Win Big For Wildlife: Hunters Helping Condors Program In Utah

The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (DWR) and The Peregrine Fund are once again encouraging hunters in the Zion hunting unit to take part in an effort to protect birds of prey, including critically endangered California condors. Throughout October, hunters can stop by a DWR check station to demonstrate their conservation efforts and enter a prize drawing. Those who show they used non-lead ammunition or removed all animal remains from the field will have a chance to win one of five $800 gift cards for outdoor equipment, donated by The Peregrine Fund.

This initiative is part of the "Hunters Helping Condors" program, which launched in Utah in 2011 to aid the recovery of California condors. These massive birds, listed as endangered since 1967, faced near extinction by 1982, with only 23 left in the world. Thanks to a successful captive breeding program, there are now more than 500 condors, with over half living in the wild. Of these, 84 are part of the Arizona/Utah population.

California condors play a vital ecological role by scavenging and removing dead animals from the landscape. Unfortunately, this behavior makes them vulnerable to lead poisoning when they consume remains of animals shot with lead ammunition. Lead poisoning is the leading cause of death for free-flying condors in Utah and Arizona, and it also affects other raptors like eagles and hawks.

"The Hunters Helping Condors collaborative effort demonstrates one of the ways that hunters are at the forefront of wildlife conservation," said Danielle Finlayson in a press release. Finlayson is the DWR Southern Region Conservation Biologist. She emphasized the importance of hunters’ actions in helping condors and preventing harm to other birds of prey.

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The check station will be located near Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park at the intersection of Yellowjacket Road and Hancock Road. It will be open on Oct. 9, 12-13, 19-21, and 26-27 from 9 a.m. to dusk. In addition, the DWR provides hunters with a coupon for free or discounted non-lead ammunition for the Zion hunting unit.