SALT LAKE CITY -- Utah's wildlife agency has bought more than 5,700 acres in Duchesne County that's prime habitat for deer, elk and sage grouse.

Mike Canning, habitat section chief for the state Division of Wildlife Resources, says the deal that closed Monday is the agency's largest land buy in at least a decade.

The agency paid $850,000 for the land northeast of Fruitland. It was paid for with money from land sold last year near Roosevelt and donations from the Mule Deer Foundation.

State officials say the land will be good wintering ground for elk and deer. They hope it will mean fewer wild animals eating crops on neighboring farms. The land will also be open to hunters.

The property will be protected from development and become part of the 42,000-acre Tabby Mountain Wildlife Management Area.

On the Net:

Utah Division of Wildlife Resources: http://wildlife.utah.gov/index.php

Mule Deer Foundation: http://www.muledeer.org/

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