Legacy of Land Award by the Utah Department of Wildlife Resources

LAKETOWN – Clint Kearl, a property owner in Cache and Rich counties, was recently awarded the Legacy of Land Award by the Utah Department of Wildlife Resources.

This new award given by DWR recognized several landowners across the state dedicated to helping deer, elk, moose, beavers and grouse flourish in their areas. Kearl volunteered to help with the emergency deer-feeding efforts in Rich County during the extreme winter of 2022-23. 

As part of an ongoing initiative to grow more mule deer, DWR recently recognized seven other Utahns with the Legacy of Land Award to highlight their contributions in helping Big Game and other wildlife.

This new award was given to those who consistently go above and beyond to accommodate deer and elk on their private properties. These landowners are doing their part to help wildlife and often results in personal loss or extra effort without the individual seeking compensation or mitigation. 

DWR Coordinator Darren DeBloois said these landowners are making a big difference in  Private Lands/Public Wildlifebuilding wildlife numbers in Utah.

“Private land often includes the most productive wildlife habitat in Utah,” he said. “Large numbers of deer rely on these areas during certain parts of the year.”

DeBloois said DWR also offers programs to address conflicts between wildlife and private landowners.

“Some landowners enjoy the deer and go above and beyond to nurture these herds and contribute to growing the deer and elk populations that the public then enjoys on public lands.” he said.