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Thursday, January 10, 2013 • Issue # 978
Fishing Class and Derby Attract Youth to the Ice by Katelyn Peterson, USU Extension Intern
GARFIELD & KANE CO. - Utah State University Extension held 4-H ice fishing classes in both Kanab and Panguitch on December 27. In these classes, 4-H youth learned about ice safety, ice fishing laws and regulations, ice fishing equipment, ice fishing techniques, and how to make an ice fishing jig. Local fish and game officers Josh Pollock and Zed Broadhead educated the youth about the kinds of fish they would be catching and also informed them about the laws and regulations of ice fishing. Garfield and Kane County extension agent, Kevin Heaton, taught the youth ice safety, ice fishing techniques, ice fishing equipment and also demonstrated how to make an ice fishing jig. On the following day, December 28, USU Extension sponsored an ice fishing derby at Panguitch Lake. Thirty-three local 4-H youth and seventeen parents participated in the derby and competed for prizes for catching the first fish, biggest fish, and most fish. Remington Veater of Panguitch caught the first fish and
won an ice fishing pole. Mikell Kabonic of Kanab caught the biggest fish, an 18 inch cutthroat trout which broke her pole as she was reeling it in, winning a tackle box. Dave Bischoff from Kanab won the award for catching the most fish ending the day with five catches. He won a tackle box as well. 4-H youth also received a prize if they caught a fish on a jig they made at the class. Approximately, 15 youth caught fish on their handmade jigs. The 4-H ice fishing class and derby was filled with knowledge, skills and fun for 4-H youth and parents. Garfield County Extension has an inventory of ice fishing equipment available for 4-H members and clubs. Equipment available for rent is as follows: Underwater Camera - $5.00/day, 2 ice augers - $1.00/ea./day, 5 ice fishing poles - $1.00/ea./day, Jig making kits- $0.10/jig, and SledFree. Contact the USU Garfield County Extension office at (435) 676-1113 to check availability of the ice fishing equipment.
Participants bundled up for the 4-H Ice Fishing Derby at Panguitch Lake.
Brent Stettler, Utah DWR
Wildlife, A Driving Force by Norman McKee
Historical accounts of Utah before large-scale anglo settlement tells of an area somewhat different than what we view today. Streams flowed through wet, lush mountain meadows and canyons. Valleys had grasses that grew as tall as a horse’s belly. Trout were abundant in lakes, rivers, streams and beaver ponds. Though not always abundant, native wildlife species were found in all available habitats. For pioneers, emigrating from Europe or the Eastern U. S., Utah seemed dry and somewhat inhospitable. However, compared to today’s standards, Utah looked really good. As widespread settlements established in most of Utah’s valleys, the environment so critical to all life, started to change. It’s important to recognize that all animals, including humans, require the critical elements of water, food, shelter, and space. Unregulated over-use of one or more of these elements in many areas, either by intentional greed, or by unintentional lack of knowledge
about how arid environments function, seriously affected the natural productivity of the land. Eventually, as knowledge and understanding of the natural world increased, some regulations and many projects were instituted in an attempt to restore the somewhat degraded environment. As we begin the new year of 2013, there are many opportunities to further the work of making Utah’s outdoors a more productive and vibrant place to live and enjoy. Healthy wildlife populations are a major driving force in Utah, and provide a multi-billion dollar annual infusion to our economy. Garfield, Wayne, Kane, and surrounding counties are blessed with large areas of public lands. As such, sustaining and enhancing healthy habitat is the driving force to improve the land for both wildlife and for other users, such as livestock grazing. Near Panguitch, sage grouse habitat restoration projects are the driving force in changing the landscape. Large-
scale removal of encroaching pinyon and juniper trees is re-vitalizing thousands of acres of BLM lands back to the productivity of pioneer times. Not only are the sensitive sage grouse populations expected to increase, but pronghorns, deer, and elk will benefit. Livestock producers are especially excited as the money spent for wildlife is also restoring many thousands of acres to productive livestock grazing. Elk has especially been the driving force in generating needed funds for many projects on higher elevation areas, such as the seeding and restoration efforts of the 2002 Mt. Dutton fire. Funding for deer winter range on the Buckskin Mtn. area of Kane County is restoring valuable grazing lands in that area. The bison of the Henry Mtns. are the driving force for several range projects in that unique area. Incidentally, the Henry Mtn. population in Wayne and Garfield Counties is the largest herd of wild bison hunted in North America. Beaver are the driving
force to restore many degraded mountain watersheds. While a few people have expressed reservations about the value of beaver and their role in sustaining healthy water systems, as knowledge and understanding of the role of beaver increases, other wildlife, fishermen and hunters, livestock-men, and downstream farmers will see the positive results that come from improving degraded, eroded watersheds. The recent transplant of 49 Nevada desert bighorn sheep to Kane County will further increase the interest of hunters, backcountry guides, and locals and visitors alike, as the population establishes and flourishes in historical habitat. They are the driving force in the enhancement projects of that arid environment, such as water developments. There are several other wildlife species of interest in our counties that can and will improve outdoor activities, as they expand and establish in historical habitat areas. They include quail, pronghorns, mountain goats, wild turkeys, river otters, Colorado River cutthroat trout, and Bonneville cutthroat trout. As these populations establish and grow in improved habitat areas, new opportunities will emerge for both economic and enjoyment of these wildlife species, for both locals and visitors alike. We live in such a unique and beautiful area of the world. Our appreciation can best be expressed by how we handle our stewardship of the earth’s resources that our Creator placed here for us to use and enjoy. The wildlife resources are a huge part of the driving force to restore and enhance the renewable natural resources that are so critical to our area. Let’s mark 2013 as the year that our local officials, elected or agency, showed real leadership in making projects happen that will make our counties even better than before. Norman McKee, a resident of Panguitch, is a retired wildlife biologist with the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources.
Wayne & Garfield Share a Friendly Game On the Court
Photos: Kevin Heaton, USU Extension
A 4-Her bites a doughnut while waiting for a fish to bite.
PANGUITCH weather
LOA weather
ESCALANTE – Loa resident Janet Adams sent in this photo of “Our first annual visit to Escalante’s Pickleball Club,” which took place on Saturday, Decmber 29th. She said it was a fun event with lots of good food. Ms. Adams belongs to a group of about 10 folks from Loa, Torrey, Teasdale—and even Notom—who play pickleball at Wayne’s Community Center, where they have room to set up one court. In Escalante, about ten regular players gather to play pickleball at the old gym where they have two courts set up. They generally play Tuesday and Thursday night at seven o’clock, and sometimes on Saturday night (but no guarantees). Escalante resident Craig
Sorenson invited the Wayne group to come over and play in a social. No real competition—just play whomever— rotating in and out and taking turns. This was followed by an “overwhelming” potluck in the Sr. Citizen’s Building. Pickleball is a cross between tennis and volleyball. It is played on a court approximately half the size of a tennis court and with small solid paddles and a whiffle ball. The front third of the court behind the net is called the kitchen. You must stay out of that area at all times unless a ball bounces in there. Then you can step into the kitchen to the hit ball—and immediately get out of the area. The remainder of the court is divided into a right and left side which is your serving area. Like ten-
Pickleballers from each side of the mountain shared a court for the day. nis you have to serve from one side of the court into the opposite side. Unlike tennis, the ball must land in the back part of the court, and you have to serve the ball from below your waist. Scoring is somewhat like volleyball. You play to eleven, and you only get points when you are serving. So long as you are winning
Wayne Phone: 435-836-2622 Garfield Phone: 435-676-2621 Fax 1-888-370-8546 PO BOX 105, Escalante, Utah 84726 snapshot@live.com
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points, you get to keep serving. In doubles, both players on a team get a chance to serve before the serve goes back to the opponent. Apparently, dogs can play pickleball, too. —Insider Report, with lots of coaching from Melanie Boone-Reznick
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