SFW presents a check for $283,500 to the Utah Division of State Parks and Recreation for wildlife habitat improvement
Salt Lake City, Utah – Sportsmen for Fish and Wildlife (SFW) and the Mule Deer Foundation presented a check for $283,500 to the Utah Division of State Parks and Recreation for wildlife habitat improvement and management work on Antelope Island State Park which is located in the Great Salt Lake. The funds were raised from the auction of a Mule Deer tag and a California Bighorn Sheep tag to be hunted on the Island this fall. The tags were auctioned last February at the Western Hunting and Conservation Expo (WHCE) held in Salt Lake City. The Mule Deer Tag sold for $265,000 and the Sheep tag sold for $50,000. The WHCE retains 10% of the sale price.
Mule deer have not been hunted on Antelope Island for overmore than 30 years. Bighorn Sheep have not previously been hunted on the Island . The Bbighorn Ssheep were transplanted to the Island in 1997 by the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources. The Sheep herd has served as a source of transplant animals for the West Desert area of Utah.
The most visible Island resident is the Bbison. “From bison and bighorn sheep, to mule deer and pronghorn, all island wildlife will benefit from this generous gift,” said Director Mary Tullius, Utah State Parks and Recreation.
Mike Styler, Executive Director of the Department of Natural Resources says, “This is a prime example of sportsmen reinvesting in habitat, and in this case the recipient is a great state park. Because of one deer and one bighorn sheep tag, we will have more than $280,000 invested directly into habitat work.”
Byron Bateman, President for Sportsmen for Fish and Wildlife says, “The $283,500 raised at this year’s Expo is a wWin/Wwin for Utah State Parks and the Bbighorn Ssheep & Mmule deer that live on Antelope Island with 100% of the money going directly to projects to benefit both species.”
State Park’s budget has been reduced in recent years resulting in layoffs and some parks potentially being shut down. The auctioning of these special tags will bring much needed funds to help maintain and improve wildlife habitat on the Island that wouldn’t be available due to the budget cuts.
“We are glad we can help fund wildlife projects on Antelope Island during these difficult economic times.” says Miles Moretti, President/CEO of the Mule Deer Foundation. Moretti continues “tThis is a great example of a public/private partnership finding innovative ways to provide funding for the Park.”
In addition to the two auction tags, a public drawing was held for one deer and one sheep tag. The hunts will take place in November 2011.
