2019-20 Utah Furbearer Guidebook
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Utah Furbearer Guidebook • Utah Furbearer CONTACT US CONTENTS HIGHLIGHTS KNOW THE LAWS This guidebook summarizes Utah’s Turn in a poacher 3 Know the laws Fewer bobcat permits: This year, you may furbearer hunting laws and rules. Although Phone: 1-800-662-3337 4 Trappers Association obtain a maximum of five bobcat permits for it is a convenient quick-reference document Email: [email protected] reward program the season, a decrease of one permit compared 2019–2020 for Utah’s furbearer regulations, it is not an Online: wildlife.utah.gov/utip 6 Key dates and fees to last season. For more information on obtain- all-encompassing resource. ing a permit, see page 10. Division offices 7 Basic requirements For an in-depth look at the state’s 10 Obtaining permits Offices are open 8 a.m.–5 p.m., Cap on bobcat permits: Because of recent furbearer hunting laws and rules, visit Monday through Friday. 11 Obtaining and using tags declines in bobcat numbers, only 6,460 bobcat wildlife.utah.gov/rules. 13 Avoid nontarget species permits will be sold this year. Permit sales will You can use the references in the guide- Salt Lake City 14 Hunting and trapping methods begin Oct. 1, 2019 and continue until the cap book—such as Utah Code § 23-20-3 and Utah 1594 W North Temple 14 Trap registration numbers is reached or until Oct. 31, 2019, whichever Administrative Rule R657-11-4—to search Box 146301 15 Trap restrictions to protect river happens first. You can purchase bobcat permits the Division’s website for the detailed statute Salt Lake City, UT 84114-6301 otters at wildlife.utah.gov and from license agents or rule that underpins the guidebook summary. 2019–2020 801-538-4700 16 Unmodified and modified body- and Division offices. For more information on If you have questions about a particular obtaining a permit, see page 10. rule, call or visit the nearest Division office. Central Region gripping traps 1115 N Main Street 17 Artificial cubby set Shorter bobcat season: The 2019-2020 Who makes the rules? Springville, UT 84663 17 Did it get wet? Decontaminate it! bobcat season will be one week shorter, The Utah Wildlife Board passes the rules Utah Furbearer Guidebook • Utah Furbearer 801-491-5678 18 Use of bait running from Nov. 20, 2019 to March 1, 2020. summarized in this guidebook. 18 Are you allowed to possess a For more information on season dates and bag There are seven board members, and Northeastern Region weapon? limits, see page 25. 318 N Vernal Avenue each serves a six-year term. Appointed by the 19 Areas closed to beaver and mink governor, board members are not Division Vernal, UT 84078 Bobcat removal and tagging: Whether harvest employees. 435-781-9453 you find a bobcat in one of your traps, or in a 20 Areas where you cannot discharge trap you have written authorization to check, The Division’s director serves as the board’s Northern Region a firearm you must possess and carry a valid bobcat executive secretary but does not have a vote on 515 E 5300 S 20 Spotlighting permit issued in your name. Then, if you kill wildlife policies. Ogden, UT 84405 20 Trapping on waterfowl the bobcat, you must attach your own tags to Before board members make changes to 801-476-2740 management areas the carcass. For additional details, see page 11. wildlife rules, they listen to recommendations from Division biologists. They also receive input Southeastern Region 21 Trapping coyotes and raccoons 22 Trespassing More changes to predator control from the public and various interest groups via 319 N Carbonville Road, Ste A program: Recent changes to Utah’s predator Price, UT 84501 22 Wolf management in Utah the regional advisory council (RAC) process. control program include the requirement to 435-613-3700 23 Restricted areas If you have feedback or suggestions for use a new smartphone app. For details, see board members, you can find their contact 23 Possession, sale and page 25 or visit wildlife.utah.gov/predators. information online at wildlife.utah.gov. Southern Region transportation 1470 N Airport Road 24 Depredation Trap registration license required: You Cedar City, UT 84721 Wildlife Board members wildlife.utah.gov 435-865-6100 25 Season dates and bag limits must possess a valid trap registration license 25 Utah’s predator control program when you use any trapping device capable Randy Dearth Byron Bateman, Chair Washington County Field Office 27 Definitions of capturing or killing protected wildlife. You Wade Heaton Kevin Albrecht, Vice Chair 451 N SR-318 must also have that license on your person Karl Hirst Mike Fowlks, Hurricane, UT 84737 when setting or checking trapping devices. Donnie Hunter Division Director & 435-879-8694 Bret Selman Executive Secretary On the cover: long-tailed weasel photo, wildlife.utah.gov courtesy of Jim Shuler 2 3 For more information about this requirement, Three-year guidebook: In August 2019, Guidebook • Utah Furbearer please see wildlife.utah.gov/trapping-faq.html. the Utah Wildlife Board approved a 3-year Don’t lose your hunting and fishing privileges For details on obtaining the license and any guidebook for furbearer regulations. That If you commit a wildlife violation, you could lose the privilege of hunting and fishing in Utah. exemptions that apply, see page 9. means the regulations in this guidebook will The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources can suspend the license of remain relatively unchanged until 2022. anyone who knowingly, intentionally or recklessly violates wildlife 2019–2020 Trapping coyotes and raccoons: Because laws. Your license can be suspended for a wildlife violation if: coyote and raccoon traps are capable of Check season dates: Season dates change • You are convicted. capturing or killing protected wildlife, Utah’s every year. For a complete list of furbearer • You plead guilty or no contest. season dates, see page 25. trapping laws apply to individuals who are • You enter a plea in abeyance or trapping coyotes and raccoons. For details, see Bobcat permit/tag format: Bobcat diversion agreement. the information box on page 21. temporary possession tags and jaw tags are Suspension proceedings are separate and indepen- dent from criminal prosecution. The Utah Division of Trap registration numbers: If you already attached to bobcat permits. For more informa- tion on how to attach these tags to a bobcat, Wildlife Resources may suspend your license privileges have a valid trap registration number, but you please read Tagging bobcats on page 11. whether or not the court considers suspension in your don’t have a physical copy of it, please contact criminal case. You will be notified of any action against 2019–2020 a Division office to receive a duplicate copy, Trapping muskrats on WMAs: Certain your privilege after criminal proceedings conclude. And free of charge. You can also download the Utah trappers are authorized to remove muskrats remember, if your license is suspended in Utah, you Hunting and Fishing app and carry an elec- from state-owned wildlife management may not be permitted to hunt or fish in most other tronic copy of your trap registration license on areas (WMAs). You can learn more about that states. (Visit wildlife.utah.gov/know-the-consequences.html to see a map of participating states.) Utah Furbearer Guidebook • Utah Furbearer your mobile device. See page 9 for details. process at wildlife.utah.gov/WMAtrapping, starting in October. Accidental trapping of protected spe- of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, cies: Black-footed ferret, lynx and wolf are the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, Title IX of Trappers Association Obtain permanent tags: You may obtain protected species under the Endangered Spe- the Education Amendments of 1972, the U.S. reward program permanent marten and bobcat tags—by cies Act. If you accidentally trap or capture one Department of the Interior and its bureaus Every year, thieves steal valuable appointment only—at any Division office. of these species, you must immediately report prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, Marten tags will be available Sept. 21, 2019 traps from Utah trappers. it to the Division and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife color, national origin, age, disability or sex. If through March 13, 2020. Bobcat tags will be The Utah Trappers Association is Service. See page 18 for details. you believe that you have been discriminated available Nov. 20, 2019 through March 13, offering a reward—up to $500—to against in any program, activity or facility, or 2020. You can also obtain permanent tags at Native American trust lands and na- individuals who report trap theft to the if you desire further information, please visit the Utah Trappers Association Fur Sale on Feb. tional wildlife refuges: If you want to trap www.doi.gov/pmb/eeo/public-civil-rights.cfm. Division, which results in a successful 7–8, 2020. on Native American trust lands and national prosecution. If you see someone stealing wildlife refuges in Utah, you should first check Private lands: The Division cannot a trap, report it through the Division’s Restrictions to protect river otters: with the respective tribal authority or refuge guarantee access to any private land. Under poaching hotline at 1-800-662-3337. Some rivers have trapping restrictions. See manager. certain circumstances, you must obtain writ- If you encounter traps while page 15 to learn more. ten permission from the landowner or the outdoors, you have a legal obligation Corrections: If errors are found in this landowner’s authorized representative before to respect that private property. At the Checking traps after dark: A trapper on guidebook after it is printed, the Division hunting or trapping on private lands.