The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources just added a new leaf to its conservation tree with the Cook Wildlife Management Area (WMA) in Daggett County, which officially opened with a ribbon-cutting on Wednesday. This haven for various species such as deer, elk, pronghorn, and even bighorn sheep is poised seven miles shy of Manila, stretching an expanse of some 1,600 acres.
By collaborating with the Utah School and Institutional Trust Funds Office, the Division ensures public access to an additional 7,200 acres surrounding the Cook WMA, an endeavor supported by a kaleidoscope of conservation groups including the Mule Deer Foundation and the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, "We are extremely grateful to the Cook family and also to our many funding partners who are passionate about wildlife conservation," DWR Director Riley Peck stated, as per Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, underscoring the collaboration's significance.
The land, named after former proprietors Dall and Ellen Cook, now serves a pivotal role in the grand tapestry of Utah's ecological preservation, providing a summer refuge for its wildlife residents and an area for recreationists to engage in responsible hunting and fishing, in its virgin state since the January sale, the WMA is now officially ushering visitors on foot, vehicular passage is barred to preserve the terrain's integrity.
