UPDATE TO THIS NEWS RELEASE: The Utah Wildlife Board voted to postpone receiving public comments on the trail camera recommendations until further surveys could be conducted on the issue. The recommendations regarding trail cameras, the use of night-vision devices, and various other big game proposals that were made public for feedback on August 23 will be presented to the public in a future meeting.
On August 25, the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (DWR) set forth a proposal to make changes regarding trail cameras and various technologies used in hunting. They are seeking feedback from the public on the issue.
Proposed Changes to the Use of Trail Cameras
On May 5, 2021, Utah’s HB 295 went into effect. Under the new law, the Utah Wildlife Board must set rules to govern the use of trail cameras. The DWR sought feedback from 6,000 big game hunters throughout the state on several proposals and discovered that 62% of the public opposed trail cameras that transmit live images and footage.
Due to these results, the DWR’s changes prohibit hunters from using trail cameras to locate big game between July 31 and January 31. In addition, the DWR’s proposal prohibits selling, distributing, or storing transmitting trail camera footage that was used to harvest or aided in harvesting big game animals.
Exceptions to these proposed regulations include:
- Private landowners monitoring for trespassers or agricultural purposes
- Utah cities involved in the Urban Deer Program
Proposed Changes to Other Hunting Technology
The DWR’s proposed changes also prohibit the use of night-vision technology to attempt to locate or locate big game animals in Utah. The ban includes:
- Night-vision devices
- Infrared-imaging devices
- Thermal-imaging devices
- Any electronic devices that enhance the non-visible and visible light spectrum
The ban would begin 48 hours before big game hunt openers and stay in effect until 48 hours after the hunt ends.
Proposed Changes to Big Game Hunting
Also in the DWR’s proposal are general changes to big game hunting in Utah. A few of these changes include:
- Allowing individuals to hunt some species in the same year
- Requiring individuals who hunt bison to view educational material on shot placement for bison hunting before being allowed to hunt
- Clarification on handgun-archery-muzzleloader-shotgun permits, rules regarding hunting in national wildlife refuges, and clarifications on the antlerless elk control permits
If you are a Utah resident and would like to provide feedback to the DWR, you can find information about meeting times and locations on their feedback website.
