DAR File No. 42966

Natural Resources, Wildlife Resources

Rule R657-41

Conservation and Sportsman Permits

Notice of Proposed Rule

(Amendment)

DAR File No.: 42966
Filed: 06/11/2018 10:19:42 AM

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 of Wildlife Resources� (DWR) rule pursuant to conservation and sportsman permits.

Summary of the rule or change:

The proposed revisions to this rule: 1) streamline some of the internal processes, and the reporting of expenditures of the conservation permit program; 2) clarify that the permits be initially distributed through a competitive auction to the highest bidder; 3) allow for only one statewide conservation permit per species per year; 4) clarify that any weapon permits are restricted to a single season that the recipient must designate; 5) clarify reporting of retained revenue used for projects including any accrued interest; 6) amend the 90-day allowance for the funds committed to a project to be remitted to 60 days from the date of invoice; 7) clarify that retained revenue and accrued interest must be expended on approved projects or transferred to DWR by September 1 two years following the collection; 8) amend requirements for redundant information to be submitted by conservation groups; 9) require conservation groups to provide DWR with the name of the successful bidder, amount of the winning bid, and date of the event within 10 days of the event; 10) allow, in rule, for the successful bidder to designate the voucher to another person as long as the conservation group is notified, the winning bid amount is not decreased, and an affidavit is signed verifying that they are not profiting from the assignment; 11) clarify that DWR will not issue a conservation permit until the voucher information is received entirely, the recipient possesses a hunting or combination license, pays the permit fee, and is determined to be legally eligible to possess the permit; 12) clarify the same provisions for the Special Antelope Island Conservation Permit; 13) authorize the area conservation permits for turkey to be valid during the youth general season hunts if the holder qualifies as a youth; and 14) make technical corrections as needed.

Statutory or constitutional authorization for this rule:

• Section 23-14-19
• Section 23-14-18

Anticipated cost or savings to:

the state budget:

These rule amendments clarify ambiguity in the current rule but does not change the overall process or purpose of this rule. DWR has determined that these amendments do not create a cost or savings impact to the state budget or DWR's budget, since the changes will not increase workload and can be carried out with the existing budget.

local governments:

Since the amendments only add clarity and consistency to a program that is already established, this filing does not create any direct cost or savings impact to local governments because they are not directly affected by this rule. Nor are local governments indirectly impacted because this rule does not create a situation requiring services from local governments.

small businesses:

Since the amendments only add clarity and consistency to a program that is already established, this filing does not create any direct cost or savings impact to small businesses because they are not directly affected by this rule. Nor are small business indirectly impacted because this rule does not create a situation requiring services from them.

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

These amendments simply create more consistency and clarity to an already established program, therefore, these amendments do not have the potential to generate a cost or savings impact to other persons.

Compliance costs for affected persons:

DWR has determined that these amendments will not create additional costs for residents and nonresidents wishing to hunt in Utah.

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

After conducting a thorough analysis, it was determined that these proposed rule changes will not result in a fiscal impact to businesses.

Michael R. Styler, Executive Director

The full text of this rule may be inspected, during regular business hours, at the Office 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:

07/31/2018

This rule may become effective on:

08/07/2018

Authorized by:

Mike Fowlks, Deputy Director

Appendix 1: Regulatory Impact Summary Table*

Fiscal Costs	FY 2019	FY 2020	FY 2021
State Government	$0	$0	$0
Local Government	$0	$0	$0
Small Businesses	$0	$0	$0
Non-Small Businesses	$0	$0	$0
Other Person	$0	$0	$0
Total Fiscal Costs:	$0	$0	$0
Fiscal Benefits
State Government	$0	$0	$0
Local Government	$0	$0	$0
Small Businesses	$0	$0	$0
Non-Small Businesses	$0	$0	$0
Other Persons	$0	$0	$0
Total Fiscal Benefits:	$0	$0	$0
Net Fiscal Benefits:	$0	$0	$0

 

*This table only includes fiscal impacts that could be measured. If there are inestimable fiscal impacts, they will not be included in this table. Inestimable impacts for State Government, Local Government, Small Businesses and Other Persons are described above. Inestimable impacts for Non-Small Businesses are described below.

 

Appendix 2: Regulatory Impact to Non-Small Businesses

These proposed changes to Rule R657-41 are not expected to have any fiscal impact on large businesses revenues or expenditures, because there are no services required from them in order to implement these rule changes.

 

The head of department of Natural Resources, Michael Styler, has reviewed and approved this fiscal analysis.

 

 

R657. Natural Resources , Wildlife Resources.

R657-41. Conservation and Sportsman Permits.

R657-41-1. Purpose and Authority.

(1) Under the authority of Section 23-14-18 and 23-14-19, this rule provides the standards and procedures for issuing:

(a) conservation permits to conservation organizations for [sale at an ]auction[, or for use as an aid to wildlife related]to the highest bidder at fund -raising [activities;]events;

(b) sportsman permits;

(c) Special Antelope Island State Park Conservation Permits to a conservation organization for [marketing and sale]auction to the highest bidder at the annual wildlife exposition held pursuant to R657-55; and

(d) Special Antelope Island State Park Limited Entry Permits to successful applicants through a general drawing conducted by the [Division]division.

(2) The division and conservation organizations shall use all revenue derived from conservation permits under Subsections R657-41-9(4) and [R657-41-9](5)(b) for the benefit of species for which conservation permits are issued, unless the division and conservation organization mutually agree in writing that there is a higher priority use for other species of protected wildlife.

 

R657-41-2. Definitions .

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

(a) "Area Conservation Permit" means a permit issued for a specific unit or hunt area for a conservation permit species, and may include an extended season, or legal weapon choice, or both, beyond the season, except area turkey permits are valid during any season option and are valid in any open area during general season hunt.

(i) Area [Conservation]conservation permits issued for limited entry units are not valid on cooperative wildlife management units authorized for the same species of wildlife as the area conservation permit.

(ii) Notwithstanding Subsection (a), area conservation permits issued for turkey are not valid during the youth general season hunt unless the holder qualifies as a youth.

(b) "Conservation Organization" means a nonprofit chartered institution, foundation, or association founded for the purpose of promoting the protection and preservation of one or more conservation permit species and has established tax exempt status under [Internal Revenue Code, Section 501C-]26 U.S.C. Section 501(c)(3), as amended.

(c) "Conservation Permit" means any harvest permit authorized by the Wildlife Board and issued by the division for purposes identified in Section R657-41-1.

(d) "Conservation Permit Species" means the species for which conservation permits may be issued and includes deer, elk, pronghorn, moose, bison, [Rocky Mountain]mountain goat, Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep, desert bighorn sheep, wild turkey, cougar, and black bear.

(e) "Multi-Year Conservation Permit" means a conservation permit awarded to an eligible conservation organization pursuant to R657-41-7 for three consecutive years [to sell, market or otherwise use as an aid in wildlife related fund raising activities]for auction to the highest bidder at fund-raising events .

(f) "Retained Revenue" means 60% of the revenue raised by a conservation [organizations]organization from [the sale of]auctioning conservation permits that the organization retains for eligible projects, [excluding]including interest earned thereon less standard banking fees assessed on the account.

(g) "Special Antelope Island State Park Conservation Permit" means a permit authorized by the Wildlife Board to hunt bighorn sheep or mule deer on Antelope Island State Park which is issued pursuant to R657-41-[12(3).]12.

(h) "Special Antelope Island State Park Limited Entry Permit" means a permit authorized by the Wildlife Board to hunt bighorn sheep or mule deer on Antelope Island State Park which is issued by the division in a general drawing, requiring all applicants to pay an application fee and the successful applicant the cost of the permit.

(i) "Sportsman Permit" means a permit which allows a permittee to hunt during the applicable season dates specified in Subsection (k), and which is authorized by the Wildlife Board and issued by the division in a general drawing, requiring all applicants to pay an application fee and the successful applicant the cost of the permit.

(j) "Single Year Conservation Permit" means a conservation permit awarded to an eligible conservation organization pursuant to R657-41-6 for one year [to sell, market or otherwise use as an aid in wildlife related fund raising activities]for auction to the highest bidder at fund-raising events.

(k) "Statewide Conservation Permit" means a permit issued for a conservation permit species that allows a permittee to hunt:

(i) big game species on any open unit with archery equipment during the general archery season published in the big game [proclamation]guidebooks for the unit beginning before September 1, and with any weapon from September 1 through December 31, except pronghorn and moose from September 1 through November 15 and deer[and ], elk from September 1 through January [15]15, and bison from August 1 through January 31;

(ii) two turkeys on any open unit from April 1 through May 31;

(iii) bear on any open unit during the season authorized by the Wildlife Board for that unit;

(iv) cougar on any open unit during the season authorized by the Wildlife Board for that unit and during the season dates authorized by the Wildlife Board on any harvest objective unit that has been closed by meeting its objective;

(v) Antelope Island is not an open unit for hunting any species of wildlife authorized by a conservation or sportsman permit, except for the Special Antelope Island State Park Conservation Permits and the Special Antelope Island State Park Limited Entry Permits; and

(vi) Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep on any open unit, excluding the Box Elder, Pilot Mountain sheep unit, which is closed to both the [Sportsmen]Sportsman permit holder and the Statewide conservation permit holder every year.

(l) "Permit voucher" or "voucher" means an authorization issued by the division that entitles the designated holder to purchase the hunting permit specified in the authorization.

 

R657-41-3. Determining the Number of Conservation and Sportsman Permits.

(1) The number of conservation permits authorized by the Wildlife Board shall be based on:

(a) the species population trend, size, [and ]distribution[to protect the ], and long-term health[of the population];

(b) the hunting and viewing opportunity for the general public, both short and long term; and

(c) the potential revenue that will support protection and enhancement of the species.

(2) One statewide conservation permit may be authorized for each conservation permit species.

(3) A limited number of area conservation permits may be authorized as follows:

(a) the potential number of multi-year and single year permits available for Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep and desert bighorn sheep, assigned to a hunt area or combination of hunt areas, will be calculated based on the number permits issued the year prior to the permits being awarded using the following rule:

(i) 5-14 public permits = 1 conservation permit, 15-24 public permits = 2 conservation permits, 25-34 public permits = 3 conservation permits, 35-44 permits = 4 conservation permits, 45-54 public permits = 5 conservation permits, 55-64 = 6 conservation permits, 65-74 public permits = 7 conservation permits and >75 public permits = 8 conservation permits.

(b) the potential number of multi-year and single year permits available for the remaining conservation permit species, for any unit or hunt area, will be calculated based on the number permits issued the year prior to the permits being awarded using the following rule:

(i) 11-30 public permits = 1 conservation permit, 31-50 public permits = 2 conservation permits, 51-70 public permits = 3 conservation permits, 71-90 permits = 4 conservation permits, 91-110 public permits = 5 conservation permits, 111-130 = 6 conservation permits, 131-150 public permits = 7 conservation permits and >150 public permits = 8 conservation permits.

(4) The number of conservation permits may be reduced if the number of public permits declines during the time period [or]for which multi-year permits were awarded.

(5) The actual number of conservation and sportsman permits available for use will be determined by the Wildlife Board.

(6) Area conservation permits shall be deducted from the number of public drawing permits.

(7) One sportsman permit shall be authorized for each statewide conservation permit authorized.

(8) All area conservation permits are eligible as multi-year permits , except [that ]the division may designate some area conservation permits as single year permits based on the applications received for single year permits.

(9) All statewide permits will be multi-year permits[except for a second statewide permit issued for a special event].

 

R657-41-4. Eligibility for Conservation Permits.

(1) Statewide and area conservation permits may be awarded to eligible conservation organizations [to market and sell, or to use as an aid in wildlife related fund raising activities]for auction to the highest bidder at fund-raising events.

(2) To be eligible for multi-year conservation permits, a conservation organization must have generated in conservation permit sales during the previous three -year period at least one percent of the total revenue generated by all conservation organizations in conservation permit sales during the same period. Conservation organizations eligible for multi-year permits may not apply for single year permits, and conservation organizations ineligible for multi-year permits may only apply for single year permits.

(3) Conservation organizations applying for single year permits may not:

(a) bid for or obtain conservation permits if any employee, officer, or board of [director]directors member of the conservation organization is an employee, officer, or board of [director]directors member of any other conservation organization that is submitting a bid for single year conservation permits; or

(b) enter into any pre-bidding discussions, understandings or agreements with any other conservation organization submitting a bid for conservation permits regarding:

(i) which permits will be sought by a bidder;

(ii) what amounts will be bid for any permits; or

(iii) trading, exchanging, or transferring any permits after permits are awarded.

 

R657-41-5. Applying for Conservation Permits.

(1)(a) Conservation organizations may apply for conservation permits by sending an application to the division.

(b) Only one application per conservation organization may be submitted. Multiple chapters of the same conservation organization may not apply individually.

(c) Conservation organizations may apply for single year conservation permits or multi-year conservation permits. They may not apply for both types of conservation permits.

(2) The application must be submitted to the division by September [1]1, unless otherwise specified on the division's website, to be considered for the following year's conservation permits. Each application must include:

(a) the name, address and telephone number of the conservation organization;

(b) a copy of the conservation organization's mission statement;

(c) verification of the conservation organization's tax exempt status under[Internal Revenue Code, Section 501C-] 26 U.S.C. Section 501(c)(3), as amended; and

(d) the name of the president or other individual responsible for the administrative operations of the conservation organization;

(3) If applying for single year conservation permits, a conservation organization must also include in its application:

(a) the proposed bid amount for each permit requested. The proposed bid amount is the revenue the organization anticipates [to]will be raised from auctioning a permit[through auction or other lawful fund raising activity.];

(b) certification that there are no conflicts of interest or collusion in submitting bids , as prohibited in R657-41-4(3);

(c) acknowledgement that the conservation organization recognizes that falsely certifying the absence of collusion may result in cancellation of permits, disqualification from bidding for five years or more, and the filing of criminal charges;

(d) evidence that the application and bid has been reviewed and approved by the board of directors of the bidding conservation[.]organization;

(e) the type of permit, and the species for which the permit is requested; and

(f) any requested variances for an extended season or legal weapon choice for area conservation permits.

(4) An application that is incomplete or completed incorrectly may be rejected.

(5) The application of a conservation organization for conservation permits may be denied for:

(a) failing to fully report on the preceding year's conservation permits;

(b) violating any provision of this rule, Title 23 of the Utah Code, Title R657 of the Utah Administrative Code, a division [proclamation]guidebook, or an order of the Wildlife Board; or

(c) violating any other law that bears a reasonable relationship to the applicant's ability to responsibly and lawfully handle conservation permits pursuant to this rule.

 

R657-41-6. Awarding Single Year Conservation Permits.

(1) The division shall recommend the conservation organization to receive each single year conservation permit based on:

(a)(i) the bid amount pledged to the species; and

(ii) the bid amount pledged to the species, adjusted, when applicable, by:

([i]A) the performance of the organization over the previous two years in meeting proposed bids;

([ii]B) 90% of the bid amount; and

([iii]C) the organizations maintaining a minimum two-year average performance of 70% to be eligible for consideration of permits. Performance of the organization is the proportion of the total revenue generated from permit sales, divided by 90% of the bid amount for all permits, calculated annually and averaged for the last two years.

(b) [if]If two or more conservation organizations are tied using the criteria in Subsection (a), the following factors may be used to award the single year conservation permit:

(i) closeness of the organization's purpose to the species of the permit; and

([c) if two or more conservation organizations are tied using the criteria in Subsection (a) and (b), the ]ii) geographic closeness of the organization to the location of the permit.

(2)(a) Between the time the division recommends that a conservation permit be awarded to a conservation organization and the time the Wildlife Board approves that recommendation, a conservation organization may withdraw [its]the application for any given permit and assign it to or exchange [its application]it with another conservation organization eligible to receive the permit without penalty, provided the bid amount upon which the permit application was evaluated is not changed.

(b) If a conservation organization withdraws its bid for a conservation permit after being selected by the division to receive it, and the bid is awarded to another organization at a lower amount, [then] the difference between the two bids will be subtracted from the organization making the higher bid for purposes of evaluating organization performance.

(3) The Wildlife Board shall make the final assignment of conservation permits[at a meeting prior to December 1 annually].

(4) The Wildlife Board may authorize a conservation permit to a conservation organization[,] other than the [conservation organization]one recommended by the division, after considering the:

(a) division recommendation;

(b) benefit to the species;

( c ) historical contribution of the organization to the conservation of wildlife in Utah;

(d) previous performance of the conservation organization; and

(e) overall viability and integrity of the conservation permit program.

(5) The total of all bids for permits awarded to any one organization shall not exceed $20,000 the first year an organization receives permits.

(6) The number of permits awarded to any one organization shall not increase by more than 100% from the previous year.

[(7) If the Wildlife Board authorizes a second statewide conservation permit for a species, the conservation organization receiving the permit must meet the division designated bid for that permit.]

 

R657-41-7. Awarding Multi-Year Conservation Permits.

(1) Distribution of multi-year conservation permits will be based on a sequential selection process where each eligible conservation organization is assigned a position or positions in the selection order among the other participating organizations and awarded credits with which to purchase multi-year permits at an assigned value. The selection process and other associated details are as follows.

(2) Multi-year permits will be awarded to eligible conservation organizations for no more than three years.

(3) The division will determine the number of permits available as multi-year permits after subtracting the proposed number of single year permits.

(a) Season types for multi-year area conservation permits for elk on any given hunt unit will be designated and assigned in the following order:

(i) first permit -- multi-season;

(ii) second permit -- any-weapon;

(iii) third permit -- any-weapon;

(iv) fourth permit -- archery;

(v) fifth permit -- muzzleloader;

(vi) sixth permit -- multi-season;

(vii) seventh permit -- any-weapon; and

(viii) eighth permit -- any-weapon.

(b) Season types for multi-year area conservation permits for deer on any given hunt unit will be designated and assigned in the following order:

(i) first permit -- hunter's choice of season;

(ii) second permit -- hunter's choice of season;

(iii) third permit -- muzzleloader;

(iv) fourth permit -- archery;

(v) fifth permit -- any-weapon;

(vi) sixth permit -- any-weapon;

(vii) seventh permit -- muzzleloader; and

(viii) eighth permit -- archery.

(c) Notwithstanding the availability of multiple seasons, an any-weapon permit opportunity offered in Subsections (3)(a) and (b) is restricted to a single season, which the recipient of the permit must designate prior to receiving the permit.

(4) The division will assign a monetary value to each multi-year permit based on the average return for the permit during the previous three -year period. If a history is not available, the value will be estimated.

(5) The division will determine the total annual value of all multi-year permits.

(6)(a) The division will calculate a market share for each eligible conservation organization applying for multi-year permits.

(b) Market share will be calculated and determined based on:

(i) the conservation organization's previous three years performance;

(ii) all conservation permits (single and multi-year) issued to a conservation organization[except for special permits allocated by the Wildlife Board outside the normal allocation process].

(iii) the percent of conservation permit revenue raised by a conservation organization during the three -year period relative to all conservation permit revenue raised during the same period by all conservation organizations applying for multi-year permits.

(7) The division will determine the credits available to spend by each group in the selection process based on their market share multiplied by the total annual value of all multi-year permits.

(8) The division will establish a selection order for the participating conservation organizations based on the relative value of each groups market share as follows:

(a) groups will be ordered based on their percent of market share;

(b) each selection position will cost a group 10% of the total market share except the last selection by a group will cost whatever percent a group has remaining;

(c) no group can have more than three positions in the selection order; and

(d) the selection order will be established as follows:

(i) the group with the highest market share will be assigned the first position and ten percent will be subtracted from their total market share;

(ii) the group with the highest remaining market share will be assigned the second position and ten percent will be subtracted from their market share; and

(iii) this procedure will continue until all groups have three positions or their market share is exhausted.

(9) At least [two weeks]one week prior to the multi-year permit selection meeting, the division will provide each conservation organization applying for multi-year permits the following items:

(a) a list of multi-year permits available with assigned value;

(b) documentation of the calculation of market share;

(c) credits available to each conservation group to use in the selection process;

(d) the selection order; and

(e) date, time and location of the selection meeting.

(10) Between [the ]establishing [of ]the selection order and the selection meeting, groups may trade or assign [draw]selection positions, but once the selection meeting begins [draw]selection order cannot be changed.

(11) At the selection meeting, conservation organizations will select permits from the available pool according to their respective positions in the selection order. For each permit selected, the value of that permit will be deducted from the conservation organization's available credits. The selection order will repeat itself until all available credits are used or all available permits are selected.

(12) Conservation organizations may continue to select a single permit each time their turn comes up in the selection order until all available credits are used or all available permits are selected.

(13) A conservation organization may not exceed its available credits except a group may select their last permit for up to 10% of the permit value above their remaining credits.

(14) Upon completion of the selection process, but prior to the Wildlife Board meeting where the final assignment of permits are made, conservation organizations may trade or assign permits to other conservation organizations eligible to receive multi-year permits. The group receiving a permit retains the permit for the purposes of marketing and determination of market share for the entire multi-year period.

(15) Variances for an extended season or legal weapon choice may be obtained only on area conservation permits and must be presented to the Wildlife Board prior to the final assignment of the permit to the conservation organization.

(16) Conservation organizations may not trade or transfer multi-year permits to other organizations once assigned by the Wildlife Board.

(17) Conservation organizations failing to comply with the reporting requirements in any given year during the multi-year period [shall]may lose the multi-year conservation permits for the balance of the multi-year award period.

(18) If a conservation organization is unable to complete the terms of [marketing the]auctioning assigned permits, the permits will be returned to the regular public drawing process for the duration of the multi-year allocation period.

 

R657-41-8. Distributing Conservation Permits.

(1) The division and conservation organization receiving permits shall enter into a contract.

(2)(a) [The conservation organization]Conservation organizations receiving the opportunity to distribute permits must insure [that ]the [permits]permit opportunities are marketed, auctioned, and distributed by lawful means.[Conservation permits may not be distributed in a raffle except where the following conditions are met:

(i) the conservation organization obtains and provides the division with a written opinion from a licensed attorney or a written confirmation by the local district or county attorney that the raffle scheme is in compliance with state and local gambling laws;

(ii) except as otherwise provided in R657-41-8(5), the conservation organization does not repurchase, directly or indirectly, the right to any permit it distributes through the raffle;

(iii) the conservation organization prominently discloses in any advertisement for the raffle and at the location of the raffle that no purchase is necessary to participate; and

(iv) the conservation organization provides the division with a full accounting of any funds raised in the conservation permit raffle, and otherwise accounts for and handles the funds consistent with the requirement in Utah Admin. Code R657-41-9.]

(3)(a) The conservation organization must:

[(i) obtain the name of the proposed permit recipient at the event where the permit recipient is selected; and

(ii) notify the division of the proposed permit recipient within 30 days of the recipient selection or the permit may be forfeited.

(4) If a person is selected by a qualified organization to receive a conservation permit and is also successful in obtaining a permit for the same species in the same year through the a division drawing, that person may designate another person to receive the conservation permit, provided the conservation permit has not been issued by the division to the first selected person.

(5) If a person is selected by a qualified organization to receive a conservation permit, but ](i) obtain at the event wherethe conservation permit opportunity is auctioned the information and data requested by the division, including the:

(A) full name of the successful bidder;

(B) date of the event where the permit opportunity is auctioned; and

(C) winning bid amount for that permit opportunity;

(ii) submit the information required in Subsection (3)(a)(i) to the division within 10 days of the event where the permit opportunity is auctioned to the highest bidder; and

(iii) complete the return receipt on a conservation permit voucher and submit it to the division within 10 days of issuing the voucher to the person designated by the successful bidder.

(b) The division will not issue a conservation permit unless:

(i) a fully completed voucher for that permit is submitted; and

(ii) it has previously received from the conservation organization the voucher's return receipt with all required information included.

(4) If the successful bidder or a person designated by the successful bidder to receive a conservation permit voucher fails to pay the conservation organization the winning bid amount that secured the permit opportunity, the conservation organization may remarket the permit opportunity using any legal means and designate another person to receive the permit opportunity.

(5)(a) If, for any reason, the successful bidder elects not to personally use a conservation permit opportunity, they may assign that opportunity to another person, provided:

(i) the conservation organization is notified of the assignment;

(ii) the original winning bid amount for the permit opportunity is received in full by the conservation organization and not decreased;

(iii) the conservation organization handles and otherwise uses the entire winning bid amount consistent with the requirements in Section R657-41-9; and

(iv) thsuccessful bidder executes an affidavit verifying they are not profiting from the assignment.

(A) For purposes of Subsection (iv), "profiting" does not include a reasonable fee for guiding services provided in conjunction with the assigned permit opportunity.

(b) If a person assigned a permit opportunity by the successful bidder or a person possessing a permit voucher is unable to use the permit opportunity for any reason, including obtaining another Utah permit for the same species, the conservation organization may remarket the permit opportunity using any legal means and designate another person to receive the [permit]opportunity, provided:

([a]i) the conservation organization selects the new recipient of the permit opportunity;

([b]ii) the amount of money received by the division for the permit opportunity is not decreased;

([c]iii) the conservation organization relinquishes to the division and otherwise uses all proceeds generated from the re-designated permit[, pursuant to]opportunity consistent with the requirements [provided ]in Section R657-41-9;

([d]iv) the conservation organization and the [initial designated recipient]holder of the permit[, sign]opportunity execute an affidavit [indicating the initial designated recipient is not]verifying neither is profiting from transferring the right to the permit; and

([e]v) the permit has not been issued by the division to the first designated person.

(6) (a) Except as otherwise provided under Subsections (4) and (5), [a person designated by a]neither the conservation organization[as a recipient], successful bidder, successful bidder's assignee, nor the holder of a conservation permit[, ] voucher may [not]offer for sale, sell , or transfer the rights to that designation to any other person.[This does not preclude a person from bidding or otherwise lawfully acquiring a permit from a conservation organization on behalf of another person who will be identified as the original designated recipient.]

(7) A person cannot obtain more than one conservation permit for a single conservation permit species per year, except[for]:

(a) [elk, provided no more than ]two elk permits [are]may be obtained[where ], provided one or both are antlerless permits; and

(b) turkey.

(8) [the]T h e person designated on a conservation permit voucher must possess or obtain a current Utah hunting or combination license to redeem the voucher for the corresponding conservation permit.

 

R657-41-9. Conservation Permit Funds and Reporting.

(1) All permits must be [marketed]auctioned or distributed by September 1, annually.

(2) Within 30 days of the last event, but no later than September 1 annually, the conservation organization must submit to the division:

(a) a final report on the distribution of permits;

(b) the total funds raised on each permit; and

(c) the funds due to the division[; and

(d) a report on the status of each project funded in whole or in part with retained conservation permit revenue].

(3)(a) [Permits]Conservation permits shall not be issued [until the permit fees are paid to the division.]to a person possessing a conservation permit voucher unless the person redeeming the voucher:

(i) possesses a valid Utah hunting or combination license;

(ii) remits to the division the applicable permit fee ; and

(iii) is otherwise legally eligible to possess the particular hunting permit.

(b) If the conservation organization is paying the permit fees for the permit recipient, the fees must be paid from the 10% retained by the conservation organization as provided in Subsection (5)(a).

(4)(a) Conservation organizations shall remit to the division by September 1 of each year 30% of the total revenue generated by conservation permit sales in that year.

(b) The permit revenue payable to the division under Subsection (4)(a), [excluding accrued interest, ]is the property of the division and may not be used by conservation organizations for projects or any other purpose.

(c) The permit revenue must be placed in a federally insured account promptly upon receipt and remain in the account until remitted to the division on or before September 1 of each year.

(d) The permit revenue payable to the division under this subsection shall not be used by the conservation organization as collateral or commingled in the same account with the organization's operation and administration funds, so that the separate identity of the permit revenue is not lost.

(e) Failure to remit 30% of the total permit revenue to the [Division]division by the September 1 deadline may result in criminal prosecution under Title 76, Chapter 6, Part 4 of the Utah Code, and may further disqualify the conservation organization from obtaining any future conservation permits.

(5) A conservation organization may retain 70% of the permit revenue generated from [the sale of]auctioning conservation permits , as follows:

(a) 10% of the permit revenue may be withheld and used by the conservation organization for administrative expenses.

(b) [60% of the revenue]60 % of t h e permit revenue and accrued interest, excluding standard banking fees assessed on the account where the permit revenue is deposited, may be retained and used by the conservation organization only for eligible projects , as provided in [subsections]Subsections (i) through (ix).

(i) eligible projects include habitat improvement, habitat acquisition, transplants, targeted education efforts and other projects providing a substantial benefit to species of wildlife for which conservation permits are issued, unless the division and conservation organization mutually agree in writing that there is a higher priority use for other species of protected wildlife.

(ii) retained revenue shall not be committed to or expended on any eligible project without first obtaining the division director's written concurrence.

(iii) retained revenue shall not be used on any project that does not provide a substantial and direct benefit to conservation permit species or other protected wildlife located in Utah.

(iv) cash donations to the Wildlife Habitat Account created under Section 23-19-43, Division Species Enhancement Funds, or the Conservation Permit Fund shall be considered an eligible project and do not require the division director's approval, provided the donation is made with instructions that it be used for species of wildlife for which conservation permits are issued.

(v) funds committed to approved, division projects will be transferred to the division within [90]60 days of being [committed]invoiced by the division.

(A) if the division-approved project to which funds are committed is completed under [the ]projected budget or is canceled, funds committed to the project that are not used will be kept by the division and credited back to the conservation organization and will be made available for the group to use on other approved projects during the current or subsequent year.

(vi) retained revenue shall not be used on any project that is inconsistent with division policy, including feeding programs, depredation management, or predator control.

(vii) retained revenue under this subsection must be placed in a federally insured account. All interest revenue earned thereon [may]must be [retained and used by the conservation organization for administrative expenses]accounted for and used consistent with the requirements of this subsection.

(viii) retained revenue shall not be used by the conservation organization as collateral or commingled in the same account with the organization's operation and administration funds, so that the separate identity of the retained revenue is not lost.

(ix) retained revenue must be completely expended on [or committed to ]approved eligible projects or transferred to the division by September 1, two years following the year in which the relevant conservation permits are awarded to the conservation organization by the Wildlife Board. Failure to [commit or ]expend or transfer to the division retained revenue by the September 1 deadline will disqualify the conservation organization from obtaining any future conservation permits until the unspent retained revenue is [committed to]expended on an approved eligible project or transferred to the division.

(x) all records and receipts for projects under this subsection must be retained by the conservation organization for a period not less than five years, and shall be produced to the division for inspection upon request.

(6)(a) Conservation organizations accepting permits shall be subject to annual audits on project expenditures and conservation permit accounts.

(b) The division shall perform annual audits on project expenditures and conservation permit accounts.

 

R657-41-1 0 . Obtaining Sportsman Permits.

(1) One sportsman permit is offered to residents through a drawing for each of the following species:

(a) desert bighorn (ram);

(b) bison (hunter's choice);

(c) buck deer;

(d) bull elk;

(e) Rocky Mountain bighorn (ram);

(f) [Rocky Mountain]mountain goat (hunter's choice);

(g) bull moose;

(h) buck pronghorn;

(i) black bear;

(j) cougar; and

(k) wild turkey.

(2) The following information on sportsman permits is provided in the [proclamations]guidebooks of the Wildlife Board for taking protected wildlife:

(a) hunt dates;

(b) open units or hunt areas;

(c) application procedures;

(d) fees; and

(e) deadlines.

(3) [a]A person must possess or obtain a current Utah hunting or combination license to apply for or obtain a sportsman permit.

 

R657-41-11 . Using a Conservation or Sportsman Permit.

(1)(a) A conservation or sportsman permit allows the recipient to take only one individual of the species for which the permit is issued, except a statewide turkey conservation or sportsman permit allows the holder to take two turkeys.

(b) The species that may be taken shall be printed on the permit.

(c) The species may be taken in the area and during the season specified on the permit.

(d) The species may be taken only with the weapon specified on the permit.

(2) The recipient of a conservation or sportsman permit is subject to all [of ]the provisions of Title 23, Wildlife Resources Code, and the rules and [proclamations]guidebooks of the Wildlife Board for taking and pursuing wildlife.

(3) Bonus points shall not be awarded or utilized:

(a) when applying for conservation or sportsman permits; or

(b) in obtaining conservation or sportsman permits.

(4) Any person who [has obtained]o bt a i n s a conservation or sportsman permit is subject to [all]applicable waiting periods for purposes of obtaining a permit for the same species through a division drawing, as provided in Rules R657-62.

 

R657-41-12 . Special Antelope Island State Park Hunting Permits.

(1)(a) The Wildlife Board may authorize a hunt for bighorn sheep and buck mule deer on Antelope Island State Park, with one or more permits made available for each species [made available]and designated as Special Antelope Island State Park Conservation Permits and an equal number of permits for each species made available as Special Antelope Island State Park Limited Entry Permits.

(b) The [Division of Wildlife Resources]division and the Division of Parks and Recreation, through their respective policy boards, will enter into a cooperative agreement for [the purpose]purposes of establishing:

(i) the number of permits issued annually for bighorn sheep and buck mule deer hunts on Antelope Island;

(ii) season dates for each hunt;

(iii) procedures and regulations applicable to hunting on Antelope Island;

(iv) protocols for issuing permits and conducting hunts for antlerless deer on Antelope Island when populations require management; and

(v) procedures and conditions for transferring Special Antelope Island State Park Conservation Permit revenue to the Division of Parks and Recreation.

(c) The cooperative agreement governing bighorn sheep and mule deer hunting on Antelope Island and any subsequent amendment thereto shall be presented to the Wildlife Board and the Parks Board for approval prior to holding a drawing or issuing hunting permits.

(2)(a) Special Antelope Island State Park Limited Entry Permits will be issued by the [Division]division through its annual bucks, bulls, and once-in-a-lifetime drawing.

(i) The mule deer Special Antelope Island State Park Limited Entry Permit is a premium limited entry buck deer permit and subject to the regulations governing such permits, as provided in this rule, R657-5, and R657-62.

(ii) The bighorn sheep Special Antelope Island State Park Limited Entry Permit is a once-in-a-lifetime Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep permit and subject to the regulations governing such permits, as provided in this rule, R657-5, and R657-62.

(b) To apply for a Special Antelope Island State Park Limited Entry Permit, the applicant must:

(i) pay the prescribed application handling fee;

(ii) possess a current Utah hunting license or combination license;

(iii) not be subject to a waiting period under R657-62 for the species of wildlife applied for; and

(iv) otherwise be eligible to hunt the species of wildlife designated on the application;

(c) A person that obtains a Special Antelope Island State Park Limited Entry Permit:

(i) must pay the applicable permit fee;

(ii) may take only one animal of the species and gender designated on the permit;

(iii) may hunt only with the weapon and during the season prescribed on the permit;

(iv) may hunt the specified species within the areas of Antelope Island designated open by the Wildlife Board and the rules and regulations of the Division of Parks and Recreation; and

(v) is subject to the:

(A) provisions of Title 23, Wildlife Resources Code, and the rules and [proclamations]guidebooks of the Wildlife Board for taking and pursuing wildlife; and

(B) statutes, rules, and regulations of the Division of Parks and Recreation for hunting on Antelope Island.

(d) Bonus points are awarded and utilized in applying for and obtaining a Special Antelope Island State Park Limited Entry Permit.

(e) A person who has obtained a Special Antelope Island State Park Limited Entry Permit is subject to all waiting periods applicable to the particular species, as provided in R657-62.

(f) A person cannot obtain a Special Antelope Island State Park Limited Entry Permit for a bighorn sheep or mule deer and any other permit for a male animal of the same species in the same year.

(3) Special Antelope Island State Park Conservation Permits will be provided to the conservation group awarded the wildlife expo permit series, as provided in R657-55, for [marketing]auction to the highest bidder at the wildlife exposition.

(a) The division and conservation organization receiving authority to auction Special Antelope Island State Park Conservation Permits shall enter into a contract.

(b) The conservation organization receiving authority to auction the opportunity for Special Antelope Island State Park Conservation Permits must insure [that ]the permits are marketed and distributed by lawful means.

([c]4) (a) The conservation organization must:

(i) obtain [the name of the proposed permit recipient at the event where the permit recipient is selected; and

(ii) notify the division of the proposed permit recipient within 10 days of the recipient selection or the permit may be forfeited.]at the event where the Special Antelope Island State Park Conservation Permit is auctioned the information and data requested by the division, including the:

(A) full name of the successful bidder;

(B) date of the event where the permit opportunity is auctioned; and

(C) winning bid amount for that permit opportunity.

(ii) submit the information required in Subsection (4)(a)(i) to the division within 10 days of the event where the permit opportunity is auctioned to the highest bidder; and

(iii) complete the return receipt on a permit voucher and submit it to the division within 10 days of issuing the voucher to the person designated by the successful bidder.

(b) The division will not issue a Special Antelope Island State Park Conservation Permit unless:

(i) a fully completed voucher for that permit is submitted; and

(ii) it has previously received from the conservation organization the voucher's return receipt with all required information included.

(5) If the successful bidder or the person designated by a successful bidder to receive a Special Antelope Island State Park Conservation Permit fails to pay the conservation organization the winning bid amount, the conservation organization may remarket the permit opportunity using any legal means and designate another person to receive the permit opportunity.

(6)(a) If, for any reason, the successful bidder elects not to personally use a Special Antelope Island State Park Permit opportunity, they may assign that opportunity to another person, provided:

(i) the conservation organization is notified of the assignment;

(ii) the original winning bid amount for the permit opportunity is received in full by the conservation organization and not decreased;

(iii) the conservation organization handles and otherwise uses the entire winning bid amount consistent with the requirements in Subsection (9); and

(iv) the successful bidder executes an affidavit verifying they are not profiting from the assignment.

(A) For purposes of Subsection (iv), "profiting" does not include a reasonable fee for guiding services provided in conjunction with the assigned permit opportunity.

([d]b) If a person[is selected by a qualified organization to receive]assigned a Special Antelope Island State Park Conservation Permit [and is also successful in obtaining a]opportunity by the successful bidder or a person possessing the permit voucher is unable to use the permit opportunity for any reason, including obtaining another Utah permit for the same species[in the same year through a division drawing, that person may designate another person to receive the Special Antelope Island State Park Conservation Permit, provided the permit has not been issued by the division to the first selected person.

(e) If a person is selected by a qualified organization to receive a Special Antelope Island State Park Conservation Permit, but is unable to use the permit], the conservation organization may remarket the permit opportunity using any legal means and designate another person to receive the [permit]opportunity, provided:

(i) the conservation organization selects the new recipient of the permit opportunity;

(ii) the amount of money received by the division for the permit opportunity is not decreased;

(iii) the conservation organization relinquishes to the division [and otherwise uses ]all proceeds generated from the re-designated permit, [pursuant to the requirements]as provided [below:]in Subsection (9);

([A]iv) the conservation organization and the [initial designated recipient]holder of the permit[, sign]opportunity execute an affidavit [indicating the initial designated recipient is not]verifying neither is profiting from transferring the right to the permit; and

([B]v) the permit has not been issued by the division to the first designated person.

[(f)](7) Within 30 days of the exposition, but no later than May 1 annually, the conservation organization must submit to the division:

([i]a) a final report on the distribution of the Special Antelope Island State Park Conservation Permits;

([ii]b) the total funds raised on each permit; and

([iii]c) the funds due to the division.

([g]8)([i]a) Permits shall not be issued until the applicable permit fees are paid to the division.

([ii]b) If the conservation organization is paying the permit fees for the permit recipient, the fees must be paid from the 10% retained by the conservation organization as provided in [R657-41-9(5)(a]Subsection (9)(b).

([h]9)(a)(i) Conservation organizations shall remit to the division 90% of the total revenue generated by the Special Antelope Island State Park Conservation Permit sales in that year.

(ii) Failure to remit 90% of the total permit revenue to the division by the September 1 deadline may result in criminal prosecution under Title 76, Chapter 6, Part 4 of the Utah Code.

([i]b) A conservation organization may retain 10% of the revenue generated by the permits for administrative expenses.

([j]c) Special Antelope Island State Park Conservation Permits will be issued under this section and will not be limited by the requirements of R657-41-3 through R657-41-8.

([k]d) Upon receipt of the permit revenue from the conservation organization, the division will transfer the revenue to the Division of Parks and Recreation, as provided in the cooperative agreement under Subsection (1)(b) between the two divisions.

([4]10)(a) Except as otherwise provided under Subsections ([3)(d]5) and ([3)(e), a person designated by a]6), neither the conservation organization[as a recipient], successful bidder, successful bidder's assignee, nor the holder of a Special Antelope Island State Park Conservation Permit[,]voucher may [not]offer for sale, sell , or transfer the rights to that designation to any other person.[This does not preclude a person from bidding or otherwise lawfully acquiring a permit from a conservation organization on behalf of another person who will be identified as the original designated recipient.]

(b) A person cannot obtain a Special Antelope Island State Park Conservation Permit for a bighorn sheep or mule deer and any other permit for a male animal of the same species in the same year.

(c) The person designated to receive a Special Antelope Island State Park Conservation Permit must possess or obtain a current Utah hunting or combination license before being issued the permit.

 

R657-41-13 . Failure to Comply.

Any conservation organization administratively or criminally found in violation of this rule or the Wildlife Resources Code may be suspended from participation in the conservation permit program and required to surrender all conservation permit vouchers.

 

KEY: wildlife, wildlife permits, sportsm[e]an, conservation permits

Date of Enactment or Last Substantive Amendment: [ February 7, ]2018

Notice of Continuation: October 5, 2015

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