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Deer herds on many units are doing well—lots of fawns were born in 2011, and most of the fawns survived the mild winter of 2011-2012. Good numbers of young bucks should be available on many of the state's 30 general-season units.

Cougars can live just about anywhere in Utah. You’ll find them in the mountains, deserts and foothills. If you’re heading into any of these areas, it’s a good idea to be prepared for an encounter with a cougar.

Nearly non-stop music & entertainment: Imagine a Beatles Tribute band on the island! Really, the band Imagine will perform on Saturday night.

While high-elevation waters throughout Utah provide quality fishing in the summer, the Uinta Mountains and the Boulder Mountains are among the best places to try.

The park and our partner, the Capitol Reef Natural History Association are teaming up to celebrate this noteworthy milestone August 2-4, 2012 with special events and activities. Join us for the fun!

Scofield provides anglers the opportunity to catch fish from either the shore or boat. Best baits from the shore include PowerBait and worms.

Hiking Mount Timpanogos is a favorite summer tradition for thousands of visitors each year. This year from August fifth to approximately September fifth, the Timpooneke Trailhead in American Fork Canyon will be closed due to construction activity. The Timpooneke Trailhead is one of two trailheads that are utilized for hiking Mount Timpanogos.

The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (DWR) is gearing up for the Colorado River Cutthroat Trout Restoration Project for the Middle Fork of Sheep Creek in the Uinta Mountains. The project is scheduled for September 2012.

The Division of Wildlife Resources and Hogle Zoo will hold a bat lecture on July 26 at Hogle Zoo's EdZoocation Station (located just west of the zoo's main entrance).

Eight rattlesnake subspecies live in Utah. The most common is the Great Basin rattlesnake, which is found across the state. Rocky, talus slopes are the places in Utah where you'll most likely encounter rattlesnakes.

Hiking The Narrows from the top down, either in one day or two days, requires a Wilderness Permit. Advance Reservations: up to 3 months in advance Over half of Narrows permits are available using a calendar reservation system.

Starting at 8 a.m. on July 17, you can buy a bull elk permit at the Division of Wildlife Resources' website (wildlife.utah.gov) and from DWR offices and more than 300 hunting license agents across Utah.

The hot, dry weather Utah is experiencing could increase the chance that a black bear wanders into your camp site or cabin area this summer. The dry conditions have reduced the amount of natural vegetation that's available to the bears. Not having enough natural vegetation forces the bears to wander more in search of food.

The new Utah Wildlife Vehicle Collision Reporter is a tool that helps track and categorize animals that are hit by vehicles on state routes. The app is for use on a GPS enabled smart phone that’s used by UDOT contractors who pick up carcasses from state roads.

As thousands of Utahns head to the mountains and deserts for off-highway vehicle (OHV) recreation this summer, Utah State Parks and the Utah Department of Health (UDOH) are reminding riders to “know before you go” by obeying Utah laws and wearing a helmet.

Bring a picnic and enjoy an evening of live music on Antelope Island as the sun sets over Great Salt Lake.

John Shivik, mammals coordinator for the Division of Wildlife Resources, says the dry conditions have reduced the amount of natural vegetation that's available to the bears. Not having enough natural vegetation forces the bears to wander more in search of food.

Located in Huntsville in northern Utah, the reservoir contains six different sportfish: Tiger muskie, smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, black crappie, yellow perch and black bullhead catfish.

Conservation permits are hunting permits auctioned annually at banquets, fundraisers and other events sponsored by various conservation groups. Since the program began in 1981, these permits have raised more than $25 million.

This is the near-final draft of the 2012–13 Utah Upland Game & Turkey Guidebook.

The field trip will happen on Temple Square at 6 p.m. Bob Walters, Watchable Wildlife coordinator for the Division of Wildlife Resources, will lead the trip.

The Utah State Outdoor Recreation Program is now renting paddle craft at the day use beach area. Canoes, sit-on-top kayaks, stand-up paddleboards, and tandem kayaks are $10/hr or $40/day. Inner tubes are $3/hr or $12/day.

Find out what to expect and how to prepare for one of Zion’s most popular hikes with Ranger Jonathan Fortner.

National Historic Trails are extended trails that closely follow a historic trail or route of travel of national significance. In Utah, this includes the Pony Express Trail, the Old Spanish National Historic Trail, and the California National Historic Trail.

More than 4,300 general buck deer permits were not taken in this year's big game draw. The remaining permits will go on sale on two separate days in July.

Planning on camping in Arches or Canyonlands National Park? If you are unable to make a reservation or otherwise obtain a National Park campsite, there are numerous other camping opportunities near the parks.

Bryce Canyon National Park Superintendent Jeff Bradybaugh invites you to join the park in our third annual celebration of the Utah Prairie Dog, a native species to Utah and the Bryce Canyon area.

You can enjoy what those in Sunnyside get to enjoy at a free wildlife viewing event. The Division of Wildlife Resources will host the event on June 16. Biologists will be available from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. to help you locate the animals and to answer your questions.

The Strawberry Reservoir Tagged Fishing Contest started May 26th and goes until October 15th. At least seven of the 300 tagged fish were caught in this first week. You could win $25,000 or many other prizes.

Backcountry permits are required in the following Cedar Mesa Canyons: Grand Gulch, Slickhorn Canyons, Fish Canyon, Owl Canyon, North and South Forks of Mule Canyon north of U.S. Highway 95, Road Canyon, Lime Creek, and their tributaries.

The Division of Wildlife Resources will host the field trips on Thursday, June 14 and Saturday, June 16 as part of its year-round Watchable Wildlife program.

The Division of Wildlife Resources will hold its annual cutthroat trout viewing event from 9 a.m. to noon at the U.S. Forest Service visitor center. The visitor center is just off U.S. Highway 40 on the northwest side of the reservoir.

Go hiking on the Nebo Loop Scenic Byway in Utah and find adventure at every turn. If you’re looking for a challenge, gear up to bag Nebo Summit—the highest peak in the Wasatch Mountains at 11,928 feet.

The 2012 Utah Big Game Field Regulations summarizes the laws and rules that govern big game hunting in Utah. The guidebook is designed to be a convenient quick-reference document for big game hunting regulations. You can use the references in the guidebook to search for the detailed statute or rule that underpins the guidebook summary.

Before Free Fishing Day, the DWR will place extra fish in waters across the state. Most of those fish will be placed in lakes and reservoirs, so lakes and reservoirs might be good places to fish on June 2.

You are invited to attend the Utah Lake Festival scheduled to be held on Saturday, June 2, 2012 from 10:00am - 2:00pm, at the Utah Lake State Park. The festival is free and will offer those attending a chance to enjoy the lake, learn about its many recreational opportunities and educate attendees about the lake's ecosystem.

The Utah Geological Survey (UGS) received a 2012 National Award in Excellence for Research at the National Earthquake Conference. The award recognizes the significant contributions to earthquake research and risk reduction made by three Utah Earthquake Working Groups convened under the auspices of the UGS in cooperation with the Utah Seismic Safety Commission and the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS).

Both boat ramps are open with boat docks availale. FULL SERVICE CAMPGROUNDS ARE 0PEN FOR THE SEASON.

The study begins in June on Monroe Mountain in south-central Utah. If you'd like to help with the study, you can—biologists and university researchers need volunteers.

Anis Aoude, big game coordinator for the Division of Wildlife Resources, says the number of permits dropped slightly because some of the 30 units will be managed for a higher buck-to-doe ratio than biologists have managed them for in the past.