Administrative rule R657-44

Big game depredation

Scroll to bottom of page to view a menu of all administrative rules

R657-44-1. Purpose and Authority.

Under authority of Section 23A-1-206, 23A-8-401, 23A-8-402, 23A-8-403, 23A-8-404, 23A-8-405 and Subsection 23A-2-201(4), this rule provides:

(1) the procedures, standards, requirements and limits for assessing big game depredation; and

(2) mitigation procedures for big game depredation.

R657-44-2. Definitions.

(1) Terms used in this rule are defined in Sections 23A-1-101 and 23A-11-101.

(2) In addition:

(a) "Alternate drawing list" means a list of persons who have not already drawn a permit and would have been the next person in line to draw a permit.

(b) "Cleared and planted land" means private land or privately leased state or federal land used to produce a cultivated crop for commercial gain and the cultivated crop is routinely irrigated or routinely mechanically or manually harvested, or is crop residue that has forage value for livestock.

(c) "Commercial gain" means intent to profit from cultivated crops through an enterprise in support of the crop owner's livelihood.

(d) "Damage incident period" means the period of time between July 1 and June 30 of the following year that the division identifies in a depredation mitigation plan to take action to prevent and mitigate further big game depredation and during which compensation for damage may be calculated.

(e) "Depredation mitigation plan" means a document prepared by the division pursuant to Section 23A-8-402 (2)(b) and R657-44-3(4) outlining the actions it will take to prevent and mitigate big game damage to livestock forage, cultivated crops, irrigation equipment and fences on private land.

(f) "Immediate family member" means the landowner's or lessee's spouse, child, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, father, mother, father-in-law, mother-in-law, brother, sister, brother-in-law, sister-in-law, stepchild, grandchild, grandfather and grandmother.

(g) "Irrigated" means the controlled application of water for agricultural purposes through man-made systems to supply water not satisfied by rainfall.

(h) "Landowner" means any person, partnership, or corporation who owns property in Utah and whose name appears on a deed as the owner of eligible property or whose name appears as the purchaser on a contract for sale of eligible property.

(i) "Lessee" means any person, partnership, or corporation whose name appears as the lessee on a written lease, for at least a one-year period, for eligible property used for farming or ranching purposes, and who is in actual physical control of the eligible property.

(j) "Livestock Forage" means any forage, excluding cultivated crops and crop residues, meant for consumption by livestock, not routinely irrigated or routinely mechanically or manually harvested.

(k) "Mitigation permit" means a nontransferable hunting permit issued directly to a landowner or lessee, an immediate family member of the landowner or lessee, or an employee of the landowner or lessee, authorizing the named individual to take specified big game animals for personal use within a designated area.

(l) "Mitigation permit voucher" means a document issued to a landowner or lessee, allowing the landowner or lessee to designate who may obtain a big game mitigation permit.

(m) "Nuisance" describes a situation where big game animals are found to have moved off formally approved management units onto adjacent units or other areas not approved for that species.

(n) "Once-in-a-lifetime species" for the purposes of this section, includes bull moose and bison, bighorn sheep, and mountain goat regardless of sex.

(o) "Private land" means land in private fee ownership and in agricultural use as provided in Section 59-2-502 and eligible for agricultural use valuation as provided in Section 59-2-503 and 59-2-504. Private land does not include tribal trust lands.

R657-44-3. Damage to Cultivated Crops, Fences, or Irrigation Equipment by Big Game Animals.

(1) Except as provided in Sections 23A-1-206 and Subsection 23A-23-201(4), if big game animals are damaging cultivated crops on cleared and planted land, or fences or irrigation equipment on private land, the landowner or lessee shall immediately, upon discovery of big game damage, request that the division take action by notifying a division representative in the appropriate regional office pursuant to Subsection 23A-8-402 (1).

(2) Notification may be made:

(a) orally to expedite a field investigation; or

(b) in writing to a division representative in the appropriate division regional office.

(3)(a) The regional supervisor or division representative shall contact the landowner or lessee within 72 hours after receiving notification to determine the nature of the damage and take appropriate action for the extent of the damage experienced or expected during the damage incident period.

(b) The division shall consider the big game population management objectives as established in the wildlife unit management plan approved by the Wildlife Board.

(c) Division action shall include:

(i) removing the big game animals causing depredation; or

(ii) implementing a depredation mitigation plan pursuant to Subsections 23A-8-402 (2)(b) through 23A-8-402 (2)(f) and approved in writing by the landowner or lessee.

(4)(a) The division mitigation plan may incorporate any of the following measures:

(i) sending a division representative onto the premises to control or remove the big game animals, including:

(A) herding;

(B) capture and relocation;

(C) temporary or permanent fencing; or

(D) removal, as authorized by the division director or the division director's designee;

(ii) recommending to the Wildlife Board an antlerless big game hunt in the next big game season framework;

(iii) scheduling a depredation hunter pool hunt in accordance with Sections R657-44-7, R657-44-8 or R657-44-9;

(iv) issuing mitigation permits to the landowner or lessee for the harvest of big game animals causing depredation during a general or special season hunt authorized by the Wildlife Board, of which:

(A) the hunting area for big game animals may include a buffer zone established by the division that surrounds, or is adjacent to, the lands where depredation is occurring;

(B) the landowner or lessee may designate an immediate family member or employee to receive mitigation permits;

(C) a person may receive no more than five antlerless deer permits, five doe pronghorn permits, and two antlerless elk permits per mitigation plan;

(D) each qualified recipient of a mitigation permit will receive from the division a Mitigation Permit Hunting License that satisfies the hunting license requirements in Section R657-44-11 to obtain the mitigation permit.

(E) the Mitigation Permit Hunting License does not authorize the holder to hunt small game; nor does it qualify the holder to apply for or obtain a cougar, bear, turkey or other big game permit.

(v) issuing big game mitigation permit vouchers for use on the landowner's or lessee's private land during a general or special hunt authorized by the Wildlife Board of which:

(A) mitigation permit vouchers for antlerless deer may authorize the take of one or two deer as determined by the division;

(B) mitigation permit vouchers for pronghorn may authorize the take of one or two doe pronghorn as determined by the division;

(C) the division may not issue mitigation permit vouchers for moose, bison, bighorn sheep, or mountain goat; and

(D) the hunting area for big game animals may include a buffer zone established by the division that surrounds, or is adjacent to, the landowner's or lessee's private lands where depredation is occurring.

(b) The mitigation plan may describe how the division will assess and compensate for damage pursuant to Subsection 23A-8-405.

(c) The landowner or lessee and the division may agree upon a combination of mitigation measures to be used pursuant to Subsections (4)(a)(i) through (4)(a)(v), including a damage payment or a description of how the division will assess and compensate the landowner or lessee under Section 23A-8-405 for damage to cultivated crops, fences, or irrigation equipment.

(d) The agreement pursuant to Subsection (4)(c) must be made before a claim for damage is filed and the mitigation measures are taken.

(5) Vouchers may be issued in accordance with Subsection (4)(a)(v) to:

(a) the landowner or lessee; or

(b) a landowner association that:

(i) applies in writing to the division;

(ii) provides a map of the association lands;

(iii) provides signatures of the landowners in the association; and

(iv) designates an association representative to act as liaison with the division.

(6) In determining appropriate mitigation, the division shall consider the landowner's or lessee's revenue pursuant to Subsections 23A-8-402 (2)(f) and 23A-8-405 (3)(b).

(7) Mitigation permits or vouchers may be withheld from persons who have violated this rule, any other wildlife rule, the Wildlife Resources Code, or are otherwise ineligible to receive a permit.

(8)(a) The options provided in Subsections (4)(a)(i) through (4)(a)(v) are for antlerless animals only.

(b) Deer and pronghorn hunts may be August 1 through December 31, and elk hunts may be August 1 through January 31.

(9)(a) The division director may approve mitigation permits or mitigation permit vouchers issued for antlered animals.

(b) A mitigation permit may be issued to the landowner or lessee or a qualifying individual designated by the landowner or lessee to take big game for personal use, provided the division and the landowner or lessee desires the animals to be permanently removed.

(c) A mitigation permit voucher may be issued to the landowner or lessee, provided:

(i)(A) the division determines that the big game animals in the geographic area significantly contribute to the wildlife management units;

(B) the landowner or lessee agrees to perpetuate the animals on their land; and

(C) the damage, or expected damage, to the landowner's or lessee's cleared and planted land equals or exceeds the expected value of the mitigation permit voucher on that private land within the wildlife unit; or

(ii)(A) the big game damage occurs on the landowner's or lessee's cleared and planted land;

(B) the division and the affected landowner or lessee desire the animals to be permanently removed; and

(C) the damage, or expected damage, to the cleared and planted land equals or exceeds the expected value of the mitigation permit voucher on that private land within the wildlife unit.

(d) The hunting area for a mitigation permit or permit voucher issued under this subsection includes the landowner's or lessee's cleared and planted land where the depredation occurs and may include a buffer zone established by the division that surrounds, or is adjacent to, that land.

(10)(a) If the landowner or lessee and the division are unable to agree on the assessed damage, they shall designate a third party pursuant to Subsection 23A-8-405(3)(d).

(b) Additional compensation may be paid above the value of any mitigation permits or vouchers granted to the landowner or lessee if the damage exceeds the value of the mitigation permits or vouchers.

(11)(a) The landowner or lessee may revoke approval of the mitigation plan agreed to pursuant to Subsection (4)(c).

(b) If the landowner or lessee revokes the mitigation plan, the landowner or lessee must request that the division take action pursuant to Subsection 23A-8-402 (1)(a).

(c) Any subsequent request for action shall start a new 72-hour time limit as specified in Subsection 23A-8-402 (2)(a).

(12) The expiration of the damage incident period does not preclude the landowner or lessee from making future claims.

(13) The division may enter into a conservation lease with the landowner or lessee of private land pursuant to Subsection 23A-8-402 (5).

R657-44-4. Landowner or Lessee Authorized to Kill Big Game Animals.

(1) Except as provided in Section 23A-1-206 and Subsection 23A-23-201(4), the landowner or lessee is authorized to kill big game animals damaging cultivated crops on cleared and planted land pursuant to Section 23A-8-403.

(2) The division director may prohibit the killing of big game animals under Subsection (1) if, within 72 hours after a landowner or lessee has requested that the division take action to remove depredating animals, the division determines the criteria in Subsection 23A-8-403(2)(a) are satisfied and the landowner or lessee is offered a depredation mitigation plan.

(3) A landowner or lessee who is offered a depredation mitigation plan may:

(a) accept the plan in writing; or

(b) refuse to accept the plan and appeal it, in writing, to the division director and mitigation review panel as provided in Subsections 23A-8-403(2)(b) and 23A-8-404(3).

(4)(a) A depredation mitigation plan accepted by the landowner or lessee shall remain effective during the entire damage incident period, unless otherwise revoked by the landowner or lessee pursuant to Subsections 23A-8-402(4) and R657-44-3(11).

(b) A depredation mitigation plan approved or modified by the mitigation review panel pursuant to Subsection 23A-8-404(3)(b) shall remain effective during the entire damage incident period unless earlier modified by the mitigation review panel upon petition and showing by the landowner or lessee that a substantial change in the nature and extent of the big game damage or the method of calculating damages necessitates further review and modification to the plan.

(i) A petition to amend an existing depredation mitigation plan approved or modified by the mitigation review panel shall be directed to the director of the division.

(c) Nothing in this section shall be construed to prevent the division and the landowner or lessee from mutually agreeing to alter or amend an existing depredation mitigation plan to better address big game damage.

(i) If the parties cannot reach agreement on amending the plan, the landowner or lessee may petition the mitigation review panel for relief as provided in Subsection (4)(b).

(5) The division director's order under Subsection (2) prohibiting the killing of big game animals shall remain in effect during the same time period that the original or amended depredation mitigation plan associated with the big game damage incident remains effective.

(6) The expiration of the damage incident period does not preclude the landowner or lessee from making future claims.

R657-44-5. Compensation for Damage to Crops, Fences, or Irrigation Equipment on Private Land.

(1) Except as provided in Section 23A-1-206 and Subsection 23A-23-201(4), the division may provide compensation to landowners or lessees for damage to cultivated crops on cleared and planted land, or fences or irrigation equipment on private land caused by big game animals pursuant to Sections 23A-1-102 and 23A-8-405.

(2) For purposes of compensation, all depredation incidents end on June 30 annually, but may be reinstated July 1.

R657-44-6. Damage to Livestock Forage on Private Land.

(1)(a) Except as provided in Section 23A-1-206 and Subsection 23A-23-201(4), if big game animals are damaging livestock forage on private land, the landowner or lessee shall immediately, upon discovery of big game damage, request that the division take action to alleviate the depredation problem pursuant to Section 23A-8-402, and as provided in Subsections R657-44-3(1) through R657-44-3(4)(a)(v), and R657-44-3(5) and R657-44-3(8)(a).

(b) In determining appropriate mitigation, the division shall consider the landowner's or lessee's revenue pursuant to Subsections 23A-8-402 (2)(f) and 23A-8-405 (3)(b).

(c) Damage to livestock forage is not eligible for monetary compensation from the division.

(2)(a) Antlerless deer and doe pronghorn hunts may occur August 1 through December 31, and antlerless elk hunts may occur August 1 through January 31.

(b) Antlerless permits may not exceed 10% of the animals on the private land, with a maximum of 20 permits per landowner or lessee, except where the estimated population for the management unit is significantly over objective.

(c) Mitigation permits or vouchers may be withheld from persons who have violated this rule, any other wildlife rule, the Wildlife Resources Code, or are otherwise ineligible to receive a permit.

(3) The division may enter into a conservation lease with the landowner or lessee of private land pursuant to Subsection 23A-8-402 (5).

(4) Permits and vouchers for antlered animals using livestock forage on private land are issued only through the provisions provided in Rule R657-43.

R657-44-7. Depredation and Nuisance Hunts for Buck Deer, Bull Elk or Buck Pronghorn or Once-in-a-Lifetime Species.

(1)(a) Buck deer, bull elk, buck pronghorn or once-in-a-lifetime species depredation and nuisance hunts that are not published in the guidebook of the Wildlife Board for taking big game may be held.

(b) Buck deer, bull elk, buck pronghorn or once-in-a-lifetime species depredation and nuisance hunts may be held when the buck deer, bull elk, buck pronghorn or once-in-a-lifetime species are:

(i) causing damage to cultivated crops on cleared and planted land, or fences or irrigation equipment on private land;

(ii) a significant public safety hazard; or

(iii) determined to be nuisance.

(2) The depredation or nuisance hunts may occur on short notice, involve small areas, and be limited to only a few hunters.

(3) Pre-season depredation hunters shall be selected using:

(a) hunters possessing an unfilled limited entry buck deer, bull elk, buck pronghorn or once-in-a-lifetime species permit for that limited entry or once-in-a-lifetime unit;

(b) hunters from the alternate drawing list for that limited entry or once-in-a-lifetime unit; or

(c) general permittees for that unit through the depredation hunter pool pursuant to Section R657-44-9, provided the animals being hunted are determined by the appropriate regional division representative, to not come from a limited entry or once-in-a-lifetime unit.

(4) Post-season depredation or nuisance animal hunters shall be selected using:

(a) hunters from the alternate drawing list for that limited entry or once-in-a-lifetime unit;

(b) hunters from the alternate drawing list from the nearest adjacent limited entry or once-in-a-lifetime unit; or

(c) general permittees for that unit through the depredation hunter pool pursuant to Section R657-44-9, provided the animals being hunted are determined by the appropriate regional division representative, to not come from a limited entry or once-in-a-lifetime unit.

(5) A person may participate in the depredation hunter pool, for depredation or nuisance hunts pursuant to Subsections (3)(c) and (4)(c), as provided in Section R657-44-9.

(6)(a) Hunters who are selected for a limited entry buck deer, bull elk, buck pronghorn or once-in-a-lifetime species depredation or nuisance hunt must possess an unfilled, valid, limited entry buck deer, bull elk, buck pronghorn or once-in-a-lifetime species permit for the species to be hunted, or must purchase the appropriate permit before participating in the depredation or nuisance hunt.

(b) Hunters who are selected for a general buck deer or bull elk depredation hunt must possess an unfilled, valid, general buck deer or bull elk permit, respectively.

(7) The buck deer, bull elk, buck pronghorn or once-in-a-lifetime species harvested during a depredation or nuisance hunt must be checked with the division within 72 hours of the harvest.

(8) If a hunter is selected from the alternate drawing list for a depredation or nuisance hunt in a limited entry or once-in-a-lifetime unit and harvests a trophy animal or a once-in-a-lifetime species, that person shall lose their bonus points and incur the appropriate waiting period as provided in Rule R657-5.

(9)(a) Hunters with depredation or nuisance hunt permits for buck deer, bull elk, buck pronghorn or once-in-a-lifetime species may not possess any other permit for those species, except as provided in the guidebook of the Wildlife Board for taking big game and Rule R657-5.

(b) A person may not take more than one buck deer, bull elk, buck pronghorn or once-in-a-lifetime species in one calendar year.

R657-44-8. Depredation and Nuisance Hunts for Antlerless Deer, Elk, Moose or Doe Pronghorn.

(1) When deer, elk, pronghorn or moose are causing damage to cultivated crops on cleared and planted land, or livestock forage, fences or irrigation equipment on private land, or are determined to be nuisance, antlerless or doe hunts not listed in the guidebook of the Wildlife Board for taking big game may be held. These hunts occur on short notice, involve small areas and are limited to only a few hunters.

(2) Depredation or nuisance animal hunters shall be selected using:

(a) hunters possessing an antlerless deer, elk, moose or doe pronghorn permit for that unit;

(b) hunters from the alternate drawing list for that unit; or

(c) the depredation hunter pool pursuant to Section R657-44-9.

(3) The division may contact hunters to participate in a depredation or nuisance hunt prior to the general or limited entry hunt for a given species of big game. Hunters who do not possess an antlerless deer, elk, moose or doe pronghorn permit shall purchase an appropriate permit.

(4) Hunters with depredation or nuisance hunt permits for antlerless deer, elk or moose may not possess any other permit for those species, except as provided in the guidebook of the Wildlife Board for taking big game and Rule R657-5.

R657-44-9. Depredation Hunter Pool.

(1) When deer, elk, pronghorn or once-in-a-lifetime species are causing damage or are determined to be nuisance, hunts not listed in the guidebooks of the Wildlife Board for taking big game may be held. These hunts occur on short notice, involve small areas and are limited to only a few hunters.

(2) Hunters shall be selected pursuant to Subsections R657-44-7(3), R657-44-7(4) and R657-44-8(2).

(3) A hunter pool application does not affect eligibility to apply for any other big game permit. However, hunters who participate in any deer, elk, pronghorn or once-in-a-lifetime species depredation or nuisance hunt may not possess an additional permit for that species during the same year, except as provided in Rule R657-5 and the guidebooks of the Wildlife Board for taking big game.

(4) A person who has obtained a once-in-a-lifetime species depredation or nuisance hunt permit and has successfully harvested an animal may not obtain any other once-in-a-lifetime permit or hunt during any other once-in-a-lifetime hunt for that species as provided in R657-5, except for

(5) The division shall develop a process by which hunters can apply to the depredation hunter pool and post that process on the division website.

(6) Hunters who have not obtained the appropriate deer, elk, pronghorn or once-in-a-lifetime species permit shall purchase an appropriate permit.

R657-44-10. Appeal Procedures.

(1) Upon the petition of an aggrieved party to a final division action relative to big game depredation and this rule, a qualified hearing examiner shall take evidence and make recommendations to the Wildlife Board, who shall resolve the grievance in accordance with Rule R657-2.

R657-44-11. Hunting or Combination License Required.

(1) A person must possess or obtain a Utah hunting or combination license to receive a big game mitigation permit or depredation permit pursuant to this rule.

(a) a hunting or combination license must be possessed or purchased by the person redeeming a mitigation permit voucher for the corresponding permit.

(b) under circumstances where the division issues a depredation permit, the designated recipient must possess or purchase a Utah hunting or combination license to receive the permit.