Wild Turkeys Released for Thanksgiving

Wild Turkeys will be calling Magna their new home as several birds are released at 10:00 a.m. at Kennecott Utah Copper, located at 3500 South and approximately 9200 West.

The UDWR, the NWTF, Kennecott Utah Copper Corporation and Kennecott Land Corporation are hosting the release. This event will demonstrate the comeback of the wild turkey in North America and highlight how well wild turkeys and other wildlife respond to management on mining lands.

This event is the second time in five years KUCC has partnered with UDWR and NWTF in releasing wild turkeys. The first release was in a reclaimed mining area on private Kennecott property in Butterfield Canyon (southwest corner of the Salt Lake Valley).

Women in the Outdoors Programs set

We are holding our first State WITO AWARDS/BENEFIT DINNER AND TURKEY SYMPOSIUM-NOV 4TH- at Cabela's, which will incorporate the entire family, educate on the wild turkey, scrap booking building, and honor our hard working volunteers. I will attach the flyer, but here is a brief description of the agenda:

1:00 p.m.Turkey Calling by State Calling Contest winners (free and open to all)

2:30 p.m. Turkey Hunting and Safety (free and open to all)

4:00 p.m. Turkey Habitat and Biology (free and open to all)

noon-5 p.m. Build a complete outdoorsy scrapbook including cover ($25)

1p.m-4p.m. youth archery shooting

6:00 p.m. WITO Awards Dinner/Benefit and Presentation by Dean Mitchell (DWR Upland Game Coordinator) on turkey hunting units, how many birds in each, percentage of draw, how to put in and when, and turkey population updates. ($25 a person or $30 a couple)

Call Tracy to RSVP-dinner space is limited to 85 folks.

Salt Lake's Wasatch WITO group has a booth at the Utah Women's Expo on NOV 3 and 4. Christine is in need of volunteers to help man the booth. This will be a great place for us to spread the word. If you could help out for even a couple hours, please give her a call at 801-282-4708.

Then, on Nov 16Th at 10 a.m. at Kenecott Copper will be host to the National Thanksgiving Turkey Release. This is a real treat. If you would like more details, let me know.

Finally, on Nov 18Th the Ogden River Rio's WITO will be hosting an all women's trap shoot at the Golden Spike Trap Club in Brigham City. Contact Annette 801-391-9726 or Linda 801-825-3547. 2-25 rounds, gun cleaning class, Raffle, Auction, and Lunch. $40. Early Bird Drawing for all signed up by Nov 4Th.

WINTERFIT SNOWBALL STARTS TO ROLL

Park City, UT (November 1, 2006) -- The state's WinterFit program is ready to explode out of the starting gate, and Director Heidi Hughes says the first team to sign up is expecting big-time results.

"WinterFit is a fun way to get healthy, lose weight, and compete against other teams for prizes," says Utah Winter Games Executive Director, Heidi Hughes. "Teams of almost any size can sign up and participate in a range of winter sports activities. Your team can be family, friends, neighbors, or that competitive gang you work with. The team captain logs the results on the WinterFit website in order to show progress and keep score. The team concept helps motivate members to keep at it since they don't want to let the rest of the team down but the real value is health, not competition. "

The first team to get on board comes from Utah Vacation Homes in Salt Lake City. I am already building a trophy stand because I expect our team to crush the competition," said Captain Tristan Webb of the UVH Snow Patrol. "Winter is often a time when a lot of people tend to be more sedentary, and the WinterFit team challenge will motivate me and my co-workers to get up and get healthy."

Hughes comments that Webb's team will have to work hard to stay on top of the Leader Board. Similar programs around the country have attracted over 30-thousand fun-loving health enthusiasts, and Utah can expect similar results.

WinterFit is sponsored by the Utah Winter Games and you can sign up online at www.utahwintergames.org .

The Utah Winter Games are the oldest and biggest amateur winter sports event in the country. They continue the legacy of 2002 in Utah by making it possible for large numbers of people of all skill levels to have a wonderful time with winter sports.

In the 2005-2006 20th anniversary season, more than three thousand people took part in 20 competitions in 15 sports and 32 instructional clinics. With the help of principal sponsor KSL, this coming season's Games will be significantly larger with more sports at more venues for more people.

The Utah Winter Games: All Ages, All Abilities, Always Fun.

For more information on WinterFit and the Utah Winter Games, please visit the Utah Winter Games web site at www.utahwintergames.org .

USDA FOREST SERVICE CENTRALIZES BUSINESS OPERATIONS

ALBUQUERQUE, New Mexico, Nov. 1, 2006 - Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns today announced that the Forest Service is undertaking the most significant change to its business practices since its founding in 1905 by centralizing
many of its business operations, including human capital management, in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
"Centralizing the Forest Service's administrative services makes good common sense and aligns with the President's goal of increasing the efficiency and effectiveness of government programs," said Johanns. "This change enables the Forest Service to redirect crucial funds from administrative functions back to mission-critical programs."

Agriculture Under Secretary for Natural Resources and Environment Mark Rey, U.S. Senator Pete Domenici and Congresswoman Heather Wilson today joined Johanns at the Forest Service's Albuquerque Service Center (ASC) to tour
the facility.

The facility occupies 92,455 square feet in a 3-story building located near Interstate 25, north of downtown Albuquerque. The Service Center currently has 109 employees providing human resource services to 4,530 Forest Service employees. By September 2007, the center will have 360 employees located in Albuquerque serving approximately 39,000 Forest Service employees.

The Forest Service is expecting approximately 100 positions at the Albuquerque center to be made available for employment opportunities in the near future. Additional information about the positions, qualifications and on-line applications may be found at the Office of Personnel Management website at: http://www.usajobs.opm.gov /.

BLM-Utah Reduces Adoption Fee For Certain Wild Horses in November and December

The Bureau of Land Managementb s Utah State Office announced today that it will offer mares that are at least four years old for adoption at a reduced fee of $25 each during November. Most of these mares have been exposed to
stallions and are expected to be pregnant. In addition, BLM will offer geldings (four years old and up) for adoption at $25 each in December. The standard adoption fee for wild horses and burros is $125.

The animals will be available for adoption at the two Wild Horse and Burro Facilities in the state:

The Salt Lake Wild Horse and Burro Center near Butterfield Canyon at 8605 W. 12600 S., Herriman. Call for more information: (801) 561-4632 or toll free at (877) 224-3956.

The Delta Wild Horse and Burro Facility at 350 West 500 North, Delta. Call for more information: (435) 743-3100.

Adoptions at both facilities are open daily Monday thru Friday, but appointments are encouraged to ensure that the gates are open for your visit. Two special Saturday events are planned: November 11th from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m. at the Delta facility and November 18th from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m. at the Salt Lake City facility.

Between the two facilities, more than 60 head will be available at the reduced fee. Both facilities also have many beautiful younger horses and burros that are available for the standard base fee of $125.

While providing savings to potential adopters, the reduced adoption fee is aimed at moving more BLM-managed animals that are currently in holding facilities into good homes of private owners. The BLM's cost for maintaining wild horses and burros in short- and long-term holding facilities accounts for more than half of the agency's total wild horse and
burro budget, which was about $37 million in Fiscal Year 2006.

"We hope that anyone who has the interest and means of providing good care for these mares or geldings will come to our facilities in November or December," said Gus Warr, Utah Wild Horse and Burro program lead. Under the BLM's adoption program, an individual can adopt up to four animals within a one-year period; under certain circumstances, more than four can be adopted, but an adopter can receive titles of ownership to only four animals during that timeframe. Qualified adopters are eligible to receive title after providing one year of humane care.
Under the authority of the 1971 Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act, the BLM manages, protects, and controls wild horses and burros as part of its overall multiple-use mission. The Bureau works to ensure that population levels are in balance with rangeland resources and other uses of the public lands; toward that end, the BLM removes thousands of wild horses and burros from the range each year to control the size of herds, which have virtually no predators and can double in population about every four years.

The current free-roaming population of wild horses and burros on BLM-managed lands is about 31,000, which exceeds by some 3,500 the number determined by the Bureau to be the appropriate management level. Off the range, there are more than 28,000 wild horses and burros cared for in either short-term (corral) or long-term (pasture) facilities. All animals
in holding are protected by the BLM under the 1971 law.

The Bureau works to place as many of the wild horses and burros that are in holding into private care, and since 1973, the BLM has placed more than 213,000 animals into private ownership through adoption. Under a December 2004 amendment to the 1971 law, the Bureau also seeks good homes through sales of horses and burros that are more than 10 years old or have been passed over for adoption at least three times. (In the case of sales, the title of ownership passes immediately from the Federal government to the buyer.) Since that amendment took effect, the BLM has sold more than 2,100 eligible horses and burros. The BLM encourages those who are interested in providing good homes to wild horses or burros to visit the agency's Website ( http://www.blm.gov ) for information about adoptions or sales.

Billions of Years Captured in Photos
For the First Time, UGS Releases Calendar of Utah Geologic Scenery

Salt Lake City, Utah -- Several of Utah's many beautiful and interesting geologic landscapes are captured in the 2007 Calendar of Utah Geology. The calendar is the first such effort by the Utah Geological Survey (UGS).

"We have geologists out in the field all year long," said Rick Allis, UGS Director. "They take wonderful pictures of Utah's incredible landscape, and we thought a calendar of some of those photos would be a fun way to increase awareness of what we often take for granted." Utah's geologic scenery encompasses everything from high alpine meadows to the red-rock desert.

The UGS employees submitted 240-photos for consideration. Ultimately, photos were chosen that show evidence of Ice Age glaciers, erosion, earthquakes, ancient life, and volcanoes.

The calendars are very affordable at $3.95. "The calendar is a great, inexpensive gift for friends and family members, especially those living out of state," said Allis. "You can send it with a note that says, 'See what you're missing?'"

The calendars are now available at the Utah Department of Natural Resources Map and Bookstore, 1594 West North Temple, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Mail orders are available by calling (801) 537-3320 or 1-888-UTAH-MAP, or by emailing: geostore@utah.gov .

A sampling of some photos can be viewed at: http://www.geology.utah.gov .

Antelope Island Trail Improvement Project needs Volunteers

Backcountry Horsemen of Utah are sponsoring a service project to repair and improve washed out trails on Antelope Island State Park. Volunteers are invited to join them at 9 a.m. Saturday, November 4 to help load pack animals near the corrals.

Members of Backcountry Horsemen of Utah will pack Sandbags 7.5 miles to the washed out switchbacks south of Split Rock Bay, will level gullies and place sandbags to stabilize the slopes. Volunteers are welcome to participate and make a difference along the trail.

CAMP FLOYD STATE PARK HOSTS CIVIL WAR MUSKET SHOOT

FAIRFIELD - Camp Floyd State Park in conjunction with the Utah Civil War Association are hosting a Civil War musket shoot on November 11, 2006. The shoot will be held at the FARM shooting range, approx. 2 miles south of the park, and will begin at 10:00 a.m.

Visitor will have the opportunity of watching competitors in period attire compete with firearms used during the time of Camp Floyd and the Civil War. They include the 1842, 1855, and 1861 Springfield's along with the 1853 Enfield. Visitors can witness the effectiveness of smoothbore and rifled firearms. Firearms from the 1870's will also be demonstrated with difference scenarios.

Established in 1858, Camp Floyd housed the largest concentration of U.S. troops then in the United State. The troops were sent to Utah to suppress a rumored Mormon rebellion which never took place. The army was recalled back east in 1861 for the Civil War emergency.

After the shoot winners will be awarded a turkey back at Camp Floyd State Park. Donuts and apple cider will be provided for all visitors at that time. Camp Floyd State Park is located in the town of Fairfield, 22 miles southwest of Lehi on State Highway 73. For more information, contact the park at 801-768-8932

JORDANELLE STATE PARK WINTERIZING FOR SEASON
Heber - Beginning Monday, November 6 all campground restrooms at Jordanelle State Park will be winterized and closed for the season.

A portable toilet is available at the Murdock Campground parking lot and the RV dump station remains open. Campsites 75 - 89 have water and electricity, but will close once it snows. Campsites with hookups are $15 per night or $8 without and are on a first-come-first served basis. Campfires are allowed, but must be in portable campfire containers raised at least 12 inches above the ground.

During the winter months, the visitor center parking lot and a small area at the marina will be plowed. For more information, please call (435) 649-9540.

SEASONAL FACILITIES AT ROCKPORT STATE PARK
Peoa - Camping facilities are closed at Rockport State Park for the season except Twin Coves and Cottonwood campgrounds, which are first come, first serve. Large winter camping groups can make reservations by contacting the park.

The courtesy docks have been removed, but a temporary dock is in place to assist with boat launching. Due to falling lake levels and mud on the ramp, caution is advised when launching. For more information, contact the park at 435-336-2241.


UPCOMING UTAH STATE PARKS EVENTS

November 6 - 11 Iron Mission State Park Museum - Cedar City
Iron Mission Days: Enjoy a week of events including lectures, Indian taco dinner fundraiser, movie screening, and handcart pull. For more information, please call (435) 586-9290.

November 10 Edge of the Cedars State Park Museum - Blanding
Join author Fred Blackburn for a presentation on Cowboys and Cave dwellers -The Wetherill's Friends of Mesa Verde and Sacred Places of the Southwest. Blackburn, a noted Southwest historian, will also be signing copies of his books. For more information, please call (435) 678-2238.

November 11 Camp Floyd/Stagecoach Inn State Park and Museum - Fairfield
Turkey Shoot: Watch competitors in period attire compete with firearms used during the times of Camp Floyd and the Civil War. Visitors can witness the effectiveness of smoothbore and rifled firearms; winners will take home a turkey for Thanksgiving. Donuts and hot chocolate provided. For more information, please call (801) 768-8932.

Ski Utah Announces its First-Ever Season Kick-Off Party

Utah SnowJam 2006 - Rockin' the Powder to Unite Wasatch Powder Enthusiasts on Nov. 11 at Salt Lake City's Gallivan Center

Following two epic years of 600-plus inches of the Greatest Snow on Earth®, Ski Utah is pleased to announce its inaugural season kick-off party aimed at getting the local ski and snowboard community pumped for the coming winter season while also promoting Salt Lake City as America's biggest, most amazing ski town.

The FREE party will take place at the Gallivan Center, an outdoor concert and festival venue in the heart of downtown Salt Lake City, on Saturday, Nov. 11 from 4 to 10 p.m. Utah SnowJam 2006 - Rockin' the Powder is geared for powder hounds of all ages and will feature live music by '80s cover band, Metal Gods and funky beats spun by DJ Knucklz. Other offerings will include the Ski Utah Photo of the Year contest, ski and snowboard videos, gear demos, beer garden and food vendors, and tons of SWAG from all Utah resorts.

Local celebrity athletes will be signing posters in the Powder Lounge. Participating athletes include Sage Cattabriga-Alosa, Joe Pack, Grete Eliassen, Heidi Voelker, Graham Watanabe, Nikki Stone, Josh Madsen, and many more. Meet Kent Hyden, Ski Utah's new blogger for the 2006-07 season.

There will be a Best '80s Ski/Snowboard Outfit Contest. The winner will receive new gear and clothing from Rossignol, Burton and Eider.

Party goers are also encouraged to bring all their current and past season passes for a chance to win special prizes. Resorts will be giving away 2006-07 season passes.

So gear up in your most gnarly, '80s ski outfit and party for the powder on Nov. 11!

Utah SnowJam 2006 is sponsored by Ski Utah, Salt Lake Convention & Visitors Bureau, Uinta Beer, X-96, KSL-TV, Newspaper Agency Corp, City Weekly, Valley Journals, Monster Beverage, Rossignol, Burton, Eider and all 13 Utah resorts.

Resorts Receive High Marks from Vertical Publications

The fall roundup of resort polls highlights snow, accessibility, variety, service and more

SALT LAKE CITY - Following two consecutive seasons of above average snowfall and three years of record-breaking skier day numbers, it is no surprise that Utah resorts are appearing in greater numbers in the polls of the various ski and snowboard magazines.

"It's great to see that the ski and snowboard publications and their discerning readers are recognizing Utah for its abundant snowfall, unmatched accessibility, value and variety," commented Nathan Rafferty, president of Ski Utah. "We're also pleased that word is getting out about some of the resorts that have been our best kept secrets."

The polls of magazines such as Skiing, SKI, Transworld Snowboarding and Freeskier tend to be highly influential on riders and skiers each fall as they start planning their winter getaways.

Below are some highlights from the magazine polls and how Utah resorts fared in them:

Skiing magazine

- Four of Utah's resorts placed in Skiing magazine's Top 25 resorts list:

Alta/Snowbird (#2), Snowbasin (#10), Park City Mountain Resort (#11), Solitude #25

- Utah ranked #1 for Secret Powder Stashes (obvious choice - Alta/Snowbird, next up - Powder Mountain)

SKI magazine

- The Top 30 Readers Poll named seven resorts: Deer Valley (#2), Park City (#5), The Canyons (#15), Snowbird (#21),

Solitude (#25), Alta (#28), Brighton (#29)

- In a list of Top Resorts for Snow, six of 6 of 10 resorts are located in Utah: Powder Mountain (#1), Alta (#2), Snowbird (#3), Brighton (#4), Solitude (#6), Deer Valley (#8)

- Top 10 for Best Access included seven Utah resorts: Park City (#2), Deer Valley (#3), The Canyons (#4), Snowbird (#5), Solitude (#6), Alta (#8), Brighton (#9)

- In the Value category, four of 10 resorts belonged to Utah: Powder Mountain (#1), Alta (#2), Brighton (#6), Solitude (#9)

- Top 10 for Overall Satisfaction included 4 Utah resorts: Alta (#1), Deer Valley (#4), Snowbird (#7), Powder Mountain(#8)

- Four Utah ski areas were recognized in the best Weather category: Deer Valley (#1), Brighton (#2), Solitude (#3), Alta (#5)

- Deer Valley once again clinched the #1 slot for Grooming.

- In the Service category, Deer Valley ranked #1 and Snowbasin #3.

- For best Lifts, Snowbasin came in at #1 and Deer Valley #5.

- Best Terrain/Variety: Alta (#6), Snowbird (#7)

- Best Terrain/Challenge: Snowbird (#2), Alta (#3)

- Best On Mountain Food: Deer Valley (#1), Snowbasin (#2)

- Best Service: Deer Valley (#1), Snowbasin (#3)

- Best Terrain Parks: Brighton (#7), Park City (#8)

Transworld Snowboarding

Park City Mountain Resort was awarded Terrain Park of the Year for 3rd consecutive time. This marks the first time a single resort has earned the top slot three years running.

Freeskier

- Alta/Snowbird ranked #3 in the Top 5 Rocky Mountain Resorts.

- The Best of the Rest list placed Snowbasin at #6.

- Park City Mountain Resort came in at #4 in the list of North America's Greatest

Terrain Parks.

- Salt Lake City ranked #1 in the list of Best Rail Cities.

Also noteworthy, the Dallas Morning News will name Wolf Mountain's Soapbox Derby as the Wackiest Event on Snow in their annual ski section.

Hunt and Shoot.org Online Portal to Hunting, Shooting and Free Prizes

NEWTOWN, Conn.?A free online resource for sportsmen and women not only provides comprehensive information on hunting and shooting, but also offers visitors a chance to win a Polaris ATV, bird-hunting trip for two, or NASCAR tickets for four.

The Web site, http://www.HuntAndShoot.org , was launched in June by the firearm industry's trade association, the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF). It features an array of free services, access directories and other conveniences for today's hunters and target shooters.

Through February, the site is running a "Hunt and Shoot Sweepstakes," a chance for visitors to enter to win one of three prizes?a Polaris Sportsman 500 EFI in Mossy Oak Camouflage ATV, a bird hunting trip for two at Flint Oak Ranch, Fall River, Kan., and four tickets to the 2007-08 NASCAR. race of his/her choice, subject to ticket availability.

See complete sweepstakes prize descriptions, official rules and entry form at http://www.HuntAndShoot.org . (No purchase necessary. Sweepstakes open to legal residents of the 48 contiguous United States and the District of Columbia, age 18 or older at time of entry. Ends Feb. 28, 2007.)

Formed in 1961, NSSF is celebrating its 45th birthday in 2006. The organization this year reached important new milestones, topping 3,000 members and hosting the largest annual trade show (SHOT Show) in the history of the firearms industry.

Mercury to "Eclipse" the Sun

The afternoon of Wednesday November 8th the tiny planet Mercury will pass in front of the Sun creating what astronomers call a "transit of Mercury". According to NASA Solar System Ambassador Patrick Wiggins "On
average there are only about 13 Mercury transits per century. The last one visible from Utah occurred in 1999 and we wont see another until 2016."

Those with a properly filtered telescope should be able to see Mercury's tiny, dark disk first touch the lower left portion of the Sun at about 12:12 p.m. MST. The planet will then glide slowly across the solar disk for about 5 hours.

Sunset will cause Utahns to miss the last few minutes of the transit but observers further west will see Mercury leave the Sun's face at about 5:09 p.m.

Wiggins cautions that "As rare and interesting as this event will be, observers need to be very careful not to damage their eyes while watching it."

To help people safely observe the transit the Salt Lake Astronomical Society will host a free Mercury Transit Watch. The watch will be held in the parking lot of the Harmon's grocery store located at 7800 South 700 East in Midvale between noon and 5:00 p.m.

The Transit Watch will feature several telescopes equipped with special filters designed for safe solar viewing, including some which will allow viewers to see massive eruptions arcing away from the Sun as tiny Mercury slowly treks across it.

Admission to the Transit Watch is free, however it will be held only if the weather permits.

Near real time images of the event will also be available via links on Wiggins' web page, http://utahastro.info

Venus is the only other planet to pass in front of the Sun, but its transits are much rarer, averaging less that two per century. The next one will occur in 2012. After that earthbound observers will not see another transit of Venus until 2117.