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 COVID-19 and Utah’s furbearer seasons: furbearer hunting laws and rules. Although Phone: 1-800-662-3337 4 Trappers Association Stay informed about COVID-19 pandemic- it is a convenient quick-reference document Email: [email protected] reward program related changes that might affect the furbearer 2020–2021 for Utah’s furbearer regulations, it is not an Online: wildlife.utah.gov/utip 6 Key dates and fees seasons. See the box on page 8 and visit all-encompassing resource. wildlife.utah.gov/covid. Division offices 6 Utah Trappers Association Fur Sale For an in-depth look at the state’s 7 Basic requirements Offices are open 8 a.m.–5 p.m., Fee increases for nonresidents: License furbearer hunting laws and rules, visit Monday through Friday. 10 Obtaining permits and permit fees for those who are not Utah wildlife.utah.gov/rules. 11 Obtaining and using tags residents increased starting July 1, 2020. Many You can use the references in the Salt Lake City 13 Avoid nontarget species of those increased fees are listed in the tables guidebook—such as Utah Code § 23-20-3 1594 W North Temple 14 Hunting and trapping methods on page 6. To see all of Utah’s license and and Utah Administrative Rule R657-11-4—to Box 146301 14 Trap registration numbers permit fees, visit wildlife.utah.gov/licenses/ search the Division’s website for the detailed Salt Lake City, UT 84114-6301 15 Trap restrictions to protect river fees.html. statute or rule that underpins the guidebook 2020–2021 801-538-4700 otters summary. Fewer bobcat permits: This year, you may 16 Unmodified and modified body- If you have questions about a particular Central Region obtain a maximum of four bobcat permits for rule, call or visit the nearest Division office. 1115 N Main Street gripping traps the season, a decrease of one permit compared Springville, UT 84663 17 Artificial cubby set to last season. For more information on obtain- Who makes the rules? Utah Furbearer Guidebook • Utah Furbearer 801-491-5678 17 Did it get wet? Decontaminate it! ing a permit, see page 10. The Utah Wildlife Board passes the rules 18 Use of bait summarized in this guidebook. Northeastern Region Cap on bobcat permits: Because of reduced 18 Are you allowed to possess a There are seven board members, and 318 N Vernal Avenue bobcat numbers, only 6,460 bobcat permits weapon? each serves a six-year term. Appointed by the Vernal, UT 84078 will be sold this year — and those permits will 19 Areas closed to beaver and mink governor, board members are not Division 435-781-9453 be sold online only. Permit sales will begin harvest at wildlife.utah.gov at 8 a.m. MDT on Oct. 1, employees. Northern Region 20 Areas where you cannot discharge 2020 and will continue until the cap is reached The Division’s director serves as the board’s 515 E 5300 S a firearm or until Oct. 31, 2020, whichever happens first. executive secretary but does not have a vote on Ogden, UT 84405 20 Spotlighting For more information on obtaining a permit, wildlife policies. 801-476-2740 20 Trapping on waterfowl see page 10. Before board members make changes to wildlife rules, they listen to recommendations Southeastern Region management areas 21 Trapping coyotes and raccoons Shorter bobcat season: The 2020–2021 from Division biologists. They also receive input 319 N Carbonville Road, Ste A bobcat season will be five days shorter, run- 22 Trespassing from the public and various interest groups via Price, UT 84501 ning from Nov. 25, 2020 to March 1, 2021. For 435-613-3700 22 Wolf management in Utah the regional advisory council (RAC) process. more information on season dates and bag If you have feedback or suggestions for 23 Restricted areas limits, see page 25. board members, you can find their contact Southern Region 23 Possession, sale and 1470 N Airport Road information online at wildlife.utah.gov. transportation Bobcat removal and tagging: Whether Cedar City, UT 84721 Wildlife Board members wildlife.utah.gov 435-865-6100 24 Depredation you find a bobcat in one of your traps, or in a 25 Season dates and bag limits trap you have written authorization to check, Randy Dearth Byron Bateman, Chair Washington County Field Office 25 Utah’s predator control program you must possess and carry a valid bobcat Wade Heaton Kevin Albrecht, Vice Chair permit issued in your name. Then, if you kill 451 N SR-318 27 Definitions Karl Hirst Mike Fowlks, Hurricane, UT 84737 the bobcat, you must attach your own tags to Donnie Hunter Division Director & 435-879-8694 the carcass. For additional details, see page 11. Bret Selman Executive Secretary Utah’s predator control program: Utah’s wildlife.utah.gov predator control program includes a variety of 2 3 requirements. For details, see page 25 or visit free of charge. You can also download the Utah Guidebook • Utah Furbearer wildlife.utah.gov/predators. Hunting and Fishing app and carry an electronic Don’t lose your hunting and fishing privileges copy of your trap registration license on your If you commit a wildlife violation, you could lose the privilege of hunting and fishing in Utah. Trap registration license required: You mobile device. See page 9 for details. The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources can suspend the license of must possess a valid trap registration license anyone who knowingly, intentionally or recklessly violates wildlife 2020–2021 when you use any trapping device capable Three-year guidebook: In August 2019, the laws. Your license can be suspended for a wildlife violation if: of capturing or killing protected wildlife. You Utah Wildlife Board approved a 3-year guidebook • You are convicted. must also have that license on your person for furbearer regulations. That means the regula- • You plead guilty or no contest. when setting or checking trapping devices. tions in this guidebook will remain relatively • You enter a plea in abeyance or For more information about this requirement, unchanged until 2022. diversion agreement. please see wildlife.utah.gov/trapping-faq.html. Check season dates: Season dates change Suspension proceedings are separate and indepen- For details on obtaining the license and any every year. For a complete list of furbearer season dent from criminal prosecution. The Utah Division of exemptions that apply, see page 9. dates, see page 25. Wildlife Resources may suspend your license privileges whether or not the court considers suspension in your 2020–2021 Trapping coyotes and raccoons: Because Bobcat permit/tag format: Bobcat tempo- criminal case. You will be notified of any action against coyote and raccoon traps are capable of rary possession tags and jaw tags are attached your privilege after criminal proceedings conclude. And capturing or killing protected wildlife, Utah’s to bobcat permits. For more information on how remember, if your license is suspended in Utah, you may not be permitted to hunt or fish in most other trapping laws apply to individuals who are to attach these tags to a bobcat, please read states. (Visit wildlife.utah.gov/know-the-consequences.html to see a map of participating states.) trapping coyotes and raccoons. For details, see Tagging bobcats on page 11. Utah Furbearer Guidebook • Utah Furbearer the information box on page 21. Trapping muskrats on WMAs: Certain sunrise until 30 minutes after sunset. Please from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Under Trap registration numbers: If you already trappers are authorized to remove muskrats read Hunting and trapping methods on page Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Section have a valid trap registration number, but you from state-owned wildlife management areas 14 for details and restrictions. 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Title II don’t have a physical copy of it, please contact (WMAs). You can learn more about that process of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, a Division office to receive a duplicate copy, at wildlife.utah.gov/WMAtrapping, starting in Accidental trapping of protected spe- the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, Title IX of mid-October. cies: Black-footed ferret, lynx and wolf are the Education Amendments of 1972, the U.S. protected species under the Endangered Spe- Department of the Interior and its bureaus Trappers Association Obtain permanent tags: You may obtain cies Act. If you accidentally trap or capture one prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, reward program permanent marten and bobcat tags—by of these species, you must immediately report color, national origin, age, disability or sex. If Every year, thieves steal valuable appointment only—at any Division office. it to the Division and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife you believe that you have been discriminated traps from Utah trappers. Marten tags will be available Sept. 19, 2020 Service. See page 18 for details. against in any program, activity or facility, or The Utah Trappers Association is through March 12, 2021. Bobcat tags will be if you desire further information, please visit offering a reward—up to $500—to available Nov. 25, 2020 through March 12, 2021. Native American trust lands and na- www.doi.gov/pmb/eeo/public-civil-rights.cfm. individuals who report trap theft to the You can also obtain permanent tags at the Utah tional wildlife refuges: If you want to trap Division, which results in a successful Trappers Association Fur Sale (see page 6 or on Native American trust lands and national Private lands: The Division cannot wildlife refuges in Utah, you should first check prosecution.