DAR File No. 43492

Natural Resources, Wildlife Resources

Rule R657-33

Taking Bear

Notice of Proposed Rule

(Amendment)

DAR File No.: 43492
Filed: 01/28/2019 11:11:01 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' (Division) rule pursuant to taking bear.

Summary of the rule or change:

The proposed revisions to this rule: 1) allow for the issuance of bear control permits to landowners, lessees or their designee in situations where chronic crop depredation is occurring; 2) allow for the use of crossbows and airguns for the taking of bear; 3) clarify bait placement language; 4) modify requirement to allow additional employees to check and tag a bear; 5) require exact location of kill when a bear is checked in; and 6) make technical corrections as needed.

Statutory or constitutional authorization for this rule:

• Section 23-14-18
• Section 23-14-19

Anticipated cost or savings to:

the state budget:

These amendments clarify language and allow for additional weapons already in use for other species. The Division has determined 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 these amendments only add weapon clarification for airguns and makes language clarifications, this filing does not create any direct cost or savings impact to any local governments. Nor are local governments indirectly impacted because this rule does not create a situation requiring services from local governments.

small businesses:

Since these amendments allow for increased opportunity with the use of airguns, do not remove opportunity from those wishing to hunt black bears in Utah, and clarify existing language, the Division feels this filing will not generate a cost or savings impact to small businesses.

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

Since these amendments allow for increased opportunity with the use of airguns, do not remove opportunity from those wishing to hunt black bears in Utah, and clarify existing language, the Division feels this filing will not generate a cost or savings impact to other persons.

Compliance costs for affected persons:

The Division has determined that these amendments do not create additional costs for sportsmen wishing to harvest bear 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 amendments 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:

03/18/2019

This rule may become effective on:

03/25/2019

Authorized by:

Mike Fowlks, 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 in the narrative. Inestimable impacts for Non - Small Businesses are described in Appendix 2.

 

Appendix 2: Regulatory Impact to Non - Small Businesses

These rule changes are not expected to have any fiscal impacts on non-small businesses' revenues or expenditures, because they currently do not benefit from the taking of black bear hunting program or the regulations set forth in these rule changes.

 

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

 

 

R657. Natural Resources, Wildlife Resources.

R657-33. Taking Bear.

R657-33-1. 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 bear.

(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 and pursuing bear.

 

R657-33-3. Permits for Taking Bear.

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

(b) Any person who obtains a limited entry bear permit or a harvest objective bear permit which allows the use of dogs may pursue bear without a pursuit permit while hunting during the season and on the unit for which the take permit is valid, provided the person is the dog handler.

(2)(i) A person may not apply for or obtain more than one bear permit per year, except:

(ii) if the person is unsuccessful in the drawing administered by the division under R657-62, the person may purchase a permit available outside of the drawing; and

(iii) a person may acquire more than one bear control permit as described in R657-33-23(4).

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

(4) Residents and nonresidents may apply for and receive limited entry bear permits, and may purchase harvest objective bear permits and bear pursuit permits.

(5)(a) A person must complete a mandatory orientation course prior to applying for or obtaining a limited entry, harvest objective, or bear pursuit permit.

(b) The orientation course is not required to receive a bear control permit under R657-33-23(4).

(6) To obtain a limited entry, harvest objective, or bear pursuit permit, a person must possess a valid Utah hunting or combination license.

 

R657-33-6. Firearms [and], Archery Equipment, Crossbows, and Airguns.

(1) For limited entry and harvest objective hunts identified as an "any legal weapon hunt" in the Wildlife Board's guidebook for taking bear, a person may use the following to take bear:

(a) any firearm not capable of being fired fully automatic, except a firearm using a rimfire cartridge;

(b) archery equipment meeting the following requirements:

(i) the minimum bow pull is 30 pounds at the draw or the peak, whichever comes first;

(ii) arrowheads used have two or more sharp cutting edges that cannot pass through a 7/8 inch ring;

(iii) expanding arrowheads cannot pass through a 7/8 inch ring when expanded; and

(iv) arrows must be a minimum of 20 inches in length from the tip of the arrowhead to the tip of the nock;[and]

(c) a crossbow meeting the following requirements:

(i) a minimum draw weight of 125 pounds;

(ii) a positive mechanical safety mechanism; and

(iii) an arrow or bolt that is at least 16 inches long with:

(A) a fixed broadhead that is at least 7/8 inch wide at the widest point; or

(B) an expandable, mechanical broadhead that is at least 7/8 inch wide at the widest point when the broadhead is in the open position[.]; and

[(3)](d) an airgun used to hunt bear must:

(i) be pneumatically powered;

(ii) be pressurized solely through a separate charging device; and

(iii) may only fire a bolt or arrow:

(A) no less than 16 inches long;

(B) with a fixed or expandable broadhead at least 7/8 inch wide at its widest position; and

(C) traveling no less than 400 feet per second at the muzzle.

(2) Arrows and bolts carried in or on a vehicle where a person is riding must be in an arrow quiver or a closed case.

([4]3)(a) A person who has obtained a limited entry bear archery permit may not use, possess, or be in control of a firearm, crossbow, [or ]draw-lock, or airgun while in the field during an archery bear hunt.

(b) "Field" for purposes of this subsection, means a location where the permitted species of wildlife is likely to be found, but does not include a hunter's established campsite or the interior of a fully enclosed automobile or truck.

(c) The provisions of Subsection (a) do not apply to:

(i) a person lawfully hunting upland game or waterfowl;

(ii) a person licensed to hunt big game species during hunts that coincide with the archery bear hunt;

(iii) livestock owners protecting their livestock; or

(iv) 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 the concealed firearm to hunt or take protected wildlife.

 

R657-33-8. State Parks.

(1) Hunting of any wildlife is prohibited within the boundaries of all state park areas except those designated by the Division of Parks and Recreation in Section R651-614.

(2) Hunting with a rifle, handgun or muzzleloader in park areas designated open is prohibited within one mile of all area park facilities, including buildings, camp or picnic sites, overlooks, golf courses, boat ramps and developed beaches.

(3) Hunting with shotguns, crossbows, [and ]archery tackle, and airguns is prohibited within one quarter mile of the above stated areas.

 

R657-33-12. Use of Dogs.

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

(2) A dog handler may pursue bear in a unit and during a season permitting the use of dogs, provided he or she possesses:

(a) a valid limited entry or harvest objective bear permit issued to the dog handler;

(b) a valid bear pursuit permit; or

(c) the documentation and certifications required in R657-33-26(2) to pursue bear for compensation.

(3) When dogs are used to pursue a bear, the licensed hunter intending to take the bear 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 bear [and]during a restricted pursuit season or when there is not an open pursuit season, the dog handler must have:

(a) a limited entry or harvest objective bear permit authorizing the use of dogs issued to the dog handler for the unit being hunted;

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

(ii) be accompanied, as provided in Subsection (3), by a hunter possessing a limited entry or harvest objective bear permit authorizing the use of dogs for the unit being hunted; or

(c)(i) the documentation and certifications required in R657-33-26(2) to pursue bear for compensation; and

(ii) be accompanied, as provided in Subsection (3), by a paying client possessing a limited entry or harvest objective bear permit authorizing the use of dogs for the unit being hunted.

(5) A dog handler may pursue bear under:

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

(b) a limited entry or harvest objective bear permit authorizing the use of dogs 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 pursue or take a bear, no more than eight dogs may be used in the field at one time while pursuing during the summer pursuit or restricted pursuit seasons as established by the Wildlife Board in guidebook.

(7) A dog handler pursuing bear may retrieve dogs that separate from the pack, provided the dog handler:

(A) takes reasonable steps to keep the pack together before and during pursuit;

(B) separates from the permit holder exclusively to retrieve stray dogs and does not attempt to actively pursue bear during the retrieval process; and

(C) immediately releases any bear incidentally treed or held at bay by the stray dogs.

 

R657-33-14. Use of Bait.

(1)(a) A person who has obtained a limited entry bear archery permit may use archery tackle only, even when hunting bear away from the bait station.

(b) A person who has obtained a limited entry bear permit for a season and hunt unit that allows baiting may use firearms and archery equipment as provided in R657-33-6.

(c) Bear lured to a bait station may only be taken using firearms and archery equipment approved by the Wildlife Board and described in the guidebook for taking bear.

(d) A person may establish or use no more than two bait stations. The bait stations may only be used during [an open season.]periods designated in the guidebook for taking bear.

(e) Bear lured to a bait station may not be taken with dogs.

(f) Bait may not be contained in or include any metal, glass, porcelain, plastic, cardboard, or paper.

(g) The bait station must be marked with a sign provided by the division and posted within 10 feet of the bait.

(h) A dog handler may not intentionally run dogs off of a bait station while pursuing bear.

(2)(a) Bait may be placed only in areas open to hunting and only during the open seasons.

(b) All materials used as bait must be removed within 72 hours after the close of the season or within 72 hours after the person or persons, who are registered for that bait station harvest a bear.

(3) A person may use nongame fish as bait, except those listed as prohibited in Rule R657-13 and the guidebook of the Wildlife Board for Taking Fish and Crayfish. No other species of protected wildlife may be used as bait.

(4)(a) Domestic livestock or its parts, including processed meat scraps, may be used as bait.

(b) A person using domestic livestock or their parts for bait must have in possession:

(i) a certificate of brand inspection, bill of sale, or other proof of ownership or legal possession.

(5) Bait may not be placed within:

(a) 100 yards of water or a public road or designated trail; or

(b) 1/2 mile of any permanent dwelling or campground[; or].

[(c) any area identified as potentially increasing nuisance bear activity by the division.

(6) Violations of this rule and the guidebook of the Wildlife Board for taking and pursuing bear concerning baiting on federal lands may be a violation of federal regulations and prosecuted under federal law.]

 

R657-33-17. Permanent Tag.

(1) Each bear [must be ]taken by the permit holder [to a conservation officer or]must be checked by a division [office]representative within 48 hours after the date of kill to have a permanent possession tag affixed to the pelt or unskinned carcass.

(2) A person may not possess a green pelt after the 48-hour check-in period, ship a green pelt out of Utah, or present a green pelt to a taxidermist if the green pelt does not have a permanent possession tag attached.

(3) The location of harvest and a tooth sample must be provided to the division during the check-in process.

 

R657-33-26. Bear Pursuit.

(1)(a) Except as provided in rule R657-33-3(1)(b) and Subsection (2), bear may be pursued only by persons who have obtained a bear pursuit permit.

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

(i) kill a bear; or

(ii) pursue bear for compensation.

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

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

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

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

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

(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 bear for compensation; and

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

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

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

(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 bear on public lands and private lands while acting within the scope of their employment.

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

(4)(a) A person pursuing bear 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 bear.

(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 bear for compensation under this subsection, as determined by a division hearing officer.

(5) Except as provided in Subsection (6), a bear pursuit permit authorizes the holder to pursue bear with dogs on any unit open to pursuing bear during the seasons and under the conditions prescribed by the Wildlife Board in guidebook.

(6) The Wildlife Board may establish or designate in guidebook restricted pursuit units as determined necessary or convenient to better manage wildlife resources, including to protect wildlife, curtail over-utilization of resources, reduce conflict with other recreational activities, reduce conflict with private and public land activities, and protect wildlife habitat.

(a) Bear may not be pursued on a restricted pursuit unit unless the dog handler:

(i) possesses a pursuit permit issued for the particular restricted pursuit unit;

(ii) possesses or is accompanied by a person who possesses a limited entry or harvest objective bear permit allowing the use of dogs, and the pursuit occurs within the area and during the season established by the respective permit; or

(iii) is engaged in pursuit for compensation as provided in Subsection (2), and pursuit occurs within the area and during the season established for the:

(A) paying client's limited entry or harvest objective bear permit allowing the use of dogs; or

(B) restricted pursuit unit.

(b) A pursuit permit issued for a restricted pursuit unit authorizes the holder to pursue bear on:

(i) the particular restricted pursuit unit for which the permit is issued; and

(ii) any other bear pursuit unit not designated as a restricted pursuit unit.

(c) Notwithstanding Subsection (6)(a)(i), when two or more dog owners are in the field pursuing bear together with a single pack of eight dogs or less on a restricted pursuit unit, only one must possess a restricted pursuit unit permit, provided the dog owners accompany the person possessing the restricted pursuit unit permit at all times.

(i) A dog [owner]handler pursuing bear on a restricted pursuit unit may leave the pursuit permit holder to retrieve dogs that separate from the pack, provided the dog [owner]handler;

(A) takes reasonable steps to keep the pack together before and during pursuit;

(B) separates from the pursuit permit holder exclusively to retrieve stray dogs and does not attempt to actively pursue bear during the retrieval process; and

(C) immediately releases any bear incidentally treed or held at bay by the stray dogs.

(7) Pursuit permits may be obtained at division offices, through the Internet and at license agents.

(a) The division may distribute pursuit permits for restricted pursuit units:

(i) through its offices, license agents, or online resources on a first-come, first-served basis; or

(ii) through a random drawing.

(8) A person may not:

(a) take or pursue a female bear with cubs;

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

(c) individually or in combination with another person, use more than eight dogs in the field to pursue a bear during the summer pursuit season as established by the Wildlife Board in guidebook; or

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

(i) The weapon restrictions set forth in Subsection (d) 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 bear.

(9) If eligible, a person who has obtained a bear pursuit permit may also obtain a limited entry or harvest objective bear permit.

(10) Season dates, closed areas and bear pursuit permit areas are published in the guidebook of the Wildlife Board for taking and pursuing bear.

 

KEY: wildlife, bear, game laws

Date of Enactment or Last Substantive Amendment: [ March 26, 2018]2019

Notice of Continuation: November 28, 2017

Authorizing, and Implemented or Interpreted Law: 23-14-18; 23-14-19; 23-13-2