2015 Western Hunting & Conservation Expo has Sold Out!
January 15, 2015
Salt Lake City, Utah: The Exhibit Hall at the 2015 Western Hunting and Conservation Expo (WHCE) is officially sold out with over 350 exhibitors. Experiencing rapid growth in the past five years, the WHCE is fast becoming one of the best consumer shows for companies to sell their products. Over 35,000 western hunters are expected to attend the 4-day event that will run from February 19-22, 2015 at the Salt Palace Convention Center in Salt Lake City, Utah. The Exhibit Hall was expanded once again this year to accommodate the increased space needed for exhibitors.
This year’s WHCE is breaking records already for the number of exhibitors and the as a result SFW and partner the Mule Deer Foundation are anticipating the biggest crowds ever.
Ammunition manufacturer and distributor Ammo & More and ACI (Armscor Cartridge Inc.) are joining Sportsmen for Fish and Wildlife (SFW) and the Mule Deer Foundation (MDF) and as the Title Sponsors for the 2015 WHCE. The Expo features a keynote address on Friday February 20th by the National Rifle Association’s Wayne LaPierre and music from top selling country music artist Jerrod Niemann. On Saturday evening, the crowd will be entertained by country music legends Sawyer Brown.
The 2015 WHCE will have some of the most coveted big game tags available for auction from mule deer, bighorn sheep, elk, moose and several other North American big game animals. Twenty-five sheep tags are available for auction or raffle and attendees can apply for the chance to draw for 200 big game tags courtesy of the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources. The Expo will offer free seminars by some of the top pro staffers in the hunting industry.
“With the growth in exhibitors, this Expo is now a can’t-miss event for hunters and shooters” commented Jon Larson, President of Sportsmen for Fish & Wildlife. “Having Wayne LaPierre speak about our second amendment rights and the foundation of our outdoor recreation pursuits will certainly be a highlight.” Register for the Expo and find the full schedule of events and details of auctions, tags, seminars and more is available at www.huntexpo.com.
Contact: Jon Larson, (801) 885-5277
SFW Saves Utah Mule Deer
Bountiful, Utah — SFW’s Davis-Weber and Salt Lake chapter volunteers led the way early this winter in an important urban mule deer transplant project. SFW volunteers and Board members joined forces with DWR before sunrise on the second mule deer transplant of its kind targeting urban deer in neighborhoods along Bountiful’s east bench.
Under the direction of UDWR Biologist Channing Howard, SFW wis providing critical hand-on assistance in baiting, trapping, blindfolding, hobbling and translocating between 100 and 200 deer living among homes in this part of southern Davis County. The project efforts began in November 2014 and will continue throughout the month of January 2015.
A few dozen SFW members provide the muscle as they work alongside Utah DWR biologists and other employees. SFW Board member Kurt Wood and chapter leaders John Taylor and Brandon Plant coordinated much of the activity.
SFW is funding this important project, and others like it in various parts of the state, with Conservation Permit funds. Together with hundred of volunteer hours and additional personal funds, SFW is investing significanty to help restore Utah’s mule deer herds where remaining winter habitat can sustain them.
View the drop net capture video and share it with your friends.
Hunting Expo Registration is Now Open
Salt Lake City, UT — Sportsmen for Fish & Wildlife has opened registration for the 2015 Western Hunting & Conservation Expo (Hunt Expo). Attendees hoping for the best seating and hotel rooms are encouraged to visit http://www.huntexpo.com/registration.php to register. Tickets and best seating are going fast.
SFW members and hunters who come from all 50 states can look forward to the 9th Annual Hunt Expo and a myriad of hunting and related activities and more than 300 exhibitors available at the Salt Palace Convention Center, February 19 to 22, 2015. This year Saturday Conservation Night features Keynote Speaker NRA Vice President Wayne LaPierre and Country Music’s Sawyer Brown performing live. Country music entertainer Jerrod Niemann will also perform live Friday night.
Top on the list of attractions is the 200 premium Utah hunting permits offered for just a $5 application fee per tag. The application period will open in late November at www.HuntExpo.com.
SFW Names Jon Larson Chief Executive Officer
North Salt Lake, UT – Sportsmen for Fish & Wildlife (SFW) has named Jon W. Larson Chief Executive Officer. He will begin immediately overseeing day-to-day operations and management functions for the non-profit wildlife conservation organization.
Larson comes to SFW as a 18-year veteran of the outdoor retail industry. Most recently Cabela’s General Manager at the store in Lehi, Utah, he also spent time in the northwest states as Regional Director for Canada-based Wholesale Sports. Previous to that, Larson was District Manager and Store Manager with Sportsman’s Warehouse. He will be responsible for ensuring the success and growth of SFW and it’s various programs, subsidiaries and ventures.
“This move truly represents one of the most exciting opportunities for me in my career in the outdoors,” Larson said. “SFW has been the premier wildlife conservation organization in the Intermountain states, and I am really looking forward to pursuing every avenue of growth in the coming months and years.”
Larson has maintained a close working relationship with all of the relevant wildlife conservation groups throughout his years in the retail sector.
“Jon’s experience with wildlife conservation coupled with his proven success in business is what we are most excited about,” said Dave Woodhouse, Chairman of the SFW Board. “Many of us have known and worked with him for many years, and we are confident in his abilities and the passion he brings to the position.”
One thing Jon is most passionate about is fly fishing. Few exude a love and understanding of the science, techniques and nuances of the sport better than he does. As a boy Jon grew up on the Wasatch Front fishing with his grandfather and dad. He learned some of life’s greatest lessons in the outdoors; patience, persistence, knowledge and technique. Jon sees many parallels with fly fishing and leading a successful business.
“A successful fly fisherman has to be knowledgeable, patient and persistent,” he said. “Like in any successful organization, your knowledge of the industry, the team you lead, the details and strategies you hold within the organization all help fine tune and create a better operating structure, a better team of people, and a better organization.”
Jon believes that the future of the outdoors is in the hands of SFW and the many dedicated sportsmen willing to give what is necessary for the benefit of wildlife. He is committed to doing what is right and what is best for future generations.
More About Jon Larson
Jon has volunteered his time and services over the years for a variety of programs, including Wounded Warrior, Salem kids fishing day, Utah Foster Care, kids on the move and many more organizations and conservation groups. Jon is head-over-heels in love with, and married for over 20 years to, his best friend, Heather. They have an amazing daughter, “Kate the great”, who is 11. Jon is eager to take on this next level of his career. He has been an asset in the community and looks forward to getting deeply involved in making a difference in many aspects for SFW and the sportsmen this organization serves. Jon is dedicated to preserving our great outdoor heritage for future generations, because he feels ‘if we don’t, who will?’
A New Herd of Mountain Goats on Utah’s La Sal Mountain Range
SFW staff and volunteers joined Utah Division of Wildlife biologists and US Forest Service personnel in the capture and release of 15 mountain goats onto the La Sal Mountains southeast of Moab.
The goats – 5 billies and 10 nannies – were captured off of the Beaver Mountains, approximately 250 miles from the release site. Each goat was processed, measured and fitted with a GPS collar.
“All hands were helping as we loaded the goats into transport boxes for the ride to the La Sals,” said Bryce Pilling, SFW staff member. “These transplant projects are a unique opportunity for us to handle big game animals while working closely with DWR biologists.”
Brayden and Paula Richmond, Chairs of SFW’s Beaver Chapter, participated and also provided food for the crew of 35 people on site. SFW, Utah DWR and the US Forest Service were all represented on the mountain.
Riley Peck, DWR Southern Region Wildlife Biologist led the group effort. He said, “These goats should succeed and integrate well with 20 existing goats that were released with SFW’s help at the same location in 2013. Ultimately, we are confident these animals will establish a new, permanent herd of mountain goats here on the La Sal range.”
Big Game Management at 9,979 Feet
The SFW Cache Team just returned from a high country ride to evaluate big game summer range conditions in remote parts of the Cache National Forest. SFW rode with Utah Division of Wildlife (DWR) big game personnel to an elevation of 9,979 feet to get a first-hand, up close look at range conditions.
The purpose of the ride was to assess range conditions for existing Mule Deer and Elk in this high country region of northern Utah. Jason Lundahl and Steve Sorensen requested the assessment on behalf of SFW and arranged details and logistics of the ride.
“There’s a real benefit to having SFW members on the ground with DWR personnel on projects like this,” Lundahl said. “Some of the most important wildlife and habitat projects in Utah’s history have started in ways like this, on horseback and in the backcountry. This remote wilderness area is high quality big game summer habitat. We are very encouraged about the possibilities it holds for greater numbers of trophy deer, goats and elk in the near future.”
In the group photo standing on top of the mountain from left to right is DWR Big Game Coordinator Justin Shannon, SFW Cache Member Steve Sorensen, DWR Northern Region Big Game Biologist and Assistant Wildlife Manager Darren Debloois, and SFW Cache Committee Chair Jason Lundahl. Photo courtesy of Jeff Lundahl.
SFW Secures Water Resources for East Paunsaugunt Mule Deer
Mule deer on the Eastern Paunsaugunt will have more water, cleaner water, and a safer, more secure resource to drink from because of a recent $34,000 commitment from SFW.
“SFW has committed this money to fund the completion of two winter watering tanks that will prevent mule deer drownings and provide consistent and cleaner water resources for wintering mule deer,” according to Rusty Aiken, SFW’s Iron County Chapter Chairman. “This important project will cap two existing water storage tanks where wildlife have been drowning for many years.”
The project is being managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and is classified by SFW as “critical” for mule deer in the area. It includes building lids to cap the two large water storage tanks, which are constructed at ground level, and constructing safe watering access in the form of drinkers at the bottoms of each tank. When finished, the watering sites will provide safe access for all wildlife species, including a small band of 5 Desert Bighorn Sheep.
First of the two sites is the Eightmile project located approximately 35 miles east of Kanab, Utah. The second is the West Clark Bench project located approximately 45 miles east of Kanab. Both projects are on BLM lands administered by Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument.
“Both of these watering sites lie in the heart of trophy mule deer country,” Aiken added. “This is exactly why SFW exists; to help Utah mule deer thrive by securing the health and habitat of specific wintering herds.”
According to Cameron McQuivey with the BLM, “These water storage sites have become death traps for wildlife entering the tanks to obtain water. Within the last year, BLM employees have removed six dead mule deer, numerous raptors and countless small rodents and birds.”
SFW funds will be used to construct two lids on top of a metal framework of beams inside the lip of each tank. The beams will then be covered by tin roofing sheets. The money will also provide new drinkers at each site using a pipeline below each tank to pull water to feed into a new enclosed 5,000 gallon storage tank constructed below ground level. These new tanks will preserve 5,000 gallons at each location, specifically for wildlife use. The new drinker would be surrounded by a 60′ by 60′ lodgepole fence to exclude livestock. The area will be re-contoured and seeded with a native seed mix appropriate for the area.
Bighorns Back on Goslin Mountain
Dutch John, Utah – SFW is putting bighorn sheep back on Goslin Mountain. A small herd of 23 Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep were released at Dripping Springs near Little Hole on the Green River. The herd includes 13 ewes, five lambs and five rams.
SFW volunteers worked with Utah Division of Wildlife (DWR) biologists and others to capture the bighorns in Desolation Canyon near Green River, Utah. The sheep were then moved to begin a new herd on Goslin Mountain. Dripping Springs is at the base of Goslin Mountain, between Dutch John and Little Hole in northeastern Utah.
“SFW is very committed to Utah’s bighorn sheep program and has committed over $150,000 to similar projects in the past three years,” sad Josh Horrocks, SFW Uintah Basin Chapter Chair. “We get pretty excited about the opportunity to participate in the capture and release of these animals where they can thrive and expand.”
This project marks the second time a herd has been reintroduced into the area.
About 40 years ago, biologists with the DWR, the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) began enhancing range along the Goslin Mountain/Green River corridor so Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep could be reintroduced to the area.
In 2001, the range enhancement was given a big boon when a fire near Dutch John cleared away large expanses of pinyon-juniper trees. Following the fire, the UDWR and the USFS were able to reseed much of the burned areas in preparation for the bighorn sheep reintroduction.
The first attempt to start a herd on Goslin Mountain began in December 2004. The new herd was supplemented in January 2007 with bighorns captured in Montana.
Unfortunately, after a quick growth spurt between 2005 and 2007, recruitment leveled off, and then the herd started to lose numbers.
In early 2014 DWR biologists hired helicopter crews to capture animals from the herds near the Green River in Desolation/Greys canyons. After capture crews brought the sheep out of the canyons, biologists gave the bighorns health checks and fitted them with ear tags. Some of the sheep were also fitted with tracking collars before being loaded onto modified horse trailers for their trip north.
“It’s good to see bighorns on the mountain again,” Dax Mangus, a UDWR biologist in northeastern Utah, said as the captured bighorns were released. “Hopefully, the capture team can catch a few more to bring up later this week.”
Dan Abeyta, a USFS biologist, agreed. “I’ve got my fingers crossed that these [sheep] will do better than the previous herd.”
