Antelope Island—Bird Hunts on the Great Salt Lake

[chilly heath]

Many hunters such as myself yearn for a bird-driven north american map to contrast Europe's Revontuli and Salzwiezen. So I'd like to raise Utah's own Antelope Island and the surrounding Great Salt Lake as inspiration, which would make a unique reserve or park.

The Great Salt Lake wetland is a rare gem by any standards. A crucial hotspot for many breeding and migratory birds, and a convenient means to add many requested bird species such as pintail, chukar, and the elegant tundra swan— The largest north american waterfowl and a truly remarkable hunt

ANIMALS (bold = new):

possible mammals (all returning species):
plains bison, class 9
Mule deer, class 5
pronghorn, class 3
coyote, class 2
black tailed jackrabbit, class 1

upland birds:
chukar, class 1 (could also be backfilled onto Sundarpatan... wink wink nudge nudge)

waterfowl:
northern pintail, class 1
cinnamon teal, class 1
canvasback, class 1
northern shoveler, class 1
gadwall, class 1
green-winged teal, class 1
Tundra swan, class 1
redhead, class 1
ruddy duck, class 1
goldeneye, class 1
mallard, class 1
lesser scaup, class 1
canada goose, class 1

With this map, there is also the opportunity to educate and raise awareness for this truly special habitat, which is unfortunately threatened by water scarcity and a lack of conservation funds to combat it. A drying Salt Lake spells disaster for both the ecosystem at large and public health, as the lake bed contains arsenic and other toxins which become airborne when exposed.

this idea floated into my head just barely while pondering swan hunting so it may not be very fleshed out, so please do let me know your thoughts and feedback! I'm very passionate about this briny wetland and would be thrilled to see it ingame :-) also my first map concept so alert me if im leaving out some essentials or anything

[bitter grove]

Antelope Island also has giant Mule Deer

[chilly heath]

yes indeed

[bitter grove]

I've seen some bigguns there, like 2 miles away, but you can see the antlers

[chilly heath]

^

[hallow thicket]

From what I've read about this location hunting birds is not allowed & hunting mule deer & bighorn sheep is very limited within the 2000acre fence. Though if this location was to be considered I'd like to think it would fall along a similar standard as Nepal's narrative with you have exclusive rights. Though your concept is sound & I'd like to see a US C:1-4 reserve with 7 waterfowl/ 7 Upland Birds/ 3 sm-med game/ 2 med game. Essentially a US - Salzweisen Park done right. Provides a little something for everyone bc I too am growing weary not having more US-Upland Birds.

[restive apex]

American salz would be Greta but having it set in Utah in general and not one specific park or lake would benefit it as it could have more upland birds to balance things out like Huns, different grouse and quail

[hallow thicket]

Honestly I'm still salty we have 2 waterfowl focused reserves but still havn't received an Upland bird reserve. But I am reasonable & I could settle with a US - SP C:1-4 reserve w/ 7 waterfowl, 7 Upland Birds, 1 Rabbit/Hare, 2 Furbearers (Fox, Coyote, Bobcat, Beaver but please no more Raccoons 😅), & 2 Medium Game like boar, deer, sheep, pronghorn etc.

[chilly heath]

@hallow thicket Bird hunting on antelope island itself is not practiced but is very popular on the broader wetland— that and we’re no stranger to EW taking some liberties, i doubt they’d ever recreate the island, just base something loosely off it.

As for @restive apex s comment i wholly agree, i’d just as happily advocate for a utah map that includes the wetland and birch forests instead of just the more recognizable southern deserts that usually come to mind

That and i really do want swans.