BOUNTIFUL -- As the Clipper went to press, the House Rules Committee at the Capitol in Salt Lake City was still considering S.B. 187, commonly called the Antelope Island Hunting Bill. It has generated a lot of passionate debate among some Davis County officials, from County Commissioner Dannie McConkie to many others. Letters forwarded to the Clipper show a smattering of the concern and strong opinions held on the subject by various people.

"I should think the dubious ethics of a deer or sheep hunt would be enough to undermine the main argument it has going for it, which is the $$$$$ (money) the state will supposedly make from the sale of permits for 'trophy' animals," wrote Kirk Robinson of the Western Wildlife Conservancy.

"Some of you will remember the basically canned hunt for a mountain lion that Karl Malone participated in a number of years ago, where the frightened animal was cornered in a cave and Karl merely had to point and shoot -- easier than making a foul shot in a clutch, apparently. And he proudly filmed the 'hunt' which was aired during half-time of an NBA All Star game.

"Also, once a hunt is instituted, it may cause the animals to become less tame and harder to take, unless there are just a few places they can go to be out of range of a high-powered rifle," he wrote.

Robinson referred to the "Fair Chase Statement" of the Boone & Crockett Club. It says that Fair Chase "is the ethical, sportsmanlike, and lawful pursuit and taking of any free-ranging wild, native North American big game animal in a manner that does not give the hunter an improper advantage over such animals."

"I do not need to kill a deer to be successful in enjoying a deer hunt," wrote Bill Fenimore of Layton. "My success is not measured by the spread of the antlers or how many points there are.

"Keeping a few locations like Antelope Island as a place where others can enjoy seeing deer without needing to climb a mountain or go far afield is important," he said. "Grandpa and grandma can take the grandkids and show them wildlife while telling them stories of growing up in Utah and how they enjoyed the outdoors as children themselves. Where else in Utah can you enjoy wildlife so easily, as a family."

"The animals on that island are truly unique and offer us much more value as a study group of unhunted, un-pressured animals that is not available anywhere else in the lower 48 states," writes Chris Draper.

Describing himself as an "avid hunter," Draper said he's had the chance to observe the animals on many parts of the island in the past. "I, like the next hunter, would love to have one of the big muleys or sheep that are out there, but not under the circumstances proposed."

tbusselberg@davisclipper.com