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Laughter Appointed to Utah Wildlife Habitat Council

Laughter Appointed to Utah Wildlife Habitat Council

Utah Division of Natural Resources

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah --(Ammoland.com)- Mike Laughter, Regional Director for the Mule Deer Foundation (MDF), recently accepted an appointment to the Utah Wildlife Habitat Council.

The Council makes recommendations on how to distribute about $2.3 million each year. These dedicated funds, raised from hunting and fishing license sales, are used to enhance, preserve, manage, acquire and protect fish and wildlife habitat throughout the state of Utah.

Michael Canning, Habitat Section Chief for the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (DWR) said, “The Council works to restore habitat and improve hunter access. We are concerned about Utah’s deer herds, and believe Mike’s affiliation with the Mule Deer Foundation and his familiarity with habitat issues will be very beneficial.”

Council members include four individuals from the DWR and four citizens who represent big game, waterfowl, upland game and sportfishing interests. Laughter will now act as the big game representative.

Laughter has worked as a Regional Director with the Mule Deer Foundation for eight years. His region stretches from areas in Idaho, Nevada and Wyoming to the entire state of Utah, and he boasts of managing the eastern-most chapter of MDF in Atlanta, Ga. Laughter was born in Ogden, but now resides in the small town of Hooper, Utah. He has served on numerous committees for Utah state agencies and is on the oversight team for the Hardware Ranch Wildlife Management Area in Utah.

MDF’s Chief Operating Officer Eric Tycksen said, “This Wildlife Habitat Council appointment is quite an honor for Mike. MDF is proud to have him, his enthusiasm and his work ethic, as a valued member of our team.”

Laughter commented, “I am glad to be a part of MDF, and I appreciate all the support I’ve received. I look forward to this opportunity to serve on the Utah Wildlife Habitat Council and the chance to represent everything we have worked so hard for.” Laughter plans to participate in a Council meeting later this year.

In fiscal year 2010, the Utah Wildlife Habitat Council supported 68 new projects. These included habitat treatments, conservation easements and fishing piers. They also provided funding needed to manage the DWR’s Wildlife Management Areas. Total expenditures were $2.36 million. A total of 5,294 acres and nearly 10 stream miles were restored or conserved by projects with Habitat Council contributions.

About MDF: The Mule Deer Foundation is one of the key conservation groups in North America working to restore, improve and protect mule deer, black-tailed deer and their habitat. With a focus on science and program efficiency, MDF has raised millions of dollars and put countless man-hours on the ground for mission-critical projects. MDF acknowledges regulated hunting as a viable management component and is committed to recruitment and retention of youth into the shooting sports and conservation. Get involved at www.muledeer.org or call 1-888-375-DEER.

About UTAH DWR: The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources manages and protects Utah’s wildlife, as well as manages hunting and fishing opportunities within the state. For more information go to http://wildlife.utah.gov/dwr/.

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2011 Shed Antler Gathering Course

You must complete a free online course before gathering shed antlers in Utah. Photo by Brent Stettler

Utah Division of Natural Resources

Utah --(Ammoland.com)- Late winter and early spring is the worst time of the year for elk, moose and especially deer in Utah.

Deep snow makes it harder for deer to move and find food in the winter. And cold temperatures sap the deers’ strength. By the time winter ends, deer are usually the weakest they’ll be all year.

Winter is also the time of year when male deer, elk and moose shed their antlers. The animals will be without antlers until this spring, when they’ll start to grow a new set.

Gathering shed antlers
Gathering antlers that drop off the heads of deer, elk and moose is an activity that’s grown in popularity across the country, including here in Utah.

The challenge with shed-antler gathering is that it happens during the worst time of the year for the animals and the habitat they rely on in the winter.

“By the time winter ends, the animals are stressed,” says Mike Fowlks, Law Enforcement Section chief for the Division of Wildlife Resources.

“The habitat they rely on in the winter is also wet,” he says. “It’s easily damaged. Once the habitat is damaged, it can take years for it to recover.”

Fortunately, Fowlks says you can have fun gathering shed antlers without stressing the animals and damaging their habitat.

“A free course that’s available at our website will show you how,” he says.

Fowlks says you must complete the DWR’s Antler Gathering Ethics course if you want to gather shed antlers in Utah between Feb. 1 and April 15, 2011.

Free course
The free course is available at wildlife.utah.gov/shedantler. After you finish the course, make sure you print a certificate that shows you’ve completed the course.

“And make sure you carry your certificate with you,” Fowlks says. “By law, you must have your certificate with you while you’re gathering shed antlers.”

If you have young children, and you’ve completed the course, your children don’t need to complete it. As long as you’ve completed the course, your certificate will cover your kids too.

Fowlks says if you complete the course, you can gather antlers across Utah.

“Please remember, though, that many of the state’s wildlife management areas are closed in the spring and the winter to protect wildlife,” he says.

You must complete the course if you want to gather shed antlers between Feb. 1 and April 15. If you wait until April 15 or later to gather antlers, you don’t need to complete the course.

For more information, call the nearest Division of Wildlife Resources office or the DWR’s Salt Lake City office at 801-538-4700.

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