Utah Waterfowl Guidebook • Waterfowl Utah CONTACT US CONTENTS WHAT’S NEW KNOW THE LAWS This guidebook summarizes Utah’s Turn in a poacher 6 Key dates and fees COVID-19 and Utah’s waterfowl hunts: waterfowl hunting laws and rules. Although Phone: 1-800-662-3337 8 Basic requirements Stay informed about COVID-19 pandemic- it is a convenient quick-reference document Email: [email protected] 9 Do you need a federal stamp? related changes that might affect your 2020–2021 for Utah’s waterfowl regulations, it is not an Online: wildlife.utah.gov/utip 9 Utah’s Trial Hunting Program hunt. See the box on page 29 and visit all-encompassing resource. wildlife.utah.gov/covid. Division offices 10 Do you have a HIP number? For an in-depth look at the 11 How to obtain a 2020 swan permit Offices are open 8 a.m.–5 p.m., Apply for permits: If you plan to apply for state’s waterfowl hunting rules, Monday through Friday. 13 Swan permits for youth swan, greater sage-grouse, sandhill crane visit wildlife.utah.gov/rules. For 15 After your swan hunt and sharp-tailed grouse permits in the hunt Utah’s wildlife laws and statutes, visit Salt Lake City 16 Firearms, crossbows and archery drawing, the permit application period runs le.utah.gov/xcode/code.html. 1594 W North Temple tackle from July 1–16, 2020. For more information on Then use the references in the guide- Box 146301 17 Make sure you’re in range applying for a swan permit, see page 11. For book—such as Utah Admin. Rule R657-9-6 Salt Lake City, UT 84114-6301 18 Hunters with disabilities information on applying for grouse and crane and Utah Code § 23-20-3—to find the 2020–2021 801-538-4700 18 Hunting methods permits, see the 2020–21 Utah Upland Game detailed law or rule that underpins the 20 Boating laws and rules and Turkey Guidebook. guidebook summary. Central Region If you have questions about a particular 1115 N Main Street 21 Hunting-dog field trials and Change to permit surrender processes: rule, call or visit the nearest Division office. Springville, UT 84663 training Starting this year, if you need to surrender your Utah Waterfowl Guidebook • Waterfowl Utah 801-491-5678 23 Rest areas swan permit, you are strongly encouraged to Who makes the rules? 23 No-shooting areas do so at least 30 days before the season The Utah Wildlife Board passes the rules Northeastern Region 24 Trespassing opens. The surrender process has changed and 318 N Vernal Avenue summarized in this guidebook. 24 Possession and transportation could result in the loss of previously accrued There are seven board members, and Vernal, UT 84078 preference points. For details, see the article on 435-781-9453 25 Avian diseases in Utah each serves a six-year term. Appointed by the 27 Special regulations for national page 32 or visit wildlife.utah.gov/refund. governor, board members are not Division Northern Region wildlife refuges Fee increases for nonresident hunters: employees. 515 E 5300 S 28 Digital license License, permit and application fees for hunt- The Division’s director serves as the Ogden, UT 84405 30 Season dates and bag and ers who are not Utah residents will increase board’s executive secretary but does not have 801-476-2740 possession limits starting July 1, 2020. Some of those increased a vote on wildlife policies. 31 Goose areas fees are listed in the tables on page 6. To Before board members make changes to Southeastern Region wildlife rules, they listen to recommendations 319 N Carbonville Road, Ste A 32 ID that swan before you shoot it see all of Utah’s license and permit fees, visit Price, UT 84501 32 Mercury and ducks wildlife.utah.gov/licenses/fees.html. from Division biologists. They also receive 435-613-3700 33 Waterfowl Slam program input from the public and various interest Lower scaup limit: The daily bag limit for groups via the regional advisory council (RAC) 34 Utah’s Youth Waterfowl Hunts scaup has been reduced to two birds per day. process. Southern Region 35 Maps available online 1470 N Airport Road For all bag limits and season dates, see page If you have feedback or suggestions for 36 Shooting hours Cedar City, UT 84721 30. board members, you can find their contact wildlife.utah.gov 435-865-6100 39 Identification information online at wildlife.utah.gov. 56 Definitions Youth Waterfowl Hunt dates: This fall, Washington County Field Office the Youth Waterfowl Hunt in the Northern Wildlife Board members Zone will be held Sept. 19, 2020. The Youth 451 N SR-318 Randy Dearth Waterfowl Hunt in the Southern Zone will Byron Bateman, Chair Hurricane, UT 84737 Wade Heaton Kevin Albrecht, Vice Chair 435-879-8694 be held two weeks later, on Oct. 3, 2020. For details, see page 34. Karl Hirst Mike Fowlks, Donnie Hunter Division Director & wildlife.utah.gov Bret Selman Executive Secretary 2 3 Swan hunting tagging change: Starting Online HIP registration process: Registra- Guidebook • Waterfowl Utah in 2020, swan hunters will have a bit more tion in the Migratory Game Bird Harvest Infor- Don’t lose your hunting and fi shing privileges leeway in when and where they can tag a mation Program (HIP) has never been easier. To If you commit a wildlife violation, you could lose the privilege of hunting and shing in Utah. swan. For details, see page 15. register, visit wildlife.utah.gov/uthip. For more The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources can suspend the license of information, please see page 10. You must anyone who knowingly, intentionally or recklessly violates wildlife 2020–2021 Forfeit preference points for purchase have a HIP number issued between March 11, laws. Your license can be suspended for a wildlife violation if: of remaining swan permit: If you 2020 and March 10, 2021 if you plan to hunt • You are convicted. purchase a swan permit that’s available after waterfowl during the 2020–2021 season. • You plead guilty or no contest. the hunt drawing in 2020, you will lose any • You enter a plea in abeyance or preference points you’ve accrued for swan. To Plan your hunt: The Utah Hunt Planner is an diversion agreement. learn more about purchasing these permits, online tool you can use to be better prepared Suspension proceedings are separate and indepen- see page 12. for your next Utah hunt. It contains in-depth dent from criminal prosecution. The Utah Division of information on Utah’s waterfowl manage- Wildlife Resources may suspend your license privileges Hunting in Utah State Parks: Hunting of ment areas. To use the hunt planner, visit whether or not the court considers suspension in your wildlife is allowed within the boundaries of all wildlife.utah.gov/huntplanner. criminal case. You will be noti ed of any action against 2020–2021 Utah State Park areas, except those areas and your privilege after criminal proceedings conclude. And hunts specifically closed by the Utah Division Buy your license over the phone: You can remember, if your license is suspended in Utah, you of State Parks and Recreation in Utah Admin. now buy a Utah hunting or combination license may not be permitted to hunt or sh in most other Rule R651-614. For details, see page 18 or over the telephone. Just call 1-800-221-0659. states. (Visit wildlife.utah.gov/know-the-consequences.html to see a map of participating states.) visit stateparks.utah.gov/resources/hunting-at- The line is staffed 24 hours a day, seven days Utah Waterfowl Guidebook • Waterfowl Utah state-parks. a week. In addition to the fee for the license, raises funds for waterfowl conservation. stances, you must obtain written permission you’ll also be charged a $2 transaction fee for Adults can join for $20, and youth can join from the landowner or the landowner’s Check season dates: Season dates change each item you buy. for $10. To learn more, visit page 33 or authorized representative before hunting on every year. For details, see the tables that start wildlife.utah.gov/waterfowl-slam. private lands. For more information, please see on page 30. Youth hunting age: To be considered a youth Trespassing on pages 23–24. for all waterfowl hunting, you must be 17 years No shooting or hunting on Antelope And keep in mind old or younger on July 31, 2020. Island: Antelope Island remains a no-shooting Protection from discrimination: The area. For details, see page 17. Division receives federal financial assistance Northern and Southern duck-hunting Retrieving waterfowl: Before hunting in from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Under zones: This year, there will again be two an area, make sure you can retrieve the birds Off-highway vehicles: Off-highway vehicles Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Section different zones for hunting ducks, coots, you shoot. Because of mud or deep water, you are not permitted on state waterfowl manage- 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Title II mergansers, snipe and scaup. For season dates may need chest waders, a dog or a boat. Not ment areas, except in areas that are posted open of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, and boundary information on the Northern attempting to retrieve your waterfowl could to OHV use. the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, Title IX of and Southern zones, see page 30. result in a citation. the Education Amendments of 1972, the U.S. Burning phragmites during the hunt: Department of the Interior and its bureaus This fall, as conditions permit, the Division will License required to apply for permits: Swan check-in and reporting: If you draw prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, burn phragmites at a few waterfowl manage- Before you can apply for swan, greater sage- a 2020 swan permit, you are required to check color, national origin, age, disability or sex.