Local Bass Tournament scheduled May 7

Local bass anglers are invited to participate in one of the earliest tournaments of the season Sat., May 7th from 4:30am til 3:30pm. A $40 entry fee includes the big fish contest and activities begin at the Lindon Boat Harbor. To register contact Clark Chaimberlain, UTBASS Assistant Tournament Director, at 801-898-3380.

The Lindon Open Bass Tournament is sponsored by Halstrom Marine, Okuma Fishing, Clif Bars and Lindon Boat Harbor. For more information visit their website at http://www.utbass.com

Provo River Clean-up Set for April 30

The most heavily fished stretch of river in Utah will receive a thorough volunteer cleaning on April 30. Those who would like to help are encouraged to assemble at Vivian Park
in Provo Canyon at 8 a.m. The park is located about halfway up the canyon, between the mouth of the canyon and Deer Creek Reservoir.

"We will have a map of the river available that breaks it down into clean-up sections," says Ed Kent, one of the clean-up organizers. "Each section of the river will be assigned to a group. We will provide garbage bags, and UDOT has agreed to pick up the bags from the
roadside.

"Clean-up groups will walk the roadside and river banks, collect trash and then place the bags along the roadside for pickup." Kent anticipates the clean-up will take about four hours. Coffee, juice and bagels will be provided. The clean-up effort has been organized by several fishing organizations and fishing retailers. For more information, call Kent at (801) 573-0770 or Brandon Anderson at (801) 486-5700.

Deer Poaching Reward Reaches $4,000

A reward of up to $4000 is now available for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for killing 13 deer in Diamond Fork Canyon. The killings occurred on the weekend of April 9.

Several conservation organizations and local businesses have contacted the Division of Wildlife Resources and asked to contribute additional money to the $1,000 reward the DWR was already offering.

Those who provide information may remain anonymous. Anyone with information is encouraged to call the DWR's Central Region office at (801) 491-5678 or the DWR's Help Stop Poaching Hotline at 1-800-662-DEER (3337).

Members of the organizations are outraged by the poaching incident and want to encourage anyone with information to come forward. The 13 dead deer included two adult bucks, two buck fawns, eight does and one doe fawn. All of the deer were killed from the road and left to rot.

Young Artists and Photographers invited to enter Contest

Young artists and photographers across Utah, kindergarten age through 12th grade, are invited to submit their best wildlife and scenic work in two contests as part of the Utah's Wildlife & Rivers Festival. The Utah Wildlife & Rivers Festival is scheduled in northeastern Utah June 9 - 12.

Artwork and photography may be of any place or wildlife species in Utah and must be of a subject related to the Utah's Wildlife & Rivers Festival or the Flaming Gorge - Uintas National Scenic Byway (Hwy 191 & 44). The Byway theme is: "Wildlife Through the Ages." The deadline to enter the contests is May 18. An individual may submit an entry for both the art and the photography contests. Rules and registrations forms are available at http://www.utah-wildlife-festival.com .

Entries will be accepted at the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources office, 152 E. 100 N., Vernal, UT 84078; DigiPix Studio, 50 E. Main St., Vernal; Utah Fieldhouse of Natural History Museum, 496 E. Main St.,Vernal; and the Daggett County Courthouse, Manila, UT.

Both contests have four divisions based on the grade the child is currently attending: K-2, 3-5, 6-8 and 9-12. The art and photography will be further split into two categories, one for wildlife and one for scenery. Ribbons will be given for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place in each category for each division, and a "Best of Show" in each division for each contest. Entries may be displayed at Uintah Basin businesses.

Entries must be recent, original and completely done by the individual who enters it. Entries should be a single image. Collages, use of glue, etc. are not acceptable, nor are copyrighted characters, television figures, cartoons or copies of another's work.

Design, technique, composition, originality and subject (how it relates to Utah's Wildlife & Rivers Festival or the Byway theme) will be considered in the selection process. Awards will be announced during the festival on June 11 at roughly 7:45 pm from the Talent Stage at the
Main Site, 235 E. Main St. in Vernal (Old Dinosaur Gardens).

The festival will also host a Plein Aire Art and Digital Photography Shootout. Both of these events will have open and youth divisions. For more information on the School-Age Art and Photography contests and the Utah's Wildlife & Rivers Festival, visit http://www.utah-wildlife-festival.com on the Web. The photos were provided by Ron Stewart, Northeastern Region
conservation outreach manager for the DWR.

Hilltop Cycles donates to OHV Education Program

To increase awareness of off-highway vehicle (OHV) safety, Benjamin Henderson, owner of Hilltop Cycles Sales and Service in Murray, is donating money to Utah State Parks Off-Highway Vehicle Education Program. Henderson will pay OHV Education class registration fees for any youth, eight to 15, who receives or purchases an OHV from Hilltop Cycles.

"It is encouraging to see dealers and state government working together in an effort to keep kids safe," said Eric Stucki, off-highway vehicle education coordinator for Utah State Parks. During the four-hour class, students are taught laws, rules, and safe riding techniques. The course includes personal instruction, machine operation and basic function, a skills test, and written exam. A parent is required to attend the class with their child.

Under Utah law, no one under eight years of age is allowed to operate any OHV on public lands, roads, or trails in Utah. Resident operators eight though 15 years of age may operate an OHV, provided they possess an Education Certificate issued by Utah State Parks and Recreation. Resident operators 16 years of age or older may operate an OHV if they possess either a valid driver's license or an OHV Education Certificate. For information, call 1-800-OHV-RIDE or visit http://www.stateparks.utah.gov .
Seasonal Trail closures at Antelope Island

To protect sensitive bighorn sheep and pronghorn antelope habitat areas, two popular trails are temporarily closed at Antelope Island State Park. Through May 20, the Frary Peak Trail at Antelope Island State Park is closed to the public throughout the bighorn sheep lambing season. Also, the Mountain View Trail, from the north trailhead to the Frary Peak Trail junction, is closed May 16 through June 10 for pronghorn fawning season. All other backcountry trails remain open to the public.

To reach Antelope Island State Park, take Exit 335 off I-I5, drive west along Antelope Drive to the park entrance gate. April park hours are 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily, and entrance fees are $8 per vehicle. For more information, call (801) 773-2941.
Hunters should have Big Game Draw Results by April 29

Results will be available through the mail by April 29, as many big game hunters discover whether they drew a 2005 Utah big game permit in the state's annual big game draws. Those that did not draw a general buck deer permit are encouraged to mark June 16 on their calendar, when general buck deer permits not taken in the draw will become available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Those that applied for a 2005 Utah big game permit, should receive a letter in the mail by April 29, informing them if they drew a permit. Beginning at 8 a.m. April 29, hunters who don't receive a letter in the mail can learn whether they drew by logging on the Internet at
http://www.wildlife.utah.gov or by calling the Utah Wildlife Administrative Services office at
1-800-221-0659.

Results of the limited entry, once-in-a-lifetime and Cooperative Wildlife Management Unit permit draw also will be posted at Division of Wildlife Resources offices in Salt Lake City and Springville, as well as the Lee Kay Public Shooting Ranges in Salt Lake City.

Judi Tutorow, wildlife licensing coordinator for the Division of Wildlife Resources, reports that in addition to their draw results letter, applicants also will receive a list of permits not taken in the draw. This list also will be available on the DWR's Web site and at its six offices. "All of the limited entry, once-in-a-lifetime and CWMU permits will probably be taken in the draw, but some general buck deer permits may still be available," Tutorow said. "Hunters who haven't obtained a permit can obtain one of these permits, on a first-come, first-served basis, beginning June 16."

Beginning June 16, hunters who have a major credit card can obtain a remaining general buck deer permit at the DWR's Web site ( http://www.wildlife.utah.gov ). Individuals without a credit card can obtain a permit at any of the DWR's six offices or from participating online
license agents. As of April 12, 186 license agents had been connected to the DWR's online license agent system. More agents will be added as June 16 approaches.

2005 general season bull elk permits also will go on sale June 16. For more information, call the Utah Wildlife Services Administrative office, the Springville Division of Wildlife Resources office at (801) 491-5678 or the DWR's Salt Lake City office at (801) 538-4700.
Doe Deer Poached in Carbon County

The Division of Wildlife Resources is offering a reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person (s) responsible for killing a doe deer in Carbon County sometime between April 2 and April 4.

The doe was poached near the Wildcat Loadout off Consumers Road near a sediment pond west of the railroad tracks. The doe had apparently gone to the sediment pond for a drink and was shot in the neck.

"With the high number of antler collectors afield, someone may have witnessed the crime," suggests Stacey Jones, DWR conservation officer. "While the killing of a doe may not seem like a big deal, every mortality is hard on herd production. The death of a doe results in the
death of her unborn fawn and the future reproductive potential of both individuals."

Anyone with information regarding the killing of this doe should call Jones at (435) 820-6445 or the DWR's Help Stop Poaching Hotline at 1-800-662-DEER (3337). Those who provide information may remain anonymous. A reward will be offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person (s) responsible.