By Myrna Trauntvein
Times-News Correspondent
Juab County voted to use the
state cost/share funding for county sponsored predator
control programs in supporting the county program the
commission founded some years ago.
Rex Stephensen, who manages the
bounty paid for coyote predator control, met with
commissioners on Monday seeking the continuation of the
program.
However, commissioners voted to
place $2,000 into the budget and then to apply for the state
funding of the program, as well. The past year, Juab County
contributed approximately $1,500 and the state paid the
county approximately $1,300.
"I would like to see you put more
money into the budget for the coming year," said Stephensen.
"I don't like running out of funds."
He said the county agreed to pay
$20 per coyote and thought that would be adequate for the
coming year as well.
"It would be nice to give more to
the predator control program, but it is not possible," said
Robert Steele, commissioner.
Michael J. Bodenchuk, state
director for USDA-UDAF (United States Department of
Agriculture-Utah Department of Agriculture and Food), also
wrote to commissioners. In his letter, Bodenchuk presented
options open to the counties who sponsor predator control
programs.
"Several counties already put
money into the cooperative USDA-UDAF program to increase
predator management, primarily through aerial hunting," he
said.
The money from the fund is placed
in a Predator Damage Control Fund and earmarked for work in
the contributing counties. Producers also put money into the
account so that a county and producer group and contract to
use the funds decreasing the need for county general fund
dollars for the match.
"While the board has a policy
which 'generally' discourages bounty as a predator
management program, a county sponsored bounty program would
qualify for matching funds if certain requirements are met,"
said Bodenchuk.
One of those qualifiers is that
counties will need to apply to UDAF with proof money has
been provided for qualifying predator programs.
Other qualifiers are that no more
than $25 per coyote be paid, bounties paid for coyotes
killed in March through June are most effective to reduce
fawn and livestock losses, a consistent system of marking
coyotes is used, counties keep records of those paid,
counties apply for funds, and no money from the fund should
be used as prize money in any organized coyote calling
contest.
"We get more bang for our buck
keeping the funds here," said Steele. He began training as a
trapper when he was five years old and said he knew the
local program was effective in predator control.
"It costs a lot more to hunt
predators from an aircraft, he said.
Steele said the information
presented, that predator control was most effective March
through June was only for the aerial program. "Now is the
time to trap because the young ones are easier to catch and,
if they are taken now, the population is less in the
spring," he said.
In addition, said Stephensen, the
ground is not frozen so it is easier to set traps in the
fall&emdash;September and October.
Stephensen said he also kept
track of the names and addresses of all those who were paid
a bounty and he and Pat Ingram prepared the record and
submitted it to the state.
"I have those who want to be paid
bring me the whole animal," said Stephensen, "and I dock the
ears."
William Boyd Howarth,
commissioner, said the work Stephensen did was appreciated.
"We know that it is time-consuming on your part."
Stephensen said he did not mind
the work. "I do get to meet a lot of people," he
said.
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