Deer

BOUNTIFUL — A growing deer population within city boundaries is having an impact on city ordinances.

City leaders voted to amend guidelines for fencing Tuesday. The new guideline allows residents to increase the height of their fences in their backyard and side yards by an additional two feet, from 6 feet to 8 feet tall.

The change came as part of a focus on a section of the city’s land-use ordinance related to fences and landscaping. Landscaping revisions to the code were originally part of a scheduled public hearing on the revisions, but were set aside so the focus could be solely on fencing requirements.

The arrival of winter means deer in Utah are migrating to low-elevation winter ranges, providing ample opportunity for wildlife watchers to view the stately mammals.

However, it also provides some of the best opportunities for poachers because the deer are more concentrated and less wary than in other seasons.

Wildlife officials in the state are aware of this, and are stepping up enforcement efforts in response. This winter, Division of Wildlife Resources conservation officers and members of sportsman's groups are carrying out the largest winter range patrols ever conducted in the state.

BOUNTIFUL — A Bountiful family was startled by the sound of a deer on Christmas Eve — but in their basement, not on their roof.

Anybody feel like living dangerously this Halloween?

Oh sure, you could dress up as a member of the wealthiest 1 percent and go crash an Occupy Wall Street rally. But I've got something a bit scarier in mind for the upcoming All Hallow's Eve.

OGDEN -- The general rifle buck deer season kicked off with a slow start on Saturday, and hunters in the Top of Utah may have a harder time this year finding deer.

The colder weather that has rolled into Utah in recent days bodes well for those getting ready for the state's most popular hunt.

More than 65,000 hunters are expected afield for this year's general rifle buck deer hunt, which begins Oct. 22 and ends Oct. 30 in most areas.

Hot weather made it difficult for many hunters to find bucks during this fall's general muzzleloader buck deer hunt, which ended last Thursday. Anis Aoude, big game coordinator for the Division of Wildlife Resources, said colder weather helps hunters because it forces deer to feed more.

SALT LAKE CITY - For the third consecutive year, the number of deer-vehicle collisions in the U.S. has dropped. And the downturn is accelerating. The percentage decline over the last year is nearly three times as large as during the previous two years combined. Utah is considered a medium risk state ranking 34th in comparison to other states in the U.S.