Archives: SFW News
SFW and DWR Partner in Pheasant Release
RELEASE OF RARE PHEASANTS IN SEVIER AND MILFORD COUNTIES REESTABLISHING PHEASANT HUNTING
Friday November 2nd, and Friday November 9th, The Utah Sportsmen For Fish and Wildlife, along with state wildlife officials, released over 1,200 Manchurian Ringneck Pheasants in hopes of reestablishing the populations of these birds in the wild.
The first release Friday, November 2nd, consisted of 825 roosters and 200 hens in areas including Redmond WMA (wildlife management area), Annabella WMA, Pahvant WMA, Clear Lake, Bicknell Bottoms, and Topaz Slough.
The second release Friday, November 9th, consisted of 250 roosters on the Pahvant WMA in the Black Rock Desert of Millard County. These birds were released as part of a Youth Only Pheasant Hunt created by SFW and the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources. 100 youth hunters were given the opportunity to participate in this hunt.
In February of 2013, 1,800 hens and 200 roosters will again be released in these two counties, as an important effort to augment wild populations and promote natural reproduction and increase huntable populations.
SFW Donates $7,275 in Archery Equipment to Utah Schools
SFW has donated $7,275 in archery equipment to 10 Utah schools. The archery equipment for each school included bows, target, arrows, arrow releases and other gear. The donation helps the schools meet objectives within each school’s curriculum.
Schools that received archery equipment donation:
- Wayne Middle School
- Wellington Elementary
- Hurricane Intermediate
- Provo Freedom Academy
- Lakeview Academy
- Rocky Mountain Middle School
- Ogden Preparatory Academy
- Timpanogos Intermediate
- Bruin Point Elementary
- Canyon View Middle School
Davis/Weber Chapter Members Assist on Turkey Hunts for the Brave
SFW’s Davis/Weber chapter in northern Utah assisted some American heroes on their Utah turkey hunts. Staff Sergeants Powell, Abderson and Skaggs all were successful with help from SFW’s Justin Oliver, Jack Manning and Brandon Nelson.
SFW Works to Increase Pheasant Numbers
SFW¹s pheasant transplant project is in full swing. Troy Justensen of SFW spent some time last week checking monitoring progress on this project. The 3,000 hens and roosters are growing quickly. The pheasants will be released in Utah DWR Wildlife Management Areas including Redmond, Annabella, Pahvant Upland Area, Clear Lake, Glenwood, and Topaz Slough. The goal is to increase pheasant numbers in areas of existing suitable habitat where pheasant numbers are low. A first release will occur this fall of primarily male birds. A second release of primarily female pheasants will occur in late winter/early spring in the hopes that the hens will successfully nest and raise broods next spring. We look forward to this fall¹s release date. Don¹t forget to calendar the youth hunting day on November 10, 2012 on Pahvant Upland Area. A special thank you to SFW Richfield chapter for making this project a reality.
SFW Provides Emergency $12,500 and Installs Mule Deer Highway Crossing Signs
Blanding Road Signs to Address Excessive Mule Deer Highway Mortality
For several years SFW has dove in to tackle the loss of mule deer on Utah’s highways. Our most recent project between Blanding and Monticello was completed this week. An emergency measure, SFW provided the full $12,500 to place flashing signs through one 25-mile stretch of highway where deer loss has totaled 1,100 dead in the last 2 years. These numbers were determined by the number of deer reportedly picked up by road workers on this stretch of two-lane highway. The actual loss numbers may be higher as no estimate was provided for deer killed but not found or collected. Thank you to the SFW Blanding chapter for highlighting this very serious threat to Mule Deer in Southeastern Utah. We look forward to fencing, underpass and other projects in the future to address mule deer mortality through this migration corridor.
SFW provide needed funding for Tiger Muskie transplant Project in Joe’s Valley Reservoir
SFW has partnered with Utah DWR to support the transplanting of Tiger Muskies in Joe’s Valley Reservoir. Good funding is typically available for projects related to Utah’s fisheries. In this case, SFW was proud to provide $5,000 of needed funding to finish this transplant project. The overall cost of the 2,000 fish placed in Joe’s valley was $12,000. This was part of a larger project that placed 7,000 tiger muskie in Joe’s Valley, Pineview and Johnson’s Reservoir. In 2006, Tiger Muskie populations in Utah and across the West “took a big hit.” Utah has been involved in some very interesting efforts to develop a strain of fish which is more compatible with Utah waters. This is part of an effort to help this fun fighting fish in the state. One Tiger Muskie caught in Utah at Pineview Reservoir was reportedly 49 inches long and weighed over 31 pounds. Thanks to Shayne Thompson and the SFW Carbon Emery County Chapter for making this project possible. For some interesting reading on Utah’s Tiger Muskie efforts visit here.
SFW Reports Results of Out-of-pocket Contributions to Wildlife
We are proud to report that Sportsmen for Fish & Wildlife continues its record of contributions and generosity for
wildlife in America:
- SFW is #1 in conservation dollars in the last reporting year;
- SFW is #1 in conservation dollars raised in last 10 years ($7.2 Million);
- SFW has invested $1,362,345 in wildlife, habitat and mission-related activities from 2008 to 2012; and,
- This $1.36 million of out-of-pocket contributions are not “conservation permit” dollars.
SFW played a key role working with Utah Division of Wildlife Director Keven Conway in changing policies and establishing programs to start the Utah Watershed Initiative. SFW leveraged these dollar and played a key role in obtaining tens of millions in matching dollars – the $70 Million watershed project Director Karpowitz recently commented on.
All of this is a clear testament to the dedication and hard work of SFW’s volunteers and professionals. We thank them, each and every one, for the personal sacrifices of time, money, equipment and expertise in making SFW a leading conservation group that fights passionately for the future of wildlife in Utah and America.
We have updated our website to make some of this financial information more readily available. For more information visit http://www.sfw.net/your-money/.
SFW is pleased that these contributions makes Utah’s aggressive habitat restoration efforts possible. The state of Utah and other conservation partners are producing results by working together for the future of conservation. We will continue not only our dedication to restoration of wildlife populations through habitat improvement, but also in protecting wildlife by fencing of highways, responsible predator management, resolving wildlife conflicts and finding ways to augment wildlife in Utah. Please contact us directly if you have questions or comments.
About SFW: (www.SFW.net) Headquartered in North Salt Lake, Utah, SFW is a charitable, non-profit 501(c)(3) organization. The mission of SFW is to promote the protection and enhancement of wildlife habitat, assist in providing quality wildlife management programs, educating the public about the role hunters play in wildlife conservation, and perpetuating the family tradition of hunting and fishing. Phone: (801) 936-1386.
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RMEF Critique of “Special Permits” Draws Response from Utah DWR
RMEF Calls for Transparency on State Special Big Game Permits (read more …)
Utah Division of Wildlife letter to RMEF points out concerns about critical comments (read more…)
SFW’s Salem Pond Wheelchair Access Project Completed
SFW and friends have made major improvements at Salem Pond. Over 280 feet of wheel chair fishing platforms and railing have been installed to improve access for children. Click here to see this great improvement project made at the pond. Better yet join us next Tuesday at Salem Pond to see your SFW money at work for a great cause. This was a big project. A thank you to all the contributors on this amazing project including Salem City, Walmart Foundation, Donahue Welding, Dave Woodhouse of WW Construction, The Home Depot, Cory & Noel Hyatt, Rick Houghton &Lloyd Jacobson Nationwide Trailer, Geneva Rock,Danny Higgison, Cornaby Powder Coating,PDM Steel, A Core and the many volunteers who made the project possible.
SFW Helps Raise $1.3 Million for Utah’s Wildlife
* * * * A PRESS RELEASE ISSUED BY THE UTAH DIVISION OF WILDLIFE RESOURCES * * * *
Salt Lake City — Utah’s wildlife received a $1.3 million gift recently. The gift came courtesy of Utah’s conservation permit program. Here’s how the program works:
- The Division of Wildlife Resources allocates a small number of big game, black bear, cougar and turkey hunting permits to conservation organizations in Utah.
- The groups auction the permits at their yearly banquets.
- After auctioning the permits, at least 90 percent of the money the groups raise must be used on DWR-approved projects that benefit Utah’s wildlife.
$1.3 million
Seven groups received conservation permits in 2011: Sportsmen for Fish and Wildlife, the Mule Deer Foundation, the Wild Sheep Foundation, the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Safari Club International, the National Wild Turkey Federation and the Utah Bowman’s Association.
On April 11, representatives from the seven groups met with DWR biologists to decide which projects the money would be used to fund. A total of 66 projects received more than $1.3 million in funding.
Mike Canning, Habitat Section chief for the DWR, says allowing these groups to auction the permits is a windfall for Utah’s wildlife. “The amount of money that ends up going into on-the-ground work to help wildlife across Utah is astounding,” he says.
Canning gives some examples of how conservation permit funds are used:
- Much of the money the conservation permit program generates each year funds habitat projects that are part of Utah’s Watershed Restoration Initiative.
The initiative started in 2005. Since it began, more than $76 million has been used to restore more than 778,000 acres of wildlife habitat across the state.
The conservation permit program provided more than $5.4 million of the $76 million.
“Our goal is to restore at least 100,000 acres a year so we’re providing Utah’s wildlife with the food, cover and other habitat items the wildlife need,” Canning says.
- To transplant bighorn sheep.
- To survey Utah’s elk herds from the air.
- To conduct research projects, such as determining why the growth of Utah’s moose population has slowed in recent years.
- To build more water collection devices called “guzzlers.”
- Guzzlers provide additional water to wildlife species in some of Utah’s driest areas.
- To learn more about the best ways to construct wildlife-crossing structures. These structures are vital in helping deer and other wildlife safely cross some of Utah’s most heavily traveled roads.
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PHOTOS – 15 photos to accompany this story are available at http://huntdatabase.com/utah/newsphotos/index.php?gazpart=show&gazgal=226.
Contact: Mark Hadley, DWR Relations with the Public Specialist (801) 538-4737
