2012 utah big game field regs

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CONTENTS

6 2012 season dates and ees

7 Apply or an antlerless permit

7 Boundary descriptions online

8 More opportunities to obtain

permits

9 More opportunity or young hunters

10 Changes to Utahs Deer Management

Plan

11 Poaching-reported reward permits

12 Chronic wasting disease in Utah

13 Big game hunts

13 Archery Ethics Course

15 Mandatory reporting

18 Multiple elk permits

19 Avoid harvesting collared wildlie

20 Depredation hunts

20 New ee or predator control

21 Once-in-a-lietime hunts

23 Antlerless hunts

23 Antlerless season dates online

24 Elk-control permits available

25 Report your harvest

26 Cooperative Wildlie Management

Units

28 Are you old enough?

28 Have you passed hunter education?

28 Adults must accompany young

hunters

29 Do you have a license?

30 Field requirements

30 Firearms and archery equipment

30 State-licensed guides and outtters

31 Hunters with disabilities

33 Areas with special restrictions

34 Trespassing

35 Prohibited hunting methods

36 Tagging requirements

38 Possession and use o big game

39 Permit reunds and exchanges

40 Denitions

42 Hunt maps

CONTACT US

Division oces

Ofces are open 8 a.m. 5 p.m.,

Monday through Friday.

Salt Lake City1594 W Nor th TempleBox 146301Salt Lake City, UT 84114-6301801-538-4700

Central Region

1115 N Main StreetSpringville, UT 84663801-491-5678

Northeastern RegionNew Location318 N Vernal AvenueVernal, UT 84078435-781-9453

Northern Region515 E 5300 SOgden, UT 84405801-476-2740

Southeastern Region319 N Carbonville Road, Ste A

Price, UT 84501435-613-3700

Southern Region1470 N Airport RoadCedar City, UT 84721435-865-6100

Washington County (Field Ofce)451 N SR-318Hurricane, UT 84737435-879-8694

HIGHLIGHTS

Whats new this season?

New $5 predator-control ee: In 2012, theUtah Legislature passed a law that adds a $5 eeto all Utah big game hunting permits. The eewill be added to 2012 antlerless permits and anyremaining big game permits sold ater July 1.The money will und a new program to control

predators, particularly coyotes. For details, visit

wildlie.utah.gov/predators.

Hunt deer in units, instead o regions:

In 2012, the general-season deer hunt will takeplace in 30 units, instead o ve regions. Fordetailed unit maps, visitwildlie.utah.gov/maps.

Nine-day rie deer hunt in all areas: In2012, the general-season any legal weapon(rie) deer hunt will run rom Oc t. 2028 state-wide. For season dates, please see page 6.

Changes to the deer management plan:The Utah Wildlie Board amended the states deermanagement plan in May 2012, allowing theDivision to manage some units or 1517 bucksper 100 does and other units or 1820 bucks per100 does. For details, see the article on Changesto Utahs Deer Management Plan on page 10.

No oreiture o bonus points: In May 2012,the Wildlie Board revoked the rule that wouldhave eliminated hunters bonus points i theyailed to apply or a limited-entry or once-in-a-lietime permit at least once every three years.

Flexibility in using antlerless elk permits:Starting this year, i you obtain two antlerless elkpermits or the same areabut the permits areor dierent seasonsyou may harvest bothelk during the same season. For details, see theinormation box on page 18.

New antlerless elk-control areas: Did youobtain a buck deer, bull elk or bison permit oran elk-control area? I so, you may be eligible topurchase an antlerless elk-control permit. This

Jake Albrecht

John Bair

Calvin Crandall

Bill Fenimore

Michael King

Del Brady, Chair

Ernie Perkins, Vice Chair

James F. Karpowitz,

Division Director

Executive Secretary

This guidebook summarizes Utahs big

game hunting laws and rules. Although it

is a convenient quick-reerence document

or Utah big game regulations, it is not an

all-encompassing resource.

For an in-depth l ook at the states

big game hunting laws and rules, visit

wildlie.utah.gov/rules.

You can use the reerences in the guide-

booksuch as Utah Admin. Rule R657-5-24

and Utah Code 23-20-25to search theDivisions website or the detailed statute or

rule that underpins the guidebook summary.

I you have questions about a particular

rule, call or visit the nearest Division ofce.

Who makes the rules?The Utah Wildlie Board passes the rules

and laws summarized in this guidebook.

There are seven board members, and

each serves a six-year term. Appointed by

the governor, board members are not Divi-

sion employees.

The Divisions director serves as the

boards executive secretary but does not

have a vote on wildlie policies.

Beore board members make changes towildlie rules, they listen to recommenda-

tions rom Division biologists. They also

receive input rom the public and various

interest groups via the regional advisory

council (RAC) process.

I you have eedback or suggestions or

board members, you can nd their contact

inormation online at wildlie.utah.gov.

Wildlie Board members

A CLOSER LOOKAT THE RULES

On the cover: Andrew Rappl posing

with a buck deer taken in Utahs Book

Clis during the muzzleloader hunt.
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o 1972, the U.S. Department o the Interior andits bureaus prohibit discrimination on the basis orace, color, national origin, age, disability or sex.I you believe that you have been discriminatedagainst in any program, activity or acility, or iyou desire urther inormation, please write to:

The U.S. Fish and Wildlie Service

Ofce or Diversity and Civil Rights Pro-

gramsExternal Programs

4040 North Fairax Drive, Suite 130Arlington, VA 22203

Private lands: The Division cannot guaranteeaccess to any private land. I you plan to huntorengage in any other wildlie-related activi-tiesin an area made up o all or mostly privatelands, you must obtain WRITTEN permission romthe landowner or t he landowners authorizedrepresentative. For more inormation, please seethe Trespassing section on page 34.

Division unding: The Division is mostly undedby the sale o hunting and shing licenses andthrough ederal aid made possible by an excisetax on the sale o rearms and other hunting- andshing-related equipment.

description o the area you want to hunt, visitwildlie.utah.gov/maps.

Check or closures: There may be late-seasonclosures on ederal and state lands. Beore head-ing into the eld, please check with the managingagency or the area you plan to hunt.

And keep in mind

Research antlerless hunts online: The Divi-sion will no longer print an Antlerless guidebook.Starting May 25, you can nd all o the inorma-tion you need to research your huntincluding

application dates, rules, hunt tables, boundariesand mapsat wildlie.utah.gov/guidebooks. Theapplication period runs rom June 121, 2012.

Hunting in Salt Lake County: Beoreyou hunt deer or elk in Sal t Lake County, visitwildlie.utah.gov/mapsto view the boundariesand to note any special restrictions.

Mandatory reporting: Many big gamehunters must report hunt inormation within 30calendar days ater the end o the hunting season(even i they did not harvest an animal). To see iyou are required to reportand to learn how toreportsee the inormation box on page 15 orvisit wildlie.utah.gov/harvestreporting.

Multiple elk permits: You may obtain two elkpermitsprovided one or both o the permits areantlerlessbut you can only apply or or obtainone antlerless elk permit in the drawing. To learnmore about this opportunity, see the inormationbox on page 18.

Wearing hunter orange: In 2009, the UtahLegislature modied Utahs hunter orange regula-tion. Please see page 30 or details.

Use a licensed guide: I you plan to use a guideor outtter on public land in the 2012 huntingseason, state law requires that individual to belicensed. Please see page 30 or details or visitwildlie.utah.gov/guides.

year, you can use an elk-control permit in twonew areas: Morgan-South Rich and South Slope,Yellowstone. See page 24 or a list o all antler-less elk-control areas.

Change or muzzleloader hunters: Startingin 2012, hunters may use black powder or blackpowder substitutes that contain nitrocellulose.

Using a dog to track wounded big game:Starting in 2012, i you wound a big game animal,you may use one leashed dog to track it. Fordetails, see page 36.

Change in trespass laws: In 2012, the UtahLegislature made changes to Utahs trespass laws.Please read the Trespassing section starting onpage 34 or the latest regulations.

Changes to general-season archery deerhunt: The general-season archery deer huntwill not be statewide in 2012. I you obtain ageneral-season archery deer permit this year, youmust hunt the unit listed on your permit. I youreinterested in the extended archery deer season,see page 13.

Changes to youth opportunities: In orderto hunt all three general deer seasons (archery,muzzleloader and any legal weapon), a youthwho is 18 or younger must have a general-season

any legal weapon permit. This is a change romprevious years. For details, see the article onpage 9.

Change in remaining permit sales: I anygeneral-season deer permits remain ater the biggame drawing, they will go on sale to the public.This year, there are some changes in when andhow these permits will be sold. For details, seepage 8.

Extended archery boundary changes: Threeo the extended archery hunt boundaries arechanging in 2012. Visitwildlie.utah.gov/mapstosee the updated maps and boundaries.

Boundary changes: Some hunt boundar-

ies have changed this year. To nd a map and

National parks closed to hunting: All oUtahs national parks and monumentsexceptthe Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monu-mentare closed to hunting.

Review application guidebook: I you havequestions about the 2012 big game applicationperiod, hunt drawing or limited-entry seasondates, please see the 2012 Utah Big Game Appli-

cation Guidebook at wildlie.utah.gov/guidebooks.That guidebook was printed in December 2011and is a companion to this book.

Guidebook corrections: I errors are oundin this guidebook ater it is printed, the Divi-sion will correct them in the online copy. Visitwildlie.utah.gov/guidebooksto view digitalversions o all the Divisions guidebooks.

Protection rom discrimination: The Divisionreceives ederal nancial assistance rom the U.S.Fish and Wildlie Service. Under Title VI o the CivilRights Act o 1964, Section 504 o the Rehabilita-tion Act o 1973, Title II o the Americans withDisabilities Act o 1990, the Age DiscriminationAct o 1975, Title IX o the Education Amendments

Dont lose your hunting and fshing privilegesI you commit a wildlie violation, you could lose the privilege o hunting and fshing in Utah.

The Utah Division o Wildlie Resources can suspend the license o

anyone who knowingly, intentionally or recklessly violates wildlie

laws. Your license can be suspended or a wildlie violation i :

You are convicted.

You plead guilty or no contest.

You enter a plea in abeyance or

diversion agreement.

Suspension proceedings are separate and inde-

pendent rom criminal prosecution. The Utah Division

o Wildlie Resources may suspend your license privileges

whether or not the court considers suspension in yourcriminal case. You will be notifed o any action against

your privilege ater criminal proceedings conclude. And

remember, i your license is suspended in Utah, you

may not be permitted to hunt or fsh in most other

states. (Visit ianrc.orgto see a map o part icipating states.)
http://wildlife.utah.gov/mapshttp://wildlife.utah.gov/guidebookshttp://wildlife.utah.gov/mapshttp://wildlife.utah.gov/mapshttp://wildlife.utah.gov/harvestreportinghttp://wildlife.utah.gov/guideshttp://wildlife.utah.gov/mapshttp://wildlife.utah.gov/mapshttp://wildlife.utah.gov/guidebookshttp://wildlife.utah.gov/guidebookshttp://wildlife.utah.gov/guidebookshttp://wildlife.utah.gov/guidebookshttp://wildlife.utah.gov/mapshttp://wildlife.utah.gov/guideshttp://wildlife.utah.gov/harvestreportinghttp://wildlife.utah.gov/mapshttp://wildlife.utah.gov/guidebookshttp://wildlife.utah.gov/maps


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CWMU season datesThe Utah Wildlie Board has established

timerames or hunting on Cooperative Wildlie

Management Units (CWMUs). Hunters should

expect to hunt at least ve days or bucks/bulls

and two days or antlerless big game with in these

timerames.

To see the timerames and learn more about

the CWMU program, see the article on page 26

or visit wildlie.utah.gov/cwmu.

Sportsman andstatewide conservationpermit season dates

Hunt Dates

Deer and elk on any openunit with archery equip-ment**

Aug. 18Aug. 31

Deer and elk on anyopen unit with any legalweapon**

Sept. 1, 2012Jan. 15, 2013

Pronghorn and moose onany open unit with anylegal weapon

Sept. 1Nov. 15

Bighorn sheep, RockyMountain goat and bisonon any open unit with anylegal weapon**

Sept. 1Dec. 31

Turkey on any open unit April 1May 31

Black bear on any openunit

During the seasondates listed in the

2012 Utah BlackBear Guidebookor that unit

Cougar on any open unitor any harvest-objectiveunit that has been closed

ater meeting its objective

During the seasondates listed in the

20122013 Utah

Cougar Guidebookor that unit

** You may not take an elk or Rocky Mountain bighornsheep on the Pilot Mountain hunting unit.

Antelope Island is not an open unit. There are only ourpermits that authorize hunting on the island.

Generalseason dates

Hunt Dates

G en era l arc her y de er A ug. 18 S ep t. 14

General muzzleloader deer Sept. 26Oct. 4

General any legal weapondeer

Oct. 20Oct. 28

General archery any bullelk

Aug. 18Sept. 14

General archery spike elk Aug. 18Sept. 7

General season spike andany bull elk

Oct. 6Oct. 18

General muzzleloader elk Oct. 31Nov. 8

Youth general any bull elk Sept. 15Sept. 23

Youth late season anybull elk

Dec. 1, 2012Jan.15, 2013

2012 SEASON DATES AND FEES APPLY FOR AN ANTLERLESS PERMIT

June 1: Apply online or an antlerless

permitStarting June 1, 2012, you can visit

wildlie.utah.govto apply or the ollowing items:

Antlerless hunting permits

An antlerless moose bonus point

Antlerless preerence points

You can also apply by calling any Division

ofce.

June 21: Deadline or antlerless permit

applicationsYou must apply online or by phone no laterthan June 21, 2012. Theres an 11 p.m. deadline

or online applications and a 5 p.m. deadline

or phone applications. To apply, simply visit

wildlie.utah.govor call any Division ofce.

July 10: Antlerless drawing results

availableYoull be notied o your drawing results by

e-mail. You can also learn your drawing results

by visiting wildlie.utah.govor by calling 1-800-

221-0659, starting July 10, 2012.

In 2012, the Antlerless guidebook has

again been split into two components: the eld

regulations (which are in this booklet) and the

application inormation, which is available online

only at wildlie.utah.gov/guidebooks.

I youre looking or the inormation you need

in order to apply or an antlerless permit, please

visit wildlie.utah.gov/guidebooks. There, youll

nd application dates, rules, hunt tables, maps,

boundaries and other essential inormation.

I you are planning to apply or a 2012 antler-

less permit, please be aware o the ollowingdates and deadlines.

May 25: Review online antlerless hunt

resourcesBeginning May 25, 2012, you can visit

wildlie.utah.gov/guidebooksto review all o the

application rules, hunt tables, season dates, maps,

boundaries and other inormation youll need in

order to apply or an antlerless permit.

The antlerless application inormation will

be available online onlythere will not be a

separate printed Antlerless guidebook.

I you do not have access to the Internet,

please visit or call a Division ofce.

Boundary descriptionsonline

Looking or a map and a boundary

description or your hunting area? Boundary

descriptions are printed on nearly all o

Utahs hunting permits.

Youll also nd detailed maps and

boundary descriptions online. Visit

wildlie.utah.gov/mapsto download and

print your boundaries today.

Permit eesThe ollowing permit costs include the

new $5 predator-control ee. For more about

the Divisions eorts to control predators, visit

wildlie.utah.gov/predators.

Permit Resident Nonresident

General deer $40 $268

General anybull elk orspike bull elk

$50 $393
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MORE OPPORTUNITY FOR YOUNGHUNTERSI you will be 18 years o age or younger on Aug. 18, 2012 (the opening day o the general-

season archery deer hunt), you might have some extra hunting waiting or you this all. It all

depends on what type o general-season deer permit you obtain.

This is a change rom previous years, whenyou could hunt multiple seasons ater obtaining a

general-season muzzleloader permit.

Archery permitsI you obtain a general-season archery deer

permit, you may hunt onlyduring the general

archery deer season and the extended archery

deer season.

During the general season, you may hunt in

the unit printed on your permit.

During the extended season, you may

hunt in any o the ex tended archery areas ater

completing the archery ethics course available

at wildlie.utah.gov/extendedarchery. For more

inormation on the extended archery hunt, see

page 13.For more inormation, please call the nearest

Division ofce.

A variety o big game permits will be available

on a rst-come, rst-served basis in July. Please

keep in mind that you may only have one buck

deer permit per year.

A $5 predator-control ee has been added to

all big game permits. To learn more about this ee

and the predator-control program it supports, see

the inormation box on page 20.

You must have a valid hunting license

or a combination license to buy one o these

permits. A license agent list is available at

wildlie.utah.gov/licenseagents. Beore you visit

any o the agents, contact them to veriy their

hours o operation.

July 10: Remaining limited-entry per-

mits availableAny limited-entry permits remaining ater

the big game drawing will be available begin-

ning July 10 at 8 a.m. You can buy permits at

wildlie.utah.govand at license agent locations

and Division ofces.

July 17: General-season bull elk permitsavailable

General-season bull elk permits may be

purchased beginning at 8 a.m. on July 17 at

wildlie.utah.govand rom license agents and

Division ofces.

July 17: Remaining antlerless permits

availableAny antlerless permits remaining ater the

antlerless drawing will be available begin-

ning July 17 at 8 a.m. You can buy permits at

wildlie.utah.govand at license agent locations

and Division ofces.

July 19: Remaining general-season buck

deer permits available (archery and

muzzleloader)Any general-season buck deer permits

(archery and muzzleloader) remaining ater the

drawing may be purchased beginning at 8 a.m.

on July 19 at wildlie.utah.govand rom licenseagents and Division ofces.

I you purchase one o the archery permits,

you may also use it on any o the extended-

season archery areas ater the general sea-

son ends, as long as you rst complete the

Divisions Archery Ethics Course, located at

wildlie.utah.gov/extendedarchery.

July 31: Remaining general-season

buck deer permits available (any legal

weapon)Any general-season buck deer permits (any

legal weapon) remaining ater the drawing may

be purchased beginning July 31 at 8 a.m. You can

buy permits at wildlie.utah.govand rom license

agents and Division ofces.

September 17: Unsold general-season

archery deer permits convert to muzzle-

loader permitsI any general-season archery deer permits

remain unsold at the end o the general archery

season, they will convert to general-season muz-

zleloader deer permits on Sept. 17, 2012. You can

buy these permits, i available, atwildlie.utah.gov

and rom license agents and Division ofces.

MORE OPPORTUNITIES TO OBTAINPERMITSSome big game permits or the 2012 season are available online and over the counter. I youre

interested in purchasing one o these permits, please visit wildlie.utah.gov, a license agent or a

Division ofce on the dates listed below.

Any legal weapon permitsI you are a youth and you obtain a general-

season any legal weapon deer permit, you may

use archery tackle to archery hunt the unit listed

on your permit rom Aug. 18Sept. 14, 2012.

I you havent harvested a deer by the time

the archery season ends, you may hunt the same

unit during the general muzzleloader and general

any legal weapon deer seasons, using the ap-

propriate equipment.

When those seasons endi you still

havent harvestedyou may use archery

tackle to hunt in th e extended archery areas ater

completing the archery ethics course available

at wildlie.utah.gov/extendedarchery. For more

inormation on the extended archery hunt, see

page 13.

Muzzleloader permitsI you obtain a general-season muzzle-

loader deer permit, you may hunt onlyduring

the general muzzleloader season. You must use

muzzleloader equipment and hunt the unit listed

on your permit. You may not hunt during the

general archery or any legal weapon seasons.

October 9: Unsold general-season

muzzleloader deer permits convert to

any legal weapon permitsI any general-season muzzleloader deer

permits remain unsold at the end o the gen-

eral muzzleloader season, they will convert to

general-season any legal weapon deer permits on

Oct. 9, 2012. You can buy these permits, i avail-

able, at wildlie.utah.govand rom license agents

and Division ofces.
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CHANGES TO UTAHS DEERMANAGEMENT PLANThe Division now has more exibility in managing individual deer units.

In May 2012, the Utah Wildlie Board ap-

proved some changes to the Utah Deer Manage-

ment Plan. These changes will allow the Division

to manage the 30 new general-season deer units

in a more customized, exible way.

What did the Wildlie Board approve?The Wildlie Board approved a change that

allows the Division to have dierent management

objectives or the 30 units. Starting this year, 16o the new deer units will be managed or 1820

bucks per 100 does. The remaining 14 units will

be managed or 1517 bucks per 100 does.

These numbers, also called buck-to-doe

ratios, are important because they are the best

way to track buck harvest levels. Right ater the

hunts end each all, Division biologists visit dier-

ent herds in each unit to assess their buck-to-doe

ratios.

The greater the buck-to-doe ratio, the more

bucks a hunter is likely to see. The best way to in-

crease the buck-to-doe ratio is to decrease harvest

on the unit, typically by cutting the number o

permits issued to hunters.

Why did the Division propose two difer-

ent objectives?In late 2011, Wildlie Board members asked

the Division to bring back proposals that could

allow or exibility in buck management.

The Division looked closely at all o the deer

units, actoring in things like access, road density

and the amount o public land vs. private land.

The Division also held open h ouses that gave the

public a chance to comment.

Some members o the public wanted more

opportunity to hunt (more permits), and they

urged biologists to keep the buck-to-doe ratios

at a lower level. Other members o the public

wanted to see more bucks on particular units,

even i it meant a permit reduction.

Division biologists took all o the eedback

into account beore putting together the proposal

that the Wildlie Board approved in May. The two

dierent objectives are a balanced way to address

hunters concerns about particular units, while

maintaining biologically sound management

practices.

You can see a list o the general-season deer

units and their new management object ives at

wildlie.utah.gov/deerpermits.

Will these changes help the deer herds?These changes to the Utah Deer Management

Plan ocus on how buck deer are hunted, which

has a limited eect on the overall growth o Utahs

deer herds.

Mule deer numbers are declining across the

West, and Utah wildlie managers are ocused on

restoring the states deer herds.

Over the past six years, the Division has

invested tens o millions o dollars to implement

a variety o measures that can help our struggling

herds. These measures include restoring deer

habitat, increasing predator control, reduc-

ing highway mortality, stopping poachers andperorming valuable research.

For details on this comprehensive eort, visit

wildlie.utah.gov/dwr/helping-deer-herds.html.

Changes to WalkinAccess ProgramUtah Admin. Rule R657-56-13

I you enjoy using Utahs Walk-in Access

(WIA) program, please keep in mind that

there will be a ew changes to the program

this year. The main change is that i you are

14 years old or older, you must obtain a WIA

authorization number in order to access any

WIA properties.

The Division will use the authorization

numbers to track whos using WIA proper-ties throughout the year and to assess the

programs value to the public.

To obtain your ree authorization

number, visit wildlie.utah.gov/walkinaccess

and click th e Authorization number link

at the top right o the page. Follow the

instructions and obtain your number. Later

this year, you will also be able to request a

number over the phone.

To advertise these changes, the Division

is planning to issue a press release, post

signs at WIA properties and make additional

inormation available on the WIA website.

Please visit wildlie.utah.gov/walkinaccess

this summer or the latest inormation.

Poachingreportedreward permitsUtah Admin. Rule R657-5-22

It pays to report poachers in Utah.

I you provide inormation that leads to

the successul prosecution o another person

or the wanton destruction (poaching) o

any big game specieson any once-in-a-

lietime or limited-entry hunt area in the

stateyou may receive a permit to hunt

the same species on the same area where

the violation occurred.

To learn more, please see Utah Admin.Rule R657-5-22 at wildlie.utah.gov/rules.
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I you obtained a general archery buck deer

permit, the only other deer permit you can obtain

is an antlerless deer permit. Please see page 23

or more inormation on antlerless deer hunts.

Extended archeryI you havent taken a deer by the time the

general archery season ends, you can continueyour archery hunting in the states extended

archery areas.

In the Wasatch Front and Uintah Basin

extended archery areas, you may use archery

equipment to take a deer o either sex rom Sept.

15Nov. 30. From Dec. 1Dec. 15, only antlerless

deer may be taken.

In the Ogden Extended Archery Area, you may

use archery equipment to take a buck deer only

rom Sept. 15Nov. 30.

Beore hunting any o the extended archery

areas, you must complete the Divisions Archery

Ethics Course. Please see the Archery Ethics Course

box below or more inormation.

Buck deer hunting

Utah has three general buck deer hunts:

Archery hunt

Muzzleloader hunt

Any legal weapon (rie) hunt

Please seewildlie.utah.gov/mapsor all hunt

boundaries.

General archery buck deerhuntUtah Admin. Rule R657-5-23

Utahs general archery buck deer hunt runs

rom Aug. 18 to Sept. 14.

I you obtained a general archery buck deer

permit, you may use archery equipment to take

one buck deer in the hunting unit listed on your

permit.

During the general archery season, you may

only hunt in the unit listed on your permit. You

may not hunt within deer CWMUs, premium limit-

ed-entry deer units or limited-entry deer units.

Archery Ethics CourseBeore hunting on any o Utahs extend-

ed archery areas, you must complete the

Divisions Archery Ethics Course. The course

is available online at wildlie.utah.gov, and

it takes about 30 minutes to complete. You

must complete the course each year beore

hunting on the extended archery areas.

Ater completing the course, you must

carry your Archery Ethics Course certicate

o completion with you while youre hunt-

ing.

A buck deer is a deer with antlers that are longer thanfve inches (R657-5-2(2)(e)).

BIG GAME HUNTSUtah oers several dierent big game hunts each year. Depending on the permit you obtain,

you could hunt deer, elk, pronghorn, bison, bighorn sheep, moose or Rocky Mountain goat. The

ollowing section describes the species you can hunt, the weapons you can use and the types o

permits that are available.

Chronic wasting disease (CWD) is a relatively

rare disease that attacks the nervous system and

brain o inected deer, elk and moose.

The Division has been monitoring or CWD

since 1998. Over the past 14 years, only 54 mule

deer and one elk have tested positive or CWD in

Utah.

The rst positive mule deer in Utah was

identied in 2002 as a result o a Division testing

eort near Vernal. Since that time, CWD has also

been ound on the La Sal Mountains near Moab,

on the San Juan Mountains near Monticello, andin central Utah near Fountain Green.

In these areas (and a ew others), Division

biologists collect samples rom harvested deer

and elk during the all hunts. When you stop at

a checkstation in a CWD-sampling area, a biolo-

gist may take a sample rom the head o your

harvested animal and send it to the lab or CWD

testing.

I your deer or elk is tested by t he Divi-

sion, you can nd the results online at

wildlie.utah.gov/cwdtestingwithin six to eight

weeks. I your animal tests positive or CWD, the

Division will contact you directly.

To learn more about CWD, the testing process

and precautions you can take, please visit

wildlie.utah.gov/cwd.

CHRONIC WASTING DISEASE IN UTAH

Leadree ammunitionhelps wild condors

In 2012, the Division will oer a ree box

o lead-ree ammunition to hunters who

have permits or buck deer or antlerless elk

on the Zion unit. By using this ammunition

in the eld, hunters can help limit lead

exposure in wild Caliornia condors that live

and orage in southern Utah.

Condors are native to Utah, and their

diet consists o large dead mammals,including the gut piles and other remains o

harvested deer and elk. As a result, condors

consume lead bullet ragments that can poi-

son them and sometimes cause atalities.

I you have obtained an any legal

weapon permit or the Zion unit, the Divi-

sion will contact you with additional details

about this oer beore the hunting season

begins.

The Division encourages all eligible

hunters to participate in the program and

to help Utahs condor population continue

its recovery.

If you want to hunt it tomorrow,

help us protect it today.

Turn In a Poacher

3337
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CWMU buck deer huntsUtah Admin. Rule R657-37

Cooperative Wildlie Management Units (CW-

MUs) are private lands that the landowners have

opened to a small number o public and private

hunters. To learn more about hunting buck deer

on CWMUs, read the article on page 26 and visit

wildlie.utah.gov/cwmu.

Management buck deerhuntUtah Admin. Rule R657-5-46

A management buck is a buck deer with 3

points or less on at least one antler, above and

including the rst ork, but not including the eye

guard. The eye guard does not count as a point. A

point is a projection thats longer than one inc h,

measured rom its base to its tip, including dam-

aged or broken antlers.

Management buck deer permits were avail-

able through the Divisions big game drawing.

I you were successul in the drawing, you

must complete an online orientation course

beore you will receive your permit. This

course is also open to anyone who wants to

learn more about what a management buck

looks like. To take the online course, visit

wildlie.utah.gov/biggame.

A management buck deer permit allows you

to take one management buck deer during theseason. You may use any legal weapon to hunt on

the area specied on your permit.

I you participate in this hunt, you may not

hunt in the ollowing areas:

Deer CWMUs

Areas with special restrictions (see

page 33)

Ater taking your buck deer, you must bring

its head and antlers to a Division ofce or inspec-

tion no later than 72 hours ater the date o kill.

Important: I you obtain a managementbuck deer permit, you will lose your bonus points

and incur a waiting period o t wo years. The only

other deer permit you can obtain is an antler-

less deer permit. Please see page 23 or more

inormation on antlerless deer hunts.

Why a management buck deer hunt?

Removing excess bucks on the Paunsauguntand Henry Mountains limited-entry unitswhile

protecting the larger bucks in the herdsis the

goal o the management buck deer hunt.

These two units have high buck-to-doe ratios.

Harvesting smaller-antlered bucks will preserve

trophy-class bucks and provide more room or

does. Having more does in the herds will result in

more awns being born. Having more awns will

help ensure that these herds remain strong and

healthy into the uture.

Hunter orangeUtah Code 23-20-31

You must obey Utahs hunter orange regula-

tion (see page 30) i a centerre rie hunt

is happening in the area where youre archery

hunting. This does not include hunts or once-in-

a-lietime species.

General muzzleloader buckdeer huntUtah Admin. Rule R657-5-25

Utahs general muzzleloader buck deer hunt

runs rom Sept. 26 to Oct. 4.

I you obtained a general muzzleloader buck

permit, you may use a muzzleloader to take

one buck deer in the hunting unit listed on your

permit.


hunt in any o the ollowing areas:

Salt Lake County, south o I-80 and

east o I-15 (see map online at

wildlie.utah.gov/maps)

Deer CWMUs

Premium limited-entry deer units

Limited-entry deer units


page 33)

I you obtained a general muzzleloader buck

deer permit, the only other deer permit you can

obtain is an antlerless deer permit. Please seepage 23 or more inormation on antlerless

deer hunts.



tion (see page 30) i a centerre rie hunt is

happening in the area where youre muzzleloader


a-lietime species.

General any legal weapon(rie) buck deer huntUtah Admin. Rule R657-5-24

The general any legal weapon (rie) buck deer

hunt runs rom Oct. 20 to Oct. 28.

I you obtained a general any legal weapon

buck permit, you may use any legal weapon to

take one buck deer in the hunting unit listed on

your permit.






Deer CWMUs

Premium limited-entry deer units

Limited-entry deer units


page 33)I you obtained a general any legal weapon

buck deer permit, the only other deer permit you

can obtain is an antlerless deer permit. Please

see page 23 or more inormation on antlerless

deer hunts.

Limitedentry buck deerhuntsUtah Admin. Rule R657-5-40

Utahs premium limited-entry and limited-

entry deer units are managed or older, bigger

bucks.

A premium limited-entry buck deer permit al-

lows you to hunt on one o the best limited-entry

buck deer units in Utahthe Paunsaugunt unit

or the Henry Mountains unit.A limited-entry buck deer permit al lows you

to hunt on a high-quality unit that is not open to

general-season buck deer hunters.

I you obtained a limited-entry buck deer

permit, you may use the weapon listed on your

permit to take one buck deer within the area and

the season specied on your permit. You may NOT

hunt within deer CWMUs.

I you obtained a limited-entry buck deer

permit, the only other deer permit you can obtain

is an antlerless deer permit. Please see page 23

or more inormation on antlerless deer hunts.

Mandatory reportingI you obtained a premium limited-en-

try, limited-entry, management buck deer,

CWMU, conservation, sportsman, conven-

tion or once-in-a-lietime permit, you must

complete a harvest survey questionnaire

within 30 days ater your hunt ends. This

inormation is required even i you didnt

harvest an animal.

I you harvested an animal, this is an

ideal time to return your tooth packet.

Returning your tooth packet does not ulll

the harvest survey requirement.You can report inormation about your

hunt at wildlie.utah.gov/harvestreportingor

by calling 1-800-221-0659.

Reporting your hunt inormation is

important. I you dont report your hunt

inormation within 30 days o the end o the

hunt, you wont be allowed to apply or a

once-in-a-lietime, premium limited-entry,

limited-entry, management buck deer or

CWMU permits, or bonus points in 2013.
http://wildlife.utah.gov/cwmuhttp://wildlife.utah.gov/biggamehttp://wildlife.utah.gov/mapshttp://wildlife.utah.gov/mapshttp://wildlife.utah.gov/harvestreportinghttp://wildlife.utah.gov/harvestreportinghttp://wildlife.utah.gov/mapshttp://wildlife.utah.gov/mapshttp://wildlife.utah.gov/biggamehttp://wildlife.utah.gov/cwmu


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Youth bull elk huntsUtah Admin. Rule R657-5-31

I youll be 18 years o age or younger on

Sept. 15, 2012, you may be eligible to participate

in one o the states youth elk hunts. Remember,

you cannot hunt until you are 12 years old.

Utah oers two youth bull elk hunts:

The youth general any bull elk hunt runs

rom Sept. 15 to Sept. 23 on general any

bull elk units across Utah. I you obtained a

permit or this hunt, you may use any legal

weapon to take a bull elk o any size

including a spike bullon any general

season any bull elk unit in Utah. You mayNOT hunt on a spike bull elk unit.

The late season youth any bull elk hunt

runs rom Dec. 1, 2012 to Jan. 15, 2013 on

a portion o the South Slope, Bonanza any

bull elk unit in northeastern Utah (please

visit wildlie.utah.gov/mapsor a boundary

description). I you obtained a permit or

this hunt, you may use any legal weapon

to take a bull elk o any sizeincluding a

spike bullwithin the hunt boundaries.




east o I-15 (see a map online at


Elk CWMUsAreas with special restrictions (see

page 33)

You may obtain only one youth any bull elk

permit in your lietime, and preerence points do

not apply to this hunt.

I you obtain a youth any bull elk permit, the

only other elk permit you can obtain is an antler-

less elk permit. Please see page 24 or more

inormation on antlerless hunts.

Limitedentry bull elk huntsUtah Admin. Rule R657-5-32

Utahs premium limited-entry and limited-

entry elk permits are among the states most

prized big game permits.

A premium limited-entry bull elk permit

allows you to hunt all o the limited-entry bull

elk seasons (archery, muzzleloader and rie);

however, you must use the weapon appropriate

or your season. You may not hunt on elk CWMUs.

A limited-entry bull elk permit allows you to

use the weapon listed on your permit to t ake one

bull elk o any size within the area and season

specied on your permit. You may not hunt on elk

CWMUs.

I you obtained a premium limited-entry or

limited-entry bull elk permit, the only other elk

permit you can obtain is an antlerless elk permit.

Please see page 24 or more inormation onantlerless hunts.

CWMU bull elk huntsUtah Admin. Rule R657-37

Cooperative Wildlie Management Units

(CWMUs) are private lands that the landowners

have opened to a small number o public and

private hunters. To learn more about hunting bull

elk on CWMUs, read the article on page 26 and

visit wildlie.utah.gov/cwmu.

General muzzleloader elkhuntUtah Admin. Rule R657-5-33

The general muzzleloader elk hunt runs

rom Oct. 31 to Nov. 8 within the general-season

elk units.






Elk CWMUs


page 33)To hunt during the general muzzleloader elk

season, you must obtain either a muzzleloader

spike bull elk permit or a muzzleloader any bull

elk permit.

I you obtain a muzzleloader spike bull elk

permit, you may use a muzzleloader to take a

spike bull elk on a general spike bull elk unit. You

may NOT hunt on the any bull elk units.

I you obtain a muzzleloader any bull elk

permit, you may use a muzzleloader to take a bull

elk o any size, including a spike bull, on a general

muzzleloader any bull elk unit. You may NOT hunt

on spike bull elk units.

Please see the general bull elk hunt reerence

map on page 46 and the boundary descriptions

at wildlie.utah.gov/mapsto learn where spikebull units and any bull elk units are located in

the state.

I you obtain a general muzzleloader bull

elk permit, the only other elk permit you can

obtain is an antlerless elk permit. Please see page

24 or more inormation on antlerless hunts.



tion (see page 30) i a centerre rie hunt is

happening in the area where youre muzzleloader


a-lietime species.

Avoid harvestingcollared wildlie

The Division has placed radio and GPS

collars on bighorn sheep, bison, deer, elk

and pronghorn in various areas across the

state. The Division is monitoring these

animals in a handul o ongoing studies. I

possible, please avoid harvesting a collared

animal. It is an expensive and time-

consuming process to capture and collar

replacement animals.

I you do harvest a collared animal,

please contact your local Division ofce andreturn the collar.

Multiple elk permitsUtah Admin. Rule R657-62-19, 23-19-22, R657-5-34

You may obtain a maximum o two elk

permits each yearprovided one or both

o the permits are antlerlessbut you

can only apply or or obtain one antlerless

elk permit in the drawing. You may obtain

two elk permits in any one o the ollowing

combinations:

One bull elk permit and one antlerless

permit

One bull elk permit and one antlerless

elk-control permit (see page 24)Two antlerless permits

One hunters choice permit and one

antlerless permit

For the purposes o obtaining two elk

permits, a hunters choice elk permit is

considered a bull elk permit. Likewise, a

general-season archery elk permit is also

considered a bull elk permit. An antlerless

elk-control permit is considered an antler-

less permit.

Starting this year, i you obtain two ant-

lerless elk permits or the same areabut

the permits are or dierent seasonsyou

may harvest both elk during the same

season.

And dont orget: you may harvest anantlerless elk while hunting general-season

buck deer or bull elk, as long as your permits

are or the same area.

Beginning July 17, 2012, eligible hunt-

ers may purchase additional antlerless elk

permits ater the drawing. The permits will

be available on a rst-come, rst-served

basis at wildlie.utah.govand rom license

agents and Division ofces.
http://wildlife.utah.gov/mapshttp://wildlife.utah.gov/mapshttp://wildlife.utah.gov/cwmuhttp://wildlife.utah.gov/mapshttp://wildlife.utah.gov/mapshttp://wildlife.utah.gov/http://wildlife.utah.gov/http://wildlife.utah.gov/http://wildlife.utah.gov/mapshttp://wildlife.utah.gov/mapshttp://wildlife.utah.gov/cwmuhttp://wildlife.utah.gov/mapshttp://wildlife.utah.gov/maps


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Bison huntingUtah Admin. Rule R657-5-38

To hunt bison, you must possess a bison

permit.

Your bison permit allows you to use any legal

weapon to take one bison within the area and the

season specied on your permit. You may obtain a

bison permit through the big game drawing only

once in your lietime.

I you obtained a hunters choice permit, you

may take a bison o either sex. I you obtained a

cow bison permit, you may take only a cow bison.

I you obtained a bison permit, you may not

obtain any other bison permit.You may obtain a bison permit through the

big game drawing only once in your lietime. See

page 17 in the2012 Utah Big Game Application

Guidebookor inormation about waiting periods

and once-in-a-lietime hunts.

Henry MountainsI you drew a Henry Mountains cow bison

permit, you must complete the online orienta-

tion course located atwildlie.utah.gov/biggame.

Youll receive your permit ater you successully

complete the course.

ONCE-IN-A-LIFETIME HUNTSAll o Utahs bison, bull moose, bighorn sheep and Rocky Mountain goat permits are considered

once-in-a-lietime permits. Thats because you can draw a permit or each o these species o nly


Antelope IslandI you drew an Antelope Island bison permit,

you may be required to complete a course beore

you can hunt.

Beore the hunt begins, the Division o Parks

and Recreation will notiy you about the date,

time and location o the course. Youll receive your

permit ater you successully complete the course.

Because the Antelope Island hunt is adminis-tered by the Division o Parks and Recreation, your

hunt will include some extra park-related ees. For

more inormation, please call 801-209-4678.

Bull moose huntingUtah Admin. Rule R657-5-37

To hunt bull moose, you must possess a bull

moose permit. I you obtained a bull moose per-

mit, you may not obtain any other moose permit.

Your bull moose permit allows you to use

any legal weapon to take one bull moose on

the limited-entry unit and during the season

specied on your permit. You may not hunt on

moose CWMUs.

CWMU bull moose huntsUtah Admin. Rule R657-37

Cooperative Wildlie Management Units (CW-

MUs) are private lands that the landowners have

A bull moose is a moose that has antlers that are longerthan its ears (R657-5-2(2)(h)).

Buck pronghornhuntingUtah Admin. Rule R657-5-34

To hunt buck pronghorn, you must possess

a buck pronghorn permit. I you obtain a buck

pronghorn permit, you may not obtain any other

pronghorn permit.

A pronghorn permit allows you to use any

legal weapon to take one buck pronghorn within

the area and season specied on your permit. You

may not hunt on buck pronghorn C WMUs.

A note about the archery hunt: Only archery

equipment may be used during the buck

pronghorn archery hunt. I youd like to hunt rom

a blind, please contact the public agency that

manages the land youll be hunting on to learn

about their regulations that must be ollowed to

construct a blind.

CWMU buck pronghorn

huntsUtah Admin. Rule R657-37Cooperative Wildlie Management Units

(CWMUs) are private lands that the landowners

have opened to a small number o public and

private hunters. To learn more about hunting

buck pronghorn on CWMUs, read the article on

page 26 and visitwildlie.utah.gov/cwmu.

Buck pronghorn means a pronghorn with horns thatare longer than fve inches (R657-5-2(2)()).

New ee or predatorcontrol

In 2012, the Utah Legislature passed a

new law that adds a $5 predator-control

ee to all Utah big game hunting permits.

The money will und a program to limit the

numbers o coyotes and other predators.The $5 ee or predator control will be

added to all big game permits, starting with

the 2012 antlerless permits and any remain-

ing big game permits sold ater July 1, 2012.

For the latest details on the new

predator-control program, and how you can

participate, visit wildlie.utah.gov/predators.

Depredation huntsWhen big game animals cause damage

to agricultural crops, the Division may hold

hunts that are not listed in this guide. These

hunts are called depredation hunts. They

may occur on short notice, involve small

areas and are oten limited to only a ewhunters.

To apply or the depredation hunter

pool, complete and submit an online ap-

plication at wildlie.utah.gov/depredation.
http://wildlife.utah.gov/biggamehttp://wildlife.utah.gov/biggamehttp://wildlife.utah.gov/cwmuhttp://wildlife.utah.gov/cwmuhttp://wildlife.utah.gov/predatorshttp://wildlife.utah.gov/depredationhttp://wildlife.utah.gov/depredationhttp://wildlife.utah.gov/predatorshttp://wildlife.utah.gov/cwmuhttp://wildlife.utah.gov/biggame


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with you that has a minimum o 15 power.

I you obtained a hunters choice permit,

you can take either a male or a emale goat,

but the Division encourages you to take a

mature goat. A mature goat is a goat thats

older than two years old. Ater youve taken

your goat, you can determine its age by

counting the number o annual rings on its

horns.

A goats pelage may be higher in quality

later in the hunting season.

Antlerless deer huntingUtah Code 23-20-3 and Utah Admin. Rule R657-5-27

To hunt antlerless deer, you must possess an

antlerless deer permit. This permit allows you to

use a legal weapon to take one antlerless deer

per antlerless deer tagin the area and season

specied on your permit.

You may not hunt on a Cooperative Wildlie

Management Unit (CWMU) unless you obtain an

antlerless deer permit or that CWMU.

I you obtain an antlerless deer permit, you

may not hunt during any other antlerless deer

hunt or obtain any other antlerless deer permit.

Additional opportunityThere is some exibility i you are an antlerless

deer permit holder who also possesses a permit to

hunt any one o the ollowing seasons:

General archery buck deerGeneral muzzleloader buck deer

ANTLERLESS HUNTSUtah oers antlerless hunts each year. These hunts serve two purposes: they help ensure that

populations remain at sustainable, manageable levels, and they remove animals that pose

depredation problems. Depending on the permit you obtain, you could hunt antlerless deer or

elk, or doe pronghorn. The ollowing section describes the species you can hunt, the weapons

you can use and the types o permits that are available.

I you drew a emale Rocky Mountain goat

permit, you must complete the online orienta-

tion course located atwildlie.utah.gov/biggame.

Youll receive your permit ater you successully

complete the course.

Beore you head into the eld, please review

the ollowing inormation:

Rocky Mountain goats live in very

rugged terrain. That makes this hunt

extremely strenuous, and youll want to

prepare accordingly.

While hunting Rocky Mountain goats,

please make sure you have a spotting scope

An antlerless deer is a deer without antlers or withantlers fve inches or shorter (R657-5-2(2)(a)).

opened to a small number o public and private

hunters. To learn more about hunting bull moose

on CWMUs, read the article on page 26 and visit

wildlie.utah.gov/cwmu.

Desert bighorn andRocky Mountainbighorn sheep huntingUtah Admin. Rule R657-5-39

To hunt desert bighorn sheep or Rocky Moun-

tain bighorn sheep, you must possess a permit or

the species you wish to hunt (i.e., a desert bighorn

sheep permit to hunt desert bighorn sheep, or a

Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep permit to hunt

Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep).

Desert bighorn sheep hunts and Rocky

Mountain bighorn sheep hunts are consideredseparate once-in-a-lietime hunts. For example,

i you obtain a desert bighorn sheep permit, and

youve never obtained a Rocky Mountain bighorn

sheep permit beore, you can continue applying

or a Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep permit the

ollowing year.

Please remember that you may not obtain

more than one bighorn sheep permit per year. For

example, you may not obtain both a desert big-

horn sheep permit and a Rocky Mountain bighorn

sheep permit in the same season.

A bighorn sheep permit allows you to use any

legal weapon to take one ram within t he area and

the season specied on your permit.

Reminders and advice:

Bighorn sheep live in very rugged terrain.

That makes this hunt extremely strenuous.

While hunting bighorn sheep, please make

sure you have a spotting scope with you

that has a minimum o 15 power. Any ram

is legal to take, but the Division encourages

you to take a mature ram.

Many o the desert and Rocky Mountain

bighorn sheep in Utah have radio collars.

Please avoid taking a bighorn sheep thats

wearing a radio collar.

Ater taking your ram, you must bring its

horns to a Division ofce within 72 hours oleaving your hunting area. When you come

to the ofce, a Division sta person will

permanently afx a numbered plug to the

horn. This plug certies that the sheep was

taken legally.

Rocky Mountain goathuntingUtah Admin. Rule R657-5-40

To hunt Rocky Mountain goats, you must pos-

sess a Rocky Mountain goat permit.

Your Rocky Mountain goat permit allows you

to use any legal weapon to take one R ocky Moun-

tain goat within the area and t he season specied

on your permit. You may obtain a Rocky Mountain

goat permit through the big game drawing only


I you obtained a hunters choice permit, you

may take a goat o either sex. I you obtained a

emale goat permit, you may take only a emale

goat.

A ram is a male desert bighorn sheep or a male RockyMountain bighorn sheep (R657-5-2(2)(q)).

Antlerless season datesonline

To review the 2012 antlerless season

datesas well as inormation about

antlerless hunting options, permit numbers,

application dates, maps and hunt boundar-

iesvisit wildlie.utah.gov/guidebooks.

These tools and resources will be available

online by May 25, a week beore the antler-

less application period begins on June 1.

For more inormation on the antlerless

application period, see page 7.
http://wildlife.utah.gov/biggamehttp://wildlife.utah.gov/biggamehttp://wildlife.utah.gov/cwmuhttp://wildlife.utah.gov/guidebookshttp://wildlife.utah.gov/guidebookshttp://wildlife.utah.gov/cwmuhttp://wildlife.utah.gov/biggame


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Additional opportunityThere is some exibility i you are an antlerless

elk permit holder who also possesses a permit to

hunt any one o the ollowing s easons:

General buck deer (archery, muzzleloader or

any legal weapon)

General bull elk (archery, muzzleloader or

any legal weapon)

Limited-entry buck deer (archery, muzzle-

loader or any legal weapon)

Limited-entry bull elk (archery, muzzle-

loader or any legal weapon)

Antlerless elk

I your buck deer or bull elk permit and yourantlerless elk permit are or the same area, you

may use your antlerless elk permit during your

buck deer or bull elk season. However, you may

not use your buck deer or bull elk permit during

the antlerless season, unless t he seasons overlap.

I you obtain two antlerless elk permits or

the same areabut the permits are or dierent

seasonsyou may harvest both elk during the

same season.

Doe pronghorn huntingUtah Code 23-20-3 and Utah Admin. Rule R657-5-35

To hunt a doe pronghorn, you must possess a

doe pronghorn permit. This permit allows you to

use a legal weapon to take one doe pronghorn in

the area and season specied on your permit.

I you already have a 2012 pronghorn permit,

you may not apply or or obtain a doe pronghorn

permit or preerence point.


Management Unit (CWMU) unless you obtain a

doe pronghorn permit or that CWMU.

Note: You may only obtain one pronghornpermito any kindduring the 2012 season.

Antlerless moosehuntingUtah Code 23-20-3 and Utah Admin. Rule R657-5-36

To hunt antlerless moose, you must possess

an antlerless moose permit. This year, because o

recent declines in moose populations, there will

not be any antlerless moose permits.

Note: You may only obtain one moose per-mito any kindduring the 2012 season.

Report your harvestI you obtain an antlerless permit this

year, dont orget to complete a harvest

report ater your hunt ends.

Visit wildlie.utah.gov/harvestreporting

and click the Report your harvest button at

the top o the page. Then, you can log in and

complete your harvest report.

I you preer to complete your harvest

report over the phone, call 1-800-221-0659.

The line is staed 24 hours per day, seven

days a week.

An antlerless moose is a moose without antlers or withantlers shorter than its ears (R657-5-2(2)(c)).

appropriate archery or muzzleloader equipment

specied or your current hunting seasonyou

may use your antlerless permit during the buck

deer season. However, you may not use your buck

deer permit during the antlerless season.

Antlerless elk huntingUtah Code 23-20-3 and Utah Admin. Rule R657-5-33

To hunt antlerless elk, you must possess an

antlerless elk permit. This permit allows you to

use a legal weapon to take one antlerless elk in

the area and season specied on your permit.


Management Unit (CWMU) unless you obtain anantlerless elk permit or that CWMU.

You may obtain two elk permits each year.

At least one o them must be an antlerless elk

permit. I you plan to obtain two elk permits,

please note that a hunters choice elk permit is

considered a bull elk permit. Likewise, a general-

season archery elk permit is also considered a bull

elk permit. You may apply or only one antlerless

elk permit in the antlerless drawing.

I you do not obtain an antlerless elk permit in

the drawing, you may be eligible to purchase up

to two remaining antlerless elk permits.

Limited-entry archery buck deer

Limited-entry muzzleloader buck deer

I your buck deer permit and antlerless deer

permit are or the same areaand you use the

An antlerless elk is an elk without antlers or withantlers fve inches or shorter (R657-5-2(2)(b)).

Elkcontrol permitsavailableUtah Admin. Rule R657-5-33

During the 2012 season, the Division

wants hunters to harvest as many antlerless

elk as possible rom eight o Utahs hunting

units:

Chalk Creek

East Canyon

Henry Mountains

Morgan-South Rich

Nine Mile, Range Creek

San Juan, East o US-191

San Raael, North

South Slope, Yellowstone

I you obtained a permit (including

general season) to harvest a buck, bull or

once-in-a-lietime species on any o the

above units (not including CWMUs), you

have the option o purchasing an antlerless

elk-control permit.

The elk-control permit allows you to

harvest an antlerless elk in the same unit

where youll already be hunting an antleredbig game animal. You may hunt the antler-

less elk only during the season datesand

with the same weaponlisted on your

buck, bull or once-in-a-lietime permit.

I you will be hunting buck deer and

antlerless elk at the same time, please visit

wildlie.utah.gov/mapsto veriy your bound-

aries or the elk portion o the hunt. In

some areas (such as Nine Mile, R ange Creek;

San Juan, East o US-191; and San Raael,

North), you may only hunt antlerless elk on

part o the unit.

To obtain an antlerless elk-control

permit, please visit a license agent or any

Division ofce, beginning July 17, 2012.

A doe pronghorn is a pronghorn without horns or withhorns fve inches or shorter (R657-5-2(2)(j)).
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Some deer and elk CWMUs have hunting

seasons outside o these timerames. For more

inormation, visit wildlie.utah.gov/CWMU.

Reporting your harvestsuccess

I you obtain a CWMU permit, you must report

inormation about your hunt within 30 days ater

it ends. Please see page 15 or more inorma-

tion about this important requirement.

Complaint processI you wish to lodge a complaint against a

CWMU, you should contact the Division o Wildlie

Resources immediately. Biologists and conserva-

tion ofcers can supply you with a complaint

orm, or you can make the complaint in person or

over the telephone. You and the operator should

make every eort to resolve your issues beore

they escalate to the Division level.

I your problem cannot be resolved locally, it

may be passed on to a C WMU Advisory Committee

or review and possible action.

Learn moreTo learn more about the CWMU program

or to view maps o CWMU properties, visit

wildlie.utah.gov/CWMU.

include: no preseason scouting; checking

into and out o the unit daily; limited

vehicle access; no overnight camping; a

marksmanship test; and limiting the num-

ber o hunting companions. I you ail to

abide by these rules, you might be asked to

leave the CWMU. You can also review these

rules online atwildlie.utah.gov/cwmu.

Season datesThe Utah Wildlie Board has established time-

rames or hunting on CWMUs (see chart below).

Within these timerames, hunters should expect

to hunt at least ve days or bucks/bulls and two

days or antlerless big game.

The CWMU operator may also allow you to

hunt additional days within the listed timerames.

Beore you apply or a CWMU permit, contact

the operator to obtain general inormation about

hunt dates, permitted weapons and other rules. I

you draw a permit, you must contact the CWMU

operator to conrm your season dates.

Hunt Dates

Archery buck deer Aug. 18, 2012Oct. 31, 2012

Any legal weapon buckdeer and bull elk

Sept. 1, 2012Oct. 31, 2012

Muzzleloader buck deer Sept. 1, 2012

Oct. 31, 2012Antlerless deer Aug. 15, 2012

Dec. 31, 2012

Archery bull elk Aug. 18, 2012Oct. 31, 2012

Any legal weapon bull elk Sept. 1, 2012Oct. 31, 2012

Mu zz le lo ade r b ul l e lk S ep t. 1, 20 12 Nov. 11, 2012

Antlerless elk Aug. 15, 2012Jan. 31, 2013

Buck and doe pronghorn Sept. 1, 2012Oct. 31, 2012

Bull moose Sept. 1, 2012Oct. 31, 2012

CWMU Front Desk

Division o Wildlie Resources

P.O. Box 146301

Salt Lake City, Utah 84114-6301

(Please allow 10 to 14 days or processing.)

You can also redeem the voucher at any

Division ofce.

I you obtain a CWMU permit, you may hunt

only on the CWMU thats specied on your permit.

You may take only one animal o the species andsex listed on the permit. Youll also incur a waiting

period or the species you obtained a permit or.

(Please see page 16 in the 2012 Utah Big Game

Application Guidebookor more inormation about

waiting periods.)

You may not obtain more than one

pronghorn, one moose, one buck deer or one

bull elk permit in a year. But you can obtain an

antlerless deer or antlerless elk permit. More

inormation about antlerless permits is available

on page 23.

How to participateI you draw a permit to hunt a C WMU, you

must contact the CWMU operator to obtain

the ollowing:The dates youll be allowed to hunt within

the legal CWMU hunting season ramework.

Both you and the operator must schedule

around each o your individual needs

please be realistic and patient.

A map o the CWMU showing access

points and the acreage youll be allowed

to hunt. The CWMU should provide the

same amount o acreage to both public and

private hunters. I you eel that you havent

received equal treatment, please contact

your regional Division ofce.

A copy o the CWMUs rules. CWMUs are

allowed to develop rules o conduct or

their unit. Examples o these rules may

COOPERATIVE WILDLIFE MANAGEMENTUNITSUtah Admin. Rule R657-37

More than 60 percent o the rangelands that

Utahs big game animals rely on in the winter

are on private land. Utahs Cooperative Wildlie

Management Unit (CWMU) program works with

landowners to preserve these lands and to make

them good habitat or wildlie .

How the program worksThe CWMU program provides landowners

with an economic incentive to keep their privaterange and orest lands as wildlie habitat instead

o developing them.

CWMUs comprise more than two million acres

o land in Utah. Theyll provide more than 5,000

big game and antlerless hunting permits in 2012.

About 17 percent o those permits are available to

the general public through the states big game

drawing.

Hunting on CWMUs provides both public and

private hunters with several advantages. Among

those advantages are a better chance to take an

animal and ewer hunters to compete with.

Obtaining a CWMU permitI youre a Utah resident, there are two ways

to obtain a CWMU permit: you can apply or onein the states public drawing, or you can obtain a

permit voucher rom the landowner or operator o

the CWMU you want to hunt.

CWMU landowner association members and

operatorsand their spouses and dependent

childrencannot apply or CWMU permits in the

public drawing.

I youre not a resident o Utah, you cannot ap-

ply or a CWMU permit in the public drawing. You

can, however, obtain a permit voucher directly

rom the CWMU landowner or operator.

I you obtain a CWMU voucher, you can

redeem the voucher or a permit by mailing the

voucher to:
http://wildlife.utah.gov/CWMUhttp://wildlife.utah.gov/CWMUhttp://wildlife.utah.gov/cwmuhttp://wildlife.utah.gov/cwmuhttp://wildlife.utah.gov/cwmuhttp://wildlife.utah.gov/CWMUhttp://wildlife.utah.gov/CWMU


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cate. The validated certicate serves as

your hunting license.

Both the registration certicate and the cor-

responding hunting license are valid or 365 days

rom the date o purchase. Note: Your hunting

license is not valid until you complete the hunter

education course.

With a valid hunting license, you can also

apply or or obtain permits in the Divisions hunt

drawings. In order to maximize your hunting op-

portunities, you should register or and complete

the hunter education course as soon as possible

ater purchasing your registration certicate.

Ater completing the course, you will receiveyour ofcial hunter education card (commonly

known as the blue card) by mail. It will be

sent to the address listed on your registration

certicate. This card certies that you passed

hunter education.

You should also keep the ollowing in mind:

Hunters under the age o 16 must be accom-

panied by an adult while hunting.

Regardless o when a student graduates, all

hunting regulations (such as season dates

and bag limits) will apply.

Students who are planning to hunt out o

state should allow enough time or their

hunter education card to arrive in the mail.

You can see a list o hunter education

courses atwildlie.utah.gov/huntereducation. Youcan also contact your local Division ofce or call

801-538-4727.

New to Utah?I you become a Utah resident, and youve

completed a hunter education course in another

state, province or country, you must obtain a

blue card beore you can buy a resident hunting

license. You can obtain a Utah blue card at any

Division ofce by providing proo that youve

completed a hunter education course approved by

the Division. The card costs $10.

Do you have a license?Utah Code 23-19-1, 23-19-22 and 23-20-3

You must have a current Utah hunting or

combination (hunting and shing) license beore

you can apply or any big game permits, bonus

points or preerence points. Licenses are available

at wildlie.utah.govand rom license agents and

Division ofces.

As long as your license was valid on the date

you submitted your application, you dont have to

purchase a new license or the actual hunt.

For example, assume that your license expires

on June 25, 2012. I you applied on February 26,

2012, you do not have to purchase a new licenseor your hunt in the all. All hunting and combina-

tion licenses are valid or 365 days rom the date

o purchase.

Carry your permitI you are successul in obtaining a big game

permit, you musthave it on your person while

hunting. You cannot alter your license or permit,

nor can you sell, transer or loan either o them to

another person.

BASIC REQUIREMENTSAre you planning to hunt big game in Utah this year? Beore you head into the eld, make sure

you meet Utahs age, hunter education and license requirements.

I youre 13 years ol dand youll be 14 by

Dec. 31, 2012you can also apply or limited-

entry or CWMU permits in the public drawing.

All hunters under the age o 16 must be ac-

companied in the eld by a parent, legal guardian

or responsible person 21 years o age or ol der. For

more inormation on this requirement, see the

adjacent inormation box.

Have you passed huntereducation?Utah Code 23-19-11 & Utah Admin. Rule R657-23

I you were born ater Dec. 31, 1965, you

must provide proo that youve passed a hunter

education course approved by the Division beore

you can apply or or obtain a hunting license or a

big game permit.

Proo o hunter educationYou can prove that youve completed hunter

education by obtaining a hunter education course

Certicate o Completion (this certicate is called

a blue card in Utah) or by using a hunting license

rom a previous year with your hunter education

number noted on the license.

How to take hunter educationI you were born ater 1965, you must take

and successully complete the states hunter

education course. Its an easy process:

1. Obtain a hunter education registration

certicate. Each certicate costs only $10,

and you can obtain it onl ine, at any Divi-

sion ofce or rom a license agent.

2. Register or a class with your local hunter

education instructor.

3. Take your registration certicate to your

instructor on the rst night o class.

4. Successully complete the courseyour

instructor will then validate your certi-

Are you old enough?Utah Code 23-19-22

To hunt big game in Utah, you must be at

least 12 years old.

I youre 11 years oldbut youll be 12 by

Dec. 31, 2012you can apply or or obtain a

hunting license and big game permit. Remember,

you cannot hunt until you are 12 years

old.

I youre 11 to 13 years old, you are eligible to:Apply or general-season deer, youth any

bull elk, or buck/bull combination permits

in the drawing.

Buy general-season deer, general-season

elk and youth any bull elk permits over

the counter.

Buy a Cooperative Wildlie Management

Unit (CWMU) permit directly rom a

CWMU operator.

Adults must accompanyyoung huntersUtah Code 23-20-20

While hunting big game, a person

under 16 years old must be accompaniedby his or her parent, legal guardian or other

responsible person who is 21 years o age

or older and who has been approved by the

parent or guardian.

The Division encourages adults to be

amiliar with hunter education guidelines

or to complete the hunter education course

beore accompanying youth into the eld.

While in the eld, the youth and the

adult must remain close enough or the

adult to see and provide verbal assistance to

the young hunter. Using electronic devices,

such as walkie-talkies or cell phones, does

not meet this requirement.

ResidencyUtah Code 23-13-2(37)

Beore you apply or a big game hunt,

its important to know whether you are

a legal resident o the state o Ut ah. Seethe denition o Resident on page 40 to

determine whether you are a resident or a

nonresident.
http://wildlife.utah.gov/huntereducationhttp://wildlife.utah.gov/huntereducationhttp://wildlife.utah.gov/http://wildlife.utah.gov/http://wildlife.utah.gov/huntereducation


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To hunt big game, you must use a lead or

expanding bullet or projectile thats at least

40 caliber in size.

I youre hunting deer or pronghorn, your

bullet must be 130 grains or heavier, or your

sabot must be 170 grains or heavier.

I youre hunting elk, moose, bison, bighorn

sheep or Rocky Mountain goats, you must

use a 210-grain or heavier bullet, or a sabot

bullet thats at least 240 grains.I you obtain a muzzleloader permit, you may

use only the muzzleloader equipment authorized

in this section to take the species listed on the

permit.

You may not possess or be in control o a

rie or shotgun while in the eld during the

muzzleloader hunt. For the purposes o this sec-

tion, eld means a location where you are likely

to nd the species listed on your permit. (You are

not considered to be in the eld i you are in an

established camping area or traveling in a ully

enclosed automobile or truck.) This restriction

does not apply to the ollowing people:

Hunters who are licensed to hunt upland

game or waterowl (You must comply

Ries and shotgunsUtah Code 23-20-3 and Utah Admin. Rule R657-5-8

You may use a rie or shotgun to take big

game, but your rearm and ammunition must

meet the ollowing requirements:

Your rie must re centerre cartridges and

expanding bullets.

Your shotgun must be 20 gauge or larger,

and you may use only slug ammunition or

buckshot thats 00 or larger in size.

HandgunsUtah Code 23-20-3 and Utah Admin. Rule R657-5-9

You may use a handgun to take big game

animals, but the handgun must be a minimum

o .24 caliber and must re a centerre cartridge

with an expanding bullet.

I youre hunting deer or pronghorn, the

handgun must develop at least 500 oot-pounds

o energy at the muzzle. I youre hunting elk,

moose, bison, bighorn sheep or Rocky Mountain

goat, the handgun must develop at least 500

oot-pounds o energy at 100 yards.

MuzzleloadersUtah Code 23-20-3 and Utah Admin. Rule R657-5-10

Muzzleloaders may be used during any big

game huntexcept the archery hunt. To hunt

big game with a muzzleloader, your muzzleloader

must meet all o the ollowing requirements:

It can be loaded only rom the muzzle.It must have open sights, peep sights or a

xed non-magniying 1x scope.

It can have only one barrel, and the barrel

must be at least 18 inches long.

It cannot be capable o ring more than

once without being reloaded.

The powder and bulletor powder, sabot

and bulletcannot be bonded together as

one unit or loading.

It must be loaded with black powder or a

black powder substitute. The black powder

or black power substitute cannot contain

smokeless powder, but may contain some

nitrocellulose.

Hunters with disabilitiesUtah Admin. Rule R657-12

Utah provides special hunting accom-

modations or people with disabilities. These

accommodations include the opportunity

to hunt with a companion, use a crossbow,

hunt rom a vehicle, use a draw lock and

use a scope on archery equipment or a

muzzleloader.

Hunters with disabilities may also apply

or an extension to their season i they have

a 2012 big game hunting permit in their

possession and they meet certain criteria.To learn more about hunting accom-

modations or people with disabilities,

please visitwildlie.utah.gov/disabled,

wildlie.utah.gov/rules/R657-12.phpor call

any Division ofce.

goat huntor a hunt that requires you to possess

a statewide conservation permit or a statewide

sportsmans permitunless a centerre rie

hunt is in progress in the same area.

Checkpoints and ocer

contactsUtah Code 23-20-25 and 77-23-104

To help the Division ulll its responsibility as

trustee and custodian o Utahs wildlie, Division

conservation ofcers and biologists monitor the

taking and possession o big game animals and

the required permits, rearms and equipment

used or hunting. You should expect to encounter

conservation ofcers and biologists checking

hunters in the eld and at checkpoints.

I youre contacted by a conservation ofcer,

you must provide the ofcer with the items he or

she requests, including any licenses and permits

required or hunting, any devices used to partici-

pate in hunting and any game youve taken. These

contacts allow the Division to collect valuable

inormation about Utahs big game animals.

Firearms and archeryequipment

Prohibited weaponsUtah Code 23-20-3 and Utah Admin. Rule R657-5-7

You may only use rearms and archery tackle

that are expressly permitted in this guide.

You may not hunt big game with a rearm

thats capable o being red ully automatic, or

with any light-enhancement device or aiming

device that casts a visible beam o light. Laser

range-nding devices are exempt rom this

restriction.

FIELD REQUIREMENTSSeveral rules have been established to regulate big game hunting in Utah. These rules exist to

ensure big game animals are hunted ethically and to help keep you sae in the eld. Please be

amiliar with the requirements or carrying and using rearms and archery tackle. You should

also know the dierent types o hunting methods that may and may not be used and what

youre required to do with any big game animal you take.

Hunting hoursUtah Code 23-20-3 and Utah Admin. Rule R657-5-6

You may take big game animals rom 30

minutes beore ofcial sunrise until 30 minutes

ater ofcial sunset.

Requirement to wearhunter orangeUtah Code 23-20-31 and 23-20-31

I youre hunting in an area where a centerre

rie hunt is occurring, you must wear a minimum

o 400 square inches o hunter orange material on

your head, chest and back.

A camouage pattern in hunter orange meets

this requirement; however, the Division strongly

encourages hunters to continue using solid hunter

orange whenever possible.

There are some exceptions to the hunter

orange rule. Youre not required to wear hunter

orange i youre participating in a bighorn sheep

hunt, a bison hunt, a moose hunt or a mountain

Statelicensed guidesand outftters

Guides and outtters must be licensed

with the State o Utah beore they can

legally take hunters onto public land to hunt

big game, cougars or black bears.

Beore you use a guide or an outtter,

please visit wildlie.utah.gov/guidesto

determine i he or she is licensed in Utah.

The Utah Division o Occupational and

Proessional Licens

2012 utah big game field regs

Documents