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The Division of Wildlife Resources has been busily working on bear counts down in Grand County area so Castle Country Radio was able to speak over the telephone with Conservation Outreach Manager, Aaron Bott who spoke about the bear counts, shed horn hunting and ice fishing conditions.

“Well, I’ve been down in Moab with some of our biologists, we’re bear denning. Which means we’ve got some GPS collars on some of our Black Bears up in the mountain. They are still sleeping and we trying to get an estimate of population of reproductions this season. So we go out climb into some bear dens and see how many of the bears had cubs this winter,” stated Bott. DWR Biologists conduct this type of count each year throughout the region going into areas such as the Manti La Sal National Forest and the Bookcliffs.

In order to shed horn hunt, you are required to take an online Gathering Ethics Course. “It’s online, it’s free, and we’re still offering it. Until the middle of April anyone who is shed hunting will need to take this really quick, really easy shed hunting certification course, and then you have to print off the certificate and have it one you,” said Bott. The course just points out how important it is to respect private property, respect wildlife as they have had a hard winter so to not disturb them too much when heading out to shed horn hunt.

The warmer temperatures are bringing the ice fishing season slowly to an end, so it’s very important for anglers to be careful out on the water now. “This year we have had a pretty mild winter and some of those lower lakes/reservoirs – be careful out there on the ice if the temperatures drop back and we get a cold snap we might be okay but if they keep getting warmer than just be cautious,” said Bott. Anglers at the upper lakes like Scofield and Electric are still doing well and water is still frozen but should proceed with caution.

To keep informed on the DWR news and events visit their website at https://wildlife.utah.gov/

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