DAR File No. 39712

Natural Resources, Wildlife Resources

Rule R657-10

Taking Cougar

Notice of Proposed Rule

(Amendment)

DAR File No.: 39712
Filed: 09/08/2015 01:27:29 PM

RULE ANALYSIS

Purpose of the rule or reason for the change:

This rule is being amended pursuant to Regional Advisory Council and Wildlife Board meetings conducted annually for taking public input and reviewing the division's cougar program.

Summary of the rule or change:

The proposed revision establishes a "Cougar Control Permit" as well as an "Unlimited quota unit". Section R657-10-33 establishes the protocol for using a cougar control permit in an unlimited quota unit.

State statutory or constitutional authorization for this rule:

• Section 23-14-19
• Section 23-14-18

Anticipated cost or savings to:

the state budget:

This amendment establishes a cougar control permit and the process for using the permit, the additional hunt strategy can be implemented with the current staff and budget, therefore, the Division of Wildlife Resources (DWR) determines that these amendments do not create a cost or savings impact to the state budget, since the changes will not increase workload and can be carried out with existing budget.

local governments:

Since this amendment only adds a hunt strategy to an already existing framework this will have no effect on the local government. This filing does not create any direct cost or savings impact to local governments because they are not directly affected by the rule. Nor are local governments indirectly impacted because the rule does not create a situation requiring services from local governments.

small businesses:

None--The amendments do not impose any additional requirements on other persons, nor generate a cost or savings impact to small businesses.

persons other than small businesses, businesses, or local governmental entities:

None--The amendments do not impose any additional requirements on other persons, nor generate a cost or savings impact to other persons.

Compliance costs for affected persons:

DWR determines that these amendments will not create additional costs for sportsmen wishing to hunt cougar in Utah. Therefore, the rule amendments do not create a cost or savings impact to individuals who participate in hunting cougar.

Comments by the department head on the fiscal impact the rule may have on businesses:

The amendments to this rule do not create an impact on businesses.

Michael R. Styler, Executive Director

The full text of this rule may be inspected, during regular business hours, at the Division of Administrative Rules, or at:

Natural Resources
Wildlife Resources
1594 W NORTH TEMPLE
SALT LAKE CITY, UT 84116-3154

Direct questions regarding this rule to:

• Staci Coons at the above address, by phone at 801-538-4718, by FAX at 801-538-4709, or by Internet E-mail at stacicoons@utah.gov

Interested persons may present their views on this rule by submitting written comments to the address above no later than 5:00 p.m. on:

11/02/2015

This rule may become effective on:

11/09/2015

Authorized by:

Gregory Sheehan, Director

R657. Natural Resources, Wildlife Resources.

R657-10. Taking Cougar.

R657-10-1. Purpose and Authority.

(1) Under authority of Sections 23-14-18 and 23-14-19 of the Utah Code, the Wildlife Board has established this rule for taking and pursuing cougar.

(2) Specific dates, areas, number of permits, limits, and other administrative details which may change annually are published in the guidebook of the Wildlife Board for taking cougar.

 

R657-10-2. Definitions.

(1) Terms used in this rule are defined in Section 23-13-2.

(2) In addition:

(a) "Canned hunt" means that a cougar is treed, cornered, held at bay or its ability to escape is otherwise restricted for the purpose of allowing a person who was not a member of the initial hunting party to arrive and take the cougar.

(b) "Compensation" means anything of economic value in excess of $100 that is paid, loaned, granted, given, donated, or transferred to a dog handler for or in consideration of pursuing cougar for any purpose.

(c) "Cougar" means Puma concolor, commonly known as mountain lion, lion, puma, panther or catamount.

(d) "Cougar control permit" means a harvest objective permit that authorizes a person to take a second cougar on harvest objective units that have an unlimited quota.

(e) "Cougar pursuit permit" means a permit that authorizes a person to pursue cougar during designated seasons.

([e]f) "Dog handler" means the person in the field that is responsible for transporting, releasing, tracking, controlling, managing, training, commanding and retrieving the dogs involved in the pursuit. The owner of the dogs is presumed the dog handler when the owner is in the field during pursuit.

([f]g) "Evidence of sex" means the sex organs of a cougar, including a penis, scrotum or vulva.

([g]h) "Green pelt" means the untanned hide or skin of any cougar.

([h]i) "Harvest[-] objective hunt" means any hunt that is identified as harvest[-] objective in the hunt table of the guidebook for taking cougar.

([i]j) "Harvest[-] objective permit" means any permit valid on harvest[-] objective units, including limited-entry permits for split units after the split-unit transition date.

([j]k) "Immediate family member" means a livestock owner's spouse, child, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, father, mother, father-in-law, mother-in-law, brother, sister, brother-in-law, sister-in-law, stepchild and grandchild.

([k]l) "Kitten" means a cougar less than one year of age.

([l]m) "Kitten with spots" means a cougar that has obvious spots on its sides or its back.

([m]n) "Limited entry hunt" means any hunt listed in the hunt tables of the guidebook of the Wildlife Board for taking cougar, which is identified as limited entry and does not include harvest objective hunts.

([n]o) "Limited entry permit" means any permit obtained for a limited entry hunt by any means, including conservation permits and sportsman permits.

([o]p) "Private lands" means any lands that are not public lands, excluding Indian trust lands.

([p]q) "Public lands" means any lands owned by the state, a political subdivision or independent entity of the state, or the United States, excluding Indian trust lands, that are open to the public for purposes of engaging in pursuit.

([q]r) "Pursue" means to chase, tree, corner or hold a cougar at bay.

([r]s) "Split unit" means a cougar hunting unit that begins as a limited entry unit then transitions into a harvest objective unit.

([s]t) "Unlimited quota unit" means a harvest objective unit that does not have a limit on the number of cougar that may be harvested during the open season.

(u) "Waiting period" means a specified period of time that a person who has obtained a cougar permit must wait before applying for any other cougar permit.

([t]v) "Written permission" means written authorization from the owner or person in charge to enter upon private lands and must include:

(i) the name and signature of the owner or person in charge;

(ii) the address and phone number of the owner or person in charge;

(iii) the name of the dog handler given permission to enter the private lands;

(iv) a brief description of the pursuit activity authorized;

(v) the appropriate dates; and

(vi) a general description of the property.

 

R657-10-3. Permits for Taking Cougar.

(1)(a) To harvest a cougar, a person must first obtain a valid limited entry cougar permit[or a], harvest -objective cougar permit, or cougar control permit, for the specified management units as provided in the guidebook of the Wildlife Board for taking cougar.

(b) Any person who obtains a limited entry cougar permit[or a], harvest objective cougar permit , or cougar control permit, may pursue cougar on the unit for which the permit is valid.

(2) A person may not apply for or obtain more than one cougar permit for the same season, except:

(a) as provided in Subsection R657-10-25(3);[or]

(b) as provided in Subsection R657-10-33; or

(c) if the person is unsuccessful in the limited entry drawing, the person may purchase a harvest objective or cougar control permit.

(3) Any cougar permit purchased after the season opens is not valid until three days after the date of purchase.

(4) To obtain a cougar limited entry permit, harvest objective permit, cougar control permit, or pursuit permit, a person must possess a Utah hunting or combination license.

 

R657-10-4. Permits for Pursuing Cougar.

(1)(a) To pursue cougar without a limited entry, harvest objective, or cougar control permit, the dog handler must:

(i) obtain a valid cougar pursuit permit from a division office; or

(ii) possess the documentation and certifications required in R657-10-25(2) to pursue cougar for compensation.

(b) A cougar pursuit permit or exemption there from does not allow a person to kill a cougar.

(2) Residents and nonresidents may purchase cougar pursuit permits consistent with the requirements of this rule and the guidebooks of the Wildlife Board.

(3) To obtain a cougar pursuit permit, a person must possess a Utah hunting or combination license.

 

R657-10-9. Prohibited Methods.

(1) Cougar may be taken or pursued only during open seasons and using methods prescribed in this rule and the guidebook of the Wildlife Board for taking cougar. Otherwise, under the Wildlife Resources Code, it is unlawful for any person to possess, capture, kill, injure, drug, rope, trap, snare or in any way harm or transport cougar.

(2) After a cougar has been pursued, chased, treed, cornered or held at bay, a person may not, in any manner, restrict or hinder the animal's ability to escape.

(3) A person may not engage in a canned hunt.

(4) A person may not take any wildlife from an airplane or any other airborne vehicle or device or any motorized terrestrial or aquatic vehicle, including snowmobiles and other recreational vehicles.

(5) Electronic locating equipment may not be used to locate [cougars]cougar wearing electronic radio devices.

 

R657-10-12. Use of Dogs.

(1) Dogs may be used to take or pursue cougar only during open seasons as provided in the guidebook of the Wildlife Board for taking cougar.

(2) A dog handler may pursue cougar provided he or she possesses:

(a) a valid[ limited entry] cougar permit issued to the dog handler;

(b) a valid cougar pursuit permit; or

(c) the documentation and certifications required in R657-10-25(2) to pursue cougar for compensation.

(3) When dogs are used in the pursuit of a cougar, the licensed hunter intending to take the cougar must be present when the dogs are released and must continuously participate in the hunt thereafter until the hunt is completed.

(4) When dogs are used to take a cougar and there is not an open pursuit season, the dog handler must have:

(a) a [limited entry]valid cougar permit issued to the dog handler for the unit being hunted;

(b)(i) a valid cougar pursuit permit; and

(ii) be accompanied, as provided in Subsection (3), by a hunter possessing a[ limited entry] cougar permit for the area; or

(c)(i) the documentation and certifications required in R657-10-25(2) to pursue cougar for compensation and

(ii) be accompanied, as provided in Subsection (3), by a paying client possessing a [ limited entry]valid cougar permit for the area.

(5) A dog handler may pursue cougar under:

(a) a cougar pursuit permit only during the season and in the areas designated by the Wildlife Board in guidebook open to pursuit;

(b) a [limited entry]valid cougar permit only during the season and in the area designated by the Wildlife Board in guidebook for that permit; or

(c) the pursuit for compensation provisions in this rule only during the seasons and in the areas designated by the Wildlife Board in guidebook open to pursuit.

(6) When dogs are used to take cougar and there is not an open pursuit season, the owner and handler of the dogs must have a valid pursuit permit and be accompanied by a licensed hunter as provided in Subsection (3), or have a cougar permit.

 

R657-10-21. Livestock Depredation and Human Health and Safety.

(1) If a cougar is harassing, chasing, disturbing, harming, attacking or killing livestock, or has committed such an act within the past 72 hours:

(a) in depredation cases, the livestock owner, an immediate family member or an employee of the owner on a regular payroll, and not hired specifically to take cougar, may kill the cougar;

(b) a landowner or livestock owner may notify the division of the depredation or human health and safety concerns, who shall authorize a local hunter to take the offending cougar or notify a USDA, Wildlife Services specialist; or

(c) the livestock owner may notify a USDA, Wildlife Services specialist of the depredation who may take the depredating cougar.

(2) Depredating cougar may be taken at any time by a USDA, Wildlife Services specialist, supervised by the Wildlife Services program, while acting in the performance of the person's assigned duties and in accordance with procedures approved by the division.

(3) A depredating cougar may be taken by those persons authorized in Subsection (1)(a) with:

(a) any weapon authorized for taking cougar; or

(b) with the use of snares only with written authorization from the director of the division and subject to all the conditions and restrictions set out in the written authorization.

(i) The option in Subsection (3)(b) may only be authorized in the case of a chronic depredation situation where numerous livestock have been killed by a depredating cougar and must be verified by Wildlife Services or division personnel.

(4)(a) The Division may issue depredation permits to take cougar on specified private lands and public land grazing allotments with a chronic depredation situation where numerous livestock have been killed by cougar.

(b) The Division may:

(i) issue one or more depredation permits to the affected livestock owner or a designee, provided the livestock owner does not receive monetary consideration from the designee for the opportunity to use the depredation permit;

(ii) determine the legal weapons and methods of take allowed; and

(iii) specify the area and season that the permit is valid.

(5)(a) Any cougar taken under Subsection (1)(a) or (4)(a) shall remain the property of the state and must be delivered to a division office or employee within 72 hours.

(b) The division may issue a cougar damage permit to a person who has killed a depredating cougar under Subsection (1)(a) that authorizes the person to keep the carcass.

(c) A person that takes a cougar under Subsection (1)(a) or (4)(a) may acquire and use a limited entry permit or harvest objective cougar permit in the same year.

(d) Notwithstanding Subsections (5)(b) and (5)(c), a person may retain no more than one cougar annually.

(6)(a) Hunters interested in taking depredating cougar as provided in Subsection (1)(b) may contact the division.

(b) Hunters will be contacted by the division to take depredating cougar as needed.

 

R657-10-23. Taking Cougar.

(1)(a) [A]For each permit issued, a person may [take ]only take one cougar during the season and from the area specified on the permit.

(b) Limited entry permits may be obtained by following the application procedures provided in this rule and the guidebook of the Wildlife Board for taking cougar.

(c) Harvest -objective permits may be purchased on a first-come, first-served basis as provided in guidebook of the Wildlife Board for taking cougar.

(d) Cougar control permits may be purchased as provided in the guidebook of the Wildlife Board for taking cougar.

(2) A person may not:

(a) take or pursue a female cougar with kittens or kittens with spots; or

(b) repeatedly pursue, chase, tree, corner, or hold at bay, the same cougar during the same day after the cougar has been released.

(3) Any cougar may be taken during the prescribed seasons, except a kitten with spots, or any cougar accompanied by kittens, or any cougar accompanied by an adult.

(4) A person may not take a cougar wearing a radio collar from any areas that are published in the guidebook of the Wildlife Board for taking cougar.

(5) The division may authorize hunters who have obtained a [limited entry]validcougar permit to take cougar in a specified area of the state in the interest of protecting wildlife from depredation.

(6) Season dates, closed areas, harvest objective permit areas, unlimited quota units, and limited entry permit areas are published in the guidebook of the Wildlife Board for taking cougar.

(7)(a) A person who obtains a limited entry cougar permit on a split unit may hunt on all harvest objective units after the date split units transition into harvest objective units. The split unit transition date is provided in the guidebook of the Wildlife Board for taking cougar.

(b) A person who obtains a limited entry cougar permit on a split unit and chooses to hunt on any harvest objective unit after the transition date is subject to all harvest objective unit closure requirements provided in Sections R657-10-[34 and 657-10-35.]29.

 

R657-10-25. Cougar Pursuit.

(1)(a) Except as provided in rule R657-10-3(1)(b) and Subsection (2), cougar may be pursued only by persons who have obtained a cougar pursuit permit.

(b) The cougar pursuit permit does not allow a person to:

(i) kill a cougar; or

(ii) pursue cougar for compensation.

(c) A person may pursue cougar for compensation only as provided in Subsection (2).

(d) To obtain a cougar pursuit permit, a person must possess a Utah hunting or combination license.

(2)(a) A person may pursue cougar on public lands for compensation, provided the dog handler:

(i) receives compensation from a client or customer to pursue cougar;

(ii) is a licensed hunting guide or outfitter under Title 58, Chapter 79 of the Utah Code and authorized to pursue cougar;

(iii) possesses on his or her person the Utah hunting guide or outfitter license;

(iv) possesses on his or her person all permits and authorizations required by the applicable public lands managing authority to pursue cougar for compensation; and

(v) is accompanied by the client or customer at all times during pursuit.

(b) A person may pursue cougar on private lands for compensation, provided the dog handler:

(i) receives compensation from a client or customer to pursue cougar;

(ii) is accompanied by the client or customer at all times during pursuit; and

(iii) possesses on his or her person written permission from all private landowners on whose property pursuit takes place.

(c) A person who is an employee or agent of the Division of Wildlife Services may pursue cougar on public lands and private lands while acting within the scope of their employment.

(3) A pursuit permit is not required to pursue cougar under Subsection (2).

(4)(a) A person pursuing cougar for compensation under subsections (2)(a) and (2)(b) shall comply with all other requirements and restrictions in statute, rule and the guidebooks of the Wildlife Board regulating the pursuit and take of cougar.

(b) Any violation of, or failure to comply with the provisions of Title 23 of the Utah Code, this rule, or the guidebooks of the Wildlife Board may be grounds for suspension of the privilege to pursue cougar for compensation under this subsection, as determined by a division hearing officer.

(5) A cougar pursuit permit authorizes the holder to pursue cougar with dogs on any unit open to pursuing cougar during the seasons and under the conditions prescribed by the Wildlife Board in guidebook.

(6) A person may not:

(a) take or pursue a female cougar with kittens or kittens with spots;

(b) repeatedly pursue, chase, tree, corner or hold at bay, the same cougar during the same day; or

(c) possess a firearm or any device that could be used to kill a cougar while pursuing cougar.

(i) The weapon restrictions set forth in the subsection do not apply to a person licensed to carry a concealed weapon in accordance with Title 53, Chapter 5, Part 7 of the Utah Code, provided the person is not utilizing or attempting to utilize the concealed weapon to injure or kill cougar.

(7) If eligible, a person who has obtained a cougar pursuit permit may also obtain a limited entry cougar permit[ or], harvest objective cougar permit, or cougar controlpermit.

(8) Cougar may be pursued only on limited entry units[ or ], harvest objective units, or unlimited quotaunits during the dates provided in the guidebook of the Wildlife Board for taking cougar.

(9) A cougar pursuit permit is valid on a calendar year basis.

(10) A person must possess a valid hunting or combination license to obtain a cougar pursuit permit.

 

R657-10-27. Harvest Objective General Information.

(1) Harvest objective permits are valid only for [the ]open harvest objective management units and for the specified seasons published in the guidebook of the Wildlife Board for taking cougar.

(2) Harvest objective permits are not valid in a specified management unit after the harvest objective has been met for that unit.

 

R657-10-30. Harvest Objective Unit Reporting.

(1) Any person taking a cougar with a harvest objective permit or a cougar control permit must report to the division, within 48 hours, where the cougar was taken and have a permanent tag affixed pursuant to Section R657-10-15.

(2) Failure to accurately report the correct harvest objective[ management] unit where the cougar was killed is unlawful.

(3) Any conviction for failure to accurately report, or aiding or assisting in the failure to accurately report as required in Subsection (1) shall be considered prima facie evidence of a knowing, intentional or reckless violation for purposes of permit suspension.

 

R657-10-33. Cougar Control Permits.

(1)(a) The division, with approval of the Wildlife Board, may identify a harvest objective unit as an unlimited quota unit.

(b) An individual may acquire a cougar control permit to hunt on an unlimited quota unit if they first obtain:

(i) a harvest objective permit; or

(ii) a limited entry permit for a split unit and the split unit has transitioned to harvest objective status.

(c) An individual may retain a cougar lawfully harvested under a cougar control permit regardless of whether they lawfully harvested and retained a cougar under a permit listed in Subsections (1)(b)(i) or (ii).

(2) An individual may only acquire one cougar control permit each season.

(3) Cougar control permits are only valid within the boundaries of unlimited quota units and during the dates described on the permit and in the guidebook of the Wildlife Board for taking cougar.

 

KEY: wildlife, cougar, game laws

Date of Enactment or Last Substantive Amendment: [November 7, 2014]2015

Notice of Continuation: August 16, 2011

Authorizing, and Implemented or Interpreted Law: 23-14-18; 23-14-19