2020–21 Utah Cougar Guidebook
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Utah Cougar Guidebook • Utah Cougar CONTACT US CONTENTS WHAT’S NEW? KNOW THE LAWS This guidebook summarizes Utah’s cougar Turn in a poacher 6 Key dates and fees COVID-19 and cougar hunting: Stay hunting laws and rules. Although it is a con- Phone: 1-800-662-3337 8 Basic requirements informed about any COVID-19 pandemic- venient quick-reference document for Utah’s Email: [email protected] 8 Are you old enough? related changes that might affect your 2020–2021 cougar regulations, it is not an all-encompass- Online: wildlife.utah.gov/utip 8 Have you passed hunter hunt. See the box on page 16 and visit ing resource. wildlife.utah.gov/covid. Division offices education? For an in-depth look at the state’s 9 Do you have a license? Offices are open 8 a.m.–5 p.m., Harvest two cougars: Starting in 2020, you cougar hunting laws and rules, visit Monday through Friday. 9 Utah’s Trial Hunting Program can harvest up to two cougars per season. For wildlife.utah.gov/rules. 10 Prepare to apply details about what combinations of permits You can use the references in the guide- Salt Lake City 12 Do your research you may use, see page 20. book—such as Utah Code § 23-20-3 and Utah 1594 W North Temple 12 Why bonus points matter Administrative Rule R657-10-13—to search Box 146301 13 Are you eligible to apply? Apply for hunts on split units: The Divi- the Division’s website for the detailed statute 2020–2021 Salt Lake City, UT 84114-6301 13 Waiting period sion distributes permits for limited-entry hunts or rule that underpins the guidebook summary. (held on split units) through the cougar draw- 801-538-4700 13 Hunters with disabilities If you have questions about a particular ing. You can apply for the drawing from Sept. rule, call or visit the nearest Division office. Central Region 14 Apply for a permit 15–Oct. 6, 2020. The results of the cougar hunt 1115 N Main Street 14 Take the voluntary cougar- Utah Cougar Guidebook • Utah Cougar drawing will be available on or before Oct. 19, Who makes the rules? Springville, UT 84663 hunting course 2020. For additional details, see page 14. The Utah Wildlife Board passes the rules 801-491-5678 14 Hunter Mentoring Program summarized in this guidebook. 16 After you apply New spot-and-stalk hunt: A new spot- There are seven board members, and Northeastern Region and-stalk cougar hunt is open from Aug. 1, 16 Permit refunds and exchanges each serves a six-year term. Appointed by the 318 N Vernal Avenue 2020 through Dec. 31, 2020. For details, see 17 Surrendering a permit governor, board members are not Division Vernal, UT 84078 page 11. 435-781-9453 17 Avoid harvesting collared cougars employees. 18 Other available permits Change to permit surrender processes: The Division’s director serves as the board’s Northern Region 18 Harvest-objective permit Starting in 2020, the permit surrender process executive secretary but does not have a vote on 515 E 5300 S 19 Cougar-control permit has changed. If you want to surrender your wildlife policies. Ogden, UT 84405 20 Pursuit permit limited-entry cougar permit (for split-unit Before board members make changes to 801-476-2740 21 Field regulations hunts), you must do so before the season wildlife rules, they listen to recommendations opens to avoid losing your previously accrued from Division biologists. They also receive input Southeastern Region 21 Firearms and hunting equipment 21 Are you allowed to possess a bonus points. For details, see page 17 or visit from the public and various interest groups via 319 N Carbonville Road, Ste A wildlife.utah.gov/refund. Price, UT 84501 weapon? the regional advisory council (RAC) process. 435-613-3700 23 Areas with special restrictions If you have feedback or suggestions for Fee increases for nonresident hunters: board members, you can find their contact 23 Hunting hours and methods Increases to license, permit and application information online at wildlife.utah.gov. Southern Region 24 Harvest and pursuit restrictions fees for hunters who are not Utah residents 1470 N Airport Road 25 Possession and transportation went into effect on July 1, 2020. Some of those Cedar City, UT 84721 Wildlife Board members wildlife.utah.gov increased fees are listed in the tables on page 435-865-6100 26 Harvest reporting Randy Dearth Byron Bateman, Chair 28 Trespassing 6. To see all of Utah’s license and permit fees, visit wildlife.utah.gov/licenses/fees.html. Wade Heaton Kevin Albrecht, Vice Chair Washington County Field Office 30 Cougar identification tips Karl Hirst Mike Fowlks, 451 N SR-318 32 Cougar unit reference map Collared cougars: Division biologists have Donnie Hunter Division Director & Hurricane, UT 84737 34 Hunt tables Bret Selman Executive Secretary 435-879-8694 placed tracking collars on cougars across the 39 Definitions state. If possible, please avoid harvesting a col- lared animal. For details, see the information wildlife.utah.gov box on page 17. 2 3 Unit hunt-strategy changes: This year, Download the app: The free Utah Guidebook • Utah Cougar hunt strategies are changing on quite a few Hunting and Fishing app makes it easy to Don’t lose your hunting and fishing privileges cougar hunting units. For details on which store digital versions of your licenses and If you commit a wildlife violation, you could lose the privilege of hunting and fishing in Utah. units fall into the split, harvest-objective and permits on a mobile device. For details, see The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources can suspend the license of unlimited hunt strategies, see the hunt tables wildlife.utah.gov/mobileapp. anyone who knowingly, intentionally or recklessly violates wildlife 2020–2021 that begin on page 34. laws. Your license can be suspended for a wildlife violation if: Exact harvest location required: Be • You are convicted. Dog restrictions on certain units: On the prepared to provide the exact location of your • You plead guilty or no contest. La Sal; San Juan, Mountains; and Book Cliffs, harvest when you check in a cougar with • You enter a plea in abeyance or East units, you may not use dogs from April 15 a Division employee. GPS coordinates are diversion agreement. through Nov. 2, 2021. The only exception is for preferred. See page 26 for details. hunters who also have valid permits for a black Suspension proceedings are separate and indepen- bear season on those units, where the use of Apply for permits online or by phone: dent from criminal prosecution. The Utah Division of dogs is permitted. For all unit restrictions, see If you hope to harvest a cougar on a split unit Wildlife Resources may suspend your license privileges 2020–2021 whether or not the court considers suspension in your the hunt tables that begin on page 34. this year, the application period opens on Sept. 15, 2020. You must apply for a permit online or criminal case. You will be notified of any action against Check the season dates: Season dates by phone no later than Oct. 6, 2020. There’s an your privilege after criminal proceedings conclude. And remember, if your license is suspended in Utah, you change every year, and some units have excep- 11 p.m. MDT deadline for online applications may not be permitted to hunt or fish in most other tions to the general season dates. For details, and a 5 p.m. MDT deadline for phone applica- Utah Cougar Guidebook • Utah Cougar states. (Visit wildlife.utah.gov/know-the-consequences.html to see a map of participating states.) see the tables that start on page 34. tions. To apply, simply visit wildlife.utah.gov or call any Division office. IMPORTANT Purchase harvest-objective permits: of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, Trial hunting program: People who Harvest-objective permits may be purchased the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, Title IX of REMINDERS haven’t hunted may be able to try it for the beginning Oct. 28, 2020 at wildlife.utah.gov, the Education Amendments of 1972, the U.S. first time without taking Hunter Education. For from license agents and at any Division office. Department of the Interior and its bureaus Harvest-objective unit closures: details, see the box on page 9. If you purchase a harvest-objective permit, you prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, Harvest-objective hunting units will close on may hunt statewide on any harvest-objective color, national origin, age, disability or sex. If Purchase pursuit permits by phone: You a unit-by-unit basis. Any unit closures will be unit that’s still open to hunting. If you purchase you believe that you have been discriminated can now purchase a cougar pursuit permit over listed on the cougar hotline (1-888-668-5466) a cougar harvest-objective permit after the against in any program, activity or facility, or the telephone. Just call 1-800-221-0659. The and posted at wildlife.utah.gov/cougarharvest season opens, the permit is not valid until if you desire further information, please visit line is staffed 24 hours per day, seven days per by noon daily. Closures will take effect the three days from the date of purchase. www.doi.gov/pmb/eeo/public-civil-rights.cfm. following day. week. You will be charged a $2 transaction fee for each item you purchase. Corrections: If errors are found in the Private lands: The Division cannot guarantee Hunting license required: Before you can printed guidebook, the Division will access to any private land.