manila, Utah and the Green River Office, 1450 Uinta Drive, Green River, Wyoming from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. Also, permits will be available at Flaming Gorge Resort. Cost of the nonrefundable permit is $10.00 and there is a limit of one permit per household, one tree only. Any species of tree may be cut except Ponderosa Pine.

Duchesne and Roosevelt Ranger Districts: (435) 738-2482 or (435) 722-5018

Permits go on sale Friday, November 27, 2009 and are limited - Permits may be purchased at the Duchesne Ranger District Office, 85 West Main, Duchesne, Utah, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday-Friday or the Roosevelt Ranger District Office, 650 West Highway 40, Roosevelt, Utah 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday-Friday. Permits may also be purchased at the Hanna Country Store, State Route 35, Hanna, Utah (435) 848-5752 and at Steward’s Market, 245 West Highway 40 in Roosevelt, (435) 722-5650. Permits are $10.00 each, one permit per household, one tree only.


Vernal Ranger District: (435) 789-1181 - Permits go on sale Friday, November 27, 2009. Permits may be purchased at the Vernal Office, located at 355 North Vernal Avenue in Vernal, Utah Monday-Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Permits may also be purchased at the following businesses 7 days a week; Davis Jubilee Store, 575 West Main, in Vernal, (435) 789-2001 and LaPoint Country Store, Highway 12 in LaPoint, Utah, (435) 247-2365. Permits are $10.00, one permit per household, one tree only. Any species of tree can be cut except Ponderosa Pine. Individuals may purchase up to two additional permits on the Flaming Gorge and Vernal Ranger Districts and permits must be issued in the names and addresses of the person for whom the permits are purchased.



DIXIE NATIONAL FOREST: (435) 865-3700 – www.fs.fed.us/r4/dixie

Cedar City Ranger District: (435) 865-3700 - Permits go on sale Thursday, November 12, 2009. Permits can be obtained at the Cedar City Ranger District, 1789 North Wedgewood Lane, Cedar City, Utah from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. Permits are $10.00, one permit per household, one tree only. The only species of trees that can be cut are Sub-Alpine Fir, White Fir and Pinyon Pine. Please check with the Cedar City Ranger District office before traveling the Cedar Breaks Road to obtain the most current road condition information.

Escalante Ranger District: (435) 826-5400 - Permits go on sale Friday, November 6, 2009. Permits can be obtained at the Escalante Ranger District, 755 West Main, Escalante, Utah from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Permits may also be bought at these local vendors: Antimony Merc, Antimony, Utah (435) 624-3253, 7 days a week from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Contact the Escalante Ranger District for a list of other vendors. Permits are $10.00, one permit per household, one tree only. All species of tree may be cut except Bristlecone Pine.

Powell Ranger District: (435) 676-9300 - Permits are now available and can be obtained at the Powell Ranger District, 225 East Center Street, Panguitch, Utah from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Permits are $10.00 for a tree up to 10 feet and $20.00 for a tree 11 foot to 20 foot. All species of trees can be cut except Bristlecone Pine.

St. George Interagency Visitor Center: (435) 688-3246 or (435) 652-3100 - Permits go on sale Thursday, November 7, 2009. Permits can be purchased at the Visitor Center, 345 East Riverside Drive, St. George, Utah from 7:45 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on Saturdays. Permits may also be purchased at Spanish Tail Supply Company, 21 South Main, Veyo, Utah (435) 574-0808 seven days a week. Permits are $10.00; Pinyon Pine and Juniper are the only species of trees that may be cut. One person can purchase up to 5 tags.



FISHLAKE NATIONAL FOREST: (435) 896-9233 – www.fs.fed.us/r4/fishlake

Beaver Ranger District: (435) 438-2436 - Permits are now available and may be purchased at the Beaver Ranger District, 575 South Main, Beaver, Utah, Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Saturdays, November 28 from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Permits may also be purchased at Beaver Sport and Pond, 85 North Main, Beaver, Utah (435) 438-2100, seven days a week from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Permits are $10.00 each, two permits per household, 2 trees only. All species of trees may be cut except Ponderosa Pine and Blue Spruce.
Fillmore Ranger District: (435) 743-5721 - Permits go on sale Monday, November 16, 2009. Permits can be purchased at the Fillmore Ranger District, 390 South Main Fillmore, Utah Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 and 1:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Also, Delta Sports Center located in Delta, Utah Monday through Saturday. Permits are $10.00, one permit per household, one tree only. Any species of tree maybe cut except Ponderosa Pine.

Freemont Ranger District: (435) 836-2811 - Permits are now available and can be purchased at the Freemont River Ranger District Office, 138 South Main, Loa, Utah from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Permits are $10.00, one permit per person, one tree only. Any species of tree may be cut except Ponderosa Pine. Permits may be purchased at the Teasdale Office, 138 East Main, Teasdale, Utah from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Permits are $10.00, one permit per person, one tree only. Any species of tree may be cut.

Richfield Ranger District: (435) 896-9233 - Permits go on sale Friday, November 20, 2009. Permits can be purchased at the Richfield Ranger District Office, 115 East 900 North, Richfield, Utah, from 8:00 a.m. to

5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. Permits are $10.00, one permit per household, one tree only. Any species of tree may be cut except Ponderosa Pine, Engleman and Blue Spruce. Permits may also be purchased at: Lin’s Market, 670 North Main Street in Richfield, Utah Saturday and Sundays from 6:00 a.m. to midnight; Don’s Sinclair, 215 West Main in Salina, Utah Monday-Saturday 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. and Sundays from 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. and Tast Travel Plaza, 675 East Highway 24, Torrey, Utah, Monday through Sunday from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.



MANTI-LASAL NATIONAL FOREST: www.fs.fed.us/r4/mantilasal

Ferron/Price Ranger Districts: (435) 384-2372/ (435) 637-2817 and Moab/Monticello Ranger Districts: (435) 259-7155 or (435) 587-2041 Christmas tree permits will be on sale at all offices of the Manti-La Sal National Forest beginning November 23 at a cost of $10 each. District offices (in Ephraim, Ferron, Moab and Monticello) are open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The Supervisor’s Office in Price is open weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. In addition, the Price office will open two Saturdays, November 28th and December 12th, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. for Christmas tree tag sales. The Sanpete District will also sell permits November 28th from 9 a.m. to noon at the following sites:

Stock Corral east of Spring City, 400 permits

Ephraim Canyon, 300 permits

Sterling LDS Church parking lot, 175 tags

Manti Stake Center 295 S. Main, Manti, 225 permits

Stock Corral east of Mayfield, 300 permits

Fountain Green Elementary School, 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., 100 permits

Forest Service District Office, 740 South Main, Nephi, 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., 100 permits

For the convenience of customers, the sale of Christmas tree tags has been extended at the Sanpete District Office to include the week before Thanksgiving. The District plans to sell 300 permits at its office and any tags remaining after the November 28th sale. This is the last year that tags will be sold at sites other than the district office. The Forest officer selling tags will issue each purchaser cutting instructions. Customers traveling long distances for permits should call in advance to determine if permits are still available. Vehicle access, except for snow machines, must be confined to established roads on the Forest. Roads may be muddy, snow packed and slick. Be prepared for winter driving conditions.



UINTA-WASATCH-CACHE NATIONAL FOREST: (801) 236-3400 AND (801) 342-5100 www.fs.usda.gov/uwcnf  

Heber-Kamas Ranger District: (435) 654-0470 and (435) 783-4338 – Christmas tree permits will be sold on Friday, November 6, from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 a.m., and Saturday, November 7 from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 a.m. at the Soldier Hollow Lodge. The $10 permits are for areas within the Heber Permit Area, Heber-Kamas Ranger District, Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest. Permits are for personal use only. One permit per adult (16 years of age and older) will be sold on a first come, first- served basis. Young adults will be required to show their driver’s license at time of purchase.

One thousand (1,000) permits will be available on Friday and 1,000 permits will be available on Saturday. Any remaining permits will be sold beginning Monday, November 9 at the Heber-Kamas Ranger District Office, Heber Office Location, 2460 South Highway 40, Heber, City.

Only subalpine fir trees 20 feet tall or shorter may be cut and removed. All trees must be tagged before removing them from the area.

Soldier Hollow Lodge is located at 2002 Soldier Hollow Drive, in Midway, Utah. Directions and a map are available on the internet at http://www.soldierhollow.com/map.php.


Evanston/Mt. View Ranger Districts: (307) 789-3194 and (307) 782-6555 - Permits for the Evanston area go on sale Monday, November 16, 2009. Permits are $10.00, one permit per household, one tree only.

Permits can be purchased at the Evanston Ranger District Office, 1565 South Highway 150, Suite A, Evanston, Wyoming from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Permits may also be purchased at

the Bear River Lodge located 30 miles south of Evanston on the Mirror Lake Highway 150, (435) 642-6289. Any species of tree may be cut, but Lodgepole Pine is the main species in the area. Snow conditions may require permit holders to use snowmobiles, cross-country skies or snowshoes to access the cutting area. The gates on the Mirror Lake Highway and on the North Slope Road are typically closed during the first week of December, limiting access for people without a snow machine. Cutting is not allowed in the Lily Lake Cross Country Ski Area.
Permits for the Mt. View area go on sale, Monday, November 16, 2009. Permits are $10.00, one permit per household, one tree only. Permits can be purchased at the Mountain View Ranger District, 321 Highway 414, Mountain View, Wyoming, from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday only. Permits may also be purchased at the Maverick Store (307) 782-6693 located at 655 N. Highway 414 in Mountain View, Wyoming, 7 days a week, 24 hours a day. Any species of tree may be cut, but Lodgepole Pine is the main species in the area.

Mountain Valley Extreme Mustang Makeover

Just wanted to invite everyone to the Mountain Valley Extreme Mustang Makeover next weekend on Nov 7 at Heber City. There are 29 really nice horses that are wonderfully trained and will be competing for up to $10,000 in prize money!

All events will take place on Saturday Nov. 7th at the Wasatch County Events Center

$5.00 - 8 AM - All horses will complete the Body Condition judging and

Obstacle/Riding Course
$25.00 - 2 PM - Top 10 horses will perform in a Freestyle competition!

FREE! - 4 PM - All horses will be available for adoption

Or pay $25 and watch all day!

Ogden and Farmington Bays scheduled for Burns during Fall Months

This fall, as weather conditions permit, the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (DWR) will burn phragmites at both the Ogden Bay and Farmington Bay waterfowl management areas (WMAs). To ensure hunters' safety, the DWR will temporarily close these areas during a burn. Hunters have asked many questions about the burns and closures:

What is phragmites?

Phragmites (pronounced frag-mite-ees) is an invasive plant that can reach heights of 13–15 feet. It spreads rapidly, forming dense thickets that outcompete native plants and wildlife in Utah's marshes. Areas with phragmites are inhospitable to water birds and practically inaccessible to hunters. The DWR has used a combination of herbicides and follow-up burns to remove thousands of acres of phragmites over the past few years.

Photo Courtesy Wikipedia

Why is the DWR planning to burn phragmites during the waterfowl hunt?

Weather conditions — including temperature, wind speed/direction, air quality and other factors — have to be exactly right before the DWR can burn phragmites. Those conditions did not occur in the spring or summer of 2009. There are now approximately 4,000 acres of herbicide-treated phragmites that have not yet been burned. If the weather cooperates this fall, the DWR needs to burn these treated areas.

Where and when will the burns occur?

Burns may occur in parts of two WMAs: Farmington Bay and Ogden Bay. Because burns are weather-dependent, the DWR cannot schedule them months or weeks in advance. DWR habitat crews usually have only 12 hours' notice before a burn is authorized. The DWR hopes to complete a total of three or four burns between early October and early December. Burns will only occur on weekdays.

How long will the WMAs be closed?

DWR personnel will lock the WMA gates the night before a burn occurs. The WMA will likely remain closed throughout the following day. Fire safety officials will monitor the area and let the DWR know when it is safe to reopen.

How will hunters know about WMA closures?

To notify hunters about an impending burn, DWR personnel will:

*Hang informative banners on the locked WMA gates

*Send e-mails to hunters

*Post a notice at the top of this Web page http://wildlife.utah.gov/burn/

*Post notices on Twitter (at www.twitter.com/DWRburn  )
*Alert the media
*Closures will be temporary — probably a day or two at most — and may not affect the entire WMA.

How will these burns affect hunting on the WMAs?

Hunting will improve significantly. Within two or three weeks, waterfowl will flock to the burned areas in large numbers. Hunters will need to be careful, however, because newly burned phragmites remnants are very sharp. Within a year or so, these remnants will disappear and be replaced by pockets of open water and native marsh plants. DWR employees have seen vast improvements in areas that were burned a few years ago.

In-depth information
Invasive and noxious weed control: How the Utah DWR is working to control noxious weeds on Utah's Waterfowl Management Areas. http://wildlife.utah.gov/waterfowl/pdf/Invasive_weed_control.pdf

2009 Moab Bighorn Sheep Watch set for November

PRICE — On November 20–21, 2009, the Division of Wildlife Resources (DWR) will sponsor its annual Moab Bighorn Sheep Watch. The event is free to the public. There is no pre-registration. Sheep watchers are encouraged to bring a pair of binoculars, spotting scope and camera.

The DWR will guide participants to locations where bighorns have recently been observed, and will have extra spotting scopes and binoculars for public use. The DWR will also provide a large passenger vehicle for those who wish to ride-share.

The event begins on Friday evening at 7 p.m. in the Moab Information Center, located at the corner of Center and Main. Justin Shannon, DWR regional wildlife program manager will present a PowerPoint program on bighorn sheep ecology and life history. Mr. Shannon's graduate thesis was on this very subject. Bighorn skulls and horns will be displayed as part of his presentation.

The following morning, participants will meet at the Moab Information Center, where they will search for bighorn sheep in the Moab area. Bighorns are almost always seen from asphalt roads in Moab Canyon and along the Colorado River, so don't worry about your vehicle's off-road capability. For those who ride-share, the field trip generally finishes by noon or early afternoon.

Mid-November is the peak of the bighorn sheep rut, when bighorn rams compete for breeding rights with horn clashes and other threatening behaviors to intimidate rivals. Head-butting occurs only when competing rams are equally matched in horn and body size. Otherwise, more subtle harassment of inferior rams occurs.

Because bighorn sheep are wild and unpredictable, the DWR can't guarantee that sheep will be seen at close range or even at all. Participants need to be aware of that possibility at the outset. However, in the event that no bighorns are observed, participants can still enjoy the unmatched beauty of the Colorado River Scenic Byway. For more information, contact Brent Stettler at 435-613-3707 or BrentStettler@utah.gov

Fishing Report for Southeastern Utah

A tiger trout and three rainbow trout at a fish cleaning station at Scofield Reservoir.

Photo by Randall Stilson

ABAJO MOUNTAINS: (October 28) A week ago, Conservation Officer Paul Washburn reported good fishing at Lloyds Lake with a gold or silver Jakes Spin-A-Lure. Caught rainbows ranged from 7 to 13 inches. Try fishing the area around the dam.

BOULGER RESERVOIR: (October 28) Fly-fishing is good with a floating line and a midge or caddis pattern.

ELECTRIC LAKE: (October 28) The lake was sampled by the DWR on Oct. 15. Nets contained a fairly even balance of tiger and cutthroat trout, indicating good survival of stocked fish. Most trout ranged from eight to 18 inches. More fish were netted this year than the last time sampling occurred. Trout appeared healthy and well fed. Fortunately, no zebra mussels were found during this year's sampling. The primary prey species is the redside shiner. Anglers should try using dead minnows, lures or crankbaits that imitate the three-inch baitfish. Good lure choices include silver/red Kastmasters, or the silver/red Rapala X-Rap or Husky Jerk.

HUNTINGTON CREEK: (October 28) Try a size 10 beadhead Montana nymph with one split shot 12 to 18 inches above the fly. The catch in this creek will consist mostly of brown trout with a few cutthroat trout. Most fish are smaller than 14 inches.

HUNTINGTON RESERVOIR: (October 28) Fly-fishermen should try sinking line with a black and green soft hackle fly on a size 8 hook. Spincasters should use a silver spoon or Jakes Spin-A-Lure. This water has special regulations. It is closed to the possession of cutthroat trout.

JOES VALLEY RESERVOIR: (October 28) Joes Valley Reservoir is closed to fishing to protect spawning splake from Nov. 1 until Saturday, Dec. 12. The largest splake are more vulnerable during the spawn, so the temporary closure will be implemented to protect these voracious chub predators. A week ago, Aquatics Program Manager Paul Birdsey reported fair fishing. He fished the rocky east shoreline with a black and silver three-inch Rapala. Birdsey's catch consisted mostly of 15-inch tiger trout.

LAKE POWELL: (October 28) For an in-depth look at Lake Powell fishing conditions, read this week's full report from Wayne Gustaveson, the DWR's Lake Powell project leader.

LA SAL MOUNTAINS: (October 28) Aquatics Biologist Darek Elverud fished Kens Lake on Oct. 19. He used black and brown plastic worms to catch several 10-inch bass. The trout limit at Kens Lake has been increased to eight with no size restrictions. This increase allows anglers to harvest trout that would otherwise be lost when the lake is drawn down to 100 acre feet of storage by Nov. 1. There is no change in the daily limit for bass.

SCOFIELD RESERVOIR: (October 28) Tom Ogden reports good fishing from a tube on the west side. In five hours, he caught 26 fish. His biggest fish was 22 inches, but most were cutthroats in the 12- to 14-inch range. He used slow sinking line in 6 to 12 feet of water with a black and green tinsel soft hackle fly in sizes 2 and 4. Boaters also report good success trolling gold or silver lures with red spots or stripes. The best bait choices are worms, dead minnows or chartreuse PowerBait. Boaters report the best luck around the island. Most shoreline anglers have been fishing in the dam cove or along the east side. Scofield Reservoir has special regulations. Please see page 28 in the Utah Fishing Guidebook for details.