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Hogle Zoo hunt among bids to kill Antelope bill
This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2005, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

If you want to hunt in my county's state park, then we should be able to hunt in yours.

That's the message Rep. Sheryl Allen, R-Bountiful, wants to send to Sen. Bill Hickman, R-St. George, who has proposed opening up Davis County's Antelope Island to hunting for mule deer and bighorn sheep.

Allen is proposing a substitute to Senate Bill 187 that would allow two hunting permits each for coyotes and foxes in Washington County's Snow Canyon State Park, located in Hickman's district. Her substitute, not yet debated in the House, would do away with Hickman's proposed deer and bighorn sheep hunts.

"The children [at Snow Canyon State Park] will just have to duck," Allen said with a smile. She acknowledged that she was mainly trying to make a point that hunting should be limited in both parks.

Hickman isn't laughing.

"This late time in the session, her sense of humor may not be well accepted," Hickman said, adding that lawmakers are trying to get serious work done.

But another Davis County representative has taken joking aim at Hickman's bill. Clearfield GOP Rep. Curtis Oda suggests another amendment - one that would require the new Antelope Island hunters to first carve a wooden canoe and paddle out to the island before bagging their trophy. His amendment also would allow a safari hunt at Hogle Zoo, in Salt Lake City. Oda also hopes his changes will sink Hickman's legislation.

"I love hunting. But this is silly," Oda said. "These deer have got nowhere to run. It's like shooting fish in a barrel. This is all about money, about big bucks." Hickman's SB187, which has passed the Senate, would allow two permits each for deer and bighorn sheep a year. Supporters say it could raise $200,000 in state revenue. But park officials and Davis County leaders say an annual trophy hunt is unnecessary.

Six permits a year are already allowed for hunting bison on the island.

Natural Resources Executive Director Mike Styler, a state legislator until earlier this year, was reluctant to say anything critical of his old colleagues.

"The idea of hunting big game on Antelope Island has been proposed by the state Legislature, and the final decision rests with those elected officials as they represent the citizens of the state of Utah," Styler said in a prepared statement. "We're confident that the Legislature will make a fair ruling as they consider the needs of the agencies and people drawn into the debate."

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Tribune reporter Brett Prettyman contributed to this article.

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