2011-12 waterfowl guidebook (draft)

8/4/2019 2011-12 Waterfowl Guidebook (Draft)

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ildlife

.utah.gov


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CONTENTSHighlights

Who makes the rules?

Take a closer look at the rules

Fees

Key datesBasic requirements

Adults must accompany young

hunters

Have you passed hunter education?

Burning phragmites during the

hunt

Do you need a ederal stamp?

Do you have a HIP number?Swan hunting

Swan permits or youth

Avian diseases in Utah

Did it get wet? Decontaminate it!

Applying as a group

Post-hunt requirements

Swan harvest reporting

Field requirementsFirearms and archery tackle

Make sure you're in range

Are you allowed to possess a

weapon?

Hunters with disabilities

Hunting methods

Boating laws and rules

Closed areasTrespassing

Possession and transportation

Checkpoints and ocer contacts

Special regulations or national

wildlie reuges

Season dates and bag and

possession limits

Youth hunting day

Show courtesy during goose hunt

Mercury and ducks

North Goose Zone boundary

Shooting hours

Waterowl identication

Denitions

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CONTACT US

Division oces

Oces are open 8 a.m.5 p.m.,Monday through Friday

Salt Lake City1594 W North TempleBox 146301Salt Lake City, UT 84114-6301801-538-4700

Central Region1115 N Main StreetSpringville, UT 84663801-491-5678

Northeastern Region152 E 100 NVernal, UT 84078435-781-9453

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

Southeastern Region319 N Carbonville Road, Ste APrice, 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


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The duck-pair counts also showed increases or

many species. Pintail numbers, or example, were 26

percent higher than last year and 10 percent above

their long-term average. Despite these improve-

ments, pintails still havent reached their population

objective, which is why harvest limits remain the

same or the 20112012 season.

Overall, the outlook or Utah waterowl hunters

is very positive. Youll nd water in many places that

were dry last year, and the hunting should be great

or most species.

Season change or light geese: In March 2012,there will be an earlier season or light geese outsideo the North Goose Zone. The season will run romMarch 110, 2012. For a complete list o hunt datesand bag limits, see page 23.

Also remember

You must register in the HIP every season:

You must obtain a Migratory Bird Harvest Inorma-tion Program (HIP) number or the 20112012 sea-son to hunt waterowl in Utah this all. Your numberrom last season wont work. The HIP number youobtain or the 20112012 season is valid rom March11, 2011 through March 10, 2012. Please see page 8or more inormation.

Buy your license over the phone: You can nowbuy a Utah hunting or combination license over thetelephone. Just call 1-800-221-0659. The line isstaed 24 hours a day, seven days a week. In addi-tion to the ee or the license, youll also be charged a$2 transaction ee or each item you buy.

Retrieving waterowl: Beore hunting in anarea, make sure you can retrieve the birds you shoot.

Because o mud or deep water, you may need chestwaders, a dog or a boat. Not attempting to retrieveyour waterowl could result in a citation.

Swan reporting: I you draw a 2011 swan permit,you are required to submit a harvest report. You mustsubmit this inormation, even i you dont hunt orharvest a swan. Failure to complete a harvest reportmay aect your eligibility to apply or the 2012

Jake Albrecht

John Bair

Calvin Crandall

Bill Fenimore

Michael King

Wildlie Board members

Del Brady, Chair

Ernie Perkins, Vice Chair

James F. Karpowitz,

Division Director

Executive Secretary

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 Division employees.

The Divisions director serves as the boards

executive secretary but does not have a vote onwildlie policies.Beore board members make changes

to wildlie rules, they listen to recommendationsrom Division biologists. They also receive inputrom the public and various interest groups viathe regional advisory council (RAC) process.

I you have eedback or suggestions or boardmembers, you can nd their contact inormation

online at wildlife.utah.gov.

GREAT CONDITIONS FOR WATERFOWLAbove-normal precipitation across the prairies o

the United States and Canada should provide more

birds or you to hunt this all.

Every year, the U.S. Fish and Wildlie Service

conducts pond counts and duck-pair counts in the

same areas across the country.

This past spring, the pond count in the U.S. Prai-

rie region was 100 percent above last years count.

The additional water provides avorable conditions

or breeding waterowl.

HIGHLIGHTS

Whats new this season?

New ee or swan permit: Starting this year,there will be a $15 ee or each swan permit. For acomplete list o license and permit ees, see page 5.


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swan hunting season. Please see page 12 or moreinormation about this requirement.

Of-highway vehicles: O-highway vehicles are

not permitted on state waterowl management ar-eas, except in areas that are posted open to OHV use.

Burning phragmites during the hunt: Thisall, as conditions permit, the Division will burnphragmites at both the Farmington Bay and OgdenBay waterowl management areas. To learn more,see the inormation box on page 7.

Corrections: I errors are ound in this guidebook

ater it is printed, the Division will correct themin the electronic copy that is posted online. Visitwildlife.utah.gov/guidebooks to view all o the Divi-sions guidebooks and proclamations.

Private lands: The Division cannot guaranteeaccess to any private land. I you plan to huntorengage in any other wildlie-related activitiesonprivate land, you must obtain WRITTEN permission

rom the landowner or the landowners authorizedrepresentative.

Protection rom discrimination: The Divisionreceives ederal nancial assistance rom the U.S.Fish and Wildlie Service and must abide by ederallaws. Under Title VI o the Civil Rights Act o 1964,Section 504 o the Rehabilitation Act o 1973, TitleII o the Americans with Disabilities Act o 1990, theAge Discrimination Act o 1975, Title IX o the Educa-

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.org to see a map o participating states.)

Take a closer look at therules

This guidebook summarizes Utahs

waterowl hunting laws and rules. Although

it is a convenient quick-reerence document

or Utahs waterowl regulations, it is not anall-encompassing resource.

For an in-depth look at the states

waterowl hunting laws and rules, visit

wildlife.utah.gov/rules.

You can use the reerences in the guide-

booksuch as Utah Code 23-20-3 and Utah

Administrative Rule R657-9-6to search the

Divisions 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 oce.


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External Programs4040 North Fairax Drive, Suite 130

Arlington, VA 22203

Division unding: The Division is mostly unded bythe sale o hunting and shing licenses and throughederal aid made possible by an excise tax on the sale

o rearms and other hunting- and shing-relatedequipment.

FEESResident license ees

Hunting license (under 14 years o age)* $11

Hunting license (14 years o age andolder)*

$26

Combination license* $30

Nonresident license ees

3-day small game license $25

Hunting license* $65

Combination license* $80

Other ees

Federal migratory bird hunting andconservation stamp (16 years o ageand older). These are available at U.S.post oces and some license-agentlocations.

$15

Swan permit $15

* Hunting and combination licenses are valid for 365 daysfrom the day you buy them.

You will be charged an additional $10 nonrefundableapplication fee.

tion Amendments o 1972, the U.S. Department othe Interior and its bureaus prohibit discriminationon the basis o race, color, national origin, age,disability or sex. I you believe that you have beendiscriminated against in any program, activity oracility, or i you desire urther inormation pleasewrite to:

The U.S. Fish and Wildlie ServiceOce or Diversity and Civil Rights Programs

KEY DATESSeason dates

Common snipe Oct. 1Jan. 14

Ducks, mergansers, coots Oct. 1Jan. 14

Scaup Oct. 1Dec. 24

Swan Oct. 1Dec. 11

Dark geese (inside theNorth Goose Zone)

Oct. 1Jan. 14

Dark geese (outside theNorth Goose Zone)

Oct. 113,Oct. 29Jan. 29

Light geese (inside theNorth Goose Zone)

Oct. 22Jan. 14,Feb. 18March 10

Light geese (outside theNorth Goose Zone)

Oct. 14Jan. 14,March 110

Swan application dates

Swan hunting applicationavailable online

Aug. 29, 2011

Application deadline Sept. 7, 2011

Drawing results available Sept. 19, 2011


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Have you passed huntereducation?Utah Code 23-19-11 and 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 swan 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 online, at any Division

oce 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 certicate.

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. The license enables

you to apply or or obtain permits in the Divisions

hunt drawings. In order to maximize your hunting

opportunities, you should register or and complete

Are you old enough?Utah Code 23-19-11

Anyone who has passed a Division-approved

hunter education course can hunt waterowl in Utah,

regardless o age. However, young hunters must be

accompanied by an adult while in the eld. To learn

more, see the inormation box below.

BASIC REQUIREMENTSCompleting hunter education, obtaining the proper hunting license and registering or a

Migratory Bird Harvest Inormation Program (HIP) number are the rst steps to hunting

waterowl in Utah. Depending on your age, you may also need a ederal migratory bird hunt-

ing and conservation stamp. This section provides inormation about each o these items and

how to obtain them.

Adults must accompanyyoung huntersUtah Code 23-20-20

While hunting with any weapon, a person

under 14 years old must be accompanied

by his or her parent, legal guardian or other

responsible person who is 21 years o age orolder and who has been approved by the par-

ent or guardian.

A person at least 14 years old and under

16 years old must be accompanied by a person

21 years o age or older while hunting with

any weapon.

The Division encourages adults to be

amiliar with hunter education guidelines or tocomplete 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.


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the hunter education course as soon as possible ater

purchasing your registration certicate.

Ater completing the course, you will receive

your ocial 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 accompa-

nied 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 at

wildlife.utah.gov/huntereducation. You can also con-

tact your local Division oce 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 bluecard beore you can buy a resident hunting license

or apply or a swan permit. You can obtain a Utah

blue card at any Division oce 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

You must purchase either a hunting license or

a combination license to hunt waterowl in Utah.

Heres the dierence between the two licenses:

A hunting license allows you to hunt small

game, including waterowl and upland game.

A combination license allows you to sh and

hunt small game in Utah. When you buy a

combination license, you also get a price break

compared to buying your hunting and shinglicenses separately.

To purchase a license, visit wildlife.utah.govor

call 1-800-221-0659. You can also visit a license

agent or any Division oce.

You must carry your license with you while

youre hunting, and you cannot alter your license, ortranser or lend it to another person.

I you want to hunt a swan in Utah, you will also

need to apply or and obtain a swan permit. For

more inormation about swan permits, see page 9.

Burning phragmitesduring the hunt

Over the past six years, the Divi-

sion has chemically treated and burned

thousands o acres o phragmites (pro-

nounced frag-mite-ees). This tall invasiveplant outcompetes native marsh plants and

eliminates waterowl habitat.

In some cases, phragmites orms dense,

impenetrable thickets up to 13 eet high.

This year, the Division plans to burn

phragmites on both the Farmington Bay and

Ogden Bay waterowl management areas

(WMAs), weather permitting. This may result

in temporary closures o certain areas during

the hunt.

Fortunately, waterowl will fock to the

burned areas a ew weeks ater the burn, and

hunting should improve considerably.

The Division only receives authorization

to burn when the weather, wind and air-

quality conditions cooperate. As a result, the

Division has about 12 hours notice beore aburn occurs.

I conditions are right, the Division will

lock the gates o the WMA the night beore a

proposed burn. The agency will also post signs

at the WMA, work with the media and use a

variety o online tools to alert hunters to the

upcoming burn.

To read more about this alls phragmitesburns or to check or an alert about an impend-

ing burn, visit wildlife.utah.gov/burn.

To receive notice when a phragmites burn

is approved, ollow the Division on Twitter at

twitter.com/DWRburn.


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Do you need a ederalstamp?Utah Admin. Rule R657-9-3

In addition to your hunting license, i youre

16 years old or older, you must obtain a ederal

migratory bird hunting and conservation stamp. This

stamp is commonly reerred to as a "duck stamp."You can purchase a duck stamp rom your

local post oce or by phone. The phone number is

1-800-782-6724. You can also call this number to

order additional duck stamps. Duck stamps are not

available at Division oces.

Ater you buy your stamp, you must validate it

by signing your name in ink across the ace o the

stamp. You must also carry your stamp with youwhile youre hunting (most hunters place their stamp

on the back o their hunting license).

I youre 15 years o age or younger, you do not

need a ederal duck stamp to hunt waterowl, but i

you turn 16 during the season, you must buy a stamp

to hunt the remainder o the season.

Do you have a HIPnumber?50 CFR 20.20 and Utah Admin. Rule R657-9-33

In addition to your license (and your duck stamp,

i required), you must obtain a Migratory Game

Bird Harvest Inormation Program (HIP) registration

number every season.

The number you obtained last season is not valid

or this season.

HIP numbers or the 20112012 season are valid

rom March 11, 2011 through March 10, 2012.

Its easy to registerYou can obtain your Utah HIP number in one o

two ways:

1. Register at www.uthip.com.

2. Call 1-877-882-4744. I you have questionsor need help obtaining your HIP number,

please call 1-800-368-4683.

Youll need your hunting license to register, so

make sure you have it with you beore you log onto

the website or call. It only takes about 10 minutes

to register.

I your 365-day license expires during the

season, and you buy a new license, simply writeyour 20112012 HIP registration numberand its

expiration datein the space provided on the ront

o your new license. You do not need to get a second

HIP number or the 20112012 season.

Email remindersWhile registering at www.uthip.com, youll have

the opportunity to provide your email address. I you

do, youll receive an email reminder to register or

HIP beore the next season begins.

Valuable inormationThe U.S. Fish and Wildlie Service started the HIP

in the mid-1990s. The program provides biologists

with valuable inormation that helps them manage

the nations migratory game bird populations.

If you want to hunt it tomorrow,

help us protect it today.

Turn In a Poacher

3337


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again as long as you ollow the rules listed in the

Harvest reporting section on page 12.

Swan orientation courseThe swan orientation course provides in-

ormation about swans, including inormation

that will help you identiy tundra swans and

trumpeter swans in fight. Both are legal to take,but the Division discourages you rom shooting

trumpeter swans. The course is available online at

www.utah-hunt.com/utswancourseand takes about

30 minutes to complete. Even i you dont plan on

hunting swans, the Division encourages you to take

the course.

Key datesUtah Admin. Rule R657-62-23Please note the ollowing dates i you want to

apply or a 2011 swan permit or preerence point.

August 29: Apply online or a permit or

preerence pointVisit wildlife.utah.govto apply or a swan permit

or preerence point. Both residents and nonresidents

may apply. Groups o up to our people may alsoapply. For more inormation, please see "Applying as

a group" on page 11.

Application ees are charged to your credit or

debit card when your application is processed. Your

application can be rejected i your credit or debit card

is invalid or reused. A permit ee is charged only i

you are successul in drawing a permit. The ee or a

swan permit is $15.You can use American Express, Discover, Master-

Card and VISA credit or debit cards as payment, and

they must be valid through November 2011. You can

also use a pre-paid credit card. I you have questions

about using a pre-paid credit card, check with your

nancial institution or more inormation.

SWAN HUNTINGUtah is one o the ew places in the country where you have the opportunity to hunt swans.

This section provides inormation about applying or a swan permit or preerence point in

2011. You will also nd inormation about what to do i you obtain a permit and harvest a

swan. And nally, be sure to read the important reminder about when you can apply or the

2012 swan hunt.

2011 swan huntingBeore you can hunt swans in 2011, you must

have the ollowing items:

A swan permit

A Utah hunting or combination license

A HIP number

A ederal duck stamp (i you are 16 years o ageor older)

I your license expires beore the swan season

ends, youll have to buy a new license to hunt the

remainder o the season.

Applying or a permitUtah Admin. Rule R657-62-23

To hunt swan in Utah, you must draw a permit in

the states swan hunt drawing.You can apply or the drawing online at

wildlife.utah.govbeginning on Aug. 29, 2011.

I you dont want to apply or a permit this year,

but you want a better chance o drawing one next

year, you can apply or a preerence point instead.

However, beore you can apply or either a swan

permit or a preerence point, you must rst complete

a one-time swan hunting orientation course. Ateryouve taken the course, you dont have to take it

Swan permits or youthUtah Admin. Rule R657-62-23

Fiteen percent o this years swan hunting

permits are reserved or hunters who will be

15 years o age or younger on Oct. 1, 2011 (the

opening day o the hunt).

I youll be 15 years o age or younger

on Oct. 1, you can participate in the youth

drawing by submitting an application as an

individual hunter. You wont be included in

the youth drawing i you apply as a member

o a group.


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September 7: Deadline to withdraw an

applicationI you decide not to hunt swan, you can with-

draw your online permit application until 11 p.m. on

Sept. 7, 2011.

Please remember that any ees you submitted

with your application are not reundable.

September 19: Drawing results availableYoull be notied o the drawing results by email.

Beginning Sept. 19, you can also learn the drawingresults by calling 1-800-221-0659 or by visiting

wildlife.utah.gov.

In order to protect your privacyand to comply

with governmental records access lawsyou may

obtain access to only your own drawing results.

I you draw a permit, youll likely receive your

permit in the mail by the end o September.

September 29: Remaining permits avail-able

Any permits remaining ater the swan hunt

drawing may be obtained beginning Sept. 29, 2011,

at wildlife.utah.govand rom license agents and

Division oces. Remaining permits are available on

a first-come, first-served basis.

September 7: Deadline or permit and

preerence point applicationsYour application or a swan permit or preerence

point must be submitted through wildlife.utah.gov

no later than 11 p.m. on Sept. 7, 2011. I you need

help with your online application, please call any

Division oce beore 5 p.m. on Sept. 7, 2011. A Divi-

sion employee will be available to help you!

September 7: Deadline to resubmit an

applicationDid you make a mistake in your online permit

application? Simply withdraw your original online

application and submit a new, correct application

beore 11 p.m. on Sept. 7, 2011.

In order to withdraw your application, you must

have the conrmation number rom your original

application. You must also have your customer ID

and your date o birth. For each new application yousubmit, you will be charged a $10 application ee.

I you need help with your online application,

please call any Division oce beore 5 p.m. on

Sept. 7, 2011.

Avian diseases in UtahAvian infuenza and avian botulism are dis-

eases that primarily aect wild bird populations.

Neither disease typically aects humans.

However, there is a strain o avian infuenza

(known as Asian bird fu) that has aected some

people. This strain has not been detected in Utah

or anywhere else in North America.

In contrast, outbreaks o avian botulism (type

C) occur in Utah annually. Although avian botulism

typically aects only wild bird populations, some

hunting dogs have been poisoned by contact with

botulism-inected birds.

As long as you take some simple precautions,

you can greatly reduce your risk o contractingavian infuenza, avian botulism or any other

wildlie disease:

Do not harvest any bird that appears sick,

and do not pick up diseased or dead birds.

Do not allow dogs or other pets to handle

sick or dead birds.

Do not handle or eat sick birds.

Keep your game birds cool, clean and dry.

Wear rubber or disposable latex gloves

while handling and cleaning your birds.

Ater cleaning the birds, wash your hands

with soap and water, and thoroughly clean

all knives, equipment and suraces that

came in contact with the birds. You can

disinect these items by using a solution

thats 90 percent water and 10 percent

chlorine bleach.

All birds should be cooked thoroughly (well

done or at 160 F).Do not eat, drink or smoke while handling

your birds.

For more inormation about avian diseases,

please visit wildlife.utah.gov/diseases.


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Applying as a groupUtah Admin. Rule R657-62-23Instead o applying as an individual hunter, you

and your riends and amily can apply together as

a group. Up to our huntersincluding a mix o

residents and nonresidentscan apply together or

swan permits. (See the denition o a resident on

page 44.)

Please remember that i youre a youth, and you

want to be included among those who draw or the

swan permits reserved or youth, you must apply

as an individual hunter. Do NOT apply as part o a

group.

When you apply, all ees or all applicants in your

group must be charged to one credit or debit card.

I your group is successul in the drawing, all o the

applicants in your group who have valid applications

will receive a permit.

Preerence pointsUtah Admin. Rule R657-62-10

Preerence points ensure that applicants who are

unsuccessulor those who choose to apply only

or a preerence pointwill have a better chance o

obtaining a permit in next years swan drawing.

A preerence point is awarded or each unsuc-

cessul swan application.

An individual who does not want to hunt swan

in the current year may apply or a preerence point

only by selecting the appropriate hunt choice code

(SWN) on the application and paying the $10 ap-

plication ee.I you are eligible or a swan permit, you are

eligible to apply or a preerence point. You cannot,

however, apply or both a permit and a preerence

point in the same season.

A preerence point will not be issued i you are

successul in drawing a swan permit.

You will not lose your preerence points i you

obtain a permit that remains available ater the

swan drawing is over.

How your preerence points work in the

drawingIn the drawing, swan applications are sorted

into groups by the number o preerence pointsa

4-preerence-point group, a 3-preerence-point

group and so onrom highest to lowest. Within

each group o preerence points, the applications arethen sorted rom lowest to highest draw numbers.

Permits are awarded in order, based on the hunt

choice selected.

Preerence points are averaged and rounded

down when two or more applicants apply as a

group. For example, i hunter A with three preerence

points and hunter B with zero preerence points

apply as a group, the preerence points are averaged(1.5) and rounded down to one. This process will

determine in which group o preerence points your

application will be considered. Hunters with one

preerence point will be considered only ater all

groups or individuals with two or more preerence

points and beore all groups or individuals with zero

preerence points.

You may surrender your swan permit beore the

season opens in order to reinstate your preerence

points, including a preerence point or the current

year (just as i you had not drawn a permit).

Post-hunt requirementsI you hunt swan in 2011, be sure to meet the

ollowing requirements by Jan. 10, 2012.

Did it get wet?Decontaminate it!

When you hunt waterowl, some o your

gear inevitably gets wet or muddy.

Your waders, clothes, shoes and other

equipment provide good hiding places ormicroscopic invasive species or whirling

disease spores.

Beore you leave a hunting area and step

into another water, rinse all the mud and other

debris o o your waders, boots and wetted

gear or equipment. Then, generously spray

all o itespecially the elt soles o wad-

erswith Formula 409 (a popular household

cleaner). This treatment will kill any whirling

disease spores.

Ater you return home, thoroughly clean

and dry all o your gear beore using it again.

For more inormation about decomtamina-

tion, visit wildlife.utah.gov/mussels.


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Tag your swanUtah Code 23-20-30 and Utah Admin. Rule R657-9-5

Ater youve taken a swan, you must tag the

swan beore you move the carcass rom or leave the

site o the kill.

To tag a swan, completely detach the tag rom

your swan permit and completely remove thenotches that correspond with the month and day the

swan was taken. Then attach the tag to the carcass

so the tag remains securely astened and visible.

Your swan tag also includes a notch that

indicates the sex o the bird, but you do not need

to remove this notch; you only need to remove the

notches that indicate when the bird was taken.

You may not remove more than one notch

indicating the month or day the swan was taken, or

tag more than one swan using the same tag. Also,

you may not hunt or pursue swans ater any o the

notches have been removed rom the tag or the tag

has been detached rom your permit.

Get your swan examinedUtah Admin. Rule R657-9-6

You must bring the tagged swan or its head toa Division oceor the Bear River Migratory Bird

Reuge ocewithin three days o harvesting the

swan. A sta person will examine the swans head

and assist you in completing your swan question-

naire. This visit provides biologists with valuable

inormation about swans in Utah.

Harvest reportingUtah Admin. Rule R657-9-6

I you obtain a swan permit, you must complete

and submit a swan questionnaire by Jan. 10,

2012even if you dont end up hunting or

harvesting an animal. I you do harvest a swan,

a Division biologist will complete your question-

naire as part o the post-harvest examination that is

required o all successul swan hunters.

The questionnaire is available at wildlife.utah.gov.You can also complete it by calling 1-800-221-0659.

Its important to comply with the requirements

listed above. I you miss the Jan. 10 deadline, you

will be ineligible to apply or a 2012 swan permit

unless you:

Get the head o your harvested swan examined

at a Division oce

Complete and submit a late questionnairePay a $50 late ee

Complete the swan orientation course again

I you did not harvest a swan, you would only

be required to complete the last three items beore

applying or your 2012 swan permit.

Applying or a swan

permit next yearUtah Admin. Rules R657-62-23 and R657-42

Applications or swan permits or the 2012 season

will be accepted starting in early September 2012.

Mark your calendar today and remember to visit

wildlife.utah.govat the start o September 2012 or

the latest inormation.

Report your swan or riskpermit cuts

Harvest reporting or swan is mandatory.

In the 20102011 season, swan hunters

returned their harvest reports in much higher

numbers than in recent years. The Divisionappreciates these eorts and asks all swan

hunters to make harvest reporting a priority

during the 20112012 season.

I reporting compliance drops below 80

percent, the ederal government will cut Utahs

swan permits by 10 percent. That would mean

200 ewer permits.

To report your swan harvest, simply bring

the tagged swan or its head to a Division oce,

or the Bear River Migratory Bird Reuge oce,

within three days o harvest. A Division or

Reuge employee will help you complete your

swan harvest report.

Reporting is required, even i you

did not hunt or harvest a swan. Failure to

return your harvest report could result in a cita-

tion and leave you ineligible to participate innext years swan drawing. I you didnt harvest

a swan, you can enter your report online or by

calling toll-ree 1-800-221-0659.

Dont be the hunter who jeopardizes 200

swan permitsplease complete your harvest

report as soon as possible.


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Firearms and archerytackle

Several rules apply to the type o shotguns and

archery tackle that may be used to take waterowl

in Utah.

Weapon requirements50 CFR 20.21 and Utah Admin. Rule R657-9-7

You may take migratory game birds only witha shotgun thats no larger than 10 gauge or with

archery tackle. (You may not take waterowl with

a crossbow, however.) Also, the shotgun you use

cannot be capable o holding more than three shells

(one in the chamber and two in the magazine).

Many shotguns can hold more than two shells in

the magazine, but making these guns legal or wa-

terowl hunting is easy. An inexpensive item, calleda "shotgun plug," comes with most shotguns or you

can purchase one at most sporting goods stores.

Nontoxic shot and use ofrearms and archery tackle50 CFR 20.21(j) and Utah Admin. Rules R657-9-8 and R657-9-9

A shotgun with nontoxic shot is the only rearm

and ammunition you may have in your possession

while hunting waterowl or coot in any area o thestate. (To learn what nontoxic shot is, please see

page 43 o this guide.) In addition, nontoxic shot is

the only shot you may have in your possession while

visiting or hunting any species o wildlie on ederal

reuges, the Scott M. Matheson wetland preserve,

and the ollowing waterowl management areas:

Box Elder CountyHarold S. Crane, Locomo-

tive Springs, Public Shooting Grounds and SaltCreek

Daggett CountyBrowns Park

Davis CountyFarmington Bay, Howard

Slough and Ogden Bay

Emery CountyDesert Lake

Juab CountyMills Meadow

Millard CountyClear Lake and Topaz Slough

Sanpete CountyManti MeadowsTooele CountyBlue Lake and Timpie Springs

Uintah CountyStewart Lake

Utah CountyPowell Slough

Wayne CountyBicknell Bottoms

Weber CountyOgden Bay and Harold S.

Crane

You may not possess a rearm or archery tackle

on any o the areas listed above any time o theyear except during the specied waterowl hunting

seasons or as authorized by the Division.

FIELD REQUIREMENTSWhile hunting waterowl in Utah, there are several requirements you must keep in mind

to protect yoursel and the resource. Please be amiliar with the requirements or carrying

and using shotguns, the dierent types o hunting methods you may use and what youre

required to do with any waterowl you harvest.

Make sure youre in rangeIn the marsh, you should only shoot at

birds that are within range. I you try to hit a

bird thats too ar away, theres a much greater

chance the bird will be wounded or hard to nd.So, how do you know i youre in range?

Beore this years waterowl season opens,

you can improve your ability to judge distance

accurately with the ollowing exercise:

Find an area thats at least 50 yards

long and place our regular-sized duck

decoys 20, 30, 40 and 50 yards rom your

starting point.I you dont have our regular-sized

decoys, use our pieces o cardboard cut

21 inches long by 4 inches high (the size

o a medium-sized duck).

Ater placing your targets, go back to

your starting point, bring your unloaded

shotgun to your shoulder and aim it at

the target thats 20 yards away. Noticehow big your barrel looks in relation to

the size o the target. Then aim at the

targets that are 30, 40 and 50 yards away.

Practice this process enough, and youll

know how birds should look when you view

them over your barrel at dierent distances in

the marsh.


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The rearm restrictions in this section do notapply to concealed rearm permit holders carrying

a concealed weapon in accordance with Utah Code

76-10-504, provided the person is not utilizing the

concealed rearm to hunt or take wildlie.

Areas where you cantdischarge a frearmUtah Code 76-10-508

You may not discharge a dangerous weapon orfirearm under any o the ollowing circumstances:

From a vehicle

From, upon or across any highway

At power lines or signs

At railroad equipment or acilities, including

any sign or signal

Within Utah state park camp or picnic sites,

overlooks, gol courses, boat ramps or devel-oped beaches

Without written permission rom the owner or

property manager, within 600 eet o:

A house, dwelling or any other building

Any structure in which a domestic animal

is kept or ed, including a barn, poultry

yard, corral, eeding pen or stockyard

The rearm restrictions in this section do notapply to concealed rearm permit holders carrying

a concealed weapon in accordance with Utah Code

76-10-504. Visit wildlife.utah.gov/rules or more

inormation.

Loaded frearms in a vehicleUtah Code 76-10-502, 76-10-504, 76-10-505 & 76-10-523

You may not carry a loaded rearm in or on a ve-

hicle unless you meet all o the ollowing conditions:You own the vehicle or have permission rom

the vehicles owner.

The rearm is a handgun.

You are 18 years o age or older.

A pistol, revolver, rife or shotgun is considered to

be loaded when there is an unexpended cartridge,

shell or projectile in the ring position.

Pistols and revolvers are also considered tobe loaded when an unexpended cartridge, shell

or projectile is in a position whereby the manual

operation o any mechanism once would cause the

unexpended cartridge, shell or projectile to be red.

A muzzleloading rearm is considered loaded

when it is capped or primed and has a powder

charge and ball or shot in the barrel or cylinders.

Are you allowed to possessa weapon?Utah Code 76-10-503

It is illegal under Utah Code 76-10-503 to

possess or use a firearm, muzzleloader, archery

tackle or any other dangerous weapon i you:

Have been convicted o or are under indict-

ment or any elony oense;

Are on probation or parole or a elony

oense;

Are on parole rom a secure acility;

Have been adjudicated delinquent (juve-

nile) in the last seven years o an oense

that, i committed by an adult, would have

been a elony;Are an unlawul user o a controlled

substance;

Have been ound not guilty by reason o

insanity or a elony oense;

Have been ound mentally incompetent to

stand trial or a elony oense;

Have been adjudicated mentally deective

as provided in the ederal Brady Handgun

Violence Prevention Act;

Have been committed to a mental institu-

tion;

Are an alien who is illegally in the United

States;

Have been dishonorably discharged rom

the armed orces; or

Have renounced your United States citizen-

ship.

The purchase or possession o any hunting

license, permit, tag or certificate o registration

rom the Division does not authorize the holderto legally possess or use a firearm, muzzleloader,

archery tackle or any other dangerous weapon

while hunting i they are otherwise restricted

rom possessing these weapons under Utah Code

76-10-503.


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Migratory game birds may not be taken rom

a sailboat unless the boats sails are urled and

the boat has stopped moving.

You may use any o these crats under power to

retrieve dead or crippled birds, but you may

not shoot crippled birds rom a crat i its motor is

still running.Also, you may not use any o the crats listed

above, or any type o motor-driven land, water or air

transportation, to concentrate, drive, rally or stir up

migratory birds.

Airboats and personalwatercratUtah Admin. Rule R657-9-11

Air-thrust or air-propelled boats and personalwatercrat are not allowed in designated parts o

the ollowing waterowl management or ederal

reuge areas:

Box Elder County: Box Elder Lake, Bear River,

that part o Harold S. Crane within one-hal

mile o all dikes and levees, Locomotive

Springs, Public Shooting Grounds and Salt

Creek, and that part o the Bear River Migra-tory Bird Reuge north o the "D" line dike, and

outside Units 1, 3, 4 and 5 as posted.

Daggett County: Browns Park

Davis County: Howard Slough, Ogden Bay

and Farmington Bay within diked units or as

posted.

Emery County: Desert Lake

Millard County: Clear Lake and Topaz Slough

Tooele County: Timpie Springs

Uintah County: Stewart Lake

Utah County: Powell Slough

Wayne County: Bicknell Bottoms

Weber County: Ogden Bay within diked units

or as posted, and the portion o the Harold S.

Crane Waterowl Management Area that alls

within the county line

The term "personal watercrat" means a motorboatthat meets the ollowing conditions:

It is less than 16 eet in length.

It is propelled by a water jet pump.

It is designed to be operated by a person sit-

ting, standing or kneeling on the vessel, rather

than sitting or standing inside the vessel.

State parksUtah Admin. Rule R657-9-30 and R651-614

Hunting any wildlie is prohibited within the

boundaries o all state park areas, except those

designated open to hunting by the Division o Parks

and Recreation in Utah Admin. Rule R651-614-4.

In park areas that are designated open to hunt-ing, you are not permitted to use shotguns or archery

tackle within one-quarter mile o all park acilities,

including buildings, camp or picnic sites, overlooks,

gol courses, boat ramps and developed beaches.

In addition to the rules above, the Great Salt Lake

Marina and posted areas adjacent to the marina are

closed to hunting.

Waterowl hunting, including the retrieval o

downed birds, is also prohibited on all o Antelope

Island except or the ollowing areas:

100 yards beyond the existing shoreline rom

the Fielding Garr Ranch, proceeding around

the north end o the island and then south to

Elephant Head; and

below the upland vegetation line o the island

rom the Fielding Garr Ranch, proceeding

around the south end o the island and thennorth to Elephant Head.

Hunters with disabilitiesUtah Admin. Rule R657-12

Utah provides special hunting accommodations

or people with disabilities.

For a complete copy o these accommodations

and whats required to qualiy or them, please visitwildlife.utah.gov/rules or call any Division oce.

Hunting methodsSeveral rules apply to the methods that you may

use to hunt waterowl in Utah.

Use o boats, and airborneand land vehicles50 CFR 20.21(e), Utah Code 23-20-3 and Utah Admin. Rule R657-9-10

You may use a boat or motorized aquatic vehicle

to hunt waterowl i you obey the ollowing rules:

Migratory game birds may not be taken rom

any motorboat, or crat that has a motor

attached to it, unless the motor has been

completely shut o and the motorboat or crat

has stopped moving.


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the Division gives express, written permission

to do so.

Rock and soil material may not be transportedto a WMA to construct a blind.

Waterowl blinds may not be constructed or

used in any area or manner that obstructs

vehicle or pedestrian travel on dikes.

Waterowl blinds that are constructed or main-

tained on WMAs in violation o the rules above may

Restrictions on motorizedboatsUtah Admin. Rule R657-9-12

Portions o three WMAs have been set aside or

hunters who enjoy walking or paddling nonmotor-

ized boats into the marsh. Motorized boats, which

are boats with a motor o any kind, including a gasengine or an electric motor, are not allowed in the

ollowing areas:

Farmington Bay, South Crystal Unit

Harold S. Crane: Rainbow Pond Unit and the

main East Pond Unit

Public Shooting Grounds, Pintail Unit.

In addition: motorized boats are allowed in the

Ogden Bay, Unit 3 main impoundment, but motor-

ized boats in this impoundment are restricted to

slow, wakeless boating speeds only.

Motorized vehicle accesson waterowl managementareasUtah Admin. Rule R657-9-12

Motorized vehicle travel on state waterowl

management areas is restricted to county roads,improved roads and parking areas.

O-highway vehicles are not permitted on state

waterowl management areas, except in areas that

are marked or posted open to their use.

O-highway vehicles are not permitted on the

Bear River Migratory Bird Reuge.

Waterowl blinds on water-owl management areasUtah Admin. Rule R657-9-34

You can construct and use waterowl blinds on

Division waterowl management areas (WMAs) as

long as you obey the ollowing rules:

Waterowl blinds may not be let unattended

overnight unless theyre constructed entirely o

non-woody, vegetative materials that naturally

occur where the blind is located.Live or dead-standing trees and shrubs on

WMAs may not be cut or damaged unless the

Division gives express, written permission to

do so.

Soil or rock, above or below the waters sur-

ace, may not be excavated on a WMA unless

Boating laws and rulesUtah State Park Rangers want you to have

a sae waterowl hunt. I your plans include a

motorboat, please remember these laws and

rules to ensure your sae return home:

Everyone on your boat or vessel must

have a properly tted, U.S. Coast Guard-

approved lie jacket. Youth 12 and under

must wear a lie jacket at all times.

Vessels longer than 16 eet must have

a throwable lie preserver immediately

available.

All motorboats, including those with

electric motors, must be registered and

properly numbered.All motorboats must display appropriate

navigation lights rom sunset to sunrise.

Manually propelled boats may use a

white light.

Let someone know where you are going

and when you expect to return, along

with your boat and vehicle license num-

ber. Remember to stick to your plan!All motorboats must carry a Type B, U.S.

Coast Guard-approved re extinguisher,

unless exempt.

In addition to the equipment above,

airboats operating on Great Salt Lake

and adjacent Waterowl Management

Areas (WMAs) must have a compass and

either a fare, strobe light or other visualdistress signal.

For additional boating saety inorma-

tion, visitstateparks.utah.gov/boating or call

801-538-2628.


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during open hunting seasons or as posted by the

Division.

Live decoys50 CFR 20.21(f) and Utah Admin. Rule R657-9-14

You may not use live birds as decoys.

Also, you may not take migratory game birdsrom an area where tame or captive live ducks

or geese are present. The only exception is i the

tame or captive live ducks or geese areand have

beenconned or at least 10 consecutive days

beore you take the migratory game birds. The area

o connement must substantially reduce the sound

o the tame or captive birds calls. It must also totally

conceal the birds rom the sight o wild migratory

waterowl.

Amplifed bird calls50 CFR 20.21 (g) and Utah Admin. Rule R657-9-15

You may not use recorded or electronically am-

plied bird calls or sounds, or recorded or electroni-

cally amplied imitations o bird calls or sounds.

Baiting50 CFR 20.21 (i) and Utah Admin. Rule R657-9-16

Baiting is an illegal activity that involves the

spreading o shelled, shucked or unshucked corn,

wheat or other grain, or salt or other eed, to lure,

attract or entice birds to an area. You may not hunt

waterowl, snipe or coots by baiting. You also cannot

hunt on or over any baited area i you know, or

reasonably should know, that the area is or has been

be removed or destroyed by the Division without

notice.

The restrictions above do not apply to the ollow-

ing WMA areas:

Farmington Bay Waterowl Management

Areawest and north o Unit 1, Turpin Unit

and Crystal Unit.Howard Slough Waterowl Management

Areawest and south o the exterior dike

separating the WMAs resh-water impound-

ments rom the Great Salt Lake.

Ogden Bay Waterowl Management Area

west o Unit 1, Unit 2 and Unit 3.

Harold S. Crane Waterowl Management

Areaone hal mile north and west o the

exterior dike separating the WMAs resh water

impoundments rom the Willard Spur.

Unattended blindsIn addition to the rules above, two other impor-

tant rules apply to waterowl blinds on WMAs and

other state lands that are open to public hunting:

Any person may use any unoccupied,

permanent waterowl blind. Waterowl blindson state lands are open on a rst-come, rst-

served basis to everyone, not just to the person

who built the blind.

You cannot leave waterowl blinds or decoys

unattended overnight to reserve a spot.

Sinkbox50 CFR 20.21(c) and Utah Admin. Rule R657-9-13

You cannot take migratory game birds rom anytype o low-foating device that allows you to be

concealed beneath the surace o the water. Called

"sinkboxes," these devices foat on the water, but

they foat barely above the waters surace. You may

not hunt rom sinkboxes. You may, however, hunt

rom other types o boxes, blinds or culverts that are

attached to the bottom o the body o water where

you are hunting.

Using dogs to huntUtah Admin. Rule R657-9-28

Dogs may be used to locate and retrieve water-

owl during open hunting seasons.

Dogs are not allowed on state wildlie manage-

ment or waterowl management areas, except

Hunting dog feld trialsand trainingUtah Admin. Rule R657-46

Many o todays hunting dog eld trialers

and trainers want to use game birds (water-

owl or upland game) in their dog-related

pursuits.

Because game birds in Utah are classied

as protected wildlie, rules and regulations

govern their use in these activities.

I you want to use live game birds in dog

eld trials and training, please review the rules

thoroughly. You can pick up a copy o the rules

at any Division oce or nd them online at



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The areas open and the bag and possession

limits or alconry are listed on page 23.

Legal alconry hours or waterowl hunting are

30 minutes beore ocial sunrise until ocial sunset.

Closed areasUtah Admin. Rule R657-9-30

Unless you have prior permission rom the

Division, you may visit state waterowl management

areas (WMAs) only during the hunting season or or

other activities or which the WMAs have been posted

open. While youre on a WMA, you may not partici-

pate in activities that are prohibited on the WMA.

In addition to the rules above, the ollowing

areas are closed to the taking, hunting, shooting at

or rallying o waterowl, snipe or coot:Browns Park WMAthe part adjacent to the

headquarters.

Clear Lake WMASpring Lake.

Desert Lake WMAthe part known as

"Desert Lake."

Farmington Bay WMAthe headquarters and

learning center area; within 600 eet o dikes

and roads accessible by motorized vehicles;and the waterowl rest area in the northwest

quarter o Unit 1 as posted.

Goshen Warm Springs WMA

Ogden Bay WMAthe headquarters area.

Public Shooting Grounds WMAthe part that

lies above and adjacent to the Hull Lake Diver-

sion Dike known as "Duck Lake."

Salt Creek WMAthe part known as "RestLake."

State ParksHunting o any wildlie is

prohibited within the boundaries o all state

park areas except those designated open (Utah

Admin. Rule R651-614-4).

Great Salt Lake Marina and adjacent areas as

posted.

Millard CountyGunnison Bend Reservoir

and the infow upstream to the Southerland

Bridge.

Salt Lake International AirportHunting and

shooting is prohibited. Hunting or shooting on

the airport or its related or controlled proper-

ties is not allowed without the express, prior

baited. An area is considered to be a baited area or

10 days ater the bait has been completely eaten or

removed rom the area.

You may not take waterowl or coots on or

over lands or areas where grain or other eed has

been distributed or scattered as the result o the

manipulation o an agricultural crop or other eed onthe land where grown. However, you may take snipe

on or over these areas.

Nothing in this guidebook prohibits you rom

harvesting waterowl or coots on land with residual

crops or eed let as a result o normal agricultural

practices.

You also may take waterowl, snipe and coots on

or over the ollowing lands or areas, as long as these

areas have not been baited:

Standing crops or fooded standing crops

(including aquatics); standing, fooded or

manipulated natural vegetation; fooded

harvested croplands; or lands or areas where

seeds or grains have been scattered solely as

the result o a normal agricultural planting,

harvesting, post-harvest manipulation (or

example, a armer working his land aterthe harvest is over) or normal soil stabiliza-

tion practice (or example, a armer planting

a cover crop to protect the soil during the

winter);

From a blind or other place o concealment

camoufaged with natural vegetation;

From a blind or other place o concealment

camoufaged with vegetation rom agriculturalcrops, as long as such camoufaging does not

result in the exposing, depositing, distributing

or scattering o grain or other eed; or

Standing or fooded standing agricultural

crops where grain is inadvertently scattered

solely as a result o a hunter entering or exiting

a hunting area, placing decoys or retrieving

downed birds.

FalconryUtah Admin. Rule R657-9-32

I you are interested in hunting waterowl or

coots with a alcon, you must obtain a hunting or

combination license, a HIP number, a ederal migra-

tory game bird stamp and a alconry certicate o

registration (COR).


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property lines, and on roads, gates and rights-o-way

entering the land. I metal ence posts are used, the

entire exterior side must be painted.

You may not post private property you do not

own or legally control or land that is open to the

public as provided by Utah Code 23-21-4. In addi-

tion, it is unlawul to take protected wildlie or theirparts while trespassing in violation o Utah Code

23-20-14.

You are guilty o a class B misdemeanor i you

violate any provision described in this section.

Your license, tag or permit privileges may also be

suspended.

Possession andtransportation

Once youve taken a migratory game bird, several

rules apply to the use o the game youve taken.

During closed season50 CFR 20.32 and Utah Admin. Rule R657-9-17

You may not possess any reshly killed migratory

game birds when the hunting season is closed.

Live birds50 CFR 20.38 and Utah Admin. Rule R657-9-18

You may not possess or transport live migratory

game birds. You must immediately kill any migratory

game bird you wound and include it in your bag limit.

A hunting license does not give you author-

ity to possess live migratory game birds. More

inormation about the possession o live migratory

game birds is ound in Utah Admin. Rule R657-4 atwildlife.utah.gov/rules.

Waste o migratory gamebirds50 CFR 20.25, Utah Code 23-20-8 and Utah Admin. Rule R657-9-19

You may not waste any migratory game birds

or permit them to be wasted or spoiled. (Waste

means to abandon migratory game birds or to allowthem to spoil or be used in a manner not normally

associated with their benecial use. For example,

using the meat as ertilizer or or trapping bait is not

considered a benecial use.)

In addition, you may not kill or cripple any

migratory game bird without making a reasonable

eort to immediately retrieve it. Any migratory

written approval o the airport director (Salt

Lake City, UT, ORD. Sec. 16.12.325).

The ollowing areas are also closed to trespass o

any kind:

Clear Lake WMASpring Lake.

Desert Lake WMAthe part known as

"Desert Lake."Farmington Bay WMAthe waterowl

rest area in the northwest quarter o Unit 1 as

posted.

Goshen Warm Springs WMA

Public Shooting Grounds WMAthe part that

lies above and adjacent to the Hull Lake Diver-

sion Dike known as "Duck Lake."

Salt Creek WMAthe part known as

"Rest Lake."

TrespassingUtah Code 23-20-14 and 23-20-3.5

While taking wildlie or engaging in wildlie-re-

lated activities, you may not do any o the ollowing

activities:

Enter upon privately owned land that is

cultivated or properly posted without thepermission o the owner or the person in

charge o the land

Reuse to immediately leave the private land

i requested to do so by the owner or person

in charge

Obstruct any entrance or exit to private

property

"Cultivated land" is land that is readilyidentifiable as land whose soil is loosened or broken

up or the raising o crops, land used or the raising

o crops, or a pasture that is artificially irrigated.

"Permission" means written authorization rom

the owner or person in charge to enter upon private

land that is cultivated or properly posted. Permission

must include all o the ollowing details:

The signature o the owner or person in charge

The name o the person being given permission

The appropriate dates

A general description o the land

"Properly posted" means that "No Trespassing"

signsor a minimum o 100 square inches o bright

yellow, bright orange or fluorescent paintare

displayed at all corners, on fishing streams crossing


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Custody o another personsbirds50 CFR 20.37 and Utah Admin. Rule R657-9-23

You may not receive or have in your custody

migratory game birds that belong to another person

unless the birds have been tagged in the manner

described in the Tagging requirement section in theadjacent column.

Species identifcationrequirement50 CFR 20.43 and Utah Admin. Rule R657-9-24

You may not transport migratory game birds

within the United States unless the head or one

ully eathered wing remains attached to each bird

while youre transporting them to your home or toa migratory bird preservation acility (i.e., a acility

where birds are taken to be cleaned and prepared or

the table).

Marking package orcontainer50 CFR 20.44 and Utah Admin. Rule R657-9-25

You may not transport migratory game birds,

by the Postal Service or a common carrier, unless

all o the ollowing items are clearly marked on the

outside o the package or container:

Your name and address

The name and address o the recipient

The number and the species o the birds

contained in the package

A Utah shipping permit must accompany each

migratory game bird package that is shipped withinor rom Utah. Shipping permits are available rom

the Division.

Migratory birdpreservation acilities50 CFR 20.82 and 20.83 and Utah Admin. Rule R657-9-26

No migratory bird preservation acility (see de-

nition on page 42) shall receive or have in custody

any migratory game bird unless accurate records

are maintained that can identiy who each bird was

received rom and can show all o the ollowing

inormation:

The number o each species

The location where they were taken

The date the birds were received

game bird that you wound must be immediately

killed and included in your bag limit.

Termination o possession50 CFR 20.39 and Utah Admin. Rule R657-9-20

Birds that you have taken are no longer in your

possession once youve delivered the birds to another

person as a git, or once youve taken the birds to amigratory bird preservation acility (i.e., a acility

where birds are taken to be cleaned and prepared or

the table) or to a post oce or common carrier and

consigned them or transport to a person other than

yoursel.

Tagging requirement50 CFR 20.36 and Utah Admin. Rule R657-9-21

I you leave your birds in the custody o another

person or picking, cleaning, processing, ship-

ping, transporting or storing, including temporary

storage, or at a location to have taxidermy services

perormed, you must tag the birds. You must sign the

tag, and it must include your address and Utah hunt-

ing license number, the total number and species o

birds taken and the date the birds were killed.

I youre transporting migratory game birds thatyouve taken, the birds are not considered to be in

storage or temporary storage, and you dont need to

have a tag on them at that time.

Giving birds to someone else50 CFR 20.40, Utah Code 23-20-9 and Utah Admin. Rule R657-9-22

You can give the waterowl youve taken to

another person, but please remember the ollowing:

I you give birds to someone at any location,

you must tag the birds. The tag must include

your address and Utah hunting license number,

the total number and species o birds youre

donating, the date the birds were killed and

the date the birds were donated. You must also

sign the tag.

I you accept birds rom another hunter, those

birds become part o your possession limit. Forexample, i you have 10 ducks at home in your

reezer, and you accept 4 ducks rom another

hunter, you now have 14 ducks in your posses-

sion. Thats the maximum number o ducks you

can have in your possession in Utah. Youll have

to eat some o those ducks beore you can go

hunting and take more.


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You should expect to encounter conservation ocers

and biologists checking hunters in the marsh and at

checkpoints.

I youre contacted by a conservation ocer, you

must provide the ocer with the items he or she

requests, including any licenses and permits required

or hunting, any devices used to participate in hunt-ing and any birds youve taken. These contacts allow

the Division to collect valuable inormation about

Utahs waterowl populations.

Special regulations ornational wildlie reugesUtah Admin. Rule R657-9-30

More than 500 reuges across the nation and

the U.S. territories are included in the U.S. Fish and

Wildlie Services National Wildlie Reuge System.

Three o those reugesBear River, Fish Springs

and Ourayare located in Utah, and the ollowing

regulations apply to all.

Current state and ederal regulations apply

or season dates, shooting hours, and bag and

possession limits.

Hunters may possess and use only approved

nontoxic shot while in the eld.

Hunters may not enter closed areas to retrieve

birds. Thereore, allow enough room between

the closed area boundary and where youre

hunting to retrieve your birds.

Camping is not permitted on the reuges.

Prohibited activities include wood cutting and

gathering, littering, disturbing or remov-ing plants or natural objects, and removing

artiacts o antiquity. Shell casings and

ammunition boxes are litter. Failure to make a

reasonable eort to retrieve litter could result

in a citation.

The ollowing is specic inormation and regula-

tions or each o the ederal reuges in Utah:

Bear River50 CFR 32.64 and 27.21

Hunters may not shoot or hunt within 100

yards o principal reuge roads (tour route).

Hunters may not use pits or permanent blinds.

The building o a temporary blind made o

The name and address o the person rom

whom the birds were received

The date the birds were disposed o

The name and address o the person to whom

the birds were delivered

In addition, migratory bird preservation acilities

may not destroy any records they are required tomaintain under this section or a period o one year

ollowing the last entry on record.

Record keeping as required by this section is not

necessary at hunting clubs that do not ully process

migratory birds by removing their head and wings.

No migratory bird preservation acility may

prevent any person authorized to enorce this part

rom entering their acilities at all reasonable hours

and inspecting the records and the premises where

bird-processing operations are being carried out.

ImportationFor inormation regarding the importation

o migratory game birds youve harvested in

another country, please see 50 CFR 20.61 and

20.62, and Utah Admin. Rule R657-9-29, at


Bag limits50 CFR 20.11 and 20.24 and Utah Admin. Rule R657-9-29

Federal bag and possession limits apply to

migratory game bird hunting, regardless o the

number o states or provinces you may have hunted

in during your trip. For example, i you hunt ducks in

two states, the total number o ducks you take can-

not exceed a single ederal bag and possession limit(e.g., i the ederal bag limit is 7 ducks, and you take

5 ducks in one state and then travel to another state

and hunt the same day, you can take only 2 ducks in

the second state.)

Checkpoints and ocercontactsUtah Code 23-20-25 and 77-23-104

To help the Division ulll its responsibility as

trustee and custodian o Utahs wildlie, Division

conservation ocers and biologists monitor the

taking and possession o waterowl and the required

permits, rearms and equipment used or hunting.


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natural material is permitted, but is not al-

lowed prior to the opening day.

Airboats are permitted only in Unit 9 and Block

C o the reuge.

O-highway vehicles are not permitted on the

Bear River Migratory Bird Reuge.

Hunters may enter the reuge two hours beorelegal sunrise and must exit the reuge by two

hours ater legal sunset. The reuge prohibits

leaving decoys, boats, vehicles and other

personal property on the reuge overnight.

Hunters may only park in designated parking

sites.

Any hunters entering, using or occupying the

reuge or waterowl hunting must abide by

all the terms and conditions in the Reuge

Hunting Brochure. The brochure is available at

www.fws.gov/bearriver.

When hunters are in their vehicles, at parking

lots or traveling on reuge roads, all rearms

must be completely unloaded (including

magazines) and cased or dismantled.

Hunters may possess only 10 shells while hunt-

ing on or within 50 eet rom the center o thedikes on Unit 1A or 2C.

A portion o the Bear River Reuge will be

open or the youth waterowl hunt on Sept.

17, 2011.

Archery hunting is not allowed on the reuge.

Predator and snipe hunting are not allowed on

the reuge.

For more inormation, call the reuge manager at435-723-5887.

Fish Springs50 CFR 32.64

The reuge allows the hunting o ducks, coots

and geese in designated areas.

All waterowl hunters must register individu-

ally at the visitor inormation station beore

entering the open hunting area and beoreexiting the reuge.

Hunters may only possess rearms legally used

to hunt waterowl unless the rearm is cased

or dismantled.

Hunters may construct nonpermanent blinds,

but must remove all blinds constructed out o

materials other than vegetation at the end o

the hunting day.

The reuge provides a Special Blind Area or use

by the disabled. The reuge prohibits trespass

or any reason by any individual not registered

to utilize the area.

The reuge allows the use o small boats, 15eet or less, but does not allow gasoline motors

and air boats.

Hunters may enter the reuge two hours beore

sunrise, and must exit the reuge by 1 hours

ater sunset. Hunters may not leave decoys,

boats, vehicles and other personal property on

the reuge overnight.

The reuge will be open or the youth water-

owl hunt on Sept. 17, 2011.

For more inormation, call the reuge manager at

435-831-5353.

OurayLeota Bottom is the only area on the Ouray

reuge open to duck, goose and coot hunting.

Access into Leota Bottom is limited to oot,

bike, canoe, rowboat or electric motorizedboats. Gas-powered boats are not permitted.

All rearms must be unloaded, cased or

dismantled and must remain in the vehicle in

the closed hunting areas o the reuge.

The reuge will be open or the youth water-

owl hunt on Sept. 17, 2011.

Snipe and swan hunting are not allowed on

the reuge.The use o pits and permanent blinds is not

allowed. The building o a temporary blind

made o natural material is permitted, but is

not allowed prior to opening day.

For more inormation, call the reuge manager at

435-789-0351.


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Common snipeDates: Oct. 1, 2011Jan. 14, 2012 statewide.

Bag and possession limits: The daily bag limit is8, and the possession limit is 16.

Ducks, mergansers andcootsDates: Sept. 17, 2011 (or Youth Hunting Day) andOct. 1, 2011Jan. 14, 2012 statewide (except or

scaup, which you can hunt Oct. 1Dec. 24, 2011).

Bag and possession limits: All bag and posses-sion limits are listed below:

Ducks and mergansers7 daily (except no

more than 1 canvasback, no more than 2 hen

mallards, no more than 2 pintails, no more

than 2 redheads and no more than 3 scaup).

The possession limit is twice the daily bag limit.

Coots25 daily or in possession.

FalconryCommon snipe: Oct. 1, 2011Jan. 14, 2012statewide.

Ducks, mergansers and coots: Sept. 17, 2011(or Youth Hunting Day) and Oct. 1, 2011Jan. 14,

2012 statewide.Dark geese (inside the North Goose Zone):Sept. 17, 2011 (or Youth Hunting Day) and Oct. 1,2011Jan. 14, 2012.

Dark geese (outside the North Goose Zone):Sept. 17, 2011 (or Youth Hunting Day), Oct. 113,2011 and Oct. 29, 2011Jan. 29, 2012.

Light geese (inside the North Goose Zone):

Sept. 17, 2011 (or Youth Hunting Day), Oct. 22,2011Jan. 14, 2012 and Feb. 18March 10, 2012

Light geese (outside the North Goose Zone):Sept. 17, 2011 (or Youth Hunting Day), Oct. 14,2011Jan. 14, 2012 and March 110, 2012.

Note: The Bear River, Fish Springs and Ouraynational wildlie reuges and the Browns Park,

SEASON DATES AND BAG AND POSSESSIONLIMITSUtah Admin. Rule R657-9-31

Desert Lake, Farmington Bay, Harold S. Crane,Howard Slough, Locomotive Springs and Ogden Bay

waterowl management areas will be closed to lightgoose hunting rom Feb. 18March 10, 2012.

Falconry bag and possession limits or com-mon snipe, ducks, geese and coots: The dailybag limit is 3 birds. The possession limit is 6 (singly orin combination).

North Goose Zone boundary: See page 25.

Youth Hunting DayUtah Admin. Rule R657-9-29

Hunters 15 years old or younger will have

the marshes to themselves on Sept. 17, 2011

as Utah holds its annual Youth Hunting Day.

To hunt on Youth Hunting Day, you must

be 15 years old or younger. You must also have

a Utah hunting, combination or three-day

nonresident small-game license, and a HIPregistration number.

Adults must accompany youth hunters.

Please see page 6 o this guide or more inor-

mation about the requirements adults must

meet to accompany a youth in the eld.

The shooting hours on Youth Hunting

Day are rom 30 minutes beore sunrise until

sunset. This means that on Sept. 17, youth canhunt rom 6:40 a.m. until 7:33 p.m.

The bag limits or Youth Hunting Day are

as ollows:

Ducks and mergansers: 7 birds (except no

more than 1 canvasback, no more than 2

hen mallards, no more than 2 pintails, no

more than 2 redheads and no more than

3 scaup).

Coots: 25 birds

Light geese (snow, blue and Ross): 10

birds

Dark geese (cackling, Canada, white-

ronted and brant): 3 birds

Common snipe and swan: Closed or

youth hunt


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waterowl management areas will be closed to lightgoose hunting rom Feb. 18March 10, 2012.

North Goose Zone boundary: See page 25.

Bag and possession limits: Dark geese (cackling,Canada, white-ronted, brant)3 per day, 6 inpossession; Light geese (snow, blue, Ross)10 perday, 20 in possession.

RailsNo open season.

GeeseDark geese (inside the North Goose Zone):Sept. 17, 2011 (or Youth Hunting Day) and Oct. 1,

2011Jan. 14, 2012.Dark geese (outside the North Goose Zone):Sept. 17, 2011 (or Youth Hunting Day), Oct. 113,2011 and Oct. 29, 2011Jan. 29, 2012.

Light geese (inside the North Goose Zone):

Sept. 17, 2011 (or Youth Hunting Day), Oct. 22,2011Jan. 14, 2012 and Feb. 18March 10, 2012.

Light geese (outside the North Goose Zone):Sept. 17, 2011 (or Youth Hunting Day), Oct. 14,2011Jan. 14, 2012 and March 110, 2012.

Note: The Bear River, Fish Springs and Ouraynational wildlie reuges and the Browns Park,Desert Lake, Farmington Bay, Harold S. Crane,Howard Slough, Locomotive Springs and Ogden Bay

Mercury and ducksBecause o elevated mercury levels in three

duck speciescinnamon teal, Northern shov-

eler and common goldeneyehunters should

eat them only on a limited basis. You can read

the latest consumption advisories or these

species at waterfowladvisories.utah.gov.

Cinnamon teal

Northern shoveler

Allphotos,U.S.F

ishandWildlifeService

Common goldeneye

Show courtesy duringgoose hunt

The extended light goose hunt (outside the

northern zone) occurs in early March, mostly

on private lands.

I you want to hunt light geeseor anyother waterowlon private property, you

mustobtain written permission rom the

landowner beore you can hunt.

Ideally, you should obtain this permis-

sion weeks, or even months, beore the hunt

begins. I youre knocking on a landowners

door ater the hunt has started, youve waited

too long.

To download a Landowner/Hunter permis-

sion card, visitgo.usa.gov/cEf.

I a landowner denies you permission,

accept the decision calmly and try contacting

someone else.

The long-term success o the extended light

goose hunt depends on hunters respecting

landowners and their properties. You can do

your part by obtaining permission, packing outyour trash and remaining courteous to anyone

you encounter.


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Area open to swan hunting: Boundary begins inSalt Lake City at I-80 and I-15; north on I-15 to Exit363 (Forest Street); west on this street to the BearRiver Migratory Bird Reuge northern boundary;

west along this northern boundary to the north andmost western corner o the reuge at latitude 41.53decimal degrees (NAD 83 datum); west cross countryon this latitude to the East Promontory Road; northon this road to SR-83; north on SR-83 to I-84; weston I-84 to SR-30; southwest on SR-30 to the Nevada-Utah state line; south on this state line to I-80; easton I-80 to I-15.

Swan (holders o swanpermits only)Dates: Oct. 1Dec. 11, 2011, unless the Divisions

monitoring program indicates that 10 trumpeterswans have been taken. I 10 or more trumpeterswans are taken, the season will be closed earlierthan Dec. 11.

Bag and possession limit: The holder o a swanpermit may take and possess only one swan duringthe 2011 season.

20112012 North Goose Zone boundaryBoundary begins at the Weber-Box Elder county line at I-15; north on I-15 to the Perry access road;

southwest on this road to the Bear River Migratory Bird Reuge southern boundary; west and north on

this southern boundary to the north and most western corner o the reuge at latitude 41.53 decimal

degrees (NAD 83 datum); west cross-country on this latitude to the East Promontory Road; north on this

road to Golden Spike Drive; west on this drive to the Salt Wells Flat county road; west on this road to the

Locomotive Springs-Snowville-Stone, Idaho county road; north on this road to the Utah-Idaho state line;

east on this state line to Utah-Wyoming state line; south on this state line to the Summit-Rich county line;

west on this county line to the Rich-Morgan county line; northwest on this county line to the Rich-Weber

county line; west on this county line to the Weber-Cache county line; west on this county line to the

Weber-Box Elder county line; west on this county line to I-15.

Utah Division of Wildlife Resources makes no warranty with respect to the accuracy, completeness or usefulness of thedata. Utah Division of Wildlife Resources assumes no liability for direct, indirect, special, or consequential damages result-ing from the use or misuse of this data or any of the information contained herein.

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Tremonton

Logan

Randolph

Woodru

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Layton

Salt Creek

WMA

BEAR

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16 7:10 AM 6:46 PM : 5 n ^ u M

17 7:11 AM 6:44 PM : 5 n ^ u M

18 7:12 AM 6:43 PM : 5 n ^ u M

19 7:13 AM 6:41 PM : 5 n ^ u M

20 7:14 AM 6:40 PM : 5 n ^ u M

21 7:15 AM 6:39 PM : 5 n ^ u M

22 7:16 AM 6:37 PM : 5 n ^ u s M

23 7:17 AM 6:36 PM : 5 n ^ u s M

24 7:18 AM 6:34 PM : 5 n ^ u s M

25 7:20 AM 6:33 PM : 5 n ^ u s M

26 7:21 AM 6:32 PM : 5 n ^ u s M

27 7:22 AM 6:30 PM : 5 n ^ u s M

28 7:23 AM 6:29 PM : 5 n ^ u s M

29 7:24 AM 6:28 PM : 5 n ^ u l s M

30 7:25 AM 6:26 PM : 5 n ^ u l s M

31 7:27 AM 6:25 PM : 5 n ^ u l s M

SHOOTING HOURSUtah Admin. Rule R657-9-31

Hunters may take waterowl, snipe and coots

during the shooting hours listed below, except on

October 1 in Box Elder, Cache, Davis, Salt

Lake and Weber counties, when the legal

shooting hours are 7:30 a.m. to sunset.Utahs annual Youth Hunting Day will take

place on Sept. 17, 2011. For details, please see the

inormation box on page 23.

Legal shooting times may dier slightly, depend-

ing on the area o the state where youre hunting.

Consult the time zone map to learn the dierences.

Hunters may not take wildlie or discharge any

rearm or archery tackle on state-owned lands ad-

jacent to the Great Salt Lake, on Division-controlled

waterowl management areas or on ederal reuges

between ocial sunset and 30 minutes beore

ocial sunrise.

Time zone map

GRAND

BOX ELDER

TOOELE

JUAB

MILLARD

BEAVER

CACHE

WEBER

MORG

AN

DAVIS

SALT

LAKE

UTAH

SANPETE

SEVIER

SUMMIT

WASATCH

DAGGETT

CARBON

EMERY

PIUTE WAYNE

SAN JUAN

GARFIELD

KANE

IRON

WASHINGTON

RICH

UINTAH

DUCHESNE

+ 5 MIN. -0- -5 MIN. -10 MIN.

Colored symbols represent species that may be hunted on the dates listed.

:Common Snipe5Ducks (except scaup), mergansers, cootsn

Scaup^Swan

uDark geese (inside the North Goose Zone)lDark geese (outside the North Goose Zone)s

Light geese (inside the North Goose Zone)MLight geese (outside the North Goose Zone)

October 2011

Date Begins Ends

1 7:30 AM* 7:10 PM : 5 n ^ u l

2 6:55 AM 7:08 PM : 5 n ^ u l

3 6:56 AM 7:07 PM : 5 n ^ u l

4 6:57 AM 7:05 PM : 5 n ^ u l

5 6:58 AM 7:03 PM : 5 n ^ u l

6 6:59 AM 7:02 PM : 5 n ^ u l

7 7:00 AM 7:00 PM : 5 n ^ u l

8 7:01 AM 6:58 PM : 5 n ^ u l

9 7:02 AM 6:57 PM : 5 n ^ u l

10 7:03 AM 6:55 PM : 5 n ^ u l

11 7:04 AM 6:54 PM : 5 n ^ u l

12 7:05 AM 6:52 PM : 5 n ^ u l

13 7:06 AM 6:51 PM : 5

2011-12 waterfowl guidebook (draft)

Documents